ELY SAMUEL PARKER was a Native American. His birthplace was Tonawanda Falls, New York State, on what was at that time property set aside at the BIG TREE TREATY OF 1797, for exclusive use by the Tonawanda Band of the Seneca Nation. Over the years, a vast portion of this Reservation would be wrested from the Indians until with Ely's help new Treaties were negotiated whereby the Seneca were eventually able to repurchase a small portion of what had been theirs to begin with. Said "Land" today constitutes what is known as The Sovereign Nation of the Tonawanda Seneca.
PARKER was unique among his People in that he left the Reservation at an early Age to acquire an Education which equipped him well to function in two contrasting Cultures - Caucasian and Indigenous Woodland. It was this "extra learning" to which he was well-suited by Nature as well as Nurture that prepared him for the multiple Tasks which lay before him. Ere he drew his "Final Breath" on this Earth, Ely had indeed impacted American Culture as few other Individuals have managed to do!
When the War Between the States, otherwise known as "the American Civil War", broke out ELY PARKER was only too ready and willing to serve what he considered to be "My Nation". He had been employed prior to that as an Engineer helping to build a Naval Hospital at Galena, Illinois. It was his opinion that the Union Army would certainly need personnel with skills such as his to erect Bridges and Fortifications. He further felt that there would be an Officer's Commission awaiting him.
Unfortunately, the War Department had other ideas. In the first place, it was anticipated that this "insurrection" would be snuffed out in short order thus explaining President Lincoln's call for short-term Volunteers. Secondly, ELY was informed that as a Native American he was ineligible for a Commission. He had heard a similar story some years before when seeking to become licensed as an Attorney. In both scenarios, he was advised to "go home and find something appropriate for an 'Indian' to do".
So the rebuffed and rejected PARKER did return to the banks of the Tonawanda - or as close as he could get to that Creek after the reallocation of Real Estate to the Seneca. Insofar as there was limited demand for his new Skills, ELY soon grew weary of Hunting, Fishing and Entertaining neighborhood children as a Storyteller. Yet there were limited employment opportunities to take him far from "the Rez" as locals referred to their Community.
Had it not been for the availability of Reading Materials locally, this descendant of the Great Iroquois Orator, RED JACKET, might have relocated to the Grand River Reserve in Canada to forget his deep disappointment at being unwanted by his own Nation. Fortunately, he was an avid reader, especially of "History".
While coming of age ELY always imagined himself as earning a special place in History as a Hero or Inventor or perhaps an Innovator going where no man had gone previously. He could imagine himself as a leader like George Washington or a pathfinder such as Daniel Boone. He yearned to visit Cherokee Territory in North Carolina where Sequoyah, a fellow speaker of an Iroquoian Language had single-handedly developed a System of Writing. The War however, which was showing signs of being much more protracted than originally expected, placed limits on his mobility especially beyond the Mason-Dixon Line where his dark-complexion might well betray him as of a maligned ethnic background.
There was however another source of pleasure which stirred ELY's imagination and gave him a sense of Purpose. Some years earlier he had been initiated into membership with a Blue Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons. He derived unlimited pleasure from participating in Masonic Ritual Work. The Apron he was given to wear while advancing through the basic Degrees possessed Magic for him. It was his ticket to a World beyond the ken of those excluded for want of official Affiliation.
It was in these Lodge-rooms that a wonderful thought occurred to him. Whereas Masonry was designed to reflect the experiences of Workmen present at the erection of King Solomon's Temple, why could not he, ELY S. PARKER, invent some similar way to celebrate the experiences of Workmen "present at the building of American Culture".
Henceforth he began creating Ritual to reflect the Culture he longed to participate in. His objective was to compose CONVERSATIONS which would recreate or perhaps "bring to Life" experiences unique to the formation of Careers and Institutions. After that task, his sole needs would be Readers, a Theater and an Audience.
In short order, ELY PARKER found ways to satisfy his "needs".
READERS could be recruited from among friends and neighbors. The only requirement was that they could read with pleasantly audible voices.
The AUDIENCE would come from nearby communities on Sunday afternoons when church-services were finished. These would be picnics with entertainment. Folks could bring their own food or purchase from Resident Vendors.
