The 18th annual Ghost Walk came and went, and I could not have enjoyed it more. As I mentioned in my last post, I was slated to portray Charlie Hammit, Salem’s very own silent film star. After donning my western garb (complete with cowboy hat and fake “copperhead” snake around my neck), I set up shop in East Hill cemetery and awaited the first tour group. Taking a bit of artistic license with my character, I decided to portray Mr. Hammit as a true product of the theatre, over-dramatizing my lines and injecting a lot of energy, and a bit of self aggrandizement, into the character. From what I gathered, the audience enjoyed the burst of energy near the end of the tour and I was, apparently, quite popular with the middle school girls throughout the weekend…so big ego boost for me.
Now that both Ghost Walks have concluded, including the one at Sherwood that followed East Hill’s, my internship has shifted gears a bit. With most of the public history events in the rear view mirror, I’ve begun to do more historical research for various exhibits and lectures. Next, I will get to design my own exhibit, which I plan on featuring the political dynamics behind Salem’s midnight transition from a town to a city.
