Places to go and things to see by Gypsy Bev

Archive for the ‘Cambridge’ Category

Christmas in Dickens Victorian Village

Tiny Tim and Bob Cratchit join in welcoming guests to Dickens Victorian Village.

Enjoy the spirit of a Victorian Christmas in Cambridge during the months of November and December. The main street is filled with Victorian scenes inspired by the book “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens.

Each year local dignitaries along with Queen Victoria participate in the ribbon cutting at the Opening Ceremony.

The official Opening Ceremony in 2023 was in downtown Cambridge on Saturday, November 4 with many exciting and interesting events. These included caroling by Cambridge Singers, the Akron Bagpipe Band, several storytellers, and many food carts just to give you a touch of what was happening. Of course, there was a ceremony at the Courthouse with local dignitaries followed by the 2023 Holiday Light Show. Then everyone moved to the Guernsey County Library for more entertainment and light refreshments. It’s an evening all those attending enjoyed. Similar events happen each year.

In its 18th season, the charm of jolly olde England can be felt right here in Cambridge. As you walk down Wheeling Avenue view 96 Victorian scenes with 169 characters that depict life at the time of Charles Dickens. Every scene has a brass plaque telling its connection to olde England and also lists the sponsor of that scene.

Father Christmas plays a big role in the festivities.

Father Christmas stands at the Courthouse Square along with Tiny Tim and Bob Cratchit. Scrooge and Marley can be found near Theo’s Restaurant. Look for shopping and caroling scenes along with Queen Victoria, who reigned during the time of Charles Dickens.

Scrooge and Marley are shown in this Victorian scene based on “A Christmas Carol.”

Many of the scenes depict people in Victorian trades. The candlemaker, apple seller, sled maker, and coal miner are examples of ways that people made a living during those times. It’s a long walk from 6th Street to 11th Street but that is the best way to enjoy all the scenes that appear under each lamppost. Some scenes are in store windows so watch for them as you walk along.

Imagination Station gives opportunity to dress as a Victorian lady or gentleman.

While downtown, you’ll want to stop at the Dickens Welcome Center to learn more about the history of Dickens Victorian Village. There you can see how the heads are made for the characters as well as their inside skeleton. At the back of the center, dress Victorian yourself at Imagination Station where there is a wide variety of capes, hats, scarves, coats, and more to turn men, women, and children into Victorian figures. You might want to take a picture and use it on your Christmas card next year.

Historic trolley rides are narrated by local historian, Rick Booth.

Weekends are filled with special events. The Historic Trolley Tour has been a highlight for several years and is enjoyed by locals and visitors alike. Rick Booth, local historian, narrates a memorable ride as the trolley goes from downtown all the way to the City Park. Locals will discover things they may never have known about their town. Find out why there were three bridges across Wheeling Avenue in the early 1800s and why they disappeared. Hear the importance of Col. Taylor in downtown Cambridge and the present day Col. Taylor Inn. You’ll be amazed at all the information Rick has discovered about Cambridge. The Trolley Tours in 2023 will happen on Saturdays Nov. 18, Dec. 2, and Dec. 9 from 10am-5pm.

Couples and friends enjoy having a traditional English tea at the Masonic Hall in this picture.

Three Victorian teas are held during the season. The Queen’s Tea will be held on Nov. 18 at the Cambridge Country Club with Queen Victoria telling the story of her life between courses of the meal. Two Victorian teas will take place at the Masonic Lodge Temple on Dec. 2 and Dec. 16. Join in the fun and wear your favorite hat or Victorian attire while sipping English tea and listening to some local entertainment. Reservations are required for the teas.

Each year, a group of local actors participate in the Cemetery Tours making history come alive.

The “Coming Alive Cemetery Tour” took place in the Old City Cemetery behind the Senior Center in 2023. The six living characters portrayed all had veteran related stories this year from the War of 1812 to WWI with the Civil War in between. Cost for the popular tour, which happens each year with a different theme, is $5 per person and can be paid at the gate.

The local library also honors Charles Dickens with a Marathon Reading.

The tradition of the Dickens Marathon Reading will continue at the Main Branch of the Guernsey County Library with the library sponsoring this event. Listen as local fans of Dickens read “A Christmas Carol” and perhaps some other Christmas works of Charles Dickens. Each person will read a 15 minute segment while visitors are encouraged to listen to parts of this well-known tale. It’s a great chance to get out of the cold and relax in the warmth of the library. What better place to read a classic novel?

Join a Christmas Candlelight Walk to hear stories of the VIctorian scenes downtown.

A Christmas Candlelight Walk will fill you with the holiday spirit as you walk downtown through the scenes. A tour guide will tell you stories about the scenes, and lead you in some Christmas carols. The tour begins at The Welcome Center at 6:00 on December 16. Here you can pick up a candle for the tour if you didn’t bring a candle or lantern from home. Admission is free for this event.

Many enjoy the thrill of an old-fashioned carriage ride through the downtown area. (Photo by Calvin Chester)

Everyone enjoys the thrill of riding in a carriage pulled by a beautiful horse through the streets of town. The ride begins on W. 8th Street beside the courthouse and tickets can be purchased there. On the weekends, check the Dickens Victorian Village Facebook page to see if the Horse and Carriage rides are going to happen. It all depends on the weather.

A special feature of the evening is the Holiday Light Show which gets bigger and better each year.

Every evening people gather at the Guernsey County Courthouse to watch the Holiday Lights created by AVC Communications. Watch and listen as the courthouse comes alive with the sights and sounds of Christmas. Over 66,000 lights pulsate in time to familiar Christmas songs. You’ll probably be singing along.

Music and scenes, from children’s favorites to classics and modern, entertain with different displays for an entire hour. The shows begin at 5:30 each evening and continue until 9:00, longer on holidays. There are benches on the lawn where you can comfortably sit to watch the lights or perhaps you’ll be lucky enough to find a parking spot close by to watch from your car. This Holiday Light show has become a holiday tradition with many families.

Scenes such as these can be found for five blocks in downtown Cambridge. Snow adds to the holiday spirit.

For more information, visit http://www.DickensVictorianVillage.com or check out their Facebook page. There’s so much to see and do that it is difficult to list everything. Come celebrate the 18th season of Dickens Victorian Village and get in the holiday spirit!

In the words of Charles Dickens, “Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts.” That’s still good advice today.

