Photo courtesy of the Keweenaw Green Burial Alliance Shown is a tombstone from the old Jacobsville Cemetary. The Keweenaw Green Burial Alliance will host a tour of the cemetery on Sept. 20.

JACOBSVILLE — Old cemeteries hold more than just decaying tombstones. They’re filled with stories of the people and events that shaped our community’s history. The Keweenaw Green Burial Alliance is sponsoring a free, public tour of the old Jacobsville Cemetery on Saturday, Sept. 20. Join tour guide Lisa Reitz to learn who’s buried at the Jacobsville Cemetery–and who’s not–and why.

Reitz, an author and local history enthusiast, will share the ghost town of Jacobsville’s unique story within the context of Keweenaw history. And “no,” she says, “it’s not mining.” She’ll tell tales about the people who settled the town that began as a fishing village at the mouth of the Portage River and now lie in their final resting place in the old cemetery.

The Jacobsville Cemetery is still an active cemetery, has no residency requirements, and allows green/natural burial. After the cemetery tour, participants will also have an opportunity to go inside the historic Jacobsville Chapel, now owned by Gloria Dei Lutheran Church.

The Jacobsville Cemetery is located on Jacobsville Road about 15 miles outside of Lake Linden, about a 30-minute drive from Calumet and a 45-minute drive from downtown Houghton. Turn off Calumet Street/M-26 onto 9th Street in Lake Linden (corner at DeMars Market). Continue on 9th Street/Bootjack Road to Dreamland Restaurant. Turn left on Jacobsville Road just past Dreamland. Continue on Jacobsville Road for 7 miles. Jacobsville Cemetery will be on your right.

The tour begins at 2 p.m. and will last about an hour. If there is significant rain Sept. 20, the tour will take place at the same time on Sunday, Sept. 21.

For those who would like to have lunch before the tour, Dreamland, a full-service restaurant at 46960 Bootjack Road, with a history as old as Jacobsville, is the closest dining option. It opens at noon and is about 10 minutes from the cemetery. Participants are strongly encouraged to bring their own portable chairs, as the presentation will involve prolonged standing in place.

For more information or if you have any questions, contact Frann Grossman, 906-370-9800.

For rain date notices, visit the “News” page at the Green Burial Alliance website, kgba.weebly.com.