Museum’s October events including recounting of Bell Witch story, spooky cemetery stroll

Other events include a spooky stroll through a local cemetery and movie night at the museum.
Christian County Historian William T. Turner, seen here in a 1928 fire truck during a museum event in the summer of 2019, will lead the Oct. 30 History on Tap at Hopkinsville Brewing Co. and tell the Bell Witch story. (Photo by Jennifer P. Brown)

A spooky walk in the cemetery, County Historian William T. Turner’s telling of the Bell Witch story and a lesson in tombstone preservation are all on the local museum’s schedule of events in October.

Also planned is a showing of a classic comedy-horror film with an odd reference to Hopkinsville. In addition, a craft activity is available to any visitor during October. 

“Starting this month, we will feature a different craft activity at the Pennyroyal Area Museum,” Alissa Keller, executive director of the Museums of Historic Hopkinsville-Christian County, said in a news release. “In October, you can make your own small clay pinch pot. This project connects back to our Pennyroyal Plateau and Ken-Tuk-Eh exhibits and gives guests a hands-on opportunity to experience history.” The craft is included in the cost of admission.

Here are the special events for October and Keller’s descriptions:

Tombstone Preservation Workshop

10 a.m. to noon • Saturday, Oct. 10 Pioneer Cemetery

Learn more about Hopkinsville’s earliest settlers while making our community a brighter place. Folks will receive a brief training on how to document and clean historic tombstones safely before grabbing a bucket and brush. This program is free to attend, and the museum will provide all supplies.

“Attack of the Killer Tomatoes”

7 p.m. • Friday, Oct. 16 • Pennyroyal Area Museum

This 1978 spoof of a B-movie touts itself as a musical-comedy-horror show, and it does not disappoint. It is silly and ridiculous — and opens with a direct reference to Hopkinsville. What better place to watch it than the Museum?! Admission: $5 a person; free for museum members. (Rated PG)

History on Tap: The Legend of the Bell Witch

6:30 p.m. • Thursday, Oct. 22 • Hopkinsville Brewing Co.

Join William T. Turner and friends for a recounting of this haunting story of a poltergeist-like spirit who terrorized the family of John Bell in nearby Adams, Tennessee. This program is free.

Spooky Cemetery Stroll

6 p.m. • Friday, Oct. 30 • Riverside Cemetery

We will take an evening candlelit stroll through one of Hopkinsville’s oldest and largest cemeteries. Enjoy tales of local personalities, stories of dramatic deaths, and possibly a few spooky visitors along the way. Tickets: $10 a person; $5 for museum members.

In the interest of coronavirus safety measures, the museum wants everyone to preregister online (or call 270-887-4270) for all of the events, except the History on Tap at the brewery. 

“Social distancing will be practiced, and temperatures of guests will be checked,” Keller said. “Masks are required indoor at the movie and strongly encouraged at outdoor programs. And like everyone else, we are planning with the understanding that we might need to swerve and adjust mid-stream. We will keep you posted if anything changes.”

Jennifer P. Brown is co-founder, publisher and editor of Hoptown Chronicle. You can reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org. She spent 30 years as a reporter and editor at the Kentucky New Era. She is a co-chair of the national advisory board to the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, governing board president for the Kentucky Historical Society, and co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition.