History Comes to Life

History came to life on a beautiful Fall opening weekend at the new Leland Area History Center! Over 100 people from states as far away as California and Maryland attended the first cemetery walk event and history center open house on October 9-10.

Six local citizens who are laid to rest at Leland Cemetery were portrayed. Farmer and entrepreneur James Edwin Wiltsie, who lived 1855-1936, was remembered in a colorful dialog by great granddaughter, Marcia Gudmunson Wilson and 3rd-great-granddaughter Jessica Wackerlin. Civil War soldier Erasmus Anderson was portrayed by Kris Anderson Sellers, his great-great granddaughter. Wayne Davey, great-grandnephew by marriage, was honored to present Dr. Raymond H. George who served in World War I and received the British Military Cross for bravery in action. The life of nurse Lois Anderson, who, sadly, contracted typhoid fever from one of her patients and died at the age of 21, was beautifully expressed by nurse practitioner Clare Anderson, her 2nd great-grandniece. Businessman Huck Creighton “returned” when his cousin Bevin Wold re-created a day in the life of Huck–old friends phoned in and business was transacted, much to the delight of the audience. Ernie Basler reminisced about his friendship with Bub Goodwick and the 42 years he spent playing with Bub and His Boys band.

The audience then gathered in town for a final presentation by Suzannah Walter, who portrayed her 2nd great-grandaunt Mary Brignon Yocklich. It was Mary’s husband, Marcus, who built the restored 1897 building now home to the Leland Area History Center and Resource Bank. The day ended with tours of the new Leland Area History and the inaugural exhibit “Now Meets Then.