Please put these dates on your calendar: Echoes of Yesteryear - Sangamon Co. Historical Society's 7th Cemetery Walk, held at Oak Ridge Cemetery, in Springfield. Date: Sunday afternoon, October 5, 2003. (This is Lincoln's burial site as well) Many exciting things going on for visitors to enjoy. Refreshments, music, exhibits. And many local citizens of yesteryear present to "tell you their stories." Free, but donations are very welcome! Whispers in Time - Rochester Historical Preservation Society's 1st Cemetery Walk, where you may visit 3 nearby cemeteries - Rochester, Buckhart/Oak Hill (east of Rochester), and Mottarville (S. of Rochester). Three portrayals at each cemetery. Sunday afternoon, October 19, 2003. "Guest speakers" of yesteryear, will give you information about life in the early to mid 1800's. These include Rev. John Cooper, a contemporary of Rev. Peter Cartwright; James McCoy (Rochester's first settler); a member of the engineering Sattley family; a local teacher who taught over 50 years!; and an African-American woman, Maria Bolden, who was the loyal mainstay of many local families in times of need of household help or assisting with new babies, etc.; other early settlers of the Rochester area. Free, but donations very welcome. ALSO: On Saturday, October 18, 2003, the RHPS will dedicate the cornerstone of "The Old Stone House" which has recently been removed to a 3-acre park on Rochester's West Main Street west of the cemetery and village park. The house is not quite completed yet, and no tours will be held, but you're welcome to come by and look over the exterior of the 1830's era stone home which formerly stood on East Buckhart Road. Time not yet established for the ceremony, pending notification from the Illinois Grand Master of the Masonic Lodge, who will be making two appearances in the area on the 18th, to commemorate new building projects. Watch the papers for time information. D.Ross