SMITHFIELD – The Johnston County Heritage Center will stage its 20th annual Ghost Walk on Thursday, October 24, in Smithfield’s historic Riverside Cemetery.
Beginning at 6 pm, six personalities from 18th century Johnston County will be brought back to life. Visitors will be greeted at the corner of Second and Church Streets beside St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, where they will be given guided tours through the cemetery.
The line-up includes Mary Artis, Revolutionary War widow (portrayed by Carolyn Beckwith); Lydia Wood, colonial housewife (portrayed by Tess Garnett); Col. William Bryan (portrayed by Carlton Vinson); Jeremiah Smith, enslaved Revolutionary War messenger (portrayed by Nathaniel Bush); Governor Richard Caswell (portrayed by Matt Dean); and Rev. John Moore, pioneer Baptist minister (portrayed by Rev. Thomas Collings).
Author James Parker will be on hand in the Hastings House during the event to sign copies of his new book, Ghostly North Carolina, which includes a number of Johnston County ghost stories. Organists Kelley Garris and Colton Barber will offer haunting music on the Zimmer organ of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.
“This is a fun educational event for all ages that a lot of people look forward to,” says event chairman Matt Dean. “This year we are highlighting 18 th century characters as we kick off the America250 commemoration.”
Admission charge is $5 for adults and $3 for students, payable at the event. No advance tickets will be sold.
For further information, call the Johnston County Museum at 919-938-5912, or visit the Heritage Center’s website at www.jcheritagecenter.org, or Facebook page, www.facebook.com/jocoheritage.
