Longtime St. Joseph residents discuss new book ‘Voices of the Past ll: Mount Mora Cemetery’
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — After releasing their first book "Voices of the Past: Mount Mora Cemetery" in 2024, St. Joseph locals Suzanne Lehr (author) and Megan Wyeth (photographer) have released a second book in the series.
Based on the history and lives of St. Joseph's past residents who reside at Mount Mora Cemetery, their second book, "Voices of the Past ll: Mount Mora Cemetery," continues to expand on the scripture and connections rooted within the historic cemetery built in 1851.
One of those connections is Purd B. Wright, who founded the St. Joseph Public Library in 1890.
"It's amazing how Wright was able establish the library," Lehr said. "He was worried people were not able to get books and and learn. And he arranged for everyone to have the ability to do so."
The idea to flesh out and discover more about people like Wright who made their marks in St. Joseph dates back to the early 2000's, when Lehr first came to Northwest Missouri.
"I began research here (St. Joseph) in about 2001 and started recording some of the stories which were used in Voices of the Past a year later," Lehr said. "Looking through the stories I wrote, Megan and myself decided a couple of years ago to publish some of these stories. We want the younger generation to know who these people were, where they came from and what they did. One of the founders of Mount Morah owned the stables where the Pony Express began. We have those kinds of connections. That's why it's important to keep carrying the history forward."
Having Wyeth capture the physical elements of Mount Mora was equally important in broadening the reader's perspective.
"Matching up the photographs to the stories is a challenge, but it was fun to bring the stories into reality, into real life," Wyeth said. "Having photographed here over the years, I've always been intrigued by the way light falls on the trees and tombstones at Mount Mora. It's kind of unusual, which I think is due to the hills. I want readers to be able to experience that unique phenomenon as they relive St. Joseph's past when they open the book."
Of the stories featured, a personal favorite for both Lehr and Wyeth is the Townsend Mausoleum, the structure pictured on the cover of the new book.
"I was always fascinated by the mausoleum. I start to wonder what my parents thought when they were both alive and the day the granite for the mausoleum was brought through town," Wyeth said. "I'm sure everyone in the whole city knew the granite, which weighed at least 24 tons, was traveling from New York to here."
Copies of "Voices of the Past ll: Mount Mora Cemetery" can be purchased at Nesting Goods, the Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art and the St. Joseph Convention and Visitors Bureau.
A book signing event will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, March 21st at the Wyeth-Tootle Mansion located on 1100 Charles St.
