Grave Matters & Untimely Departures

Digging up cemetery stories

Mystery, intrigue and unusual circumstances!  Mark  your calendar for Sunday, October 30 to attend Grave Matters and Untimely Departures at Fortuna's Sunrise cemetery.  See theatrical presentations portraying the "residents" of the cemetery from 2pm to 6pm.

Hear the tales of the eerily departed portrayed by local seasoned theater actors and Don Brown. 

See the story of Leo Gallagher, 1928 Fortuna High student killed during a game between Ferndale and Fortuna which led to banning of the sport of football from Fortuna High for nearly two decades.

Poor Mrs. Ella Morris, died while wandering from Eureka aimlessly demented for five days to fall from the Dyerville bluffs.

A modern-day Romeo & Juliet who committed suicide by taking poison in the Redwoods near Bull Creek.  Hear how this fractured student genius from Portland and his new girlfriend succumbed to deaths calling after reading the works of German poetic romanticist Heinrich von Kliest.

Hear the tale of a stabbing and gunshot death in the 1920's that led to early prohibition in Fortuna.

There's the story of a logging-era dance hall dandy dying of syphilis,  a crazy Norweigan trying multiple times and finally succeeding by drowning himself in the Eel River, the suicide by hanging of a Fortuna school teacher despondent over divorce and more.

On Sunday, October 30th, park at Newburg ball fields and ride the shuttle up to the show.  Tickets are $10 and available at the Fortuna Chamber of Commerce office or at the gate.