Dover Doins: Make city’s history come alive

Today’s Doin’s is historically oriented in two very dissimilar ways.

Dover, New Hampshire was settled in 1623 and obviously is rich in history. That is something that has held the interest of many locals and visitors over the years. Our 104-year-old Woodman Museum, in addition to being home of much memorabilia related to the community, has also involved many local residents in Dover’s history.

These times have been entitled “Voices From the Cemetery” and taken place at the campus of the Woodman or at the Pine Hill Cemetery resting place and home of many stories of the Garrison City.

It has given many local residents an opportunity to dress up in period costumes and tell the tales of these folks who in one manner or another, helped build the community we know today. Those presentations have always piqued the interest and brought hundreds of folks from the region to be entertained and educated. With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Woodman has taken advantage of something which will certainly in the future be added to Dover’s long history, continuing “Cemetery” by designing a virtual tour. This year’s event will be available for online viewing.

This is where YOU come in … they still need actors. Museum Director Dave Tompkins advises 11 women and 13 men are needed to perform as the long-dead-but-now-come-back-to-life men and women in 15 scenes. Each scene will be set at the appropriate gravestones at Pine Hill.

The scenes, some solo, some with two people, will be filmed on site at the cemetery during the day Saturday Sept. 19 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you have participated (I have been fortunate enough to play numerous parts over the years) you recall that this event has taken place many times over a weekend and can be challenging as one plays their role repeating their lines numerous times as tour groups went past.

The good news about this year’s tour is that the actors will perform only once (or if you are like me, maybe a few times as retakes are needed) as your scene is filmed. All the separate footage will be edited into a cohesive online tour led by the deceased-but-still-lively Col. Daniel Hall.

Several “classic” scenes from past years’ tours will be included, others updated, plus several new characters. The players will include sea captains, elected officials, artists, business owners, criminals, medical professionals, soldiers and some very strong and feisty women who feature prominently in Dover’s history.

If this sounds like something you would like to be a part of, please contact Tompkins at director@woodmuseum.org or call the Woodman Museum at (603) 742-7680 by Aug. 31.

This event has been described as educational, entertaining and amusing both for the participants and audience. As in the past there will be a cast meeting and run-through prior to the filming, exact dates TBA once the production is cast by Dover’s own Spielberg - Director Cathy Beaudoin. She is amazing.

We now move from a realm of politicians, sea captains and local entrepreneurs of times gone by, to a more current setting.

Mark your calendars to learn about “The Colored Folks Ain’t Gonna Make It: A Black American Experience.”

In the summer of 1957, the Ward family moved from Brooklyn, New York to escape gang violence and ended up on a dirt road in rural Lee, New Hampshire. It was an era when racial tensions were high and they were the first “colored family” in the area. The story is told by family member and author Michael C. Ward.

The presentation will include stories from Ward’s Sketches of Lee collection, which chronicles his family’s history combatting the racial stereotypes of the 50’s. Ward began writing his family’s history in 2015, when his father, Harold, was in the hospital with weeks to live. He recalled him saying, “Michael, I want you to write the stories of our existence.” Since then Ward has been fulfilling his father’s last request and recounting the stories of his family.

Michael Ward is a personal friend of mine – over the years I have had much communication with him, and seen him present the educational, emotional story of his family’s travails. It is a one-of-a-kind experience.

This story is something that is at the top of the news in the country these days. The Dover Public Library will be hosting Mr. Ward’s striking presentation Wednesday, Aug. 12 at 6:30 p.m. The free program will be held online through Ring Central and registration is required to access the login. For more information or to register, visit library.dover.nh.gov or call the library at (603) 516-6050.

As always my friends, empathy every day.

You can contact Ron Cole at mrdoverdoins@gmail.com.