Category:

Cambridge, Christmas, Family Fun, Festivals, Ohio, Uncategorized

Tagged with:

Fall Fun at Tipple’s Country Pumpkin Patch

Venture inside the cornstalk teepees for a fall picture.

Pick a pumpkin! Get lost in a corn maze! Take a wagon ride! These are all things you can enjoy when visiting Tipple’s Country Pumpkin Patch on Simmons Road just a few miles north of Cambridge toward Indian Camp. They decided to call it Country Pumpkin Patch since Simmons Road is a scenic, country road.

Vonda and Ted Tipple started the Country Pumpkin Patch in 2001 on their farm.

It all began 22 years ago when Ted and Vonda Tipple decided to grow some pumpkins. In prior years, they had purchased pumpkins just down the road from Ned Thomas before he retired from the business. They built their pumpkin farm from the ground up. That first year, they placed a wagon loaded with pumpkins in their front yard with a can to place money in if someone wanted a pumpkin. It worked!

Now her son, Josh, Jess and the grandkids have been helping for several years, But Ted and Vonda still are responsible for most of the Country Pumpkin Patch.

The whole family from adults to children plant the pumpkins by hand in the spring.

The grandchildren help them with the patch from planting to harvest. They also give them ideas of what children might like. It’s a great experience for them to learn how to run a business, handle cash and make change.

Picking out a favorite pumpkin isn’t always easy but something fun for the children.

They decided to expand the pumpkin patch to a place where kids could have fun as well as pick out their favorite pumpkin. Each year they add more activities that children and adults will enjoy.

You’ll find a great selection of mums to make your home have a touch of fall.

There is no admission charge if you are just stopping by for a pumpkin or some of their other fall decorations. Prices for the pumpkins range from $.50 to $20.00 depending on their size. Mums, Indian corn, corn stocks, straw bales, and gourds are also available. 25 different varieties of pumpkins and gourds can be found here.

There’s also a nice selection of gourds, cornstalks, and bales of hay.

If you want to enjoy all the activities, there is a $5 admission charge per person – those under 2 are free. This includes a wagon ride, corn maze, crackers to feed the animals, and all the games they want to play.

They opened just a little later this year as they had to replant the pumpkins four times due to weather conditions. They are lucky to have lots of help dropping the seeds in the ground.

You might want to start your day at Tipple’s Country Pumpkin Patch by taking a covered wagon ride around the entire area to see what is being offered. The tractor is driven by Josh and the wagon is quite comfortable with padded seats.

A box filled with shelled corn gives many opportunities for play.

The corn maze, which is five acres in size, is always a popular event at the pumpkin patch. Most people enjoy getting lost…at least for a while. A box filled with shelled corn provides a great place for children to use their imagination.

Children enjoy feeding tame goats, chickens, and sheep.

Their petting zoo includes goats, chickens, sheep, and horses. Children enjoy feeding crackers to the animals and being able to get up close to pet them since the animals are very tame.

For those under 3, there is a small bounce house they are sure to enjoy. There’s also a nice play area with toys to ride and places to explore.

A nice play area gives children a chance to run some of their extra energy off.

There are many games scattered throughout the Pumpkin Patch area for everyone to enjoy. There is a Duck Race with water jets, a basketball gravity wagon to practice your shots, a new slide, and a Tire Bridge for kids to climb on and over.

Wagon rides are fun for the entire family.

Several area pre-schools have been frequent visitors to the Pumpkin Patch. They come for a wagon ride and go home with a small pumpkin. It’s a chance to show children how the pumpkins are grown and let them see the animals up close for an educational experience.

Groups enjoy roasting hot dogs over a campfire or making smores.

A special treat on Friday or Saturday nights can be arranged for groups with reservations. Many 4-H and Scout troops enjoy this adventure. This is a Nighttime Walk through the corn maze with flashlights, take a wagon ride, roast a hot dog at the campfire, and build your own smores. All this fun for $5 per person! Make reservations by calling Vonda at 740-432-3263.

Children get a chance to see how pumpkins are grown.

The Guernsey County Library will sponsor an event at the Country Pumpkin Patch on October 16th from 5-7 pm. The library staff will be on hand to supervise the event. Up to 150 kids will receive a free small pumpkin, and the library will have painting supplies available for them to paint a face on their pumpkin. While there, they can enjoy the play area.

As you can imagine, this is not a job for just six weeks of the year. All year long plans are being made and items are constructed and painted. Fields must be prepared, planted, and weeded. A Pumpkin Patch requires dedicated work month after month.

This sign lets you know you have arrived at Tipple’s Pumpkin Patch.

Tipple’s Country Pumpkin Patch is open daily the entire month of October from 12-7 just a few miles from Cambridge in the country at 6176 Simmons Rd. For the convenience of the customers, purchases can be made with cash or credit card.

“We want to give everyone a personal experience at a small but friendly Pumpkin Patch.” They love what they do!

Category:

Back Roads, Cambridge, Family Fun, Just for Fun, Ohio

Tagged with:

Lisa Cunningham’s Express Your Purseonality

Lisa Cunningham enjoys displaying her creations at the Salt Fork Festival.

Little girls enjoy using their imagination by dressing up as different characters that they admire. Getting dressed as a princess is one that has sparked an interest in many young girls as Princess Days have become popular throughout the area.

Her purses were a popular item from the start, thus the name Express Your Purseonality.

Lisa Cunningham, a local lady from Cambridge, has created a business, “Express Your Purseonality,” that has many creative accessories for little girls to create their own look as a princess or a special young lady. All the items are personally made by Lisa so you can be certain you are getting something unique.

The name for her business was chosen because, at that time, purses were the most popular items. Lisa makes the purses with fringe on them and adds popular cartoon characters to the purse for little girls.

Her daughter Madison was the inspiration for little girls’ accessories and has been helping her at many craft shows over the years since Madison was four years old.

Decorative headbands add something special for a little girl to enjoy.

Lisa’s crafting began about 25 years ago or perhaps more. She was making creative headbands for little girls when she was a teenager. When she began working craft shows at churches and schools, those first crafts were painted ceramics and tabletop decorations. She enjoyed making unique items and talking to everyone.

At first, Lisa just enjoyed making and showing her various crafts but then got serious about having a second income to pay for Madison’s college tuition. “I wanted her to have the best head start in life she could get.” She is now a sophomore at Youngstown State University majoring in social work.

Lisa tells everyone that her daughter Madison inspires her to no end.

