News

Preparing for the Paranormal at the Perkins Stone Mansion

The Summit County Historical Society will once again open the doors of the historic Perkins Stone Mansion to tell paranormal stories of unexplained activity in one of Akron’s oldest structures, the home of Akron’s founding family.  Psychic Paranormal Tours with Laura Lyn will be offered on Friday, October 26 and Saturday, October 27 at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m.  Reservations are required and slots fill up quickly.  Ticket prices are $25 per person or $20 for Society members.  Guests are encouraged to bring their flashlights and cameras for this lights-out tour opportunity.  Past participants, including local journalists, have experienced other worldly recordings, hair pulling, brushing of the leg by the calf and pokes in the back (not by other guests in attendance).

            There are a number of new events happening during the month of October on the grounds of the Perkins Stone Mansion and Society properties.

North American First People’s Day – October 1st  We invite you to observe this new City of Akron designated day by walking the historic Portage Path.  Participants will start at 1 p.m. from Portage Path CLC and end at the Perkins Stone Mansion.  Elders and students from the Northern Cheyenne Nation will lead a talk and drum circle with dancing.  The Society is collaborating with a number of local organizations including Lippman School, Summit Metro Parks, the Institute for Human Science & Culture at the Cummings Center for the History of Psychology at The University of Akron, Stewards for Historical Preservation and Akron Portage and Paddle as well as local committee members LaDonna Blue Eye and Charlotte Gintert.

Preview Party for Patterns of History: Quilts from the Summit County Historical Society – October 1st Guests will be guided to a tent following a torch lit path with costumed volunteers welcoming them to enjoy food prepared by the Kenmore-Garfield High School President’s Dining Room & Bakery-Culinary Arts program.  The Perkins Stone Mansion will be filled with vintage quilts on the walls and throughout the home dating from the 19th and 20th centuries.  The theme of red, white and blue will pay homage to the WWI Centennial.  Tickets are $25 per person or 2 for $40 and can be purchased via EventBrite or by calling the Society office.

Patterns of History: Quilts from the Summit County Historical Society exhibit on display October 3 – October 31. Guests are welcome to take self-guided tours through the 1837 stone mansion to view the numerous quilts, coverlets and bed coverings on display from the permanent collection. Considering that many may think of quilts from “grandma’s attic,” the exhibit committee, in collaboration with the new Remember When…  History Hands On program being offered, is setting up a special area to include a peak into “grandpa’s garage” – an assortment of historic tools from the area on display in the Society Carriage House. This display is can be seen during regular tour hours Wednesday – Saturday from 1-4 p.m.  Tours are $8 per person, $2 for students and free for Society members. (Remember When programs are also available for groups by reservation.  There is a fee for these one hour presentations.)

Remember When . . . Hands-On History – October 18th  Join us in the Carriage House at the Perkins Stone Mansion property to step back in time to Remember When as we share the stories of “The Doctor’s Black Bag.”  Learn about remedies for baldness, arthritis and more during this humorous presentation encouraging audience participation. The program starts at 6:30 p.m. and it is free for Society members and $10 for nonmembers.  Consider joining the Society to save 75% on programming attendance throughout the year!

Old Stone School Open House – October 24th Schoolmarm Janet McCaulley will make “students” tow the line and use their slate pencil to work on penmanship.  The school will be open from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. in an Open House format.  Did you know that Akron was the first community to introduce free public schooling for primary and secondary students and that the concept was copied across the state and the nation?  Today, Old Stone School is maintained through a partnership with SCHS and Akron Public Schools. This program is free and open to the public.

SAVE THE DATE:

November 2nd – True Crime Tour

As 19th century author Mark Twain stated, “Truth is stranger than fiction.” Learn more about crimes (murders and holds ups) committed within the greater Akron area while traveling on trolley to see the locations.  Bring a friend because these stories are real! Tickets for the evening are $25 or $20 for Society members.

November 8th – Mutton Hill Book Club (NEW)

Join in the discussion of the book Twenty Six Seconds: A Personal History of the Zapruder Film by Alexandra Zapruder.  History can change in seconds as captured by the camera of her grandfather the day that President John F. Kennedy was shot.  There will be a book discussion followed by an interview with Society volunteer Al McCaulley who was an FBI agent working in the photo lab in Washington, D.C. when the film was reviewed.  Light hors d’oeuvres will be served.  Tickets are $15 per person or $10 for Society members.