Inside: B2, Mid Valley News I B3, Happenings I B5, Yesteryears I B6,Public Records, Gatheri I Sto ry by KIRBY NEUM ANN- REA Cats have nine lives , and so does “Cemetery Tales.” The third annual event is part the- ater, part history and all Hood River. It sold out for the third time in its three years, Sept. 16-18. “Cemetery Tales” is a joint effort ofThe History Museum of Hood River County and Idlewil de Cemetery . (Sexton Bob Huskey and his loyal assistant, Denny Leonard, were back again for the third year.) This year , for the first time, Museum Coordinator Connie Nice and her orga- nizers worked through a rain scare. While the forecast called for a shower or two, the precipitation never got worse than a short sprinkle on Satur- day night. But in keeping with the valley’s pio- neer spirit, the show would go on even in the rain. Volunteer Maggie Sholar got on the phone to as many ticket hold- ers as she could, alerting them to bring umbrellas, parkas and proper footwear for wet conditions. The format for “Cemetery Tales” has remained the same all three years, but the stories are alway s markedly differ- ent. This year’s included three stories ofpeople who li ved in the last half of the 20th century , giving it more of a con- temporary/pion eer mix than past years. In the bus after the tour , guests com- mented on the vivid history the event provides. “There is so much about Hood River I had never known,” and “It seems like they’ll never run out of interesting sto- ries to be told.” (Hood River’s “Cemetery Tales” is be- lieved to be the only annual event of its kind in Oregon other than one held in Jacksonvil le, which is where Nice got the idea four years ago.) The sad and even tragic aspects ofthe “Cemetery Tales” this year included one character dying of typhoid fever , another losing six of her 10 children, another whose husband died prema- turely , and another who ex perience d a painful divorce. There were also humorous and excit- ing tales of art, adventure , and commu- nity life in the World War I and World War II years. New performers this year (but hardly strangers to Hood River) included Glenn Harris as Miles Potter , Aaron Nice as Cecil Cutler , Peggy Dills Kelter as Emma Ingalls and Judy Dutcher as Mrs. Bertha Dutro. Three-time performers were Dennis Kindig as Frances Absten, Tom Pen- choen as Percy Manser and Gabriella Whitehea d as Nellie Shay . Performing for the second time were Kate Dougher- ty as Ellen Blowers and Julie Jindal as Phoebe Koberg. Wednesday, September 28, 2011 B1 a sold - out show a mong the gr a v estones For the third straight year, a sold- ou t show among the gra v es tones Cemetery Tales Bringing Local History to L Cemetery Tales BRIEF BIOGRAPHIES: See page B12 to read about the nine lives featured in this year’s Cemetery Tales. Photos by Nick Bielemeier Please see HISTORY, Page B12
Transcript
8/3/2019 September 28, 2011 Kaleidescope: Cemetary Tales
Story by KIRBY NEUMANN-REACats have nine lives, and so does
“Cemetery Tales.”The third annual event is part the-
ater, part history and all Hood River. Itsold out for the third time in its threeyears, Sept. 16-18.
“Cemetery Tales” is a joint effort of The History Museum of Hood River
County and Idlewilde Cemetery. (SextonBob Huskey and his loyal assistant,Denny Leonard, were back again for thethird year.)
This year, for the first time, MuseumCoordinator Connie Nice and her orga-nizers worked through a rain scare.While the forecast called for a showeror two, the precipitation never gotworse than a short sprinkle on Satur-day night.
But in keeping with the valley’s pio-neer spirit, the show would go on evenin the rain. Volunteer Maggie Sholargot on the phone to as many ticket hold-ers as she could, alerting them to bringumbrellas, parkas and proper footwearfor wet conditions.
The format for “Cemetery Tales” hasremained the same all three years, but
the stories are always markedly differ-ent. This year’s included three stories of people who lived in the last half of the20th century, giving it more of a con-temporary/pioneer mix than past years.
In the bus after the tour, guests com-mented on the vivid history the eventprovides.
“There is so much about Hood River Ihad never known,” and “It seems like
they’ll never run out of interesting sto-ries to be told.”
(Hood River’s “Cemetery Tales” is be-lieved to be the only annual event of itskind in Oregon other than one held inJacksonville, which is where Nice gotthe idea four years ago.)
The sad and even tragic aspects of the “Cemetery Tales” this year includedone character dying of typhoid fever,another losing six of her 10 children,another whose husband died prema-turely, and another who experienced apainful divorce.
There were also humorous and excit-ing tales of art, adventure, and commu-nity life in the World War I and WorldWar II years.
