WAUPUN — The Waupun Historical Society held their Tenth Annual Forest Mound Cemetery Walk last Saturday, October 25.
The event went from 4:30PM to 7PM, with seven actors portraying figures from Waupun history. Each figure told the story of an event, notable person, or interesting place that had otherwise been forgotten to history.
“This tenth annual Cemetery Walk was a great success, a continuation of the vision of Rohn Bishop Sr,” said Steve Biever in a statement. “We at the Waupun Historical Society discovered some very interesting people while researching characters to portray and are working to find even more for future walks.”
The Cemetery Walk was started in 2015 by the late Rohn Bishop Sr, who was involved in organizing the event until his passing in 2021. Bishop Sr was the father of Waupun’s current Mayor, Rohn W. Bishop.
“I was honored to be a part of the Tenth Annual Cemetery Walk,” said Mayor Rohn Bishop. “It’s nice that the Historical Society included me to help pay tribute to my dad who started the cemetery walk a decade ago.”
“I don’t know where dad got the idea, but he sure loved putting on the cemetery walk, and I know he’d be super proud of the fact that it’s the largest fundraiser every year for the Historical Society, and that so many Waupun people turn out for the event,” he said. “Dad really loved Waupun history and wanted an interactive way to teach it. And the Cemetery Walk does just that.”
Mayor Bishop greeted attendees as one of the front gate guides this year, leading the groups to the actors.
“On behalf of Clara, Culver, Hanora, Edgar, Charles, Henry and Dorothy, thank you to all who came out for the Cemetery Walk,” the Waupun Historical Society wrote in a Facebook post Sunday afternoon. “If you have any suggestions for characters or would like to take part in portraying a character feel free to contact us. And if you’re not a member please consider a membership at any level. Donations and memberships help ensure we’re able to continue providing historical content, research and care for our ever growing collection of artifacts and documents.”
This year’s Cemetery Walk was attended by over 150 people, and collected over $800 in donations.
