FOLKSTON – In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, the Charlton County Historical Society, in partnership with the Charlton County High School Theater Company, is proud to present “Stump Stories”.
The show is an original community dinner theater production bringing real voices from our county’s past to the stage — literally on the very ground where so much of the county’s history unfolded.
Written by Carolyn DeLoach, and directed by Natalie Newvine and Katy Ruth Huling, “Stump Stories” features six historical figures who shaped Charlton County. It also features a bright 10-year-old girl representing today, sharing their true stories from a single large stump at the Traders Hill Pavilion stage.
The setting is no coincidence — Traders Hill was once a bustling 18th-century trading post where Creek Indians and early settlers bartered along the St. Marys River, a refuge during conflicts, and the original seat of Charlton County government until 1901.
The play’s characters include:
• Ya’Holo, a Lower Creek warrior (1793), recounting the raid on Seagrove’s Store.
• Captain William Cone, a frontier militiaman (1812), defending against a British raid on the St. Marys River.
• Samuel Hannans, a free man voting for the first time (1866).
• William T. Chesser, a swamp settler (1870s) on Chesser Island.
• John Allen “Blackjack” Johnson, a Traders Hill merchant (1890s), witnessing the railroad’s impact.
• Lydia Smith Stone, the “Queen of the Okefenokee” (early 1900s), a powerful businesswoman protecting her family and community.
• Katie, a 10-year-old modern girl (2026), connecting past to future.
Each actor steps onto the stump to deliver their monologue, surrounded by the natural beauty of the St. Marys River valley.
Performances are scheduled for Friday, April 24 and Saturday, April 25 at 7 p.m., with a dinner catered by Cane Pole Café.
The production will start at 8:30 p.m. and runs approximately 45-60 minutes, creating an immersive, intimate experience at such a historic site.
This production is more than theater — it’s a celebration of Charlton County’s rich, layered history and our shared connection to America’s story.
Advance tickets are available online at https://charltoncountyhistoricalsociety. square.si te/ or by calling 912-2762998. Online ticket price is $27. In-person or by mail-in/please hold check is $25.
“Stump Stories” is made possible by generous sponsors — Okefenokee Rural Electric Membership Corporation (OREMC), Joe & Julie Hopkins, Southeastern Bank Community Foundation, Andrew Gowen, The Farm at Traders Hill, and Senator Mike Hodges.
For more information, call 912-276-2998 or email charltonhistoryandmore@
