This weekend's Warsaw Sesquicentennial celebration events include a walking tour through the oldest section of Oakwood Cemetery, 421 N. Maple Ave., and a tour of the Wagon Wheel Theatre, 2517 E. Center St.

Saturday from 4 to 7 p.m., the public is invited to tour the historic section of the cemetery on the southeast shore of Pike Lake. Every 15 minutes, guides will escort small groups on the one-hour walk.

The "ghosts" of former residents will be represented at their gravesites by present citizens.

The local volunteers, dressed in period clothing, will be posted at 12 gravesites, where they will recite short biographies of residents who helped make Warsaw what it is today.

Lucy Upson (1886 - 1993) was the first female attorney in Kosciusko County and among the first 100 women attorneys in the state. She will be portrayed by Pam Kennedy, director of Warsaw Housing Authority.

Revra DePuy (1860 - 1921) was a native of Michigan. He came to Warsaw with an idea to make a fiber splint to replace wooden splints. His business grew to become DePuy Manufacturing and helped establish Warsaw as "The Orthopedic Capital of the World." He will be portrayed by Tim Madison, senior media producer at DePuy.

Thomas Hubler (1851 - 1913) was probably the youngest soldier to serve in the Union Army. The 9-year-old said he was 14 to enlist. He served at the side of his uncle, Lt. Reuben Williams, as a drummer boy. Later he worked for Williams as a printer of the Northern Indianan. Eisenhower School student Ernie Long will play Hubler.

George Nye (1889 - 1977), was a teacher for 20 years. He then was Kosciusko County surveyor and a surveyor's office employee for 60 years. He wrote 37 volumes of Warsaw history. Present-day Kosciusko County Surveyor Richard Kemper will portray Nye.

Dr. Jacob Boss (1816 - 1874), portrayed by Warsaw City Planner Jeff Noffsinger, was a physician with an office in the basement of Kirtley's saloon. Boss held many properties ... and many wives. He established Oakwood Cemetery and was the first to be buried there.

John Grabner (1827 - 1916), was one of the wealthiest pioneer citizens of the time. In 1870 he established Grabner Hardware, which eventually became known as Ace Hardware. Jim Maze, the current owner of Ace Hardware, will portray the pioneering hardware man.

Lemuel Royse (1847 - 1947), portrayed by attorney Brad Voelz, served three two-year terms and part of a fourth as mayor of Warsaw; two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives; and was judge of the Kosciusko Circuit Court.

John Widaman (1917 - 1972) was a local attorney and prosecuting attorney for Kosciusko and Whitley counties. He was married to Marjorie Widaman (1919 - 1972). He will be represented by his daughter, Kirsta Widaman Koors, and grandson, Jared Koors.

Dr. Clifford DuBois (1878 - 1978) was the first doctor in this area to use a blood pressure instrument, the first to give a vaccine immunization for typhoid fever and tetanus and the first to use insulin. He served in both World War I and World War II. Bob Sanders, owner of Bodkin Abstract Co., will portray DuBois.

Jack Rodeheaver (1902 - 1921) was the brother of Homer Rodeheaver. Jack died at age 19. Homer went on to become Billy Sunday's musical director for 20 years. Homer also established a gospel song publishing business that made him a millionaire before he was 40. Allyn Decker, vice president and training director at Lake City Bank, will portray Rodeheaver.

Dr. John M. Bash (1847 - 1909), portrayed by Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins, practiced medicine in Warsaw. He built the fabulous Bash Mansion on the corner of Lake and Market streets where the U.S. Post Office now stands.

General Reub Williams (1831 - 1905) was a brigadier general during the Civil War. He established the Northern Indianan and Warsaw Daily Times, which eventually became the Times-Union. He is represented by John Kirkpatrick, a Times-Union advertising representative.

There will be limited number of golf carts to accommodate visitors who need assistance for the tour. A bench will be situated at each of the selected sites. The rain date for the cemetery tour is June 19.

Wagon Wheel Tour

Ever wonder what goes on backstage at the Wagon Wheel Theatre?

Staff and actors will be available from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday to take visitors on a tour of the entire theater, which is celebrating its 49th year of plays and performances.

With a seating capacity of 800, the theater-in-the-round states, "You're never more than 10 rows from the stage."

Take a peek into the dressing rooms lined with mirrors and makeup stations, and imagine the cast members of the hundreds of plays preparing for their next scenes or the many celebrities who have graced the stage over the years.

The theater's "Hall of Fame" of those who began their careers at the Wagon Wheel includes McLean Stevenson, who starred in the television hit series "M*A*S*H," and a number of performers who went on to have roles on Broadway.

An identical sized round stage to the rear of the building serves as the rehearsal stage, where racks of colorful costumes hang along the outer walls. The basement houses the alteration room and a warehouse of props and clothing, plus the workshop where props are built and painted.

For more information about the tour or this year's programs, call 267-8041. For more information about the cemetery walk or other events taking place during Warsaw's Sesquicentennial celebration, call 372-9595.

On the Net:

www.warsawcity.net

www.wagonwheeltheatre.com [[In-content Ad]]