Shaded by an old oak tree, Jay Pennington stood tall alongside the grave of Fred Dodge, friend of Wyatt Earp and undercover agent for Wells Fargo. Though not a native Texan, Dodge fell in love with the Hill Country during a visit and eventually settled here and became a part of the community.
Describing his job, “ Dodge” explained, “You must have a cover because you’re undercover. Sometimes, I was a professional gambler.
I was a Buffalo hunter. I was a boxing referee. I was a saloon owner. I did them all.”
The annual Boerne Cemetery Walk offers a unique opportunity to step back in time and connect with the town’s rich history. Attendees to the Oct. 26 event were guided through the cemetery by actors portraying prominent figures from Boerne’s past, such as Pennington’s portrayal of Dodge, bringing their stories to life.
Dodge died in 1938 and was buried in the Boerne Cemetery. Surprisingly, his second wife never saw fit to honor him with a headstone. It wasn’t until a group from Tombstone, Arizona, came seeking his grave that a headstone was finally erected, a belated tribute to a legendary figure.
Boerne Cemetery “resident” Emilie Lex (Fellers), portrayed by Lisa-Renee, appeared next, very neatly dressed in a simple blue dress with a white apron, a hint of her importance to the town.
Although not born in Boerne, she is considered one of its founding women because of her role in creating a sanatorium. In the early 1900s, places like the Texas Hill Country were thought to be beneficial to one’s health because of its high elevation and good climate.
However, Lex realized that “Patients facing serious surgeries often had to endure procedures in their own homes, making recovery a long and arduous process. I opened my home to these patients, eventually creating the Lex Sanatorium.”
Lex’s story included the name of another legend, Dr. John Francis Nooe. “He performed surgeries and monitored his patients, all in one place,” Lex said. “I prepped the rooms and helped patients after surgery. We even delivered babies. So, we saved lives and brought some into the world.”
Rose Esser Kemp is one of the most famous names in Boerne, with roads and buildings taking on the family name. Sheree Whitney looked every inch like the formidable lady, with her curly hair and period-style dress and handbag.
Rose had an idyllic childhood filled with carefree days spent with her dozens of cousins. In 1921, she met and married L.D. Kemp.
“ Come 1926, I’m pregnant with our first child, and I wanted to be close to Momma. So we found a little farmhouse not too far from my parents. We got settled in there, and two or three days later, Leonard was born.” Three years later, a daughter, Bonnie, was born.
Rose worked hard running the dairy farm. She then became a beautician and later managed Plaza Movie Theater, where Black Rifle Coffee is today.
Whitney, as Rose, concluded, “But the Lord gave me a good life. I’ve got kids, grandkids, great-grandkids. In about 1980, a couple of historians did a story on me. All that information is over at the Family History Place on Blanco. If you haven’t been there, stop in someday.”
Whitney explained how she got involved in performing these reenactments.
“William and I are part of the Historic Commission, and every year, they pick who they want to highlight,” she said. “This is our second year performing.
“I was given a list of women they wanted to feature, and I picked Rose. They give us about six weeks to research and learn about the person,” she added.
Armed with a stethoscope and a medicine bag, William Whitney was the perfect person to stand in for Dr. John Francis Nooe.
Nooe’s role in Boerne from the early 1900s to his death in 1994 cannot be overstated. Before World War I, Nooe travelled around the county on his horse and buggy, setting broken bones, taking care of patients and delivering babies. There are still some Boerne residents who are known as “Nooe babies,” Whitney said.
But in 1919, he was able to join forces with Emilie and work in her sanitarium.
“And for me to have been able to spend my professional career being of service to all these families, where bonds were created for a lifetime, was truly a special time for my life,” he said, adding, “and I’m pleased to have had the opportunity to have played a small role in our history.”
The Boerne Cemetery Walk is a valuable event that helps preserve the town’s heritage. It brings history to life and allows visitors to appreciate the contributions of the individuals who came before them.
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