The Washington times., 1932-09-03
1900 WILL ACT
IN BIRTHDAY
FESTIVAL
Residents to Re-enaCt 200
j. Years of Valley History
\ In Outdoor Fete

HARRISONBURG, Va, Sept.
S.-The Shenandoah Valley is
celebrating its own bicenten-
nial over the Labor Day week
end with a program of which
the principal feature will be
"The Pageant of the Shenan-
doah," tonight in the great
natural ampitheater south of
this city,
Seats have been constructed for
$500 persons OIL the hillside sur
rounding the little valley on. the
Newman tract and there will be
sanding room for 5000 more.
Every seat has a perfect view of
the natural stage in the flat he
low, and acoustics are So perfect
that loud speakers will not be
necessary.
Long Known to Indians
Two hundred years ago the
Shenandoah Valley received its
first white settlers. Long known
to the Indians as a wonderful
hunting ground, under the poetic
name Daughter of the Stars"
the Shenandoah has in these last
two centuries. under the stimulus
OF the industry and courage of
the white man, become a land
OF great productivity and wealth.
In tonight'S pageant, famous
characters of the valleys history
will move about the stage, among
them George Washington, Peter
Muhlenburg, John Sewer, Daniel
Boone, Gen Robert E. Lee, Gen.
Thomas j. C"Stonewall") Jackson,
Cyrus Mccormick and Sam HouS-
ton.
Actors Grew Boards
Ten citizens of HarriSonburg,
inspired by civic zeal, have made
q sacrifice that is being COM
mended, for to lend realism to
the roles they will play, they have
refrained from ShaVeS and hair
cuts for several weeks to grow
the boards and flowing locks that
characterized some of the pio-
neerS.
Secretary George Andrus, of
the chamber of commerce, says
there will be 1900 characters in
the pageant, which will depict the
history of the valley from the
Indian days to the present time.
Music Tomorrow
A second presentation of the
pageant will be given Monday
evening. Tomorrow the amphi-
theater and stage settings will he
devoted to a sacred musical pro-
gram.
Requests for the special cachet
stamp commemorating the Gel
ebration have been received from
all parts of the country. More
than 1000 stamped and self ad-
dressed envelopes have arrived
requesting that the stamps be
mailed during the three days of
the celebration.
A large influx of motorists to
the valley is expected from Wash
1ngton and other nearby cities.
Sponsors of the celebration urge
that motroiSts enter the valley by
one route and leave it by an
other, in order to gain as COM
plete an impression as possible
OF Its many natural beauties.
Big Lighting System
Two-foot towers erected on
either side of the stage will play
an important part in the presenta-
ton of the pageants. One will be
occupied by the chronicler, robed
In ancient costume, who will re-
late the facts concerning the cpl
sodes to be enacted. The other
will house the lighting system,
which is said to be one of the
most elaborate ever constructed
Tor an outdoor pageant.
The celebration will also take
on some Of the features of the
"old home week" observances that
originated in New England and
have spread throughout the coun-
try, for many former residents of
the valley have indicated they in
tend to return to it for the week
end or possibly for longer So
journS.