Cemetery chapel inspires trivia night
The team of Edward Jones and Jeremy Heyer won trivia night March 4. Contributed Photo.
Drew Staudt, eighth grader speaking to the trivia participants prior to the game's beginning thanking them for contributing. Press Photo By Thomas Nelson.
Team Geezers plus one competing during trivia night. During the second game of first round they had only missed four out of the 20 questions. Press photo By Thomas Nelson.
The trivia trophy awarded to winning team of trivia night at the Charles City Middle School. Press Photo By Thomas Nelson.
Toni Smith, an 8th grade teacher at the Charles City middle school pours cheese in the nacho cheese fountain at trivia. Her students helped and volunteered to put on the event. Press Photo By Thomas Nelson.
Two eighth graders, Libbie McKeag and Kiki Connell both played violin for trivia goers as they arrived Saturday evening, March 4. Press Photo By Thomas Nelson.
By Thomas Nelson, tnelson@charlescitypress.com
Eighth-grade Charles City middle school students put on a trivia night to help preserve the Chapel in the Riverside Cemetery.
Two eighth-grade students were there to greet trivia participants as they came in to the middle school. Two more students — Libbie McKeag and Kiki Connell — played violin inside.
The night was inspired by a trip led by Jeff Sisson, Charles City Historical Preservation Commission chairman.
Sisson took the eighth-grade class to visit the Charles City Riverside Cemetery and when the kids saw the Chapel they wanted to help to restore it.
“Jeff’s goal is to make the cemetery an outdoor classroom,” middle school teacher Amanda Ramiller said.
The chapel has fallen into disrepair and isn’t currently open to the public, Rahmiller said.
“There’s a 110 year old Chapel on grounds of the cemetery,” Rahmiller said. “It’s made from native stone from the area from a quarry 4 miles away.”
Rahmiller brought the idea of the trivia night to the kids, and it’s taken off from there, Rahmiller said.
“Our main goal was to come up with things to help the cemetery,” Nick Ritzman, eighth grader said. “This trivia night is something to help out the chapel.”
Sission, as well as several of the trivia participants were impressed with both the level of difficulty of the questions and the event itself.
“The kids have done a great job,” Sisson said. “They’re doing extraordinary things.”
Prior to the beginning of the trivia night, Drew Staudt, an eighth grader spoke.
“You guys are the reason we’re here right now,” Staudt said. “It’s all thanks to you guys, that we could have this wonderful fundraiser.”
The almost $5,000 raised is going to the help the chapel, but for the chapel’s full renovation, it will take more than $200,000.
“We’re going to need a lot more money for this,” Staudt said.
The eighth-grade class prepared the whole event, going to business for support, volunteering their own time and writing the questions.
Some 26 teams made up of community members and Charles City business participated in the event.
Teams of six played a total of three rounds, with 10 games. There was also a silent auction going on, with items contributed by local businesses.
Other groups of eighth graders have worked to renovate the cemetery, some cleaning stones.
Another project that the kids are working on will put a memorial in the ground for children that died of diphtheria.
The winner of the evening was the team of Edward Jones and Jeremy Heyer.
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