Lisa’s full-time job is at St. Benedict School, where she is a K-5 computer teacher, technology coordinator, and auxiliary clerk. She also works as a teacher at the Cambridge afterschool program.

While she’s a busy woman, she still finds time to go to Youngstown State University to watch her daughter perform with her hip-hop dance team. Dancing is something mother and daughter have done together from jazz and hip-hop to ballet and have performed at many recitals together over the years. While at home, Lisa enjoys relaxing with her husband, Shane, and their four dogs and one cat.

A wide assortment of tutus are available in sizes from newborn to 10/12.

She also has two stepchildren, Emily and Winona. Emily had her first baby girl so now they are grandparents. Sounds like another little girl who is going to become a princess. She probably already has a tutu.

This close-up shows the detail in a tutu set made by Lisa.

Tutus are a popular item with young ladies. She makes them in sizes ranging from newborn to age 10/12. Some of these take a lot of time to make depending on the size and how many different colors are needed for the tutu.

Her handmade bows add a sparkling touch to a little girl’s outfit.

You will also find headbands, hairbows, wands, crowns, beaded pens, princess dress-up aprons, necklaces, bracelets, stud earrings, and of course, purses. It’s possible to get a special order for a birthday gift and then have matching headbands and hairbows made.

These hand-painted wooden earrings are enjoyed by young ladies and adults.

Recently, she has expanded her line to include something for fashionable ladies. She makes engraved wooden handpainted ladies’ earrings, leather earrings, stud earrings, and acrylic earrings that are popular with ladies of all ages.

Little Princesses had a special treat on Princess Day – meeting Dickens’ Queen Victoria.

“Express Your Purseonality” can be found year-round at Country Bits in downtown Cambridge. During Princess Days, it is a busy spot since the booth is stocked with various accessories for the princess, and the town is filled with little girls wanting to dress in something pretty.

Lisa remembers coming to the Salt Fork Festival with her family and walking through all the artist displays, having lunch and listening to the entertainment. At that time, she never dreamed that she would have a booth there. Now, her booth at the Salt Fork Festival is filled with little girls looking at all the accessories. Lisa recalled, “I love seeing the smiles on their faces as they look around.” It’s also a great place for mothers and grandmothers to find a special gift for their little girl.

Lisa makes earrings for all season that the little girls will enjoy.

Her unique earrings have become a very popular item and she intends to expand them for little girls as well as adults. Lisa mentions her goal for the future, “I constantly try to come up with unique craft ideas you won’t see anywhere else.”

Lisa enjoyed having a booth at the Backwoods Festival.

If you have any questions for Lisa, you may email her at tazzy291@roadrunner.com or call her at 740-705 -1756. Visit her Facebook posts at Expressyourpersonality. She’ll ship items anywhere and uses Paypal for easy payment.

Let “Express Your Purseonality” be the device to engage your child’s imagination in a world of endless possibilities.

Category:

Art, Cambridge, Festivals, Ohio, Uncategorized

Tagged with:

Friends of the Library Love Book Sales

Mystery. Romance. Comedy. History. These are just a sampling of the kind of books you will find at a Friends of the Library Book Sale.

Their book sales have two purposes. First, you can stock up on books for your reading pleasure at a reasonable price. The last couple of years, the Friends have simply asked for a donation from books that have been selected. You can’t beat that! They also have delicious home-baked goods available for donation as well. There are some pretty tasty treats available from candy to cookies and even homemade bread.

Book Sales at Crossroads are held in this room where new window coverings, tables, and chairs were purchased from book sales.

The second purpose would be to provide special items for the library that they might not be able to purchase themselves. That has become an impressive list over the last few years.

During the early years of the group, which was founded in 2010, funding could only provide money for purchase of books from the best-seller list as well as the Newberry Award books. But as funding increased, so did the size of their projects.

New book bins were purchased for Cambridge Main and Byesville from Book Sales.

Colorful return book bins have been placed outside the Byesville and Main branches for easy return of books and videos. The logo on the bins was designed by local artist, Steve Lowe. The large meeting room has been enhanced with new window coverings and comfortable folding chairs.

They have contributed to the Summer Reading Programs for children at the library, and recently they purchased 15 wonder books with ready-to-read audiobooks inside, and 5 Launchpads for use in the Children’s Library. These Launchpads can also be borrowed from the library and contain learning aps, games, videos, and more for hours of fun. No Wi-Fi is needed.

A Discovery Backpack Program enables children to check out an exploration kit from the library. These include books, magnifying glass, headlamp, walking stick and more.

Stephanie Laube of United Way accepts a check for Dolly Parton Imagination Library from Friends representative, Mary Sikora-Skeslock after a book talk by young author, Gage Shepherd.

One of their favorite community-minded projects promotes the Dolly Parton Imagination Library in Guernsey and Noble Counties with 887 children enrolled. The project began in 1995 in Dolly’s home county and was inspired by Dolly’s father who never learned to read or write. She wanted the children of their area to develop a love of reading.

This was the recent book mailed to youngsters during the month of January.

Here a child can receive a new book mailed to them each month from birth to the age of five. Pick up an application at any of the Guernsey County Libraries or go online to register at http://www.imaginationlibrary.com. Over 172 million books have been given away by the foundation as of December 2021. What a great way to promote reading.

An evening of folk music by Adam Miller was presented at the library.

Some of the early community projects the Friends sponsored were family movie nights at the library, guest speakers, and promotion of young authors. They encouraged sharing stories through musical or even dinner theater with a lovely catered meal at the library.

Jerry Thompson dressed as Father Christmas reads during the Dickens Marathon Reading.

Several years ago, Friends of the Library began a project with Dickens Victorian Village. Each season they schedule a day to have a Dickens Marathon Reading of Charles Dickens “A Christmas Carol.” This has become a popular annual event with a new reader every 15 minutes throughout the day.

Chris Hart has performed several one-man shows at the library as well as at the end of the Steeple Walk as part of Dickens Victorian Village.

Another event involving Dickens, has been an annual presentation of a Christmas-themed tale told by Chris Hart. This traditionally is performed at the end of the Steeple Walk. Chris has a wide variety of Christmas based stories he uses for this occasion.

A paranormal program captured attention with presentations by Shone Winegartner and his daughter of Cumberland and Mark Jordan from Malabar Farms. Joan Albaugh introduced the speakers.

