Call Robin McKee the stone whisperer.

Every week during the summer for the past six years the local historian and author has brought back to to life the unique stories buried in the Hamilton Cemetery.

"This proves there is life in a cemetery," says Mr. McKee. "This is for the public to know. It's an opportunity to learn about the people who made this community what it is today."

For the second year in a row, Mr. McKee, who currently works as an on-air audio technician at CHCH television, will celebrate U.S. Emancipation Day with his Aug. 2 tour. This tour has a special resonance for him.

Over the years Mr. McKee has conducted a Civil War tour describing the contributions Hamiltonians made during the American conflict. But last year, after months of diligent research, including finding long forgotten documents in Washington, D.C., he discovered the approximate location of Nelson Stevens' grave site. Mr. Stevens, a black Hamiltonian, volunteered for the Union army. He survived the war and returned to Hamilton to marry and settle down. Last year the American government and American Legion sent a representative to Hamilton to participate in a special ceremony recognizing Mr. Stevens' contribution. This year, Mr. McKee will have a U.S. Civil War re-enactor stationed at the grave site.

Another popular tour is about the Masons, scheduled for Sept. 6. Mr. McKee has gained almost a cult following among the Mason community for providing detailed and accurate information about the secretive society, including its signs, symbols and culture.

"I've had 80 people taking part in the tour," Mr. McKee said.

For the June Masons' tour, Mr. McKee said the group of men, young and old, followed him around, hanging on his every word, listening to his stories as he "revealed the secrets" of the Masons' history.

"After the tour, some of them came up to me and asked if I was a Mason," said Mr. McKee. "'Are you sure', they'd ask."

One new tour

Mr. McKee has introduced one new tour this season which debuts on Sept. 27 starting at 1 p.m. Called Arts and Symbols, the tour is in conjunction with the Burlington Library's reading program. The tour will coincide with the library's discussion of Canadian author Jane Urquhart's The Stone Carvers. Mr. McKee will explain some of the cemetery's art and sculpture that are prominent features of tombstones, and in Ms. Urquhart's novel.

Other upcoming tours include Hamilton's Movers and Shakers on Aug. 16, Hamilton's Firsts on Sept. 20 and 21, Hamilton's Past Mayors Oct. 4 and the Powers of Hamilton on Oct. 18.

For Remembrance Day, Mr. McKee has scheduled two tours on Nov. 8 and 15 that celebrate the contributions Hamilton's veterans have made from 1776 to the Korean War.

"The tours are all very popular," said Mr. McKee. "The mayor's tour (last year) was very well received. I can cross-promote these events, as we have done with the Civil War tour and the black community. You can expand people's thinking."

The tours are free, but Mr. McKee said this year he feels the economic pinch. For the first time in the tour's history, the city insisted Mr. McKee pay a $40 fee to conduct a tour, for a total cost of $600. He has scheduled 15 tours this season. City staff argues Mr. McKee is renting the cemetery to conduct the tour, similar to a soccer organization renting a pitch for a game.

"It is costing me to do these tours," he said.

But will he continue to do them?

"Oh yeah," he responds. "The city can throw anything at me. Anyway, this is for the public. It's not about me. This information about Hamilton's history and the people who made it needs to get out."

From the hours of research Mr. McKee has done to prepare for the tours, he has compiled about 180 biographies he plans to include in a book on Hamilton personalities.

All the tours are about two hours long. Meet at the gatehouse of the cemetery at about 11 a.m.

"The tour is easy, informative, and fun," Mr. McKee said. "It proves there is life in the cemetery."

For more information check out his website at www.hamiltonhistory.ca.