Mt. Adnah Cemetery ‘Spirits Speak’ Event Sept. 25-26 Brings Back Famous ‘Residents’ With Spooky Tour

Fulton’s historic Mt. Adnah Cemetery, 706 E. Broadway, will be “bringing back” some of its famous residents as part of a unique event: “Mt Adnah Cemetery Spirits Speak,” a historic play sponsored by Fulton Savings Bank and set as a brief tour, said Robert Burleigh, president, Mt. Adnah Cemetery Association. Ashley McKinstry, above,  plays Eva Case Lee, a member of Fulton’s prominent Case family who donated  the equivalent of half a million dollars to build the cemetery’s Case Memorial Chapel, which was dedicated in 1910 and stood for more than 75 years. Tours will be 8:00 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, and at 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26 (maximum 55 per tour) rain or shine. Tickets are available online at https://events.ticketleap.com/…/spirits-of-mount-adnah

FULTON, NY –  Fulton’s historic Mt. Adnah Cemetery, 706 E. Broadway, will be “bringing back” some of its famous residents as part of a unique event: “Mt Adnah Cemetery Spirits Speak,” a historic play set as a brief tour, said Robert Burleigh, president, Mt. Adnah Cemetery Association.

The play is produced by Gina Mazzoli in collaboration with Fulton’s CNY Arts Center and their upcoming production of “The Haunting of Hill House,” Oct. 22-25, also produced by Mazzoli.  All are volunteering their talents and expertise, and all proceeds will go toward the maintenance and preservation of Mt. Adnah.

            “Eight actors in period costumes will portray some of Fulton’s most famous “residents” of the cemetery,” Burleigh said. “Everyone from Neil Jones, a science fiction writer who coined the terms ‘astronaut’ and ‘cyborg’ to Marlon Brando’s great uncle (Marlon H. Brando) and Horace Webb, the Barnum & Bailey Circus king of clowns in the early 20^th century. The tour route is a loop that starts and finishes at the cemetery carriage house.  Along the way, visitors will meet these famous Fultonians, as well as others.”

            The play was written by Steve Chirello, a Central New York marketing professional, who is also a Mt. Adnah board member. “I wanted to find an entertaining and fun way to share the rich variety of people who have made Mt. Adnah their final resting place,” Chirello said. “It’s a history lover’s treasure. Sands Kenyon, the founder of Fulton Savings Bank is also portrayed in the tour, and Fulton Savings Bank has generously provided financial support for this production,” Chirello said.

            The event is a walking tour for ages 18 and older, and it will be led by an actor portraying William Parkhouse, Mt. Adnah’s first caretaker, who died in 1897. Cost is $25 per ticket, and it includes refreshments. The event is not wheelchair accessible and attendees should wear comfortable shoes for walking.  Tours will be 8:00 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, and at 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26 (maximum 55 per tour) rain or shine. Tickets are available online at https://events.ticketleap.com/…/spirits-of-mount-adnah or visit CNYartscenter.com and find the tickets link on their calendar.

            The cast includes: Donald Crowe as William Parkhouse; Ashley Mckinstry as Eva Case Lee; Kimberly Vogt as Harriet Pratt; Kevin Colvin as Sands Kenyon, Matthew Fleming as Neil Jones; Joshua Delorenzo as Marlon Brando; Garrett Robinson as General Albert Lindley Lee; and Josh Taylor as Horace Webb.

            Founded before Fulton became a thriving industrial city; Mt. Adnah was a pioneer in the development of the Rural Cemetery Movement. Over 170 years later, a stroll through the expansive cemetery provides visitors a pathway into Fulton’s proud past, an appreciation for a well-lived life and a serene setting for reflection.

            Much of the material for the play comes from a history of the cemetery written by local author Jim Farfaglia,  which was released in 2024 and is entitled, “Mount of Repose: A History of Mt. Adnah Cemetery.” The book is available at local bookstores, the cemetery office, and on Amazon.com.

         Mt. Adnah Cemetery was founded in June, 1851, is listed in the National Registry of Historic Places, and it is open to people of all faiths and beliefs. The cemetery is comprised of 44 acres, and the word Adnah is Syrian, meaning “rest” or “repose.”

         For more information on Mt. Adnah’s history, or to support the Mt. Adnah Cemetery Association, visit www.mtadnahcemetery.org.