The story of a witness to Lincoln’s assassination

Posted 8/21/12

MILFORD, PA — The Pike County Historical Society will present a show titled “For the Benefit of Miss Jennie Gourlay” on Saturday, March 21 at Water Wheel Café. A 6 p.m. dinner precedes the …

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The story of a witness to Lincoln’s assassination

Posted

MILFORD, PA — The Pike County Historical Society will present a show titled “For the Benefit of Miss Jennie Gourlay” on Saturday, March 21 at Water Wheel Café. A 6 p.m. dinner precedes the performance. The show focuses on actress Jennie Gourlay, who on April 14, 1865 was poised on the brink of stardom at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, DC. But her shot at stardom in a benefit performance scheduled for the following night was cancelled when John Wilkes Booth shot President Abraham Lincoln at Ford’s.

The playwright and performer is Billy Hipkins, who has previously performed the award-winning solo show as a fundraiser for the Pike County Historical Society in efforts to restore three of Gourlay’s stage costumes currently held by the society at The Columns Museum.

The costumes were brought to Milford by Gourlay, along with the Lincoln Flag stained by his blood (see this issue of The River Reporter, page 11), when she moved to Milford in 1888. She lived a quiet life at her home on Water Street—the same street on which the performance of this show will be located. The cost is $60, tax and gratuity included. Reservations required. Call 570/296-8126, or email pikemuse@ptd.net.

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