There are approximately 90 members of this organization. They organize the books prior to the sale, help customers during sale days, as well as provide delicious baked goods. If you would like to be a member, you can pick up a form at the libraries. Fee is $15 for individuals or $10 for seniors 60+. Fill out the form and leave it at the library.

Children’s books are a popular item and always go quickly.

Perhaps you have some books you would like to contribute to their Book Sales. Donations are only accepted on sale days during the sales. There’s always a need for cookbooks, craft, and quilting ideas.

Of course, there are always books left over at the end of the sales. Some are saved for future sales. Friends have registered with Operation Paperback for the military and will use this as an outlet to diminish their paperback supply and also give some reading pleasure to our military.

Michele Hatcher, Carol Marlyne, and Joan Albaugh prepare for another Friends Book Sale.

Plan now to attend the Friends of the Library Book Sales for year-round reading enjoyment. Everyone needs some good books at home ready for a relaxing evening. While there, pick up some of their delicious home-made treats. Remember, everything is by donation and there’s no limit on how many books you can take home with you.

“When I think of all the books still left for me to read, I am certain of further happiness.”

~Jules Renard

Category:

Cambridge, Christmas, Just for Fun, Ohio, Organizations, Uncategorized

Tagged with:

Cambridge Performing Arts Center

Cambridge Performing Arts Center is located in the old Strand Theatre.

As a youngster, Saturday afternoons at the Strand Theatre were spent watching westerns which included my hero Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, and Hopalong Cassidy. This was a time when you could attend a movie and get popcorn with a quarter…and have change!

Camelot was performed at CPAC several years ago.

It wasn’t until the 90s that I returned to the theater when a friend was playing in the orchestra. I so enjoyed the feeling of that old theater that I’ve made it a place I return to several times a year. Over the years, the abundance of fantastic local talent has always impressed me.

In 2012, a play I wrote The Magical World of Dickens was performed at CPAC on three weekends. It was a great chance for many locals to have their first chance on the stage and found they enjoyed it.

But how did this all begin?

The Strand was built in 1915 at a cost of $50,000, which included $10,000 for a fine pipe organ used as background music for the silent films. The new theater was built of bricks and concrete to make it basically fireproof. There was plenty of room for viewing as it seated 500 on the floor and 250 in the balcony.

This Roy Rogers film from 1950 is one I might have enjoyed.

It opened the day before Thanksgiving with a movie entitled Graustark. Stars of that film included Beverly Bane, Francis X. Bushmane, and Edna Mayo. They continued to operate as a movie theater for 43 years when the owners, the Shea Corporation, decided it was time to close the doors in 1958.

Nearly twenty years later in 1976, the Cambridge Performing Arts Center was organized under the direction of Don Mercer. They hoped to restore the Strand Theatre so live theatrical entertainment would be presented in Cambridge. First, they had to clear twenty years of rubbish from the old theater.

During a college summer break, Rick Booth recalls helping do restoration tasks at the old Strand Theater. “Some days I was the only volunteer working with Don as he worked alone for a while. I remember doing work on the arches that lead from the box office to the main auditorium. It seems like it was through Don’s incredible effort that the place got restored at that time.”

Sound of Music featured the talents of many outstanding local entertainers.

The doors opened again on September 10, 1977, with the musical Gypsy starring Barbara Jones. Soon afterward, Cambridge Performing Arts Center merged with the Cambridge Community Theater and with funds bequeathed by the late Sara Cowgill purchased the Strand Theater for the enjoyment of the community.

In the early 1990s, Dick Pavlov and friends decided to revive the tradition of showing movies on weekends when there were no theatrical performances. They obtained a couple of working projectors from a nearby theater and began renting hits like Toy Story, Sound of Music and original Westerns. Sometimes the theater was so packed, people even filled the balcony.

Money raised all went to CPAC. Their first project was rebuilding the seats with new upholstery and repairs as needed. The movies were shown for about four years. Dick recalled, “Two of my happiest memories were running the projectors for the movies and playing in the orchestra for the live performances.”

Ghost Hunters came to explore the spirits at CPAC.

An invitation to a Ghost Hunt at CPAC is something this gypsy could not possibly turn down. The Southeastern Ohio Paranormal Investigators were going to spend the late evening and early morning hours there as many stories have been told of hauntings in the building. Cameras and voice recorders were placed throughout the theater to catch voices and movement. Spirits seem to be plentiful there!

The performance of Willy Wonka drew large crowds to the theater with many children being involved.

Throughout the years, many locals have had a chance to be on stage at the theater and that continues to this day. Getting young people involved guarantees a future for the theater and gives them an outlet for their talents.

Reindeer Games was a popular comedy show involving many children.

Mary Beth Sills, director of Main Street, loves to talk about CPAC. “I have been in many roles and love to entertain. It helps me and others forget their trials and tribulations for a short time. CPAC is a valuable space in our community with a rich history.”

Pirates of Penzance was another favorite of years gone by.

Now extensive renovation is needed at the old Strand Theater with the original estimate being $3.5 million. At this time approximately $100,000 has been raised with $75,000 of that being from a Paul Bruhn grant. Their goal is to maintain the 1900 ambiance of the theater. One of the first things that must be replaced is the roof. Then attention will be given to the seats, box office, plumbing, heating, and electricity.

When exploring the old building, the original movie projectors were found that ran those silent movies and Western serials for Saturday matinees. Several movie tins were also found but have not been opened.

Debi DiVenti. CPAC president has great hopes for the future. “We plan to have a variety of performing arts with not only stage shows but magicians, musical groups, and even revive those old Western movies.” At this time, they are receiving a grant to purchase a movie projector so they can again entertain one day a month with Saturday matinees of those popular old Westerns that so many enjoyed.

Sister Amnesia’s Nunsense Country Western Jamboree will be performed June 9-11 and 16-18, 2023.

Shows in the future include Ron Spangler, magician from Columbus, who keeps the audience involved with amazing magic and wholesome content. Upcoming shows include another popular Nunsense directed by Anne Chlovechok and The Little Mermaid involving many local children.

Fund raising is taking place to ensure this treasure will be around for future generations. The renovation team is working hard to collect the monies needed to renovate the theater. If you are interested in performing, directing, building sets, helping with costumes, or contributing to the renovation give them a call at 740-785-1400 or visit their website at www.cambridgetheater.org.

Support the theater by attending their performances and maybe you too will get bitten by the theater bug.

Category:

Cambridge, Family Fun, Ohio, Uncategorized

Tagged with:

Romance Blossoms at Dickens Victorian Village

A loving heart is the truest wisdom.

