Library celebrates 220th anniversary with cemetery lantern tours

PINE PLAINS — Along with celebrating its 220th anniversary, the Pine Plains Free Library shared town history with its lantern tours of Evergreen Cemetery on Saturday, Oct. 20.

Throughout the evening, residents and history buffs could join five nighttime tours. 

Walking in groups to avoid being separated in the dark, the tourists walked toward The Pines Inn; a pathway leading to the inn glowed with candles in paper bags and the porch lights illuminated actors and musicians dressed in period costumes.

The library previously held the lantern tours of Evergreen Cemetery in 2012 and 2013 before taking a hiatus. When asked why they brought back the lantern tours, Pine Plains Free Library Board of Trustees member Lanaea Bailey said, “We’re talking about getting into the Halloween season. People in this town … really do cherish history and we have so much of it here, that’s what we want to illuminate.”

Bailey gave thanks to the library, Evergreen Cemetery, the Little Nine Partners Historical Society, the Stissing Theatre Guild and those who joined the cast and crew. 

With violinists Laura Dennis and Mike Kemp drawing their bows, Stissing Mountain High School senior Laura Dennis sang a gentle lullaby from the porch. Micaela Amelio stepped up in the role of Rachel Rudd Eno and spoke about the Eno family in Pine Plains. Prominent citizens, Frank Eno kept busy as a lawyer, farmer, postmaster, librarian and president of Seymour Smith Academy, while his wife, Rachel Rudd, was active in the women’s rights movement. 

Though she thrived in the intellectually stimulating environment created by her family, Rachel Rudd Eno passed away at age 28 as a result of the grippe flu epidemic of 1918. Acting as a tour guide, library board member Tully Lyons explained that more Americans died from grippe flu than from World War II.

The crowd followed Bailey into the cemetery, stopping at the grave of Seymour Smith. Sitting upright in an illuminated coffin, Pine Plains resident Thayer Durell portrayed Smith with a natural finesse as he shared stories of Smith’s work as the benefactor of a local boarding school Seymour Smith Institute, which was later known as Seymour Smith Academy. Taking his watch out of his pocket, he bid the crowd farewell with an “Excelsior!” before lying back in his coffin.

Pausing at the grave of Israel Reynolds, Little Nine Partners member Scott Chase made his acting debut as Reynolds and reflected on his roles as postmaster and mail carrier to the town’s third librarian and the proprietor of the Stissing House. 

Chase stepped aside to allow guitarist Jim Petrie to play a ballad about Reynolds’ life. Lyons added that the library was originally located in a tavern, considered a center for community life.

Walking down the hill toward Clarissa Strever Cole’s gravestone, Bailey introduced Cole as the first female librarian in Pine Plains as well as the town’s first female pharmacist. Following Brenda Bertin’s lovely rendition of “Simple Gifts,” Lori Patricola reminisced about the life Cole led, beyond her roles as a wife and mother.

“As I said, I was blessed with tremendous energy,” Patricola said as Cole. “Better to be busy than idle, I always say.”

Stopping between two trees on the path, Lyons spoke about World War I and its aftermath, from the significant developments in science and technology to the devastation and lost lives. Speaking as Corporal Lester Whitney, Dave Owens narrated Whitney’s journey as a soldier in World War I, serving alongside Company D of the 59th Coastal Artillery Corps. A remarkable collection of memorabilia from Whitney’s past can now be found at the Dutchess County Historical Society and in a special exhibit at the Pine Plains Free Library.

Acting in the role of schoolteacher Angie Keefer, Ancram Town Clerk Monica Cleveland talked about how the first schoolhouse in Pine Plains was destroyed by a fire.

“They credited me for saving the children’s lives, but I did what I had to do,” Cleveland said as Keefer. “The children were my first priority.”

Haunted by images of the fire, Keefer decided not to return to her work when a second schoolhouse was built, and she was later killed by a former boyfriend.

With a shot from the gun that ended Keefer’s life, the tour concluded.

Director Lenora Champagne said, “I so enjoy getting to better know members of the community and really appreciate how all the cast and people involved pulled together to make it an enjoyable experience.” 

“I got to know so many great people and they really showed a commitment to collectively making it an event for the community that we were all happy with and proud of,” Champagne added.

Come Saturday, Oct. 27, the Pine Plains Free Library will host a silent auction at the Stissing House. Bidding will begin at 5 p.m. and end at 6:45 p.m. there will be efreshments  and the winners will be announced at 7 p.m.