Allie Walton, a local high school senior student, portrays during a rehearsal, Lera Cheek, the daughter of Governor Preston Leslie, and wife of Christopher T. Cheek, whose family was instrumental in developing Maxwell House Coffee. Walton was an intern this summer at the Cultural Center.
(SOUTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY CULTURAL CENTER)
GLASGOW — Days gone by in Barren County won’t be far out of reach as the South Central Kentucky Cultural Center’s Harvest of History event returns Thursday.
The event is as immersive as it is retroactive. nonetheless. Locals will don the clothing, adopt the personalities and recreate some of Barren County’s most notable citizens.
“Harvest of History is just a fun night to see history come alive,” said Katie Reece, the executive director of the South Central Kentucky Cultural Center.
The event will kick off Thursday, Oct. 13 at 6 p.m. and runs through Saturday, Oct. 15. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for ages 5 to 18. Children under 5 are admitted for free and may be purchased at the Cultural Center.
Reece said the event had been canceled the last two years due to conflicts associated with the pandemic. That hiatus didn’t stop volunteers from teaming up to form this year’s cast of characters.
“We’ve worked really hard over the last several months to put Harvest of History together,” Reece said. “We’ve got wonderful volunteers who have helped with everything.”
The cast of characters includes many well-known Barren Countians.
- Maude Claspell will be portrayed by Cherie Vaughn. Claspell was an employee of the Kentucky Pants Factory for 44 years. The building is the current home of the Cultural Center.
- Melba Humphrey will be portrayed by Robin Frazier. Humphrey is credited with creating the famed recipe for the former J.J. Newberry Mexican hamburgers.
- Mama & Papa St. Charles will be portrayed by relatives Kathy Murray and Micheal Hale. The couple operated St. Charles Market.
- Ann Valeria “Lera” Leslie Cheek will be portrayed by Allie Walton. Cheek was the daughter of former Kentucky Governor and Barren County native, Preston Leslie.
- O. Horning, the first agriculture extension agent in the county, will be portrayed by Chris Schalk. He is the current extension agent in Barren County.
Food trucks will be available outside the Cultural Center building each night.
- Thursday, Oct. 13 – South Cow & Udderly Delicious
- Friday, Oct. 14 – South Cow
- Saturday, Oct. 15 – Squealers & Tropical Breeze Shaved Ice
Ticketholders must arrive at the Cultural Center and be shuttled to the Glasgow Municipal Cemetery, where the tour is hosted.
The South Central Kentucky Cultural Center is located at 200 W. Water St. Glasgow, KY 42141.
