By Jake Ten Pas
F
or a night owl, there’s nothing more terrifying than having to be somewhere at 5 a.m. Even folks who work a standard 8- or 9-to-5 job might balk at having to wake up at 4 a.m. So, what does it take to scare a person who not only isn’t creeped out by the notion of getting up that early, but actually embraces it on a daily basis? The answer is a MAC tradition, the Early Birds Spook Walk/Run. Every year, it takes the bold of heart on a two-mile trek across the river to Lone Fir Cemetery, one of Portland’s oldest graveyards. “It’s always dark, and sometimes it’s raining and the leaves have fallen,” says longtime Early Bird Karen Olson, setting the scene. “It’s just a beautiful spot over there, especially during fall. It’s very ‘October-ish,’ and it is absolutely spooky.”
MAC member, Early Bird and Lone Fir volunteer Mary Faulkner. “A cemetery is just a history park, and it really provides a meaningful experience. As you’re walking around, it gives you the opportunity to appreciate the sacrifices that people made, and the accomplishments they reached.” Faulkner is the storyteller who illuminates the history hinted at on gravestones with yarns that stretch from the eerie to the hilarious to the tear-jerking. She says almost every aspect of the cemetery tells a story if visitors are open to hearing them. “For more than 100 years, there was a tradition that when someone was buried at Lone Fir, family members could plant a tree there in their honor. So, now it’s
second only to Hoyt Arboretum in terms of the diversity of trees found in the area.” She does the same thing for graveyards that Woody Guthrie did for America’s natural wonders and Bruce Springsteen does for the open road. She makes listeners want to never stop exploring. “I truly believe there’s no right or wrong way to enjoy a cemetery, as long as it’s not disrespectful or vandalizing,” she says. “It’s a place for art and culture and a place for inspiration across the spectrum, from Shakespeare to zombie movies. It’s a beautiful place to contemplate, and a beautiful place to celebrate. As the Early Birds’ unique tradition proves, it’s also a great place to get some exercise.” Continued on page 34
“We put little glow sticks out to light the way to the graves. When runners enter the gates, they know exactly where to find us,” she continues. “Sometimes people dress up in scary or funny costumes. They put out Halloween candy, pumpkin-spiced bread and coffee. You will for sure hear two or three stories, learn some history, and make some great new memories while you’re at it.”
Haunting History “Lone Fir Cemetery is one of the best places to learn about local history in terms of the variety of people who are buried there, and all of the stories of how they came to Oregon and the lives that they lived through the generations,” says
32 | The Wınged M |
OCTOBER 2019
(l. to r.): Barbara Sahli, Rosemary Stafford, Leslie Vanbellinghen, Kathleen Elliott, Ione Clair.
