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May 27, 2026
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General News: Cornwall's History on Stage

The show's narrator, James Krieger.
The show's narrator, James Krieger.
The Native Americans hunted and roamed freely before the Europeans arrived.
The Native Americans hunted and roamed freely before the Europeans arrived.
Robert Juet wrote in his journal about encounters with Native Americans by the crew of Henry Hudson's ship.
Robert Juet wrote in his journal about encounters with Native Americans by the crew of Henry Hudson's ship.
A Jewish immigrant was one of the first settlers of Orange County, where he built a house and mill.
A Jewish immigrant was one of the first settlers of Orange County, where he built a house and mill.
Scottish settlers followed, building lives in Plum Point and along Moodna Creek.
Scottish settlers followed, building lives in Plum Point and along Moodna Creek.
Bagpipe music...
Bagpipe music...
and Scottish dance flourished on new shores.
and Scottish dance flourished on new shores.
July 05, 2009

If you ever want to learn the history of Cornwall, from the pre-Columbus days up through the early 19th-century, you must attend the annual Cornwall Historical Pageant held each 4th of July.

The Cornwall Historical Pageant is a tradition stretching back several decades when it was first staged at Donahue’s Farm, where the first local Independence Day celebration was held.

These days, the pageant is put on by a willing cast of volunteers under the direction of Sally Faith Dorfman.  Actors are required to show up at only two or three rehearsals to learn their parts and then cross their fingers, put on their costumes and hope all goes well on performance day. 

In recent years, heavy rains and high winds have wrecked havoc with the pageant players. But in 2009, the late afternoon sun shined down on the stage as the narrator told the tale of the Hudson Highlands inhabitants, from the Native Americans whose lives were interrupted by the arrival of Henry Hudson through the face-to-face conflicts of the Revolutionary Way.

Included here are scenes from the 2009 pageant production.  A second page of photos can be seen by clicking here.

See photos of the actors and actresses backstage here.



Comments:

I watch the show with my family and we were amazed how that little girl in the picture did. She preformed with such greatness.


posted by raymond grosskopf on 07/07/09 at 8:35 AM

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