Digging Deeper:
From the team at Battlefield House Museum & Park, along with Pat Gallagher and Alycia Gallagher of Cemetery Chronicles
Cemetery Chronicles offer free tours of Hamilton Cemetery from May to November. City of Hamilton.
Cemeteries are sacred and intimate spaces. They are places where people go to feel close to someone who has passed, where forgotten histories linger, and where natural quiet and greenspace invite reflection. The Cemetery Chronicles tours, run at Hamilton Cemetery and free to the public, build on this atmosphere by offering a thoughtful way to engage with Hamilton’s past. Guided by historical research and engaging storytelling, they bring to light the lives of fascinating individuals who helped shape the city.
The tours are led by Patrick Gallagher and his daughter, Alycia Gallagher, alongside Hamilton Civic Museum interpreters. What follows is a behind-the-scenes Q&A with Patrick and Alycia on how these tours are researched, run, and how they’re shared with visitors who attend.
Q: When you start building a new cemetery tour, where do you begin?
A: “Our own personal interest to be honest. It started with the War of 1812 tour due to Alycia’s long standing volunteer work and employment at Battlefield House Museum & Park, and Patrick’s lifelong love of history and volunteer work at the cemetery. Combining both started a relationship between the Hamilton [Civic] Museums and the Hamilton Cemetery. The former historian of the Hamilton Cemetery, Elizabeth Manake, was responsible for putting together an incredible resource of individuals who we developed our tours around. After reading through her research, we were able to construct tours based on themes we felt would of interest to the public.”
Q: What are your most used sources when researching Hamilton’s history? Are there any unexpected ones?
A: “The records at the Hamilton Cemetery are not only the most accessible but the most valuable when it comes to accuracy. We will again credit former cemetery historian, Elizabeth Manake for her tireless efforts to document and archive information concerning important individuals buried at the cemetery. The Cemetery records at the include burial cards, ledgers and maps. The collaboration with the Hamilton Region Museums has also provided a wealth of knowledge and resources for the tours. Between both the cemetery and the Hamilton Region Museums we have been able to clarify rumours, legends and half-facts to present the most accurate information possible. Online resources, such as ancestry.ca, find a grave, university databases, attestation papers that are acquired through personnel records through the Canadian military and personal accounts of family members provide a full spectrum of information.”
Many of Cemetery Chronicles tours are made in collaboration with the Hamilton Civic Museums, such as a tour about the McQuesten family of Whitehern Historic House & Garden. Most of the McQuesten family are buried in Hamilton Cemetery. City of Hamilton.
Q: Have you ever uncovered a story that completely changed your understanding of Hamilton’s past?
A: “A resource that we use often on our tours is the map drawn by Lt. Cl. Bruyere. It shows the defences built by the British after their retreat from Fort George on May 27th, 1813, during the War of 1812. Utilizing the map, we are now able to point out on our tours the positions of where we believe Beasley’s barn existed, the magazine, and the second line of defence. While this may not be new information to some, being able to show where these important physical defences are on the copy of the map, that we hand out to each visitor, changes their understanding of Hamilton’s past.”
Q: Have you ever had to adapt a tour in the moment based on audience reactions?
A: “You will never get the same tour twice. Prior to the actual tour, we engage with the visitors to get to know them, find out how they heard about our tours, their level of knowledge in regard to the topic of the tour, and their sense of humour. If children are present, we also adjust our language so it can be understood by all. There are many visitors who come to learn and may have mobility requirements, and at that point we will reroute where we walk so everyone is comfortable and safe. More often than not, there are people who will hang around after the tour and ask questions and want to know more. If you’ve ever been to a concert, and know what an ‘encore’ is, that happens with Cemetery Chronicles as well.”
Q: What is it like to work in a space that is both historical and deeply personal for many people?