The THEATER would be his own cabin with spacious Lawn and Front-Porch to serve as a Stage for his CONVERSATIONS. He would advertise his Productions as "HISTORY LIVES ON ELY's PORCH" .
The hardest task ELY PARKER faced was finding topics for his CONVERSATIONS. He was confident however that it would not be extremely difficult to find "Grist for his Mill". He could rely on his imagination and knowledge of "Great Events either individual or corporate". At the very least, he could solicit recommendations from friends and neighbors.
For the inaugural performance, ELY chose to write about the Life of MARY JEMISON. During his year as a Construction Engineer on the Canal being built from Rochester to Olean, New York, he had resided at a small village called Portageville on the banks of the Genesee River. While there he was treated to stories about "the White-woman and her Valley". He read and reread the account of her Life as recorded by James Seaver at nearby Castile. Since her spacious Land-Grant was set up at the same Council where the original Tonawanda Reservation was designed, ELY predicted there would be widespread interest throughout the Genesee Country for information regarding this Topic.
This initial "Reading" was a slight Fiasco! Just a handful of persons arrived at the appointed time, motivated more by curiosity rather than interest in learning about MARY JEMISON. ELY soon recognized that his Script was too complicated in terms of Scene-switches as well as numbers of Characters portrayed. Due to need for the three or four Readers to portray multiple personalities, there was confusion and loss of continuity.
For his second effort, ELY thus chose an Interview-format rather than a succession of Acts and Scenes with Narrative. His Subject for Discussion was DANIEL BOONE. The format was a Query-Response Dialog between Squire Boone, Daniel's brother, and John Filson, Dan's first Biographer. The Narrative was created by Squire through his descriptions of DANIEL's activities. This Audience turned out to be larger and more enthusiastic than the previous.
Feeling confident that he had found a winning-formula at last, ELY used "the two-person dialog-with-explanation approach" to highlight NOAH WEBSTER followed by the Cherokee Indian, SEQUOYAH, as his next Subjects.
Encouraged by the favorable responses occasioned by these new ventures, ELY opted to continue using "the Interview-format". The next Subject was JOHN JAMES AUDUBON. The Speaker-Readers were the Painter's wife and a Magazine Publisher. Again the Dialog was Question-Answer with some Discussion.
Since it was April, the month of AUDUBON's birth, ELY decided to advertise this event as a Birthday Party for "the Birdman of America". He invited a Taxidermist from the Buffalo Creek Reservation to display his preserved-specimens and served cake with ice cream to "guests". The event was very well-received.
With Easter Sunday falling in April that year, ELY invited local Missionaries to help him create an overview of the Life and Work of JESUS OF NAZARETH. This time the anticipated crowd was large enough that the event was relocated to a nearby Church. Unlike the previous successes this Dialog was expanded to include "a cast of characters" with no more than two people speaking in each Scene. ELY himself provided Explanations of any special terms or situations. Suggestions subsequently appeared in Local Newspapers that this "Celebration of Christ's Life" should become an Annual Event.
By now his Audiences had begun to include many return-visitors. At one performance someone started passing a hat to collect compensation for the Readers. ELY soon saw this as a way to raise funds for a new schoolhouse to be erected on Reservation property.
The first event specifically designed as a Fund-raiser was a tribute to BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. This was followed by an exploration of the strange career of EDGAR ALLAN POE. As a prelude to this Reading, local school-children were invited to recite selections from POE's Poetry.
By now ELY PARKER had all but forgotten the disappointment of being rejected by the Union Army. One morning however a messenger appeared at his door with a summons from his old friend, Ulysses S. Grant. These two had found each other during PARKER's days at Galena, Illinois. It seemed that U.S. Grant was about to assume overall command of Lincoln's Potomac Army and he was anxious to have "ELY S. PARKER" as a member of his personal Staff. The Commission that ELY had once sought was about to become Reality!
The following day ELY's bags were packed and soon he was on his way to Washington D.C. to begin Life as an American Soldier. ELY's PLACE was out of business - for at least the time being.
