Fountain, CO: The Friends of Fountain Fairview Cemetery Benevolent Society (FFFC) announces its fifth annual Historic Cemetery Tour on Oct. 1, 2016 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., at Fairview Cemetery, 757 South Santa Fe Ave., Fountain, Colo. This one-day, volunteer-driven event is held to raise funds to preserve, conserve, and protect historic graves dating back to the founding of this region, and to protect an important Colorado cultural landscape.

After a devastating event of vandalism in 2012, when numerous historic headstones were damaged, volunteers rallied to protect this important regional cemetery. Past tours have raised funds to purchase security cameras, conservation materials for at-risk headstones, and new marble bases. Volunteers are the driving force behind the tour and all proceeds go toward preservation of the cemetery.

History professor and FFFC board secretary Barbara Headle summed up the importance of the historic tour. “Cemeteries are more than places to bury the dead. Cemeteries hold the history and heart of a community. Fairview’s headstones tell the story of the settlement of the Fountain Valley and the larger story of the settlement of the American West. Railroads, mining and homesteading were important to the growth of the nation and Fountain, Colo. was in the thick of it all, as such Fairview Cemetery should be protected and preserved as a precious cultural resource.”

Attendees can expect a guided tour through the historic cemetery where docents will describe important events in Fountain’s history and stops at six stations where living history interpreters will give short historical presentations. Each tour lasts approximately one hour. Presentations are based on historical research and are used to help visitors gain a broader understanding of the historical importance of the Colorado Springs and Fountain Valley areas. Our goal is to raise $10,000 in combined ticket sales and donations this year. The Friends of Fountain Fairview Cemetery Benevolent Society is a 501c3 nonprofit, and all donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Tickets are $10 General Admission, $5 Senior Citizens/Students/Military and children ages 12 or younger free. Tickets are available at the gate. This event is appropriate for all ages. Visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/FFFCemetery for more information, or email Kimberly Sweetwood at ksignsasl@gmail.com with additional questions about the event.

Who: Friends of Fountain Fairview Cemetery Benevolent Society (FFFC) 501c3 non-profit
What: Fifth Annual History Cemetery Tour
When: Oct. 1, 2016 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Where: Fairview Cemetery, 757 South Santa Fe Avenue, Fountain, Colo.
Why: To raise funds to preserve and protect the historic Fountain Fairview Cemetery