POTTSTOWN — Local history buffs were treated to mini-plays that brought mysterious, interred Edgewood Historic Cemetery residents back to life, so to speak, during the “Walk to Remember” tour held Oct. 19.
The third in a series, this event illuminated “The Infamous at Edgewood.” The event also raised funds toward maintaining the 12-acre resting place at 989 E. High St.
Spectators walked to three different stops along Edgewood’s avenues to hear tales told by specters of the past.
The first stop shared the tragic account of the murder of 24-year-old James “Jimmy” Warmkessel, conveyed by his mother, Annie Warmkessel, depicted by Tammy Vontor, and Heather Baver, who portrayed an investigative reporter from the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Warmkessel, who is buried at Edgewood, was found dead in 1924 at the former YMCA on King Street, along with his one-time friend, Thomas “Tommy” Shenton, who also was discovered there with a suicide note. Shenton is buried at Mt. Zion Cemetery, Pottstown. Both men died from gunshot wounds.
The tour providers thoughtfully offered the number of the suicide prevention hotline (988) in light of the story’s difficult subject matter.
The second stop welcomed Mrs. Mary Gould Meigs, spookily performed by Ellen Nelson, an arts instructor at Pottstown’s Hill School, where Mrs. Meigs, 1820-1896, was the wife of the Rev. Matthew Meigs, Hill’s founder. Mary and Matthew and other family members are buried at Edgewood.
Meigs’ black-clad character awoke from an exceptionally long sleep to appear to tour-goers from a hidden spot behind a tombstone and offer stories of infamous Pottstown ghosts — and audience members were invited to tell about their own experiences.
The final stop delved into the infamous “Hungarian Love Triangle” involving Ezira Boldaz, acted by Jacqueline Steinman, and her lover Stephen Sabo, portrayed by Zach Nelson (whose day job is serving as Pottstown’s Assistant Borough Manager).
Both Sabo and Ezira’s husband, Michael Boldaz – who was pulled from the Schuylkill River in February 1908 — are buried at Edgewood in plots not far from each other. The actors conveyed that Sabo was convicted of Michael’s murder in a trial that captivated the Pottstown region and resulted in Sabo’s death by hanging in Norristown.
Accounts show that the Hungarian Consulate unsuccessfully intervened on Boldaz’s behalf. Ezira was convicted of adultery and spent five years in Norristown County Jail. Researchers have not learned where Ezira’s body rests.
The tours were repeated three times for separate, small groups limited to 20, ensuring intimate interactions between the interpreters and audience members who were encouraged to share questions with the actors.
All research and preparations were led by Kelly Fenstermacher, a member of the Edgewood Historic Cemetery friends board. Refreshments and other support was delivered by Hobart’s Run, a neighborhood engagement endeavor of The Hill School, with set-up help provided by students on the yearbook staff and photojournalists from the student newspaper, The Hill News, taking photos as they learned about Edgewood’s history.
More than $1,000 was raised during the event, all of which will be used to cover next season’s anticipated $20,000 in mowing and maintenance expenses or to reset fallen tombstones as part of Edgewood’s “Adopt-a-Gravestone” program. Individuals who would like to support this ongoing need may go to givebutter.com/edgewood-historic-cemetery or givebutter.com/AdoptAGravestone, or send a check made out to Edgewood Cemetery to 740 E. High St., Pottstown, PA 19464.
Fenstermacher has sent a survey to all attendees asking for feedback and also ideas for future tours. She welcomes all suggestions and indications of interest in additional Walk to Remember events at [email protected].
