Josh Lucia

Josh Lucia is haunted by history. As he unlatches and opens a creaky iron gate and strolls through Danville’s first burial ground early on an overcast morning in September, he sees ghosts, and they speak to him. Not to worry. These welcoming spirits have become such good friends, Josh is introducing twenty of them to the entire community.

A little explanation is in order. Josh Lucia is one of the founders of Smokestack Theatre and the driving force behind this year’s Ghosts and Gravestones walking tour of Grove Street Cemetery cosponsored with the Danville Museum of Fine Arts & History (DMFAH). Originally known as Historic Halloween, the name changed two years ago to reflect a new direction. “My main focus is equity and diversity,” says the long-time Danville resident who moved here from New Jersey at the age of three. Josh noticed that the only people of color buried in the 1833 cemetery were the unknown slaves. “We’ve been working on creating nine new roles that include ghosts of African Americans who aren’t buried here but will be on the lawn of the Museum,” he says while sitting in the shade of an old oak tree where Danville’s history is entombed. The stories of those characters will be developed over the next year and some will be included in the 2021 tour. Included in this year’s tour will be “A Tribute to Enslaved People” by Felice Williams and the character of Camilla Williams, a Danville native and the first African American to sing with a major American opera company.

“Camilla Williams will be in her own exhibit inside the Museum,” Josh says, adding that visitors will start the tour at that spot and then follow costumed guides carrying lanterns to the burial ground a block away. “Each tour group will have twenty people in it. You can bring your own flashlight, but don’t shine it in the eyes of the ghosts. It will scare them away,” he warns with a chuckle, adding, “Essentially, this is a walking tour where we share the history of Danville.” Having grown up in the area, he enjoys seeing and hearing monologues from the ghosts of people whose

Felice McWilliams stands near the area where slaves were buried in the Grove Street Cemetery. Gravestones were not allowed because it was illegal for slaves to read and write. Often a tree was planted to mark a grave. Photo by Josh Lucia.

Josh Lucia Introducing Ghosts to the Community

by Joyce Wilburn

names match local street signs like Craghead, Cabell and Lanier. Even though this event happens in the month of Halloween, the thirty-minute tour is not meant to scare. “Obviously, there is a spooky factor to it because we’re in a cemetery,” he acknowledges, “but depending on the maturity of the child, anyone age eight and older should enjoy it.” His parental experience contributes to that informed opinion. Josh and his wife, Tamara, have an eleven-year-old son, Jude.

For years, these tours were organized by historians. Josh and the 2020 volunteer cast are building on that legacy and hope the added drama will increase interest in the deceased and their connections to the present. “I want people to leave here and explore more,” he says elaborating with a story about two sisters whose brother gave them dolls before he went to fight in the Civil War. The sisters are buried in Grove Street Cemetery and the dolls are in two Richmond museums. “After taking the tour, I hope people will decide to go to the museums in Richmond and see those dolls,” he says.

With that remark, Josh stands and walks toward the exit and the granite wall that surrounds the small cemetery. With a pleasant smile he says farewell, turns and departs. A keen observer senses a host of spirits responding with whispered good byes to their friend, until he comes again.

• Ghosts and Gravestones will be presented Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, October 22-24.

Four tours will be given each night every thirty minutes starting at 6:30 p.m. The last tour begins at 8:00 p.m. Cost is $15; $13 for children ages thirteen and younger and

DMFAH members. Rain date is Sunday. Tour takers should wear comfortable walking shoes and expect bumpy terrain in places. Masks are required.

• Advanced tickets can be purchased at Eventbrite or the Smokestack box office, 126 Sutherlin Avenue.

• For more information visit www.danvillemuseum.org or www.TheSmokeStack.org or call 434.793.5644.