‘Lantern Lights’ in Addison will present true tales from the past
True tales from long ago will be retold when Old Petersburg-Addison Historical Society presents a free program called “Lantern Lights A’Glowing and Layered, Peppered Tales A’Flowing” at 7 p.m. Oct. 20 at Addison United Methodist Church social hall, located on Main Street in Addison.
Joan Whetsell, president, noted the program is a way to keep storytelling and local history alive as the audience will have an opportunity to hear stories from actors portraying local figures from 19th and early 20th centuries.
“When you do the interpretations, it’s one more way of giving insight to people and their lives,” said Whetsell.
The historical figures include:
The Preacher is the Rev. Jacob Crigler, an early Lutheran minister in Addison from the 19th century, who is being portrayed by David Glotfelty.
The Teacher is a 20th-century Addison teacher named William “Doc” Null, who is being played by Neil Bender.
The Civil War Soldier is Daniel Nicklow, who served in the infantry in Company I of the Union Army of the Potomac. Nicklow lived from 1840 to 1928 and became a successful farmer in Addison. Anthony Glotfelty, David Glotfelty’s grandson, will play Nicklow. Whetsell said Anthony is a high school senior and looks like the written descriptions of Nicklow.
The Tollkeeper’s Wife is Jennie Wright, whose husband worked during the 19th century at the Old Petersburg Toll House, Gate Number One, which was the first toll house coming into Pennsylvania from Maryland and one of six on the National Road, America’s first federal highway. She is being portrayed by her great-granddaughter Sherry Shockey.
The Mail Order Bride has no name but Whetsell is calling her Addie Battles. She came to the area circa 1920 from Chicago, traveling by railroad to Confluence and then on to Somerfield, the town that now lies beneath Youghiogheny Lake. Susan Johnston is portraying the bride.
Three Wives with the Same Last Name are being portrayed by Eugenia Younkin, who is a descendant of Addison native Robert Ross, who had three wives. Ross, who was a member of a prominent family, served during the Civil War, and his father, Moses Ross, was a state legislator, head of the militia and a local store owner. Robert’s first two wives died and it’s believed his third wife outlived him.
The Storyteller, being portrayed by Whetsell, is not a specific person but could be any storyteller on the National Road, which this year is celebrating the 200th anniversary of the completion of the Eastern Legacy portion of the National Road, a section that runs from Cumberland, Maryland to Wheeling, West Virginia.
Whetsell will be telling “a story that made the rounds of the National Pike. The history of oral tradition was carried on that way. It was written down in poetic voice. It’s a story of a man and what happened to his family in the 19th century.”
Whetsell has been writing scripts for these stories for at least seven years for this annual program. She wrote four of the scripts this year and David Glotfelty, Shockey and Younkin wrote for their characters.
“There have been some embellishments put in,” Whetsell said, “but these are all true tales, except for the storyteller, but that’s a great story in poetic verse.”
For those who are excited to see the program, Whetsell noted, “There are twists and turns and tales of true life.”
Admission is free. Refreshments will be provided.