The past will come back to life during a series of fascinating shows, as another season of living history performances returns to the Historical Society of Cecil County. Three times this season, costumed interpreters will reverse the clock as they take audiences back in time to hear an important figure from the nation’s past. During these lively and entertaining programs this season you will encounter President Harry Truman, Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, and Matilda "Tillie" Pierce, a 15-year-old at the time of the Battle of Gettysburg.
- On Saturday, November 3 at 7:00 p.m. the thirty-third President of the United States, Harry Truman, will walk on the stage at the Elkton Town Hall to dispense his Missouri straight talk in a one-man show called “Give ‘em, Hell Harry!” Of course, the real Truman died in 1972, but the nation’s leader will come alive on this special evening during a performance by Gerald Riley of Wheatfield Theatre Company. Ticket prices for the 1.5 performance are $8 for adults; $4 for children in school; and free for members of the Society. While walk-ups will be welcome based on available space, email the society at history@ccchistory.org or phone the organization at 410-398-1790 to reserve your space. The program has been moved to the town hall, which is located at 100 Railroad Avenue, Elkton, in order to accommodate a larger audience.
- On Friday, January 11 at 7:00 p.m., Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall walks on the stage at the Historical Society. Dr. Lenneal Henderson, a distinguished Professor of Government at the University of Baltimore portrays Maryland’s famous civil rights advocate during this engaging program. The Justice became involved in cases to desegregate public schools in South Carolina which would become one of the five cases settled by the 1954 Supreme Court case of Brown v Board of Education. Marshall was eventually appointed to the Supreme Court of the United States. This free program is sponsored by the Maryland Humanities Council.
- The season concludes on February 16 when Matilda “Tillie” Pierce, a witness to the Battle of Gettysburg appears at the Society at 7:00 p.m. She was only 15 when she observed the battle first hand. Yet her writings of those dramatic three days made her famous, as she became known as the voice for the civilian side of this important Civil War Battle. Tillie is played by University of Delaware history major Abby Harting of Middletown, Delaware. Admission to this program is free.
For additional information email the society at history@cchistory.org and watch for additional press releases as dates approach on the Society’s web site at www.cchistory.org
