LeRoy “Father of Huntsville” Pope was one of Huntsville’s earliest settlers and gained his nickname through his leadership in developing Huntsville, Madison County, and North Alabama.
He was a judge, land owner, farmer, developer, and businessman whose imprint on Huntsville is still seen to this day. Once a year, LeRoy “Father of Huntsville” Pope, along with several other Huntsville characters, wake up and host the Maple Hill Cemetery Stroll to benefit The Huntsville Pilgrimage Association, October 12, 2014, now rescheduled to October 19.
Why You Should Visit the Maple Hill Cemetery Stroll 2014:
This year we had the opportunity to find out from LeRoy “Father of Huntsville” Pope himself the reasons why you should visit the Maple Hill Cemetery Stroll.
#1 Where else can you meet scoundrels, madams, movie stars, governors and me all in one place?
#2 Where else can you learn all of the history of our great town, and my contributions to it?
#3 Where else can you find more than 65 spirits awakened from their eternal slumber telling you the stories of their lives? Did I mention that I’ll be there too?
#4 Where else can you learn about some of Huntsville’s longest lasting urban legends like “Mary Bibb’s rocking chair” and the “Spite House?” Just a teaser: I am involved in the “Spite House” story.
#5 Where else can you see some of the finest headstone and memorial architecture in the South? Just a tip, my marker is a must-see.
#6 Where else can you say that you have met a gypsy and a world-famous cow on the same day? You can also meet the “Father of Huntsville” – just sayin’.
#7 Where else can you help maintain one of the South’s most iconic cemeteries while attending a free event? Did I mention that I donated the land that became Maple Hill Cemetery? Well, in at least one version of the story I did.
#8 Where else can you hear about Huntsville’s former name Twickenham and why it was changed? Just so you know, Twickenham was the name of the English estate belonging to my uncle Alexander Pope.
#9 Where else can you hear about all of the United States presidents that have visited Huntsville over the years? Did you know that I once hosted Andrew Jackson at my home on Echols Hill?
#10 Where else can you have a wonderful, fascinating, and history filled Sunday? One tip for having a good time at the Maple Hill Cemetery Stroll – visit LeRoy “Father of Huntsville” Pope.
More Information: Maple Hill Cemetery Stroll 2014
Presented by the Huntsville Pilgrimage Association (note: the association’s website has an autoplay audio feature).
When: Sunday, October 12, 2014 Rescheduled to October 19
What Time: 2:00 – 4:30 pm
Cost: FREE, but donations for cemetery maintenance are appreciated
Wil Elrick hails from Guntersville, Alabama where at an early age he developed a love for both trivia and history. He has spent the last 20 odd years, fine tuning the art of communication while working in law enforcement, writing, television media, historical research, and public speaking. He lives in North Alabama with his two boys, and a neurotic German Shepherd Dog. He one day hopes that Bigfoot is proven real. Wil’s new book Alabama Scoundrels is available from History Press.
