Northumberland Players and ACO branch present Dining With Barnum

By Cecilia Nasmith

The Memoirs of Col. Eliakim Barnum is a Northumberland Players Outreach production that, come Oct. 21, will whisk you back to 1874 to listen to the colonel himself over a light lunch or supper.

It's a collaboration devoutly to be wished for both organizations involved – the Players and the Cobourg/East Northumberland branch of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario, to whom the Ontario Heritage Trust has leased the house with the understanding that the branch stage events throughout the year to allow public access.

ACO members Catherine and Rob Hunter are organizing the light meal (soup, bread and dessert), which Grafton's St. George's Church auxiliary group is catering – very appropriate, since the Barnum family had very close ties with the church right back to its founding, and both Eliakim and Hannah Barnum were laid to rest in the St. George's churchyard.

On the Players side, Jackie Tinson has written the script and is producing the re-enactment with Tim Russell costumed as the colonel. In the course of it all, she has really done her research.

The house was built between 1817 and 1819, Tinson reported. Barnum brought skilled carpenters up from the US for much of the work, because he could find no one locally whom he considered satisfactory. She cited the mantelpiece in the ballroom – which will be the backdrop for the reading – as an example of the very fine craftsmanship evident in the house.

“Eliakim was very proud of the fine woodwork in the house and would have been pleased. It's my hope that one day the chimney will be restored and a fire lit once more in this hearth,” she said.

“The house is an important heritage property, the earliest example of Neoclassical architecture (or Regency) in Canada, and right in our back yard.”

It's well worth a visit, she added, “especially for those wishing to channel their inner Jane Austen.”

As times have changed, Tinson reflected, museums are evolving.

“Objects out of context in dusty cases no longer have any appeal. People are looking for more immediate experiences. They want history brought to life.”

Which perfectly describes The Memoirs of Col. Eliakim Barnum. As audience members gather in the upstairs ballroom, a costumed actor will give a dramatic reading of Barnum's Memoir (a modern reconstruction based on primary documents researched by the Lakeshore Genealogical Society). The colonel (whose title stems from the office he held with the local militia) will reminisce about his life and family and how he came to build this unusual and significant house.

“During lockdown, I decided to revisit the significant body of work done by the Lakeshore Genealogical Society and write a life history of the man and his house,” Tinson recalled.

“To my surprise, I found that some of the official information that had been published about Col. Barnum was incorrect, and I wanted the Memoir to correct earlier misconceptions. I thought combining his life story with a lunch of supper event might be an entertaining way to do that.”

The Hunters and ACO branch chair Don Macintosh have been instrumental in the planning of this event. Interviewed after returning from a poster-posting expedition, Catherine Hunter spoke of the behind-the-scenes work that is being done – everything from renting the chairs and tables to arranging the catering from the St. George's.

Hunter said that their organization has enjoyed its association with Barnum House, staging such special events there as strawberry teas and a big Christmas Tide event with live (and costumed) entertainment.

Referring to several decades back when the museum was open regularly and had special summer programming, she can't help but wish it could be open to the public more often – and is looking forward to making this rare opportunity available to all.

There are 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. sittings on Oct. 21. Tickets are $45 per person and can be ordered by e-mail at barnumhouseeventscommittee@gmail.com, specifying the preferred sitting and whether you require gluten-free or vegetarian options. Payment is by e-mail or cheque.