A: “Cemetery Chronicles is involved with not only showcasing the history of the people and the site for tours, but also finding the history of loved ones through genealogical research. Respect and accuracy are most important when talking about both. It is imperative to Cemetery Chronicles when researching tours or family history that we are sure that what we share is true. Death can be a sensitive topic for many people, and we try to involve some lighthearted humour to de-stigmatize the fear of visiting cemeteries. The Hamilton Cemetery was created as a garden cemetery and is meant to be visited and celebrated. Through these tours, we are achieving that.”
Q: What’s a story that audiences consistently connect with?
A: “The story of Pearl Sweetlove is not only a fan favourite, but our favourite. It was the first story that we researched from beginning to end, and developed for the Naval Disaster tour. It is a love story involving the Titanic, kidnapping, vaudeville, and heartbreak. No spoilers, you’ll have to come on a tour to hear the full story.”
Q: What do you hope visitors take away after attending a tour?
A: “It really depends on the person, because people come to our tours for many reasons. Some come because they enjoy cemetery tours, some because they’ve been over at the museums and have been told to attend, some have seen advertising in the newspapers, and some have been dragged along by a history nerd friend or family member. What we hope at the very least is for every person to have enjoyed themselves and to maybe have walked away with a fun fact about Hamilton, or history that may come in handy at a future family dinner or Jeopardy game. We strive to make history fun and engage every level of interest to all who attends our tours.”
Cemetery Chronicles tours run rain or shine and lead visitors through much of the park style cemetery. City of Hamilton.
Q: What’s the most memorable reaction you’ve seen from a tour participant?
A: “For the past four years we have run a tour on George Hamilton Day, which lands on the first Monday in August. Obviously, the star of the tour is George Hamilton, and we talk about his military history, family history, and involvement in the creation of the city we love and live in. While talking about George Hamilton, Alycia said that George Hamilton’s father was Robert Hamilton. Unfortunately it was in front of a descendent of George Hamilton. He waited until the end of the presentation and raised his hand and very politely corrected her. While it was a little embarrassing, this is something we really cherish on our tours. We are constantly learning not only from resources, but from our tour participants. We were walking through the cemetery last fall and family members from a mausoleum we speak about often, were visiting the site. We were able to talk to them, explain our tours and the story we tell, and then promptly get corrected on information we believed to be true. We incorporate all of these experiences and instances in our tours to show that you need to be open to new information, because you never know what new fact you may stumble upon.”
The Gatehouse lodge is the meeting place for all Cemetery Chronicles tours in Hamilton Cemetery. City of Hamilton.
Q: How do the cemetery tours connect to the broader work of Hamilton Civic Museums?
A: “To put it plainly, we all have a story to tell. The people who work at the museums and volunteer at the cemetery are dedicated to sharing the incredible stories of the people of Hamilton, both past and present. There is an old adage that says, you die two times. The first, physically, and the second when your name is said for the final time. The Hamilton Civic Museums and Hamilton Cemeteries are ensuring that the individuals who have made an impact on this town—whether it be in their field of work, showcasing their artistic talent, defending their country, or simply just a loved one that wants to be cherished—is accessible and talked about. Everyone has a story, and we’re lucky we get to share them.”
Q: Why do you think experiences like cemetery tours matter today?
A: “It’s incredibly easy to go online and learn about the stories we tell on our tours. You can even do it from the comfort of your own bed. The difference is the personal connection and interactions that happen on our tours. While the topic of death and cemeteries can be very unsettling and sad, we like to bring to life the stories of the people we find important. There have been many instances when fellow attendees have exchanged numbers, emails, or engaged with each other due to a shared interest. It’s not only about sharing history, and talking about those interred at the cemetery, but its about bringing people together and creating a community of fellow history nerds. History nerds are the best nerds.”
Join Patrick and Alycia at the next Cemetery Chronicle Tour to experience history in a way that will surprise you with humour, connection, or an unexpected twist. Come prepared for a bit of walking, but also for curiosity, conversation, and the pleasure of discovering that even in the most tranquil of spaces, Hamilton’s past is very much alive—and it’s eager to be remembered.
Discover history. Celebrate legacy. Walk with us.
To find out more about organizing a group or private tour, email [email protected].