~Charles Dickens

There was a special connection the first time they met.

The spirit of Christmas at Dickens Victorian Village leads to many interesting adventures. One of those involves a couple who just happened to meet at Sheetz in New Philadelphia when Shannon was having car trouble and Curtis appeared to help. They sensed a connection that first evening.

After that, they talked on the phone several times and agreed to meet again at Sheetz before going to dinner in New Philadelphia on November 22, 2014. Curtis discovered through the phone calls that Shannon had a real passion for Christmas. After dinner at Pro’s Table, he suggested they go to Dickens Victorian Village in Cambridge.

Shannon had never been there before but loved Dickens Victorian Village at first sight. They walked from 6th Street to 11th Street and enjoyed all the Victorian scenes. They laughed, talked, and had a great time.

Shannon decorates her tree with her longtime collection of Hallmark ornaments.

Shannon loves the Christmas season because it’s a time when everyone is happy and thoughtful. Families gather around the Christmas tree to exchange gifts and share their love. To her, the season is filled with happiness.

In December, even though Curtis has a passion for heavy metal music, he arranged to take Shannon to hear the Trans-Siberian Orchestra in Pittsburgh. While there, he took her a ride on the Incline in a car reserved just for them. On the way down, he presented her with a promise ring – with a promise that he would never hurt her. Charles Dickens expressed that same vow for all of us when he wrote, “Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts.”

Shannon was walked down the aisle by her brother with the Dickens characters in the background.

A year later, on November 22, 2015, Curtis and Shannon were married at the Courthouse during the Dickens Victorian Village season. They loved the Christmas spirit that they felt there. It started out a fairly warm day; however, just during the wedding ceremony, snow fell creating a magical snowball effect.

Curtis and Shannon were married at the Guernsey County Courthouse with snow falling just for their ceremony.

Shannon told Curtis he could wear whatever he wanted to the wedding as she knew he didn’t like dressing up in a suit. Curtis chose his leather Harley jacket, hat, and boots. Then Shannon decided to wear Harley boots under her traditional wedding gown. They wrote their own special vows. Their reception was held at the Senecaville Fire Department, where Curtis is a volunteer. Then they headed to Carlisle Inn for their honeymoon. Their fun never stops!

Christmas with her Christmas tree is a special time of the year for Shannon.

Their Christmas Trees are a source of real pleasure. Shannon collects Hallmark ornaments for one of their trees while Curtis has a Harley Christmas tree. Christmas is an important celebration at the Broners’ home.

Being bikers is an important part of their lives and they enjoy having their hot dog stand at biker events.

Curtis is a gas and welding specialist at Matheson..the gas professionals in Senecaville, while Shannon works as a medical secretary at Akron Children’s Hospital. Even though both of them have full-time jobs, Curtis always had a dream of having a hot dog cart. As a youngster of seven years old, he went to work with his dad who was a policeman. Outside the office, there was a hot dog cart where Curtis enjoyed getting his lunch and began dreaming.

In 2016, they went to Connecticut where a church had advertised a brand new cart for sale. The church didn’t realize all the work involved and was willing to sell it for a fair price. One of the first places they used that cart was at Seneca Lake when they were rebuilding the concession stand. That summer, the hot dog cart was at the lake every weekend.

The hot dog stand keeps them busy on weekends.

The only time they have ever sold on a street corner was for Dickens Victorian Village. They set up on the US Bank steps right beside the courthouse, their magical place. Broner hot dogs are all beef and none of their additions are from a can. Would you believe that a macaroni and cheese dog with bacon is their most popular seller? Other popular ones are their Carolina slaw dog and of course, a chili dog.

Their logo incorporates the fact that Curt is a volunteer at the fire department.

They don’t skimp on anything so you get a meal in a bun. Usually, their hot dog cart can now be found at festivals and Harley events. The Hot Dog Cart logo incorporates the firefighter with the traditional dalmatian dog and the helmet shows Curtis’ volunteer #23. Their slogan, “Putting out the fire in your belly,” goes with that firefighter logo. Slogan, logo, and name are all registered and can not be duplicated…much like the great taste of their hot dogs!

Riding Curt’s Harley is one of their favorite pastimes.

When asked what they might enjoy doing in the future, Shannon would like to go on a cruise to someplace warm. Curtis wants to ride his Harley across country on Route 66. Life for them will always be an adventure.

In the meantime, they enjoy returning to Dickens Victorian Village every November 22 to relive their first date with a walk downtown and a chance to see the beautiful Holiday Light Show. Dickens will always hold a special place in their hearts. Perhaps it will find a special spot in your heart too.

Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childhood days, recall to the old man the pleasure of his youth, and transport the traveler back to his own fireside and quiet home!

~Charles Dickens

Category:

Cambridge, Christmas, Festivals, Just for Fun, Ohio

Tagged with:

Jake Graham’s Writing Journey

If you don’t have a dream, how you gonna’ make a dream come true.

Jake Graham writes under the author name of Jacob Paul Patchen.

Since the age of twelve, Jake Graham has been writing poetry. His first poem emerged during a disturbing time in his life and was on the stormy side. Then he fell in love with poetry.

As a student at Meadowbrook High School, he also wanted to play football. So poetry was set aside as his main passion for a while. However, he never stopped writing poems in his notebooks as it helped him to understand the world around him.

After high school, Jake served with the Marines in Iraq.

Jake is a veteran of the Marines where he served in the infantry in Iraq. His reason for serving was to protect our freedoms, which are very important to him. He appreciates all who have served.

“Of Love and War” is a collection of poems associated with the author’s service in Iraq.
Upon his return from service, he worked with Graham Excavating for a short time.

He went to Muskingum University to follow his football passion but while there his professors gave him encouragement and guidance in his writing. Today Jake is a learning consultant at Muskingum University where he tutors students with learning disabilities in their PLUS program. His youthful spirit helps students feel they can accomplish their goals.

A big influence in his life was Grandpa Charles “Whitey” Patchen.

Most of his poetry is written about him and his life…and for him. It’s very therapeutic to write about feelings. Growing up, Jake was very close to his grandfather so some of his poetry such as the book “Plucking Chickens from the Pines with Grandpa” developed from experiences with him.

Jake felt that the lessons he learned from his grandpa were more important than anything he learned in school…if he had paid attention! Actually, Jake wanted to keep his grandfather’s Patchen name alive since he had no sons and uses Jacob Paul Patchen as his author name.