The only "writing" ELY had time for during the ensuing months was restricted to documents he transcribed for General Grant. The Commander was inclined to write his official communications in longhand-cursive which was all-but-impossible for others to read. Fortunately his chief Adjutant learned quickly how to decipher what appeared as scribbling. Due however to the volume of Grant's correspondence there was little time for ELY to indulge in Creative-writing of his own.
This "schedule" however did not prevent PARKER from indulging in Creative-thinking. It was his every intention to return to Tonawanda Falls at War's end and revive ELY's PLACE. Accordingly, he was ever on the lookout for new Subjects as CONVERSATIONS.
He had no problem finding what he was seeking. He and Grant were surveying the human carnage at a make-shift Hospital in Washington when they happened to encounter a young lady whose name they eventually discovered was LOUISA MAY ALCOTT. After hearing her speak of Life at her hometown of Concord, Massachusetts, ELY decided to create what later became a series of CONVERSATIONS which collectively came to be known as CONCORD CONNECTIONS.
Later that same week he was inspecting yet another Hospital when his interest was aroused by a rather odd-looking fellow who at the time was bathing a disabled soldier. Upon inquiring of the identity of this personage Ely was informed by an Orderly that this was Mr. WALTER WHITMAN, also known as "The Good Gray Poet", a former Civilian employee of the Government who had recently lost his position due to "a difference of opinion" with his Superior. Further, according to this Orderly, WHITMAN was much loved by the soldiers who were there for the most part awaiting Death. He was most useful in writing letters for dying men.
PARKER took little note of this information at the time but later decided to allow WHITMAN to tell his Story someday on ELY's PORCH. The turning-point came when he discovered the Poems this man was to compose eventually to commemorate the passing of President LINCOLN. It was then that ELY PARKER recognized WALTER WHITMAN as "a kindred-spirit".
From his days in Illinois, ELY was a devoted follower of ABRAHAM LINCOLN. With his friend, Ulysses Grant, he frequently participated in the Springfield Lyceum where LINCOLN had honed his Oratorical Skills prior to being sent to Washington. The Seneca had recognized the potential of this fellow to become a Hero; thus there was no doubt in his mind upon learning of LINCOLN's death to honor him at TONAWANDA FALLS with a CONVERSATION. After learning more of WHITMAN's own adulation of the President, he saw fit to honor the Poet similarly.
By now, ELY was beginning to think of his Operations back home at Tonawanda Falls as a Lyceum where local citizens as well as other interested parties might expand their Intellectual horizons in addition to being entertained on a given Sunday afternoon. Unlike the original Lyceum founded by Josiah Holbrook at Milbury, Massachusetts, which was designed as an Educational Forum for Community residents to share Information with fellow residents, ELY imagined his Operation to serve as "a Window on the World". His Mission upon being discharged from the Army would be to share his own Enlightenment with fellow Western New Yorkers. To this end, he began envisioning creation of Thematic-CONVERSATIONS.
His initial Theme was to be called "VISION QUEST". As a tribute to "the Rail-Splitter" which had been one of LINCOLN's nicknames, PARKER began gathering information about the so-called "AMERICAN SHAKERS". ABE had spoken fondly of "the Shaking Quakers" who approached him regarding the issue of exempting their young men from Conscription due to their belief in Pacifism. It was his intention, as reported by ELY, when his Presidential responsibilities were finished to learn more about the SHAKERS and their "Simple-things".
Of special interest to the Man from Genesee County was knowledge that there was at one time a Shaker Colony not too distant from Tonawanda Falls at a place called Groveland in Livingston County. Ironically, the Land on which this Community was situated had once supported a thriving Seneca Village known as Sonyea.
ELY then realized that his CONCORD CONNECTIONS-series featuring RALPH WALDO EMERSON, HENRY DAVID THOREAU, NATHANIAL HAWTHORNE and LOUISA MAY ALCOTT would also be appropriate for the VISION QUEST Theme due to their association with a movement called TRANSCENDENTALISM. Similarly his CONVERSATION involving JOHN CHAPMAN - better known as "Johnny Appleseed" - also fit the Theme by virtue of CHAPMAN's status as a SWEDENBORGIAN Missionary.
