Six Mile Reservoir … drained. Dynamiters … vindicated from punishment. Bill to abandon the canals and murky reservoir … passed. No Compromise! History of the Reservoir War Mystery Dinner Theater wrapped up its 3 performances two weekends ago, April 14-16, 2023. With a stellar cast of community-minded individuals of Paulding County (along with family members) telling the story of one of its own historical events.
The interactive Mystery Dinner Theater combined local Paulding County history with some mystery – who killed Private Reeves? … and a little comedy as well. The story took the guests along for the ride of what the residents of Antwerp and surrounding area were dealing with in 1887 with the Six Mile Reservoir — mud and mosquitoes, illness and death. The canals had all but been abandoned at this time in history because railroads were the new and improved means of commercial and recreational transportation, but manufacturers from Defiance (ptooey) who needed the timber from Paulding County for their furniture, wagon wheels and other hot commodities of the day (ie. cigar boxes), wanted the section of the Wabash & Erie Canal and Miami & Erie Canal to stay open, so the Six Mile Reservoir lobbyists influenced Congress to not pass the Geyer Bill that would have abandoned the Canals and the need for the Six Mile Reservoir.
The evenings were full of witty banter and real telegraph correspondences from Ohio Gov. Foraker and C.A. Filckinger, as well as a proclamation from Major Bunker. Many guests were enlightened about a section of Ohio history they did not know about before.
Jane Nice originally wrote this mystery dinner theater play back in 2018 for the Paulding Chamber of Commerce, and since has modified some of the story to make room for new information that she found in her research about the historical event. “My goal in writing the script is to educate people about the important events of the Reservoir War of 1887 in Paulding County. It is very rewarding to stir up new conversations about the origin of our county’s motto while putting the “fun” in fundraiser,” commented Jane.
Writer Jane Nice, director – Renee Boss, and Antwerp Chamber of Commerce committee members: Sue Fowler, Angel Steiner, and Denise Coleman began back in October of 2022. Monthly organizational meetings took place and in January 2023, cast members were contacted to start making plans for collection of costumes, props and commitments to participate in this play. Practices started in March 2023 and continued weekly with people coming straight from work out of town, from refereeing sporting events or traveling from farther out of town just to prepare to give the community a good show.
“Every time we perform the “No Compromise!” dinner theater, I gain a new appreciation for volunteers,” comments Jane Nice. “This production requires a large cast, and lots of people have to give up their time and help in many, many ways. Some traveled from far away to weekly practice to be in it, some grew out their hair and beards and came up with their own costumes, some figured out the sound system and video recording, some helped with making props and setting them up. It is true that volunteers make the world go round.”
This play took a group effort coordinating schedules very carefully to make sure all took off without any glitches, Jane offered, “The Antwerp Chamber of Commerce, the Antwerp Global Methodist Church and Grant’s Catering made the whole thing possible. I could not do it without Director Renee Boss. I think fast at home, alone, behind my desk, but she thinks fast on her feet.” concluded Nice.
After all the receipts and invoices were balanced from the weekend events, the Antwerp Chamber of Commerce totaled a nearly $5,000 profit that will go directly to the Downtown Mural Project! The project is set to begin in late summer 2023 and the mural will be put on the Friend Flooring building in downtown Antwerp.
