Echoes from Moline’s past as seen through the eyes of the leaders who built the city and the people who lived there will be on display from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, at Moline’s historic Riverside Cemetery.
Local costumed actors will bring these early citizens to life during the city’s popular Echoes of Riverside, according to a Moline Parks & Recreation news release.
The cost is $5 per person and children are free. Tickets may be purchased the day of the walk at the Riverside Chapel Mausoleum at 3300 Fifth Ave. That’s also where the tour through Riverside will begin.
The first tour starts at 1 p.m. with groups beginning every 15 minutes until the last tour steps off at 3 p.m. The guided tour takes about an hour and half and will include some uneven terrain. (There will be no buses for transportation this year. Pease note that the Fourth Avenue Cemetery will be closed to traffic during the event.)
Fees from the event will go to the perpetual care fund that helps sustain and support Moline’s two city-owned cemeteries: Riverside and Moline Memorial Park.
Saturday’s program also is dedicated to Rydur J. Newton (1969-2023), the owner of Moline Monument Company. “He was a wonderful friend to Moline cemeteries and is greatly missed,” the park department release said.
Echoes’ featured players
The 2023 Echoes program is focused on the early Moline pioneers in the original Fourth Avenue Cemetery. The following characters, who the release said are “gone but not forgotten,” and the actors expected to bring them to life are:
- Joel Wells (1775-1838), played by Greg Bouljon, was one of Moline’s early founders and the first person to build a cabin in Moline.
- David Sears (1804-1884), played by Daniel Williams, was one of Moline’s early founders, as well as a dam and mill builder.
- Helen Reed (1813-1882), played by Amanda Whipple, was a humanitarian and honored citizen.
- Dr. Robert Meyer (1858-1922), played by Derek Rotz, was a doctor, coroner, farmer and inventor.
- Christine Nave (1802-1883), played by Becky Maxson, was a cook on Arsenal Island.
- Amanda Plambeck (1861-1956), played by Dorothy White, was a dressmaker.
- William VanDerVoort (1869-1921), played by Bob White, was the founder/owner of Moline Automobile Company and Root & VanDerVoort Engineering Company.