In years to come he would compose CONVERSATIONS featuring WILLIAM PENN and JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER as representatives of the QUAKER Faith as well as WILLIAM ELLERY CHANNING, founder of American UNITARIANISM. EDGAR ALLAN POE was his example of a soul lost in MYSTICISM. During his residency in New England , ELY became acquainted with MARY BAKER EDDY, consequently adding CHRISTIAN SCIENCE to his catalog of Themes.
The "Vision Quest" Theme was especially significant for ELY PARKER insofar as he had come of age listening to his Mother speak of a Prophetic-vision she had experienced at his Nativity. According to this Narrative she had dreamed of a Rainbow extending from their home at Tonawanda Falls to the domicile of a Caucasian called "Judge Granger" at the Buffalo Creek Reservation. This Vision was subsequently interpreted as meaning that ELY S. PARKER would begin Life as a Native American then live and die as a Caucasian. The annals of History bear witness to the veracity of this Prophecy!
ELY S. PARKER's role in the American Civil War may best be remembered as the Clerk who wrote - in actuality, transcribed- the terms of Robert E. Lee's official Surrender of his Confederate Army to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Courthouse. According to Legend, when Lee saw PARKER with other members of Grant's Staff he commented "at least there is one real American among us". Upon hearing this, PARKER supposedly offered the rejoinder "we are all real Americans, Mr. Lee". The irony of course was that PARKER's heritage had initially barred his participation in this "American Conflict".
Shortly after the Cease-fire, ELY's services were no longer needed with the consequence that he was now free to return to Tonawanda Falls. This he did as soon as possible with the intent to resume Programming at ELY's PLACE. General Grant vowed that he would, at his earliest opportunity, visit his good friend and ally for a Sunday-afternoon CONVERSATION. With the subsequent Assassination of President LINCOLN and the imposition of Martial Law throughout the Washington-area however, this "Vow" was not to be forthcoming anytime soon.
In an effort to rekindle interest in his Enterprise, ELY decided to restore a feature of Lyceums as they were in the Early 1800s. At that time the principal speaker at each Meeting was a local Artisan or Business-person whose Mission was to share with his neighbors information about his special Expertise or Trade.
Instead of Vocational-subjects, ELY chose to focus on Local History. As an example for this expanded programming, he gave what today might be labeled "a Lecture-Demonstration" about his esteemed Ancestor, RED JACKET. He focused mainly on the large silver Medal the Indian Orator had received from President George Washington as well as where and why the name "Red Jacket" had originated. He also related how Red Jacket had attempted at the Big Tree Council of 1797, to block the cession of Seneca-land to Robert Morris by extinguishing the Council Fire.
ELY was gratified to discover afterward that for many residents of the Rez., especially younger persons, this was information they had not previously been exposed to. He thus established Guidelines for future Presenters. The main criteria were "something to show" and "a story to tell". His overall objective was to encourage Audience-participation.
With this added facet came some Name-changes. What had been known as CONVERSATIONS were now "PORCH-PLAYS". Guest-presenters were henceforth referred to as "PORCH-SPEAKERS" with their "PORCH-TALKS". In all official correspondence the name "ELY's PLACE" was to be preferred in lieu of TONAWANDA FALLS LYCEUM.
Eventually ELY discovered that many of his Associates including close friends as well as neighbors were eager to hear about places he had personally visited and things he had witnessed during his travels. One afternoon, following the regular features he was asked to describe his impressions of the WHITE HOUSE at Washington. The consequence of this interlude was his decision to incorporate yet another new feature into the programs at ELY's PLACE.
Ultimately this "new feature" came to be known as "ELY's SITES TO SEE". It was designed especially for persons who for whatever reason would not venture far from their own homes yet yearned to learn of "faraway places with strange-sounding names". This thus became the Travelogue-feature of ELY's PLACE.
Before long, ELY's PLACE had come to encompass several hours of Educational-opportunities for Sunday-afternoons from late-Spring through early-Autumn. Patrons would arrive in droves from nearby cities to look, listen, learn and be entertained. Rather than packing picnic-baskets, many Visitors came prepared to buy Food and Souvenirs. In time, with this potential for Commerce, Vendors began approaching PARKER for permission to set up Booths as are found at modern-day "Flea-markets" and Sporting-events. The outcome of this focus on Business was yet a new designation for the entire Enterprise. ELY's sister, Caroline, coined the name - ELY PARKER's TONAWANDA FALLS EMPORIUM.
