'Night at the Cemetery' set for Merrill

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The Old Merrill Cemetery will be the setting for the Klamath County Museum’s Night at the Cemetery program on Oct. 5. (Submitted photo)

The Old Merrill Cemetery will be the setting for the Klamath County Museum’s Night at the Cemetery program on Oct. 5. (Submitted photo)

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – The historic Old Merrill Cemetery will be the setting for the Klamath County Museum’s 13th annual “Night at the Cemetery” program scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 5.

“We usually do this program at Linkville Cemetery in Klamath Falls, but this year we’re going to explore the history of the Merrill-Malin-Tulelake area,” said museum manager Todd Kepple. “We have an all-star cast of south county residents who will portray our historic characters.”

Tickets for the event are $10, and must be purchased in advance at the museum, 1451 Main St. in Klamath Falls. Tickets can be reserved over the phone with a bank card. No tickets will be available at the event.

Proceeds benefit the museum, the Klamath Falls YMCA and the Merrill Lions Club flagpole fund.

The hour-long presentation is made in the form of a tour through the cemetery, with small audience groups led from station to station by a guide. The event will involve walking short distances over uneven ground, covering up to a quarter-mile.

Tickets are available for earlier tours that begin before sundown. Later tours begin at nightfall.

Cast members include Nancy Baley, Ryan Bartholomew, Brian Bicknell, Patsy Gasser, Robin King, Greg Matthews and Steven Moore.

Among the characters being portrayed is Nathan Merrill, founder of the town of Merrill.

Dan Van Brimmer, among the Klamath Basin’s earliest white residents, will also be portrayed, as well as Stephen Stukel, for whom Stukel Mountain is named.

The event is described as a living history program, and is not designed to be spooky or scary. Children are welcome, although the program is geared toward adults.

Those attending the event are advised to dress for cool weather and be prepared for the possibility of rain. Tickets are non-refundable. In the event of extremely harsh weather, the event will be moved to Walt Wilson Hall at the Merrill Civic Center.

For more information, call the Klamath County Museum at (541) 882-1000.