Remembering those who pioneered Orange County by flashlight

Each fall, Fairhaven Memorial Park and Cemetery hosts a “flashlight tour” so visitors can explore the park’s history, architecture and notable residents in a fun, different way.

Led by guest guide, author and historian Chris Epting, the tour led 89 guests through the 73-acre cemetery in Santa Ana, stopping at headstones of some its most famous residents, including Leo Fender, pioneer of the electric guitar; Nellie Gail Moulton, artist, philanthropist and the matriarch of the south county pioneer Moulton family; and Corrie ten Boom, a Dutch watchmaker who helped Jewish people escape from the Nazis during World War II and authored the book, “The Hiding Place.”

“Fairhaven is like a living, breathing Orange County museum,” Epting said. “You walk through here and see the names, Segerstrom, Bowers, Bergen. Some of the pioneers, mothers and fathers, of the county are laid to rest here. So it’s a nice opportunity to connect with history and learn more about Orange County.”

Another of the two-hour tour’s highlights was a visit to the cemetery’s historic mausoleum, where actor Charlton Heston recorded his voice for the 1956 film “The Ten Commandments.”

“It brings history to life and people’s significance,” said Elizabeth Cipres of Irvine, who had heard about the tour from a friend.

That has become more important to her with time, she added. “I find myself looking at obituaries and thinking about what I would like people to say about how I contributed to life.”