By 1868, "PARKER's EMPIRE" as it was known among residents of the Reservation had become a weekend affair. Due to its popularity, especially from July through mid-October, a decision was rendered to rearrange the schedule of Attractions. Financial transactions as well as Local History- and Tourism- Presentations were relegated to Saturday mornings and afternoons while Sunday was reserved as "Living History" Day.
This latter alteration was due principally to the volume of traffic occurring on the Sabbath. ELY was also being bombarded with Invitations to stage his CONVERSATIONS at other locations. This was an endeavor he did not care to undertake so as an alternative he chose to exclude all activities not involving a PORCH-PLAY from his "PLACE" - by whatever name - on Sundays.
This seemed to be a workable formula until ELY's friend, General Grant , recently elected to be Eighteenth President of the United States, made good his promise to visit Tonawanda Falls. This time however he was here as more than just a "visitor". He was actually come to ask ELY to grant him a boon.
The "favor" the new President sought was that ELY would agree to join his Administration as a Commissioner of Indian Affairs. This would mark the first time that a genuine Native American would be overseeing Government policies toward Indigenous Peoples in North America. This would also likely terminate ELY's residence at Tonawanda Falls.
It was a difficult decision for THE SACHEM, a Title ELY PARKER had inherited due to his Wisdom and Sagacity. He realized that acceptance of this new Honor would mean a significant life-change. Choosing to live as a Bureaucrat at the Nation's Capitol would require abandoning the Woodland-lifestyle to which he was born and bred. The only "trail" he might likely ever again follow would be paper instead of sod. The only "Arrows" he would handle were the figurative type hurled by Critics and Political Foes. Moreover, ELY's TONAWANDA FALLS EMPORIUM would become a relic of "days gone by". His siblings were unwilling to endeavor keeping it alive in his absence.
Ultimately, ELY realized the decision was not his to make. The Elder who had interpreted his Mother's Vision of a Rainbow extending from the Falls to Judge Granger's Homestead at Buffalo Creek was specific in noting a parallel between this Ancestor of a renowned Sachem known as "Red Jacket" and a Seneca called "Handsome Lake" This latter named Gentleman was responsible for setting down a Code of Conduct which enabled Iroquios-people to preserve their unique Lifestyle by recognizing the various vices visited upon them by Caucasians.
Handsome Lake had taught his People how to retain their uniqueness and identity while coexisting with people of other Races. According to the Elder, this "a son of Parker" was destined to reverse the process by teaching "other Races" about coexistence with Native Americans.
ELY thus saw himself as facing a dilemma analogous to that of Alexander The Great. As a student of History ELY had read the account of how this great Greek military-general wept when he realized there were no more Worlds for him to conquer. In his case however there were still many "worlds" - translated as "obstacles" to be transcended. The Elder had instructed his Mother that her son was born a Woodland-dweller but would one day die as a resident of the Caucasian-world.
Thus, for the second time, one Sunday afternoon, at close of a CONVERSATION involving WALTER WHITMAN, ELY announced that his EMPORIUM would henceforth cease to be. Fittingly, following the CONVERSATION, he had offered a Reading of Whitman's Poem, "Oh, Captain, My Captain". At the finale of the Reading he announced that the Ship-Of-State which had borne Mr. LINCOLN through the most tumultuous years in American History since the days of George Washington at Valley Forge had returned with a "new Captain" seeking ELY S. PARKER as First-Mate. His ordained Mission, he claimed, was to cast off with the next Tide. "To my People", he proclaimed, "I bid a fond Farewell".
In the years that followed, PARKER became a very "public" person. As a Government Official he was scrutinized by multitudes of people and maligned by a handful of Critics during an Administration noted in American History as "rife with Corruption". The constant pressure exacted its toll on the Man from Tonawanda Falls until he elected to resign his Office.
Contrary to expectations of Supporters as well as those persons who remembered him from Tonawanda-days, Ely did not return to Western New York. Instead he became associated with the New York City Police Department, eventually wed a young Caucasian-woman and settled permanently at Fairfield, Connecticut.
