Conference
June 22, 23 and 24: “Chester, Grace and Dreiser, the Birth of an American Tragedy” at Herkimer County Community College will bring together literary, historical and legal scholars from around the United States and beyond to discuss Theodore Dreiser’s novel about the case and the evolution of the story over the past 100 years.
For information, call HCCC at 866-0300, ext. 8251 or e-mail communityed@herkimer.edu.
Reenactments
People v. Gillette was the trial of the young century. Performances, based on a script from Tompkins County Judge Jack Sherman, who once worked in the Herkimer County district attorney’s office, are scheduled through the year. Sherman will direct, with the assistance of the Ilion Little Theatre. Shows will last about two hours and 35 minutes with a 10-minute intermission. Dates are:
* June 23: 7:30 p.m. at Herkimer County Community College.
* July 15: dinner-theater starting 6:30 p.m. Show only 2 p.m. July 16. Both at Trails End, North Street, Old Forge. Call 369-2632.
* July 21: 7:30 p.m. at the original Herkimer County Courthouse, North Main Street, Herkimer.
* July 22: 6:30 p.m. at Herkimer County Community College.
Tickets are $10 per person at HCCC; $20 per person for the courthouse. Call 866-6413.
ANNIVERSARY DATE
The Big Moose Lake area will be the focus for the 100th anniversary of Grace Brown’s death July 11. Call 357-3532 for information. Parking will be available at the Big Moose Chapel parking lot, past the Big Moose Inn.
* 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Boat trips into the lake’s South Bay every hour revisiting the route Gillette and Brown took in their small row boat. Dunn’s Boat Service, 357-3532.
* 10:30 a.m.: Dedication of historic marker at site of Glenmore Hotel, followed by a brunch at the Glenmore.
* 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Stamp cancellation with the Eagle Bay post office.
* 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.: Author book signing at Big Moose Inn featuring Craig Brandon, author of “Murder in the Adirondacks” and “Grace Brown’s Love Letters.”
* 5 to 6 p.m.: Commemorative wreath-laying ceremony in memory of Grace Brown in South Bay.
* 7:30 p.m.: Author’s dinner at Big Moose Inn, 357-2042.
READINGS
“My Dear Chester,” a reading of Grace Brown’s love letters is a one-hour presentation including portrayals of Brown, Chester Gillette and District Attorney George Ward.
* June 30: 7:30 p.m., Ward’s Pond Bed & Breakfast, Dolgeville. Call 429-8234.
* July 8 and 12: Seating for dinner theater, 5:45 to 7:15 p.m., Big Moose Inn. Call 357-2042 for reservations.
WALKING TOURS
Tours last about an hour and a half. Meet in front of the old 1834 Herkimer County Jail, North Main Street, Herkimer.
* 6 p.m. June 12
* 9 and 11 a.m. July 15
PLAY
“Chester & Grace,” by Gene Allen Smith performed by Ilion Little Theatre at the Stables. Call 894-3203 for information.
* 8 p.m. Nov. 3 to 4
* 2 p.m. Nov. 5
* 8 p.m. Nov. 9 to 11
Tickets are $10, or $7 for students.
HERKIMER COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY EVENTS
Museum display open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays during July and August, North Main Street, Herkimer.
Beardslee Castle dinner with author Craig Brandon, 5:30 p.m. Thursday, June 22. Beardslee is located on Route 5 east of Little Falls. Cost: $35 per person.
Bus trip from Herkimer to Cortland and South Otselic to see where Gillette and Brown met, Brown’s homestead and her gravesite, Aug. 26. Members: $30. Non-members: $35.
Adirondack Weekend Getaway raffle, Big Moose Inn July 14 and 15. Tickets are $10 or three for $25. Drawing is June 22.
Call 866-6413 or visit www.rootsweb.com/~nyhchs.
TOWN OF WEBB HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
Museum exhibit, “a 1906 Tragedy in Big Moose,” featuring boat, clothing, photographs and other artifacts associated with the case, Route 28 across from the Town of Webb School. Call 369-3838 or visit www.webbhistory.org
Other events
* “An American Tragedy,” the 1931 movie, will be shown at the Capitol Theater in Rome and introduced by author Craig Brandon, 7:30 p.m. July 19. It will also be shown at Guernsey Library, Norwich, 2 p.m. Sept. 16.
* Great Camp Sagamore hosts a weekend event July 21-23 with Craig Brandon, including the showing of both movies, a trip to Big Moose Lake and a roundtable discussion of the case (space limited to 20 people). For more information,see www.sagamore.org.