2009-10-14
Vega Church
The annual Welsh Cemetery Walk will be held at the Vega Church cemetery in Gallia County on Sunday, Oct. 25 beginning at 3 p.m.
During the annual event, area residents will re-enact the lives of many of the Welsh settlers buried in the cemeteries, and the walk is always an educational and interesting afternoon. The Cemetery Walk is sponsored by the local Cardigan Club, while the Madog Center for Welsh Studies at the University of Rio Grande helps to plan the event.
Mildred Bangert, director of the Welsh-American Heritage Museum, worked with Oak Hill history enthusiast David Summers to collect the information for this year’s Cemetery Walk. Bangert and Summers researched the lives of 11 of the early settlers of the Thurman area. Many of these settlers were among the original Welsh pioneers of southern Ohio.
During the Cemetery Walk, area residents will be able to stroll through the cemeteries and hear the stories told by these historic figures. Actors dressed in period clothing will portray the lives of the early settlers, and will share information on their sometimes heroic and sometimes tragic lives. The actors who will play the parts of the settlers include area residents from all walks of life, as well as a few Rio Grande students.
The actors and the parts they will play include the following:
* The part of Bert Richards will be portrayed by David Jenkins.
* The part of Thomas J. Williams will be portrayed by David Summers.
* The part of Dr. Oscar McLaughlin will be portrayed by Dr. Bill Thomas.
* The part of H.S. Davis will be portrayed by Robert Ervin.
* The part of Harrison Scurlock will be portrayed by Robert Powell.
* The part of James Madison Scurlock will be portrayed by Roger Carter.
* The part of David J. Davis will be portrayed by Rio Grande student Matt Crabtree.
* The part of Mary E. Davis will be portrayed by Vickie Powell.
* The part of Elizabeth Williams will be portrayed by Sioned Wyn. Wyn, who is originally from Wales, is currently serving as the Welsh Intern at the Madog Center.
* The part of Rebecca Evans will be portrayed by Rio Grande student Lauren Weddington.
* The part of Jenny Scurlock will be portrayed by Gladys Williams.
The Cemetery Walk will be a great educational opportunity for all area residents who have an interest in the history of southern Ohio or the Welsh settlers, or those who just want to learn a little more about the lives of the people who lived here generations ago. Everyone is invited, and you don’t need to have any prior knowledge of the Welsh history of southern Ohio in order to attend.
Refreshments will be served after the event. The Vega Church and cemetery are located at the intersection of Vega Road and Ebb Tomblin Road.
For more information or for directions, call Jeanne Jindra at the Madog Center at 1-800-282-7201.
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