Fortunately he did not ignore all ties with Tonawanda Falls. His passion for Historical Recreations continued unabated. As time permitted he read History and composed CONVERSATIONS for which he was ever in quest of new Topics.
What he first labeled "Porch-Plays" now became "Parlor-Plays". His homes at Washington, D.C. and Fairfield, Connecticut, did not readily conform to the guidelines for large capacious Porches so he needed to move his Productions indoors. To this end he would invite friends and colleagues to join him for Soirees which included Dinner and a CONVERSATION. It was in fact during one such evening session that he became acquainted with his bride-to-be. She had been reading the role of Mrs. JOHN AUDUBON with ELY as the Interviewer when afterward they realized how well suited they were for one-another.
In consequence thereof, Minnie Sackett became Mrs. ELY PARKER. In addition to being his wife and mother of their Daughter, she became her husband's Research Associate. Together they journeyed to Hartford, Connecticut, to meet Samuel Clemens, better known as MARK TWAIN, and secure his consent to become Subject of a new CONVERSATION.
They also visited the home of P.T. BARNUM at Bridgeport, Connecticut. Thereupon they decided to compose a Series of CONVERSATIONS outlining growth of CIRCUS IN AMERICA. Somers, New York, with its Elephant Hotel was not far away from their Fairfield home.
During a brief return to Western New York, they paid a visit to Chautauqua Lake where friends took them to see the former Methodist Campground which had evolved into a permanent Sunday School Assembly. In time, ELY decided this so-called "CHAUTAUQUA MOVEMENT" was fertile ground for a series of CONVERSATIONS involving Principals as well as a sampling of Platform Speakers such as WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN and CLARENCE DARROW. To ELY's mind, the CHAUTAUQUA-concept was essentially an outdoor Lyceum similar to what he had experienced at Springfield, Illinois, when ABE LINCOLN was building his reputation as an Orator.
While sojourning at Concord, Massachusetts, with some of the personalities who had inspired him to create the CONCORD CONNECTIONS-series, it was suggested to ELY that he compose a CONVERSATION involving ELIZABETH PALMER PEABODY. Insofar as neither of the Parkers were familiar with this Name they journeyed into Boston to gather Information. The result was that this Pioneer of Kindergarten Education in the U.S. became Subject of their most recent CONVERSATION.
By this time, ELY had become well-known as Composer of what were now known as "Parlor- Plays". He soon began receiving suggestions for new Subjects "to talk about" as well as requests for Scripts. One such solicitation came from a man named Daniel Beard who as Commissioner of Boy Scouts in America was seeking some special facet of American Culture for his Scouts to present at The World Scout Jamboree. So it was that ELY created his first actual Subscription-CONVERSATION. This was the story of ROBERT STEPHENSON BADEN-POWELL, British Founder of Boy Scouting. This was also his first "Fireside" CONVERSATION as it was originally presented at an evening Campfire Ceremony.
As a tribute to her late husband who passed away in the year 1895, Minnie Parker commissioned two Freelance-writers to create a narrative of the extraordinary life of ELY SAMUEL PARKER. Upon completion of their Manuscript there was controversy about what to call this final - or so they thought at the time - CONVERSATION.
As it turned out however, the two Writers were visiting the Home of William Pryor Letchworth near Castile, New York State. They were touring the Glen Iris House when in one room they espied Portraits of MARY JEMISON and the Iroquois Sachem, RED JACKET. Upon recalling that this White-woman had been the subject of PARKER's first CONVERSATION as well as the fact that ELY had been a Sachem himself and frequently appeared at formal occasions sporting the large Medallion Red Jacket had received from George Washington, they knew they had found an appropriate Title for the PARKER Saga. From that day forth it has been known as RED JACKET'S MEDAL: a Sachem's Story.
In due season the memory of ELY PARKER's literary achievements faded and soon passed to some undocumented Archive. His Widow as well as his daughter returned ultimately to their Heritage as Caucasians with little concern for Native-American connections. Eventually the remains of "General" PARKER - ELY's preferred form of address - were returned from Fairfield, Connecticut, to Buffalo, New York, for internment at Forest Lawn Cemetery. The large Silver Medal which had adorned his Native-garb for so many years was displayed at the local Historical Society ere being consigned to some dusty corner of the Museum there.
