Hudson Valley Halloween Magazine Your #1 Hudson Valley Halloween Resource for all things grim and ghoulish!
Cemetery tours are fast growing, fun, and exciting ways to learn about local history. Father Charles Kramer of St. James Episcopal Church in Hyde Park, NY quickly learned that their inactive churchyard would become a popular outdoor classroom for both local citizens and visiting tourists. Opening night drew 200 curious crypt creepers out into the dark for a trip back in time.
The Roosevelts were parishioners at St. James Episcopal Church and many family members have been interred in this ancient graveyard. Franklin D. Roosevelt’s mother Sarah is buried on this quiet and quaint property and, as you will hear, she doesn’t seem quite happy about it. You will recognize many names of the spirits that are supposedly at rest. You will learn about the Livingstons, Gladys Phipps, Sarah Delano Roosevelt, and more famous people who have called the Hudson Valley home. The connections between these families and United States history is nothing short of amazing. One attendee stated that they learned more on this tour than they did all year in history class!
As you roam through the darkness, the crisp air awakens your senses and flickering lights draw your eye to the ornate stones that line the paths that you travel. The smartly dressed spirits you awaken will tell you their stories just as if they were alive today. However, they are aware that they are deceased.
All the hard work that parishioners and actors have put into this unique event shows a strong dedication to the survival of local history and St. James Episcopal Church churchyard. Your hard earned dollars stay in the area and go to a good cause.
Plan your visit today and get your tickets while they are still available. Tours are held rain or shine on Saturdays until the first week on November. Tours run every 15 minutes from 7:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. Bring your camera. I guarantee ghost pictures on this tour.