Jake surprised his mom with a Welcome sign for Christmas with some of his shotgun shells attached.

His novels are fiction and based on ideas that float through his mind. “When something hits you, you have to act on it,” Jake explained. When he writes, he pictures it in his head as playing out as a movie. His stories center around love, family, war, and learning things the hard way. These are the things that made him the man he is today so he feels it important to spread that message.

Jake read some of his poetry at a meeting of Cambridge Writers at Crossroads Library.

Due to his Marine service, his books that are related to the war are based on real experiences he has felt himself or witnessed. He seriously cares about the number of suicides that are committed each day by veterans who have problems living with the world they have seen. Of Love and War is based on his war experiences through poetry and prose.

Words That Matter – Family begins a children’s series of picture books that help them focus on what is important in life. His plans are for a ten-book series for children to help them with issues in many parts of their lives.

The Silver Medal was presented to him by the Military Writers Society of America.

Telling it like it is has become his style. He doesn’t hold back on telling things that really do happen even if he is writing them in a fiction format. His style is easy to read and has already won six book awards. He writes stories for children, teens, young adults. and adults. Every book has a purpose with a touch of Jake’s great sense of humor.

Recently he had a signing at Bookology in Cambridge.

Recently, author Jacob Paul Patchen has had the opportunity for speaking engagements as well as book signings. He enjoys talking to other writers and constantly looks for ways to improve his own writings.

He frequently speaks to groups about his writing and experiences.

It was a special privilege to come back to Meadowbrook High School and speak to students on Career Day, as well as to classes at Muskingum University. Perhaps along the way, he can help someone have a better understanding of a personal problem through his writings.

Here are his earliest books and he keeps adding to that list all the time.

A couple of these books have become required reading for counselor training classes as they explain the turmoil that accompanies problems faced in today’s world. His words paint a clear picture of what victims endure. For those suffering past or present from abuse or severe trauma, these books touch the soul.

His most recent book, “No Pistol Tastes the Same” a PRSD Novel, gives a clear picture of what the war zone was like and the problems many military men and women have when returning to civilian life. Jake’s choice of words and comparisons make reading easy, yet you can feel their pain.

This author wants to impact others with his writing so much that they try to change for the better. Finding happiness in the form of love, freedom, and purpose would be his goal. Someday he’d like to own some land, a house, an RV…and maybe even an island!

Jacob Patchen encourages others by telling them,

“Go do more than just exist. Go be.

Go inspire and achieve.

Go do the things that make you breathe.

Find a way to make us better.”

That would be a great lesson for all of us to follow. Find the things in life that bring you enjoyment, then focus on those things.

For questions or scheduling a talk, contact the author at Jacobpaulpatchen@yahoo.com.

Category:

Cambridge, Ohio, Uncategorized

Tagged with:

Early Cambridge City Park History FIlled with Wonderful Memories

Families throughout the area have pleasant memories of times spent at Cambridge City Park. Some have been here from childhood to adulthood and have seen many of the changes in recent years but those early years remain only a memory.

Col. Taylor’s mansion built in 1878 is today a popular Bed & Breakfast.

The area that we call Cambridge City Park today was once part of Col. Taylor’s thousand-acre estate. The home we know today as Taylor Bed & Breakfast was actually the first house to be built on the hill outside of town.

Not only did he build a beautiful home for his wife, but he had a nearby barn where he kept his horses, the only means of transportation at that time. Since the horses needed water, Col. Taylor built Taylor Lake. When the pond froze over in the winter, blocks of ice were cut from it and stored in an underground cellar. Usually, they had ice until sometime in July before it all melted.

The City Pond, where children love to feed the ducks, was the first part of the park.

Taylor Lake today is the duck pond at our Cambridge City Park. In January 1913, Taylor Grove and the lake were sold to the city by Col. Taylor’s heirs for $25,000. Our Cambridge City Park was about to begin.

In July, a Clean-up Day was organized. All men interested in the City Park were to line up at the Courthouse and march to the City Park being led there by the Cambridge Band. A Colored Band was also there to liven the day. Ladies provided a picnic supper in the evening.

Electric Park hosted a Chautauqua celebration and many other activities before Cambridge City Park existed.

The Cambridge City Band began playing at the park in July 1913 when they sponsored the Lincoln Chautauqua, which had previously taken place at Electric Park. The price of a season ticket to enter the performing tent for the six-day event was $1.50 for adults and $1.00 for children 8 -15. There were a number of seats, swings, and tents provided for the patrons. Anyone wishing to do so could pitch their tent there that week.

In July, a lifeguard was appointed to oversee the swimming in the former Taylor Lake with rules laid down for the conduct of boys and girls to be enforced. If the girls were highly interested in swimming there, arrangements would be made to set aside a particular time for them to swim as well as have a woman oversee during that time and give lessons in swimming. A bathhouse has been promised by city council in the near future.

Baseball was played in the park in the summer of 1913.

At about the same time, the first baseball diamond was constructed which brought local teams and their families to the City Park. Money was raised by a group of interested citizens for a stadium called Lakeview Park that seated approximately 1000 people. Many baseball and softball games were played here each summer. It also was the perfect place for the annual Jaycee’s Fireworks on July 4.

By July of that year, families and organizations were already having their picnics there. Some of the first groups were the Mail Carriers Association of Southeastern Ohio and the Welsh-American Society, both of these on Labor Day.

A bathhouse along the pond, where swimming was popular, was an early addition.

Gravel walks were installed, rope swings, a bathhouse on the side of the lake, high and low diving boards, and the lake was enlarged. They wanted it to be the most beautiful recreation ground in Southeastern Ohio.

One of the early buildings to be constructed was the Big Pavilion, which served as a dance floor, concert hall, and speaker’s stand. Often there were six or seven reunions held there in one day.

The Kiddie’s Pool was a popular and safe place to swim.

In 1930, the local president of Cambridge Glass Co., A.J. Bennett provided funds to build a Children’s Wading Pool at the park so they had a safe place to swim away from the pond. There were two sides to the pool – a shallow side for wading and a deeper side for swimming. Lifeguards did not like children going under the bridge to get to the deeper side. It was closed in 1973.

The slide at the big pool was a favorite for a cool ride.

In 1941, Cambridge City Pool was opened after being constructed through a federal grant by the WPA. In 1998, the pool had to be redone to meet current standards. Again, the community supported the project wholeheartedly.

