The sun, good music and a chance to socialize brought people out to the 15th annual Charles Baber Cemetery Appreciation Day.
"It was a beautiful day, wonderful turnout," said the Rev. James A. Rinehart of Trinity Episcopal Church, the trustee of the cemetery. The cemetery is named after industrialist Charles Baber, who died in 1885.
Rinehart estimated between 150 to 200 attended the event. The activites included a picnic lunch, walking tour, bake sale, concert by the Third Brigade Band, Pottsville, and a service in the Chapel of the Resurrection on the cemetery grounds. Walking canes, pens, bowls and clocks made from the wood of trees from the cemetery were sold at the event.
The walking tour focused on some of the historic people who lived in Schuylkill County and the history of the trees in the cemetery. About 60 people took the tour, said J. Robert Zane, an attorney and member of the cemetery board. Attendees learned about David G. Yuengling, founder of Yuengling Brewery, and Margaret Sillyman, "the first female to be appointed to any office by President Abraham Lincoln," according to Zane. She was appointed postmaster of Pottsville in 1861.
Frank Snyder, service forester with the Weiser Forest District, also told the history of the trees in the cemetery, including the John Potts tree. The 70-foot tree is now a stump after it was cut down in March because it was dying. Efforts were made to keep the 186-year-old tree alive. The tree was named in honor of John Pott, founder of Pottsville, who died Oct. 23, 1827, at age 67.
Julie Sophy, 57, of Orwigsburg, has come to the event for at least five years.
"It's kind of interesting, the history of the people," buried in the cemetery, she said, adding the trees add to the natural beauty of the grounds.
"The trees are great," she said.
The Third Brigade Band played several songs for visitors, including "The Star-Spangled Banner" and "Armed Forces Salute" by Bob Lowden.
Ellen Hildreth, 72, of Pottsville, attended the event.
"My parents are buried here. I'll be buried here," she said, adding that other relatives are also buried at the cemetery.
Doris Kauffman, a member of Trinity Episcopal Church, said the grounds are a beautiful part of the city.
"It's really like a city park. People walk their babies and their dogs (here)," she said.
City council member and Democratic candidate for mayor James Muldowney enjoyed the event.
"Beautiful day. Beautiful cemetery. People are enjoying the music, It's a great day to be alive," he said.