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Third Annual Silent City Walk draws large number

Outstanding perfomances turned in by Mr. Richard Phelps, Mr. J.D. and Ms. Ellen Zornes, Mr. Mike Watson, Mr Barry Jones, Mr. Ronald Rogers, and Ms. Ernestine Bennett
Click on headline for full story plus photo(s) by Anita Riddle

By Ed Waggener

And almost perfect autumn evening made the Third Annual Silent City tour of the Columbia City Cemetery the best ever.

"We had 58 to sign in and there were some who didn't," Ernestine Bennett said Tuesday morning, October 27, 2009, after the event was over. She's the Genealogy Librarian at the Adair County Public Library, and also filled in as a re-enactor for Library Director Lee Ann Jessee, who had been scheduled to perform as Mary Smythe Biggs.



"All of the re-enactors did a great job," she added. "The library staff wants to thank Richard Phelps, J.D. and Ellen Zornes, Mike Watson, Barry Jones, and Ronald Rogers for their performances."

The re-actors were:
  • Mr. Richard Phelps, portraying Judge James Garnett. It was the first time Mr. Phelps had portrayed the heroic figure from Columbia's past. Mr. Phelps repertoire now includes: town founder Daniel Trabue, first court clerk William Caldwell, and Elder Z.T. Williams, a pioneer power in the Columbia Christian Church

  • Mr. J.D. and Ms. Ellen Zornes, appearing as Molly and B.F. Hunter. They've also appeared as Dr. and Mrs. Nathan Gaither and are always Silent City favorites.

  • Mr. Mike Watson, appearing in 2009 as Dr. Samuel Field. Mr. Watson is the author of many Adair County History books. He's also been seen Colonel Frank Wolford.

  • Mr. Barry Jones appearing as a forebear, William Wallace Jones. It was Mr. Jones' first time appearance as a Silent City performer, but he is well known as an actor and singer. He's appeared in all the Bank of Columbia robbery reeactments staged by the Green River Cowboys, and has acted in movie scenes at Guntown Mountain in Cave City, KY

  • Mr. Ronald Rogers, appearing as Columbia's most famous baseball player, New York Yankee pitcher Cy Barger. It was Mr. Rogers' first Silent City performance. In real life, he is Columbia chiropractor Dr. Ronald Rogers, and is team physican for the Adair County athletic program.

  • Ernestine Bennett author of two volumes on Adair County Country Stores and a highly respected genealogical researcher, gave a reading of the script for Mary Smythe Biggs, written by Lee Ann Jessee.
As has happened every year, those fortunate enough to see the performance all left with a deeper respect for the rich history of the community, and with a new respect for the many gifted actors living here. Silent City is great theatre as much as it is great historical theater.After the performances in the cemetery, the audience retreated to the library for light refreshments and a chance to talk with each of the actors.Photos of the re-enactors, by Anita Riddle, accompany this article.


This story was posted on 2009-10-28 07:05:30
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Silent City 2009: Mr. Barry Jones as Wm. Wallace Jones



2009-10-28 - Columbia City Cemetery - Photo by Anita RIddle.
Mr. Barry Jones portrayed William Wallace Jones in the 2009 Silent City walk through the Columbia City Cemetery, Monday, October 26, 2009.

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Silent City 2009: Ernestine Bennett as Mary Smythe Biggs



2009-10-28 - Columbia City Cemetery - Photo by Lila Ford.
Ernestine Bennett gave an outstanding performance, stepping in a pinch for Lee Ann Jessee to give a reading of Ms. Jessee's script for the portrayal of Mary Smythe Biggs. Ms. Jessee was unable to be present.

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Silent City 2009: Mike Watson as Dr. Samuel Field



2009-10-28 - Columbia City Cemetery - Photo by Anita RIddle.
Adair County Historian Mike Watson portrayed Dr. Samuel Field this year.

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Silent City 2009: Mr. Richard Phelps as Judge James Garnett



2009-10-28 - Columbia City Cemetery - Photo by Anita Riddle. Mr. Richard Phelps, Columbia's most famous re-enactor, gave his impersonation of Judge James Garnett, the heroic figure from Columbia's past. A wonderful moment came when Mr. Phelps pointed across Campbellsville ST to the site where Judge Garnett's beautiful estate once stood, on what is today Maple Street, to property now largely a part of Lindsey Wilson College. Mr. Phelps has also portrayed town founder Daniel Trabue, first Adair County Court Clerk William Caldwell, and Elder Z.T. Williams.
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Silent City 2009: The Zornes as B.F. and Molly Hunter



2009-10-28 - Columbia Cemetery - Photo by Anita Riddle. Ms. Ellen Zornes and Mr. James Zornes portrayed Mollie and B.F. Hunter. The Zornes have also appeared as Dr. Nathan and Ms. Martha Gaither.
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Silent City 2009: Dr. Ronald Rogers as Cy Barger



2009-11-04 - Columbia Cemetery, 315 Campbellsville ST, Columbia, KY - Photo by Lila Ford. Dr. Ronald P. Rogers portrayed his great uncle, Eros Bolivar "Cy" Barger, the greatest Adair County baseball player of all time, in Silent City 2009, October 27, 2009. Cy Barger was not only a towering athletic figure, but a business and civic leader in Columbia, KY. His home at 203 Jamestown ST, next to the Trabue-Russell House and across Jamestown Street from the current residence of Dr. Rogers, was and remains one of Columbia's truly beautiful residences.See also Cy Barger stats
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