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Kim Lamb/LVN photo An LVN file photo shows an angel that vandals smashed recently at the Churchill County Cemetery.
The Churchill County Cemetery will come alive the evening of May 5 when the "ghosts" of seven prominent Fallon citizens will share stories and their life histories with visitors.
The Churchill County Museum Association will host "Living History at the Cemetery" on May 5 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. that will feature seven local residents portraying their relatives who lived in the Lahontan Valley decades ago.
Jane Pieplow, director of the Churchill County Museum, said the idea came from other area towns like Virginia City, Gardnerville and Genoa that hold ghost walks, sometimes in conjunction with Halloween. She said the museum staff and association board have been working on the project for about six months.
"It's a way for people in the community to learn about people who lived here long ago, how they got here and their families," Pieplow said.
The Churchill County Museum Association will host "Living History at the Cemetery" on May 5 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. that will feature seven local residents portraying their relatives who lived in the Lahontan Valley decades ago.
Jane Pieplow, director of the Churchill County Museum, said the idea came from other area towns like Virginia City, Gardnerville and Genoa that hold ghost walks, sometimes in conjunction with Halloween. She said the museum staff and association board have been working on the project for about six months.
"It's a way for people in the community to learn about people who lived here long ago, how they got here and their families," Pieplow said.
The people who were chosen are all buried at the cemetery and have living relatives in town. The call went out to ask the descendants to portray their relatives, and the response was very positive, Pieplow said.
The "actors" first met with museum staff and were tasked with crafting a story detailing their relatives' history in Fallon. The group met again Thursday evening to go over the details and practice their delivery. Pieplow said the actors will all be dressed in costumes fitting for the "ghost's" profession and place in time. She herself will be dressed in a costume reminiscent of an 1890s school teacher.
The event will be held for three hours, but the walking tour will only last 45 minutes to an hour, Pieplow said, so visitors don't have to arrive right at 5 p.m.. The last cemetery tour will leave at 7:15 p.m. High school students from Glen Perazzo's drama class will escort the small groups to the seven stations.
The cost to visit with the ghosts is $5 per person or $10 per family. Money raised will fund future museum programs.
The "actors" first met with museum staff and were tasked with crafting a story detailing their relatives' history in Fallon. The group met again Thursday evening to go over the details and practice their delivery. Pieplow said the actors will all be dressed in costumes fitting for the "ghost's" profession and place in time. She herself will be dressed in a costume reminiscent of an 1890s school teacher.
The event will be held for three hours, but the walking tour will only last 45 minutes to an hour, Pieplow said, so visitors don't have to arrive right at 5 p.m.. The last cemetery tour will leave at 7:15 p.m. High school students from Glen Perazzo's drama class will escort the small groups to the seven stations.
The cost to visit with the ghosts is $5 per person or $10 per family. Money raised will fund future museum programs.
The featured ghosts, and the people portraying them are:
• Warren Williams - portrayed by Mert Domonoske, whose first wife was the granddaughter of Williams. Williams Avenue is named for Warren.
• Callie Ferguson - portrayed by Yvonne Prettyman, Ferguson's niece. Ferguson was a businesswomen in Fallon in the 1920s.
• Mary Ellen McKinney Stuart - portrayed by relative Kathi Wilson.
• Warren Williams - portrayed by Mert Domonoske, whose first wife was the granddaughter of Williams. Williams Avenue is named for Warren.
• Callie Ferguson - portrayed by Yvonne Prettyman, Ferguson's niece. Ferguson was a businesswomen in Fallon in the 1920s.
• Mary Ellen McKinney Stuart - portrayed by relative Kathi Wilson.
• L.C. Schank - portrayed by grandson Ernie Schank. L.C. is best remembered as a high school vocational agricultural teacher in the 1950s.
• Brothers Harley and Harrison Smith - portrayed by brothers Glen and Alan Perazzo, relatives of the Smiths.
• Percy Mills - portrayed by son Elbert Mills. Percy was a rancher and engineer in the valley.
Refreshments, provided by a grant from CC Communications, will be served during the evening. Parking for the evening will be across Rio Vista at Smith Family Funeral Home, with handicapped parking at the entrance to the cemetery.
For more information, call the Churchill County Museum at 423-3677.
• Brothers Harley and Harrison Smith - portrayed by brothers Glen and Alan Perazzo, relatives of the Smiths.
• Percy Mills - portrayed by son Elbert Mills. Percy was a rancher and engineer in the valley.
Refreshments, provided by a grant from CC Communications, will be served during the evening. Parking for the evening will be across Rio Vista at Smith Family Funeral Home, with handicapped parking at the entrance to the cemetery.
For more information, call the Churchill County Museum at 423-3677.
