An 1868 Historic Ironmaster’s Wedding — and you can be a guest!
The Hay Creek Historians are honored to announce their most exciting historical reenactment event for 2018!
The invitation has been issued inviting area residents to the wedding reenactment of the last Joanna Furnace Iron Works ironmaster L. Heber Smith and Ella Jane (Jennie) Grubb of Lancaster. This elegant Victorian Wedding, dinner and reception will take place Saturday, June 16, from 5 to 9 p.m. at Historic Joanna Furnace, off Route 10, on Furnace Road, three miles north of Morgantown. Free parking.
The Hay Creek Valley Historical Association is proud to partner with Fecho Productions, LLC in cooperation with the Genesius Theater of Reading PA, to bring a one-of-kind historical theater/dining/dancing experience that will honor the last ironmaster of Joanna Furnace, L. Heber Smith and his bride, Ella Jane Grubb.
Theater master, Lawrence Fecho, and an all-star professional cast will bring the Smith and Grubb families to life. Fecho is currently the Artistic Director of Genesius Theatre, in Reading, Pennsylvania, where he began his theatrical career at the age of twelve. He started his professional career as a staff assistant for the late great Broadway Producer, Alexander H. Cohen, and consequently worked on the 1977 Tony Awards. Mr. Fecho has directed, produced and designed over fifty productions at Genesius Theatre and his company, Fecho Productions, produces the annual “A CHRISTMAS CAROL IN WEST READING,” murder mystery presentations, and corporate team building games up and down the East Coast.
This will be an evening of interactive historical theater, an elegant catered dinner, wines by Starving Artist Winery for a discriminating audience. It all happens under a wedding tent at Historic Joanna Furnace Iron Works near Morgantown.
This entire event gives new meaning to the concept of dinner theater. From the time the bride arrives in her elegant two-horse Victorian carriage, to the ceremony, then the dinner/ reception and finally the dancing, attendees will become participants in an accurately depicted 1868 Victorian wedding. The horses and carriage are from White Chimneys Estate in Lancaster County. Weather permitting, after dinner, attendees can have a carriage ride for a nominal fee. Also, a photographer will be on hand to take photos of the wedding guests in the Victorian parlor. Photographer, Bill Swedas will then post files online and guests will be able to print out their photos in a period genre.
Nine Professional actors will take on the roles of the newlyweds and the Smith and Grubb families. To round out their 19th-century experience, members of the audience will be given 1868 period identities.
Guests to this summer social will interact with historical figures from 1868 and become part of the show!
Followed the wedding ceremony, before the dinner, butlered hors-d’oeuvres created by the HCVHA food service team, will be served. The appetizers include puffed pastry with crab, cheese salmon rounds and fruit skewers. A catered dinner by Shady Maple Catering will follow. The main courses feature herb baked chicken breast, slow roasted tender beef, green bean almandine, parsley buttered potatoes, tossed salad with lemonade, coffee then be served. A wedding toast to the new couple happens after the meal.
Dinner will be followed by the cutting of the beautiful Victorian Wedding Cake and then dancing as part of a traditional 19th-century wedding celebration. The Victorian Wedding Cake is created by Shady Maple Bakery. The 19th-century ceremony and dance music will be provided by Beck’s Civil War Brass Band. The Civil War period dance styles will be presented by the Civil War Dance Foundation. A dance master and floor managers will guide guests in dancing to the steps of the era. As an added benefit for people making reservations to attend this event, a free twohour workshop will allow all those interested in learning 19th-century dance styles. This free pre-event workshop for reservation holders will be held on Thursday, June 7, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Joanna Furnace.
In keeping with the historical interpretation standards of the HCVHA, this event will be as accurate as possible to the social conventions of the 1860s.
Tickets are required to attend. Cost: $65 per person or $120 per couple. To reserve tickets or for information call, 610-286-0388 or email mzerr@haycreek.org.