Voices from the Past teaches students, residents about local history and those that helped to shape the city
Voices from the Past began in 2011 as a unique way to learn about Westfield’s history through the lives of former citizens. The event combines the parks department with volunteers from its Heritage Committee, Westfield Playhouse and Westfield-Washington Historical Society.
“It wouldn’t happen without the playhouse and historical society,” said Jordan McBride of the Westfield Parks Dept.
Main Street Productions/Westfield Playhouse President John Sampson said each organization has an important role and depends on the others – the historical society writes the script, the playhouse actors share the script with the public and the parks department provides a venue for it to take place.
“It’s really expanded. We work together for the betterment of the city. We came together as an idea that developed from one performance four years ago to four sessions now,” he said. “Westfield is proud of its heritage. I’m really proud of what Westfield has done on this.”
McBride said the event has 48 tour guides and 60 volunteers.
“It celebrates our Quaker heritage and encourages people to learn about our history,” he said.
New this year is the addition of tours on Saturday evening and a new keepsake program.
“Not only does it include more of the history but we also are doing a now and then as part of the tour. It tells what buildings were in the past and what they are now like Grand Junction Brewing Co. was the blacksmith shop,” McBride said.
Touring the graveyards
Westfield has two historic cemeteries located within its parks. The Old Friends Cemetery in Old Friends Cemetery Park and Anti-Slavery Cemetery in Asa Bales Park were created one year apart in the mid-1830s. Old Friends Cemetery Park was established in 1834 and is the site of the first cemetery in Westfield.
“People shy away from it but it’s beautiful in there,” McBride said. “Guests look on the ground and see headstones that say 1840, 1850. People who founded the city are buried in the city.”
Westfield-Washington Historical Society’s Bruce Hansen is tasked with creating the script each year and finding new people to profile that are buried in the two cemeteries. He said scripts are based on when people are born, where they lived, what events occurred in their lifetime, what they did and who they were associated with.
“We feature three to four persons of historic interest in each cemetery,” said Hansen. “I find people of the same era and chronological events to accurately portray them. You just have to piece it together.”
History comes alive
Sampson said the actors dress in outfits similar to the time frame and take time off work to be out interacting with students and the public.
“Actors get into it so much. They get the script and go online and being researching the person. It adds a little bit of color,” Sampson said. “They are so interested in the person they are doing they want all the details.”
Sampson said this year brings more Westfield residents into the acting portion of the event.
“Six actors are Westfield residents acting for the first time and have never been on the stage,” he said. “The general consensus among actors is that portraying someone who actually lived, taking their life story is an honor. It’s a joy to present that.”
McBride said this year’s Voices from the Past will have more exposure as four Westfield Washington Schools groups are taking field trips on Sept. 12 for a combined 24 tours. Organizers said the event is a interesting and engaging way to show Westfield history to those students to get them excited about history.
“It’s a living history. You are living the history of that person. Students sit with their mouths a gap. We bring the classroom to life and they remember it better,” Sampson said.
“It’s a different way to make history fun. We’re being really creative ways to find ways to get the kids involved, make them interested. You’re there and in it rather than reading a book,” McBride said.
The Tours
Guided tours run every 10 minutes from 6 to 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 12 and 1 to 2:30 p.m. and 5 to 6:30 p.m. Sept. 13. Tours, which run rain or shine, begin at the east entrance to Asa Bales Park, 211 N. Union St., and last approximately 90 minutes with approximately 35 minutes of walking. A handicap assessable tour is 2:30 p.m. Sept. 13. To reserve a tour, call 804-3183.
Tickets cost $10 for adults, $5 for students and no charge for children 12 and younger. Advance tickets are available for purchase online at www.westfield.in.gov/parks, at the Westfield City Service Center, 2728 E. 171st St., or at the event. Proceeds benefit the Westfield-Washington Historical Society and Westfield Playhouse.
Know more
This year’s characters include Simpson and Mary Gray; Anderson Calvin and Malissa Ann Pearce Scott; Nathan and Nancy Crew Parker; Dr. Horace Cannon, Joseph Cannon, Isaac Newton Cannon and Edward Bray; Asenath, Jacob and Jane Bond Burnside; and David, Carrie and Mattie Northam Byers.