New performers this year (but hardlystrangers to Hood River) includedGlenn Harris as Miles Potter, AaronNice as Cecil Cutler, Peggy Dills Kelter
as Emma Ingalls and Judy Dutcher asMrs. Bertha Dutro.Three-time performers were Dennis
Kindig as Frances Absten, Tom Pen-choen as Percy Manser and GabriellaWhitehead as Nellie Shay. Performingfor the second time were Kate Dougher-ty as Ellen Blowers and Julie Jindal asPhoebe Koberg.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 B1
a sold
-
out show a
mong the gr
av
e
s
t
one
s
“CEMETERY TALES” actor portraits, counter-clockwise from top left: Julie Jindal, Peggy Dills Kelter, Aaron Nice, Dennis Kindig, Tom Penchoen, Kate Dougherty, Glenn Harris andGabriella Whitehead. Below: Judy Dutcher presents Mrs. Dutro’s story while Sunday matinee audience listens. Umbrellas and seat cushions were new amenities provided this year.Museum Director Connie Nice said one attendee wrote of the event: “A wonderful experience. Thank you very much for producing a program that brings the fascinating history of our community to life. The actors all did a terrific job, and the organization and support was flawless.”
Photos of Judy Dutcher and Tom Penchoen by Kirby Neumann-Rea
For the third straight year,a s
ol
d
-
ou
t show among the gr
av
es
tones
Cemetery TalesBringing Local History to L
Cemetery Tales
BRIEF BIOGRAPHIES:
See page B12 to read about thenine lives featured in this year’s
Cemetery Tales.
Photos by Nick Bielemeier
Please see HISTORY, Page B12
8/3/2019 September 28, 2011 Kaleidescope: Cemetary Tales
(b. 1886 (England); d. 1973)During a painting career
that spanned 60 years, PercyManser left a rich legacy of art-work in Hood River County. Hepainted signs during the De-pression to keep the familygoing.
Percy’s art brought himmany national honors. Peoplewho own or ig ina l PercyManser paintings treasurethem dearly.
His life was portrayed by
Tom Penchoen.Tom Penchoen has acted re-peatedly with CAST, HoodRiver’s amateur theater group,ever since moving here in re-tirement in 1995. In fact, it wasthe existence of such a groupthat clinched it for him whenhe and his wife, Marie Louise,were thinking of settling here.
BERTHA DUTRO
(b. 1876; d. 1963)Bertha and her husband, Dr.
Dutro, can truly be called “pio-neers” of Hood River County.They married in 1903 andeventually moved to HoodRiver in 1906. She was affec-tionately known as “Dutie.”Her legacy lives on with theCampfire Girls and the OdellHigh Alumni Association.
Bertha was portrayed byJudy Dutcher.
Judy’s favorite time of histo-ry is from the pioneering spiritof the westward expansion toearly settlement years of theNorthwest, so researching andportraying Bertha was a naturalfit.
Judy arrived to Hood River10 years after Bertha’s death in1963 and was in the CAST pro-duction of “Talking With” in1995. Her community involve-ment is not as extensive asBertha’s but she too lovesbeing connected with peopleand her community.
NELLIE SHAY
(b. 1888 (Kansas); d. 1910)Nellie Shay’s family moved
around quite a bit when shewas younger as her fatherworked with the Oregon Rail-road and Navigation Company.Eventually they settled in HoodRiver County. Nellie graduatedfrom Hood River High Schooland started nurse’s training.Her life was cut short as shecontracted typhoid fever and
died in 1910.Nellie Shay was portrayed by
the production’s youngest ac-tress, Gabriella Whitehead.
Gabriella is a sophomore atHood River Valley High School.Outside of acting, she enjoysplaying the trombone, speechand debate, cross country skiracing and school. Aside fromperforming with The HistoryMuseum, Gabriella is also veryinvolved with CAST and HRVHSTheater. This is her third timeparticipating in Cemetery Tales.
MILES POTTER
(b. 1841 (Pennsylvania); d.1916)
Miles Potter was a cabinetmaker by trade. He and his wife joined the westward migration
with the Mansfield PacificColony in 1875. He was instru-mental in building the BelmontMethodist Church.
He was portrayed by veteranactor Glenn Harris.
Glenn Harris has been actingin and directing plays with thelocal CAST theater group formore than 20 years. Most re-cently he appeared as Staff Sgt.“Froggy” LeSeur in “The For-eigner” and directed “SameTime, Next Year,” both at theColumbia Center for the Arts inHood River. Retired from Sprint,he devotes most of the rest of his time to writing and photog-raphy.
EMMA INGALLS
(b. 1842 (Pennsylvania); d.1920)
The Parkhurst Colony alsobrought Emma and her hus-band, Alfred, to Hood RiverCounty. They were a hard-work-ing early agriculture family thatexperienced many ups anddowns in their lives, but en-dured as people willing to helptheir friends and neighbors.
Her story was told by newcast member Peggy Dills Kelter.
Peggy Dills Kelter is an ESLteacher at Mid Valley Elemen-tary. When not teaching, sheloves to make art, cook andwrite. She was inspired to jointhe Cemetery Tales project byattending all of the previousperformances in years past.
Peggy loves watching historycome alive; she hoped her de-piction of Emma Ingalls wouldbring this remarkable woman tolife to this year’s participants.
