Fenton's Oakwood Cemetery to Celebrate Local Civil War History

It started as a way to celebrate Fenton’s 175th anniversary, but after a huge public response and calls for encores, Oakwood Cemetery, the Fenton Village Players and other community groups are again teaming up to bring the fun, dramatic and educational Oakwood Cemetery History Walk to local residents and visitors on Sept. 10.

“People just loved it,” said Doug Tebo, chairperson of the Oakwood Cemetery Board. “It’s fun to see people really getting more interested in their ancestry and in our history as a community. “

This year’s Oakwood Cemetery History Walk will have a special focus on the Civil War to celebrate the war’s sesquicentennial. Actors and historians will introduce visitors to some of the Oakwood Cemetery's 163 Civil War Veterans, learning about the soldiers and their families through walking tours.

“There are some pretty famous names in our cemetery,” says Tebo. “There’s Dr. Isaac Wixom, who completed one of the first hip amputations, and Dexter Horton, whose son invented the circuit breaker and square D fuse box that is in every home in America.”

The Sept. 10 event will take place at the Oakwood Cemetery from 1 to to 5 p.m.. Tours will leave every 15 minutes. The History Walk is free to the public. It is a partnership between the Fenton Historical Society, The Fenton Village Players, Governor Crapo Camp #145 SUVCW, 24th Michigan Infantry (Iron Brigade) and the Fenton Cemetery Board.

For more information about the Oakwood Cemetery History Walk, call 810-874-2610.

*Information provided by New Moon Visions.