The park pavilion had a Coca Cola concession stand in 1965.

By this time there were several concession stands throughout the park – at the big pavilion, baseball diamond, and swimming pool. One person recalls having keys to all of them and if he happened to be at the park would open whichever one had a crowd. His first summer he made $.75 an hour.

Horseshoe contests were popular at picnics and reunions.

Pitching horseshoes was another important means of entertainment. There were several horseshoe pits at the park and many tournaments were held there usually accompanied by an ice cream social.

A man who lived close to town brought in his ponies for the children to ride.

Most children have dreams of riding a pony. Someone helped make that dream come alive by bringing several of his ponies to the park and charging a small fee for a ride. Speaking of horses, in those early years, you could hear the musical sound of a carousel at the park. No wonder the park was such a busy place..and still is today.

Kids of all ages enjoy a fast spin on the merry-go-round.
The Witch’s Hat was considered the most dangerous ride at the park.

Over the years, the playground has become an important part of the park. The largest section was begun soon after the park opened. A merry-go-round that parents felt was a terror device gave youngsters of all ages a chance to see how fast they could spin. The playground has been upgraded today through the generosity of the Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs.

The firetruck made a great place for climbing and using your imagination.

An old fire truck that out-lasted its usefulness at the city fire department was stripped of all removable parts and placed in the park in 1957 for children to climb on. Not often did children get a chance to play on a fire truck.

The Armstrong Bridge was originally over Salt Fork Creek before the development of Salt Fork Lake.

In 1966-67. the Armstrong Bridge was relocated to the City Park. This bridge, built in 1849, originally spanned Salt Fork Creek near the town of Clio. When Salt Fork Lake development was announced, the bridge was moved to preserve it.

This is just a little taste of the history of our Cambridge City Park. This community has been so supportive of the park since its beginning through individual and business financial support and volunteering. May they keep improving and supporting the park to make it even a better place for future generations.

Category:

Cambridge, Family Fun, History, Ohio, Uncategorized

Tagged with:

Dickens Victorian Village Bus Tours

Buses have coned places for parking in front of the Welcome Center.

Step back in time at Dickens Victorian Village in Cambridge, Ohio during the months of November and December. The friendly small-town atmosphere will have you feeling like you’ve arrived in jolly old London during the late 1800s. Bus groups get special treatment during their visits and we usually have nearly fifty groups a year during that season.

While this article is basically for the tour groups, you will find many things here that make it a great place for a family weekend adventure.

As soon as a tour group arrives in Cambridge,  you will get that Victorian feeling. A costumed guide will step on your bus at the edge of town and stay with you throughout the day as they tell how Dickens Victorian Village began sixteen years ago.

Our mayor welcomes you to Cambridge along with Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim.

Tour venues are very flexible as each group has particular interests. Most groups begin the day with a slow bus tour of six blocks of downtown Cambridge. During November and December, there is a Victorian scene under every lamppost in those six blocks. In 2021, there were 168 life-size mannequins in 96 different scenes.

A touch of snow adds to the holiday cheer on one of the Victorian scenes.

The scenes are based on Charles Dickens’s “A Christmas Carol” and also scenes from London during Dickens’ time. Each scene has a brass plaque attached, which explains its connection to that time in history.

Everyone enjoys a tasty treat from Kennedy’s Bakery.

Along the way, almost every bus group stops at Kennedy’s Bakery, a hometown favorite that has been in business since 1925. Three generations of the Kennedy family have created the same tasty pastries year after year. Bus groups stop back again and again.

Mosser Glass still produces glass at their factory with a beautiful Gift Shop included.

If you arrive in the morning, Mosser Glass provides an interesting stop as they are still making glass on site. Watch them create some beautiful glass pieces. Cher purchases turkey candy dishes here each year for her guests at Thanksgiving dinner. They have even provided beautiful glass Easter eggs to the White House. Their showroom is outstanding.

Volunteers at the Welcome Center are dressed in Victorian garb to welcome guests.

Down the street, the bus will have a coned off place to park near our Dickens Welcome Center. Here Father Christmas will greet the bus. Volunteers at the Welcome Center will talk about how the figures are made and encourage you to dress in Victorian clothes at Imagination Station. Have your picture taken for a fond memory with a beautiful Christmas tree or the figure of Charles Dickens himself.

Several unique shops help make this stop a pleasure for those who enjoy shopping.  Find a unique gift for yourself or a friend from several shops which include locally made articles.

Francis Family Restaurant has a large banquet room for buffets.
Mr. Lee’s Family Restaurant provides great meals and service
Theo’s Restaurant has delicious buffets and serve their homemade pies.

Of course, lunch is always an important stop of the day. Three local restaurants have delicious buffets that are only prepared for bus tours. Take your choice of Francis Family Restaurant, Lee’s, or Theo’s for a buffet that will leave you satisfied.

The Queen’s Tea takes place at the beautiful Cambridge Country Club.

Some wish to have an upscale lunch or dinner and choose to have dinner with Queen Victoria at the Cambridge Country Club where she tells about her life growing up in London from childhood to adult.

Victorian ladies greet you at the Cambridge Glass Museum.

Several museums give a great place to spend a couple of hours. Cambridge Glass Museum greets you with ladies dressed in Victorian costumes and tells you of Christmas at the Glasshouse. They will give you many hands-on activities to keep your group smiling.

Coal Miner Dave tells the story of those early coal mines in the area.

Another possibility is the Guernsey County Museum where you can meet Coal Miner Dave, who tells of those early years in the county.  At the same place, you will discover a one-room classroom and a teacher who will give you a lesson and perhaps even a test. Those are highlights of a museum packed with historic pieces.

Ladies enjoy wearing hats and shawls as they enjoy tea and sweets.

You might prefer having afternoon tea at one of our local churches. They will provide a short program of music and information before serving tea, scones, and cookies.

Finish off the evening with the Courthouse Holiday Light Show.

We always end the day with the Holiday Courthouse Light Show, which has over 65,000 lights synchronized to holiday music. An entire hour is different! The show starts every evening from Nov. 1 – Dec. 31 from 5:30 – 9:00. You can even watch it from the coach.

These are just a few ideas you might include in your trip to Dickens Victorian Village. If you would like to learn more please contact me at DickensGroupTours@gmail.com for additional places to visit.