ELLEN BLOWERS
(b. 1847 Vermont; d. 1908Hood River)
Mrs. Ellen Blowers and herhusband, Captain Amby SilusBlowers, were a founding fami-ly of Hood River County, havingat one time owned a large por-tion of property in addition toseveral businesses. They repre-sented a life of affluence — butalso generosity to others.
She was portrayed by Kate
Dougherty.A Hood River resident for 16
years, Kate works for HoodRiver County and teaches trum-
pet lessons. As the Blowers didnot begin their adult lives withaffluence Kate has appreciatedlearning how the Blowersachieved much by hard workand community interest. In hersecond year as an actor forCemetery Tales, Kate lovesbringing history to life.
CECIL CUTLER
(b. 1897; d. 1979)Cecil’s family came to Hood
River at the turn of the centuryto try their hand at orcharding.After many losses and a fewsuccesses, Cecil finally succeed-ed as an orchardist. His firstwife died in 1955 and he remar-ried a childhood friend. He wasa member of the SDA churchand an avid “shutterbug.
His life was portrayed byAaron Nice.
Aaron’s job as an E-Com-
merce director doesn’t allowmuch free time — but when hedoes have that luxury, he lovesextreme gaming, primitive
mountain man reenactmentsand acting. He feels a connec-tion to Cecil through his love of photography and travel and isscheduled to go to China in afew weeks. Hopefully he willcome back with some greatphoto memories of his own.
PHOEBE KOBERG
(b. 1889 (Wyeth); d. 1970)Everyone knew of Koberg
Beach and the Koberg truckfarm, but Phoebe’s story of per-severance tells a bit more be-hind the scenes.
Phoebe was portrayed byJulie Jindal.
Julie Jindal was pleased toportray such a strong, thought-ful woman. She’d like to thankKatherine Koberg, Joan Heine-man and Donna Koberg Kesslerfor sharing memories and pho-tos of Phoebe Koberg, and ap-
preciates her husband, Ajay,plus her friends for their en-couragement and support.
FRANCIS ABSTEN
(b. 1852 (West Virginia); d.1930)
Francis Absten’s story tells of early hardships and getting by.He and his wife came to HoodRiver in 1882 after traveling1,600 miles. They settled nearMitchell Point with the majesticview of the Columbia at theirdoor. His life was filled withcharacter building experiencesthat made his the man he was.
He was portrayed by DennisKindig.
Dennis returns for his thirdCemetery Tales production. Im-migrating to Oregon from theMidwest in 1980, he arrived just 100 years after Francis. Hedid his best to relate some of the experiences of Francis andhis wife as they crossed thecountry from Virginia to theirnew home in Oregon.
B12 Hood River News, Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Connie Nice said she islooking forward to 2012, andalready has five of the ninestories picked out.
Since its start in 2009,“Cemetery Tales” has neverbeen a “by-the-number”
and promotion; 135 chairs;150 luminaries and 30 tikitorches; 360 guests; 25 volun-teers to help pull off theevent weekend; 356 ticketssold and $528 raised for HoodRiver Adult Center/Meals on
Wheels program.Nice issued special thanks
to Anderson Tribute Centerand Gardner Funeral Homefor stepping in at the lastminute and helping providesome umbrellas and
canopies to ward off the rainSaturday evening.
Special care was taken tocover Kate Dougherty, re-splendent in her antiquedress of green velvet and fur
— and hat made by Nice.
HISTORYContinued from Page B1
Cemetery Tales: characters of past and present
“It seems that I have al-ways had a sense of duty inmy life. My name is Bertha
Williams Dutro. But I amknown to many as Dutie. Mynickname Dutie came to meeasily partly because of myhusband’s name, Dutro, Dr.Edgar Dutro, and partly be-cause of my sense of dutyand responsibility to thosearound me.”
Judy Dutcher,as Bertha Dutro
“
You may be asking your-self: Why would a young
family just pick up and leavetheir relatives and farm be-hind in Pennsylvania? I haveasked myself that many atime, but the Reverend wasso convincing. He describedthe Valley’s beauty and fi-nancial opportunities, andwell, we were mesmerized!”
Peggy Dills Kelter,as Emma Ingalls
”
When the great CivilWar began I knew I had todefend this new nation —only 85 years old at the time— and so I joined the UnionArmy. I served three years inCompany C of the SeventhPennsylvania Cavalry underthe command of ColonelGeorge C. Wynkoop. Ourregiment. .. fought bravely inmany operations and cam-paigns, perhaps most promi-nently the Battle of Chicka-mauga in September 1863.”
Glenn Harris,as Miles Potter
“
You know photography
has been such an importantpart of my life ever since Ican remember. The scrap-book of my life is filled withspecial moments in timecaptured in my mind — andmany times on film to bepreserved by my family forgenerations to come.“
Aaron Nice,as Cecil Cutler
“
By 18, I had become fas-cinated by images of Amer-ica, the new world; andwhen I read that land wasavailable for homesteading Iset to scraping up enough topay for passage — crowdedinto steerage under some-what less-than-sanitaryconditions. But I got toCanada and went straightout to Saskatchewan whereI heard you could stake aclaim. That was in 1904.”
