Haunting History a success at Dunbar Cave

Dunbar Cave’s 10th annual Haunting History, a two-day event, drew over 550 people to the caves, despite cold weather and potential rain threat on opening day. Haunting History included performances  inside the cave and tours that brought the public in to see them, one small group at a time. The dreariness of Friday’s weather did not stop 205 people from coming to go into the cave. Saturday brought 341 people. The event was presented earlier in the month than usual because studies by APSU show that the Dunbar Cave bats begin their hibernation right on/around October 31. Two weeks earlier is a safer time to be making noise in the cave.

Eleven actors from the  Roxy Regional School of the Arts performed three skits in the cave, with Brendan Cataldo as their director. The Roxy Theatre also gave us a delightful gatekeeper. Swan Lake Golf Course allowed us to use their parking lot for overflow parking.

Over 40 volunteers poured and stirred complimentary cups of hot chocolate and spiced cider, put up and took down the tiki torches that lined the lake, sold glow necklaces and tickets, took us into the cave to see the skits and manned the parking lot.

Haunting History is a fundraiser presented by the non-profit group, Friends of Dunbar Cave. Monies raised are used to help preserve and protect the park and educate the public.

• The Friends Group was able to talk APSU’s Clean Cut Productions into producing an Introductory Film that explains the history of Dunbar Cave.
• The Friends group filmed interviews of local residents who have stories to tell about the Good Ole Days at Dunbar Cave.
• The Friends group designed, bought and installed a monitor in the lobby that shows films to the public especially the one made by Clean Cut Productions.
• The Friends group runs Trees to Trails, Cooling at the Cave and Spring Fling each year. These events are free to the public.
• The Friends group bought interpretive signage for the park and will continue to do so.
• The Friends group pushes for an Interpretive Center at Dunbar Cave. They’ve used the money they have raised as an incentive for the State to also support that effort.

Positive feedback filtered back from the public. One man quoted the first skit about bats to his wife and talked about how many mosquitoes bats eat. They both agreed that they should build a bat house to try and attract bats to their property.

The first skit was meant to dispel fears about bats and replace them with true information. At the end of the skit the actors showed the audience that a live bat was hanging on the ceiling. Excitement and awe replaced the horror and fear that some have on the subject of bats.

The second skit, Haunting Memories, was created from what certain people had to say about the good ole days at Dunbar Cave. Woman 1 represents Marguerite Rubel and Mary McDaniel. Woman 2 is Rachel Tate and Jacquie Miles. Man 1 is Jimmy Dunn and Ronnie Hunter. Man 2 is Zoot Parker who was known as the best dancer in Clarksville.

Skit three, Haunting Questions, tells of the Native Americans who made the art on the walls in Dunbar Cave. Information about the topic was gathered on visits to Indian Mound sites, like Pinson Mounds in West Tennessee and from books purchased there.

Many people come out of the event smiling and saying, “Wow, I learned a lot!” and seemed pleasantly surprised by that fact.

The Roxy actors just kept getting better. A week before the event they accompanied the director into the cave to see how the “stages” looked. After that, all were treated to a bit of a tour by Michael Fulbright who works at the Park. The actors were thrilled and learned a lot about the cave.

The 40+ Haunting History volunteers  came willing to do whatever was needed and also to have a good time. They did both. This event attracted many to the cave and the the Friends of Dunbar Cave group. Several people became members during the event.

Thank You’s from the Friends of Dunbar Cave

The Friends of Dunbar Cave thanks these sponsors: The Roxy Regional School of the Arts. With a more than busy (as usual) schedule, John McDonald gave us wonderful actors and director. Bill Larson of ClarksvilleOnLine gave us free advertisement and negotiated the using of the Swan Lake Golf Course for overflow parking. He also brought the actors and early volunteers a lovely dinner on Saturday and ran activities in the cave during the walk-through and the event. Thanks to Bill also for pictures of the actors.

Thanks for the cooking of that Saturday dinner goes out to Mr. and Mrs. William Keen. Thanks to Mr. Vaughn of Swan Lake Golf Course for the use of the parking lot. Thanks to Imagine Media Solutions and Business Clarksville for dinner on Friday and for all their staff coming to help us out both nights. Their magazine accents the positive in Clarksville and they certainly walk their talk.  Thanks to Jack and Suva Bastin for all their hard work and help. Thanks to Tennessee Trails making Haunting History their event also.

Thanks for donations from Batteries Plus, Lowes, Rural King and Krogers. WJZM 1400 AM Radio, ClarksvilleOnLine, the Leaf Chronicle and Family Clarksville gave us great stories.

List of volunteers who helped on this event:

Actors:  Scene 1 Haunting Facts Becca Winters, Patrick Long, Hallie Sampson, Tim O Smith   Scene 2 Haunting Memories Kayla Coleman, Jacob Ritchart, Emily Ritchart, Autumn Crafton, Jaymin Burr   Scene 3 Haunting Questions Frances Dennis, Christian Boyd.

Contributers and Volunteers: Barbara Wilbur, Jim Hancock, Richard Gildrie, Meredith Gildrie, Jack Bastin, Suva Bastin, John Sneed, David Boen, Randall Boen, Bill Larson, Kitty Madden, Beverly Fisher, Paul Schwab, Merri Hinton, Bob Lyon, Carol Sequra, Kyle Sequra, Christine Pieysk, Kelly LaPlante, Bobby LaPlante, David Shelton, Curtis Davis, Turner McCullough, Gabe Rudel, Mike Vogt, Kathy Vogt, Kim Chandler, Blayne Clements, Stephen Walker, J.B., Brooklyn Lyle, Dan Racklin, Marilyn Racklin, Beth Racklin, Jill Eichhorn, Barry Kitterman, Hannah Kitterman, Lee Gray, Gabriel Redel, Bryan Valentin, Kathryn Myracle, Matthew Fowler, Beth Robinson, Faith Robinson, Katherine Kolodzie, Gloria Miliken, Elaine Foust, Carl J. Powell, Mr. and Mrs. William Keen.

Thanks to Park Staff Amy Wallace, Adam Neblett, Robert Wells, Teresa Campbell, Michael Fulbright and Blaine Hargis

Editor’s Note: This article was submitted by Debbie Boen, a member of the Friends of Dunbar Cave.