Category:

Cambridge, Christmas, Family Fun, Festivals, Museums, Ohio, Uncategorized

Tagged with:

Jerry Thompson Portrays Civil War Santa

Jerry Thompson overflows with the Christmas spirit as he enjoys portraying the Civil War Santa as well as today’s traditional Santa Claus. Usually, it is the adults that enjoy his Civil War stories while the children prefer the modern Santa.

Jerry participated in a Dickens Marathon Reading dressed as Civil War Santa.

While Jerry majored in history at Miami University, his interest in the Civil War began with his great-great-grandfather, Sgt. Major Alfred Weedon. Alfred was born in 1845 on a farm just outside of Liberty, (now Kimbolton) Ohio. In July 1861, he enlisted in the 26th Ohio Volunteer Infantry.

Inspiration was received from a Harper’s Weekly cover by Thomas Nast.

One day, Jerry saw the cover of an old Harper’s Weekly magazine, where they did a story about the Civil War Santa on January 5, 1863. Thomas Nast drew a Civil War Santa distributing gifts to the Union soldiers. It was his first Santa Claus cartoon and the only Civil War Santa he ever drew. From that one publication in Harper’s Weekly, the troops jumped on the idea and it ran through the camps of the Union soldiers.

Jerry then jumped on the idea of portraying Civil War Santa to honor his great-great-grandfather. A seamstress from Claysville looked at the picture and designed a costume for Jerry. She used red and white awning material for the pants, and a navy-blue sweatshirt with white stars sewed all over it. The finishing touch was a red hat encircled with holly.

These Civil War historians presented a program at Roscoe Village.

Jerry had been a member of the Southeastern Ohio Civil War Roundtable for many years and served as president. So, it seemed only natural to begin presenting programs at Civil War Roundtables and various Christmas outings. There he told the story of Christmas during the Civil War and especially shared the story of the Civil War experiences of Alfred Weedon, his great-great-grandfather.

You might find interesting some of the highlights he tells. After Alfred enlisted, he fought and was captured in Perrysville, Kentucky, and in 1862 was exchanged and paroled to home for one year, as was a custom at that time. Every week, Alfred had to go to Camp Chase in Columbus by train from Kimbolton to report in.

When his year was up, he was sent to Chatanooga, Tennessee where he participated in the Battle of Missionary Ridge. Even though weak and sickly, Alfred crawled with the rest of the troops to the top of that ridge for a Union victory. Seven months later, during the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, Alfred was shot in the leg, discharged from the service, and limped through the rest of his life.

Jerry stands by the house on Madison Avenue, where his great-great-grandfather lived a hundred years ago.

When he returned to Ohio, he first went back to his original home in Kimbolton but later moved to Cambridge on Madison Avenue. Mr. Weedon taught school at Birmingham and built the first house at Guernsey Station. He served as Clerk of Courts in Guernsey County, was a member of the Methodist Protestant Church and the Cambridge G.A.R. Post. He’s buried in Northwood Cemetery in Cambridge.

Often Jerry joins other Civil War historians to share stories at libraries and festivals. Roscoe Village held a special Civil War Tree Lighting program, which included many historians from around the area who sang and spoke about the Civil War. Jerry appeared as Civil War Santa.

This image by Thomas Nast helped create our modern version of Santa.

Thomas Nast, born in 1840, is also credited with being the man who invented Santa Claus as we know him today. When he changed the color of Santa’s coat from tan to red, his Santa became the inspiration for the Coca Cola Santa we know so well.

Jerry has also portrayed the traditional Santa at many venues for over 40 years. He’s made thousands of children happy in his Santa appearances at places like Lazarus and many malls. Being Secret Santa for Cassell Station was a pleasure for 25 years.

After 9/11, Santa wore an Uncle Sam hat during the Christmas Parade in the bucket of the firetruck.

In the Cambridge Christmas Parade, that was Jerry that waved as Santa from the bucket of the fire truck for about 20 years. One special year was 2001 after the event of 9/11 when he wore Uncle Sam’s hat instead of the traditional Santa hat.

Santa rode a motorcycle to help promote Christmas in July.

A motorcycle has even carried Santa on a couple of adventures. At Colony Square Mall, he participated in the Motorcyclists for Kids Toy Ride. Then Mark Dubeck from Moore’s Jewelers asked him if he would advertise their Christmas in July sale by riding around town on a motorcycle. Jerry knows how to have fun even if that July day reached 97°.

Santa and Moose the Wonder Dog posed for pictures at Pound Partners.

Pets with Santa sponsored a fundraiser for Pound Partners where people could get their pet’s pictures taken with Santa. Moose the Wonder Dog, the Pound Partners’ mascot, received a lot of special attention.

Of course, Santa only takes up a small portion of his life. Activities in the community and with his family fill his schedule these days.

In 2019, Jerry managed the Heritage Tent for the Salt Fork Arts & Crafts Festival. There was a large variety of local talent displayed in that tent from potters and weavers to quilters and fabric designers. Local organizations also took part such as Guernsey County Museum, Cambridge Amateur Radio Association, and The National Road/Zane Grey Museum. In 2021, Jerry managed both the Heritage Tent and the Marketplace.

Jerry won the 2019 Muskingum County Hospitality Award.

The Muskingum County Hospitality Award was awarded to Jerry in 2019 for his dedication as a staff member at the Old National Road/Zane Grey Museum. His friendly manner as tour guide and host makes guests feel welcome as soon as they enter the door.

Acting has been something that Jerry has done for years as part of the local Cambridge Performing Arts Center. He played a variety of roles there for around 40 years. Some of his favorites were William Jennings Bryant and Dr. Einstein in Arsenic and Old Lace.

In 2020, Jerry took part in Macbeth at Zanesville Community Theater. Its themes of greed, corruption, violence, and fear seem to have reappeared in 2020. He shook his head when he admitted that learning the lines is harder these days.

Motorcyclists gathered at Colony Square Mall for a Toy Ride.

During the past few years, Jerry has participated in the Dickens Marathon Reading held during the Dickens Victorian Village season. This year Jerry will be in charge of that event and is moving it downtown so more people can enjoy the readings. He always seems to find a way to help the community.

Jerry has led an interesting life locally from radio announcer to dyslexia instructor at Muskingum University. However, one of his favorite activities has been portraying Santa Claus and especially the Civil War Santa in memory of his great-great-grandfather, Alfred Weedon.

Category:

Cambridge, Christmas, History, Ohio, Uncategorized

Tagged with: