Carl Sandburg,
poet, Lincoln biographer, two time Pulitzer Prize winner and Swedish
American will regale you with songs and stories of his origins in
Illinois, his life as a hobo and his love of American folk music. Barry
Cloyd, as Sandburg, will share some of his more famous poetry as well as
a few lesser known works. He will sing a medley of the songs that trace
America’s story through its music and reminisce about our 16th
president Abraham Lincoln. He will share stories of his farm work in
the Galva area and his visits to Bishop Hill when his sister was a
teacher at the old Colony School.
Through Storyteller and Author Betty Kay you will meet three Civil War Era Women: Galesburg native and nurse Mother Bickerdyke,
of whom General Sherman once said “She outranks me;” Irish Immigrant
Jenny Hodgers who came to America looking for work as the war erupted
and decided a soldiering she would go, becoming Albert Cashier, and then living as a man the rest of her days; and the wife of President US Grant, Julia Dent Grant, whose life story mirrors many of the nation’s issues in a very personal tale.
Ken Bradbury,
the most published playwright in America will portray himself as he
plays the piano and takes you on a rollicking tour of American History
through your favorite songs. From old time gospel to modern rock,
Broadway show tunes to folk revival classics, you will be invited to
sing-a-long, or at least tap your toes and swoon to the songs that both
broke your heart and healed old wounds as important moments in your life
were marked by these beautiful melodies!
The
evening will end with an encounter of two pivotal characters in the
earliest days of Illinois history. First, meet our Territorial Governor
during the War of 1812 and the man for whom our local river is named, Ninian Edwards. Because he was responsible for the forced removal of Illinois’ American Indian population, Edwards will be challenged by Pottawatomi Chief Gomo,
friend of Tecumseh and Black Partridge, who gave a pivotal speech in
rebuttal to Edward’s admonitions. Both characters will be portrayed by
Brian “Fox” Ellis so you can hear both sides of the story and decide for
yourself where the truth lies.
THE SCHEDULE:
1:00 p.m. Illinois’ First Poet Laureate Carl Sandburg
3:00 p.m. Three Civil War Women: Nurse Mother Bickerdike,
Soldier Albert Cashiers and First Lady Julia Dent Gran.
5:00 p.m. Dinner will be sold by the Bishop Hill Arts Council
6:00 p.m. Ken Bradbury’s Melodious Tour of American Music
7:00 p.m. Two Faces of Illinois History: Ninian Edwards
and Chief Gomo
All programs will be held at the gazebo in the town square. Please bring a folding chair. In the case of inclement weather we will move to the VagnHall Galleri, in the Prairie Arts Center. For additional information, call 309 927-3899 or visit www.bishophillheritage.org.
