Contact:  Margaret Hambrick  /  Nora Venezky  304-646-2439          304-645-3398

NEWS RELEASE May 15, 2019

Founded    in    1963,    the    Greenbrier    Historical    Society    is    dedicated    to    community    enrichment    through education   and   preservation   of   the   history   and   culture   of   the   Greenbrier   Valley.   The   Greenbrier   Historical Society   is   a   regional   organization   that   serves   the   West   Virginia   counties   of   Greenbrier,   Monroe,   Summers, and Pocahontas.

GHS 2019 Home Tour Weekend Ends In The Cemeteries Beginning   with   a   spectacular   Garden   Party   at   the   home   of   Dr.   Kyle   and Ann   Fort   on   Friday,   June   7,   starting at   6   p.m.   and   including   a   variety   of   homes,   styles   and   collections   as   a   part   of   the   traditional   Home   Tour   on Saturday,   June   8   from   10-4,   the   Greenbrier   Historical   Society’s   2019   Home Tour   Weekend   will   conclude   on Sunday, June 9, in the Dick Pointer and Old Stone Cemeteries. The event will begin at the L&R Railroad Pavilion with one session at 1:30 and another at 2:15 p.m. People   often   see   an   interesting   grave   stone   or   an   old   grave   yard   and   think   to   themselves,   “I   wish   I   knew the   story   of   the   person   who   is   buried   there.”      Guests   will   have   the   opportunity   to   have   their   curiosity satisfied   through   the   great   work   of   award-winning   writer/director   Pamela   Barry   and   four   local   actors   as they   portray   people   who   are   buried   in   the   Old   Stone   and   Dick   Pointer   Cemeteries   as   a   part   of   her production   “Graveyard Townsfolk.”     The   historic   dramas   include   “David   Creigh:     A   Shooting   and A   Hanging” performed   by   Larry   Davis;   “Jennette   Creigh   Preston:      Fire   Skirt”   performed   by   Kelly   Kemp;   “Mary   Elizabeth North   Hamner:      Sudden   Curious   Death”   performed   by   Lieselotte   Heil;   and   “John   Bowyer:      Church   Sexton, Slave, Great Humanitarian” performed by Danny Seams.   "I   am   delighted   to   once   again   work   with   the   Greenbrier   Historical   Society   during   their   Home Tour   Weekend this   year. The   Sunday   historic   dramas   will   highlight   four   incredibly   interesting   Lewisburg   townsfolk   from   the 1800's",   said   writer   and   director   Pamela   Barry.    "Local   actors   Larry   Davis,   Kelly   Kemp,   Lieselotte   Heil   and Danny   Seams   have   been   working   extremely   hard   to   perfect   these   historic   portrayals. Anyone   interested   in local history will want to come out and watch these gifted actors bring these townsfolk to life."   Cemetery   Preservationist   Morgan   Bunn   has   awakened   the   sensitivities   of   many   people   in   the   local   area   to the   need   for   preserving   our   cemetery   heritage   and   the   correct   techniques   to   use.      She   will   demonstrate these   techniques   on   a   small   stone   while   describing   the   process.      Posters,   in   Old   Stone   Fellowship   Hall, will   illustrate   how   stones   commemorate   some   of   our   more   famous   (and   infamous)   local   citizens   including Benjamin   Franklin   Eakle,   the   longest   serving   Manager/Superintendent   of   the   Old   White   Hotel,   and   a Captain   in   the   14th   Virginia   Cavalry   which   was   made   up   of   mostly   Greenbrier   County   men.     Also   featured will   be   George   Branham   Dyches,   the   suspected   “Firebug”   of   Greenbrier   County   and   the   great   fire   of   1896 and Mary Jane (Edgar) Leonard, Lewisburg’s hero Mom. Known   for   her   books   about   local   people   that   stem   from   her   cemetery   research,   Bunn   will   also   talk   about her   latest--   “The   Old   Lewisburg Academy   Sketches”.      It   is   based   on   the   work   of   Marcellus   Zimmerman,   the savior   of   Old   Stone   and   Greenbrier   County   history   through   his   listings   of   burials   and   his   collection   of   other information. Following   each   session,   dessert,   provided   by   the   Greenbrier,   will   be   served   in   Old   Stone   Fellowship   Hall.     Guests   will   have   the   opportunity   to   review   the   posters;   possibly   meet   with   the   actors;   discuss   cemetery preservation; and purchase Bunn’s books. This   event   is   supported   by   the   “Friends   of   the   Old   Stone   Cemetery”   and   all   of   the   proceeds   of   the   Home Tour Weekend go toward the operational expenses of the Greenbrier Historical Society. For   more   information   and   tickets,   visit   the   Greenbrier   Historical   Society/North   House   Museum   or   their Facebook   page   webpage   Tickets   can   purchased   in   person   or   on-line.      Tickets   are   also   available   at   the Greenbrier    Convention    and    Visitors    Bureau.        Tickets    for    the    Garden    Party    and    the    Sunday    in    the Cemeteries events are limited so purchase them soon.  PHOTO CAPTIONS:   (Click on photos for larger view) John   Bowyer   jpg:      This   is   a   photo   of   the   grave   stone   of   John   Bowyer   before   preservation.      Guests   will   be able to see it fully preserved by Morgan Bunn during “Sunday in the Cemeteries” event. 1323-2:  Lieselotte Heil will perform “Mary Elizabeth North Hamner:  Sudden Curious Death”. 1225e-3:  “John Bowyer:  Church Sexton, Slave, Great Humanitarian” will be performed by Danny Seams