In time, the only visible Genesee Country testimonial to PARKER's Legacy was a Historical Marker placed near a small Community recorded on Maps as the Hamlet of Indian Falls. The name change had resulted from discovery of another "Tonawanda Falls" in New York State.
It happened one day that a would-be Scholar who had been sojourning at Letchworth State Park while seeking Information about MARY JEMISON was traveling through the area when he chanced to espy the aforementioned Marker. Having become a devotee of a phenomenon known as OUTDOOR DRAMA he was habituated to pausing in his travels to peruse such "Roadside Historical Markers", especially near Sites where "Dramas" were staged.
His interest in MARY JEMISON had indeed been sparked by realization that Letchworth Park would be an excellent location for staging "a Show" especially with the ready availability of a local Celebrity often referred to as "White-woman of the Genesee Valley". This was actually his motivation for exploring "the Genesee Country" in search of testimonials to People and Places.
After viewing this particular Roadside Marker, the aspiring Playwrite endeavored to locate as much Information as possible about "General ELY PARKER". At Libraries he was able to locate a few Periodical Articles as well as two well-written Biographies.
Of particular interest to the Researcher was the fact that the original Tonawanda Reservation had been established almost simultaneously with provision of a Land-Grant to MARY JEMISON. The "almost" results from the "after-thought nature" of consideration for the White-woman and her heirs.
As fate would have it, while digging for information about PARKER, "light" was shed on "the General's" career as Scholar and Author. In a corner of a forgotten Attic in a very old house on the main thoroughfare of Indian Falls was a leather-bound trunk. For a hundred years this "treasure-chest" had been sitting there unopened. The only indication of either source or contents was a tag bearing the notation "Gen. E.S. Parker".
None of the occupants of this property had ever been curious enough to disturb the Trunk's "long Winter's nap" perhaps in anticipation of having its rightful owner come seeking it someday. Such was a reasonable assumption since this dwelling had formerly been "a Tavern" - a term which once served to designate a Rest-Stop for Travelers in contrast to more modern connotations of the word.
Fortuitously, the Researcher had placed an Advertisement in a local Pennysaver soliciting information from Locals about their famous "Native Son". The current occupant of the House was preparing to move away. In cleaning she had noted the similarity between Surnames on the Trunk and in the Ad.. Seeing opportunity to rid herself of this unwanted relic, she contacted the solicitor and tendered the item gratis - if he would just "make it disappear".
Initially skeptical as to the Wisdom, let alone the Legality, of accepting "Unclaimed Freight" for a Gift, the Researcher decided to take a chance. With some doubt as to why he would possibly want this old Trunk, he nevertheless claimed it and spirited it away to his own abode. Sometime later, he mustered sufficient courage to breech the padlock.
From that day forward into the 21st Century, the Researcher altered direction of his scholarly endeavors. Instead of focusing on MARY JEMISON and Outdoor Drama, he began editing and rewriting this treasure-trove of what he considered to be "Oral History Dialogs". For nearly twenty years he transcribed the works of General PARKER much as PARKER himself had once rewritten the Papers of Ulysses Grant. Each revised Script was filed away at the U.S. Library of Congress Copyright Office upon completion. Though the PARKER-format was preserved, additional facts were added to reflect events ELY would not have been aware of.
Eventually it was decided that "Ely's Porch" should be revived as a Radio Show. To this end, Readers were employed to produce Recordings of the revised "Porch-Plays". Said Recordings were then aired Sunday afternoons as "Ely Parker's Hour".
A Newspaper Article featuring comments from the Producer of "Ely's Hour" enlightened the Public that there was yet another aspect of the original TONAWANDA FALLS EMPORIUM that might appeal to Listening Audiences. This of course was the Saturday segment known as "Porch-talks" whereby information pertaining to Local History had been presented.
"Ely's Hour" thus assumed a 90-minute format. Each segment featured a CONVERSATION as well as an INTERVIEW with someone who had something special to say about Local History - Person, Place, Thing or just a Story to share. This "new format" then became known as the "TONAWANDA FALLS LYCEUM" and eventually evolved into "ELY's PLACE" as denotes its continued existence in Cyperspace.
,