PINE PLAINS — Dyan Wapnick, president of the Little Nine Partners Historical Society, is reluctant to call herself a playwright, but after penning Widow’s Weeds — a compelling and true story about a Revolutionary War widow — she’s embracing the creative process and watching her words come to life on stage.
The play will be performed for one-day only at the Stissing Center on Saturday, Sept. 6 at 4 p.m.
Widow’s Weeds is based on the true story of Mary Ingalls, an 84-year-old Revolutionary War widow who, in 1842, fought to receive her late husband’s military pension using only her memories and oral testimony.
Wapnick was inspired to write Widow’s Weeds after a descendant of Mary and Elihu Ingalls, who were married in Pine Plains in the late 1700s, donated family research to the historical society. When the opportunity to apply for a Dutchess County Department of History grant arose, she saw a chance to bring their little-known story to life on stage.
After extensive research and conversations with descendants of Mary and Elihu Ingalls, Wapnick says telling their story carries a sense of vindication. “These widows went through so much just to be recognized,” she says. “As a widow myself, I could relate to Mary — there was a real kinship.” Wapnick believes the play is important not only for the Ingalls family, but also “to highlight a forgotten segment of history.”
Grace Dietrich, left, Dean Temple, and James Elvin, right, running lines on stage at the Stissing Center on Thursday, Aug. 28. Widow’s Weeds is being directed by Robert C. Lyons.Photo by Aly Morrissey
As a historian, Wapnick says “it was important to keep the story as accurate as possible.” She says it was a unique challenge to stay true to the facts while crafting a narrative compelling enough for the stage. There are moments where she allowed creative choices to take the lead, stepping slightly away from strict historical accuracy in service of the story.
For example, though she had access to the depositions from the late 1800s, the language was “dry, rambling and dated.” Wapnick says she edited the dialogue to add color and modernize it, while keeping the original essence.
Additionally, a funeral scene is styled like a medieval wake. “The inspiration is drawn from a different historical time period,” Wapnick says, “but the mood just felt right.”
Though Widow’s Weeds is her first play, Wapnick is no stranger to writing. She researches and pens the monologues for Pine Plains’ annual cemetery tours and even has an unpublished novel. “But a play is exciting in a completely different way,” she says.
With rehearsals well underway, Wapnick credits New York City playwright and director Robert C. Lyons with bringing the production to life on stage. A Pine Plains resident and seasoned director, Lyons has included Wapnick in the creative process throughout rehearsals. “Robert is a fantastic director — he keeps things moving and has brought this so far in a short time,” says Wapnick.
Widow’s Weeds was made possible in part by a $9,475 grant from the Dutchess County Department of History. The Rev250 grant — a $100,000 initiative funded by the Dutchess County Legislature — supports public programming that explores the enduring impact of the American Revolution on local communities, in honor of its 250th anniversary.
Rooted in history and guided by Wapnick’s pen, a love story, a ghost story, and a fight for women’s rights intertwine in this remarkable true account. The performance is free and open to the public, though reservations are required through the Stissing Center website.
John Satre, one of the original Satre brothers, is credited with pioneering the sport of ski jumping in the United States.
While spectators look skyward to watch the high-flying athletes, Jumpfest will also invite the community to look back on Salisbury’s deep-rooted ski jumping history.
Ski jumping originated in Norway in the 19th century and is a tradition familiar to most Nordic children. That was the case for the five Satre brothers — John, Magnus, Ottar, Sverre and Olaf — who grew up competing in ski jumping and cross-country skiing.
When John Satre moved to Salisbury in 1923 to work as a chauffeur, he brought the tradition with him. The rolling hills and heavy winters of the Northwest Corner resembled those of Norway, allowing John to seamlessly integrate his passion into his new community.
Magnus SatrePhoto Provided
Within a year, his brothers followed him to Salisbury.
In 1926, John Satre captivated roughly 200 spectators by skiing off a snow-covered barn roof.
The brothers soon formed the Salisbury Outing Club — now known as the Salisbury Winter Sports Association (SWSA) — and began construction of a permanent ski jump in the same location it sits today: Satre Hill.
By 1933, the Satre brothers had won numerous championships and helped popularize the sport across the United States. Salisbury hosted the U.S. Olympic Trials in 1932, and the following year hosted the National Championships.
Tragically in 1934, at the age of 40, John Satre was killed in a car accident. The New York Times hailed him as a pioneer in U.S. skiing and his legacy is carried on in the winter sports culture that is nurtured in Salisbury today.
During this time, local children were introduced to the sport, creating makeshift jumps in their backyards out of crates and hay bales. One of these children was Richard Parsons, who became the first Salisbury resident to earn recognition for cross country skills. He earned a spot for the 1932 Lake Placid Winter Olympic Games and in 1936 competed in the Winter Olympics in Garmisch, Germany, where he was the leading American-born cross-country skier.
During World War II, young athletes who would have normally been jumping were enlisted in the service, causing a lull in the sport and deterioration of the jump itself. After the war, however, community members eagerly worked to rebuild the jump, and another Salisbury athlete emerged.
Ottar SatrePhoto Provided
Roy Sherwood was first introduced to ski jumping when his father built him and his brother their own ski jump in their backyard. Sherwood quickly gained ground, earning himself the title of “hometown hero.” By 1954, Sherwood was offered a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team for the 1956 games in Cortina, Italy.
Sherwood’s path to the Olympics was far from easy. A year before the Games, he was diagnosed with polio, threatening his ability to compete. He recovered enough to travel to Italy, only to hit an icy patch during a practice run.
Sherwood rebounded and competed the next day, placing 36th out of 51 — the second-highest finish by an American — and was later inducted into the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame.
Today, four jumps line Satre Hill — K10, K20, K30, and K65. The 65-meter jump is used for competitions, and the smaller jumps are used to teach local youth during winter camps.
Islay Sheil, a Housatonic Valley Regional High School student and Lakeville resident, is the current SWSA athlete on the rise in ski jumping today. Her passion for the sport emerged during one of the SWSA winter camps, and last March earned gold in the Junior National Championships. The next Junior National Championships will be hosted in Salisbury in 2027.
While Salisbury celebrates the 100th anniversary of its own ski jump this year, the Olympic Games will be held in Milan and Cortina, Italy, the same place that Sherwood gained global recognition.
To honor the town’s remarkable history and tradition of ski jumping, Jumpfest will begin early with a Winter Warmer on Jan. 31 between 5:30 to 8 p.m. It will be at the home of Salisbury First Selectman Curtis Rand. Small plates and drinks will be served. Limited tickets are available for $50 and more details can be found at Jumpfest.org/100years/
Photo provided The Satre brothers, of Norway, brought ski jumping to Salisbury in the 1920s. Clockwise starting at lower left, John, Olaf, Ottar and Magnus Satre pose alongside their large collection of trophies earned for accomplishments as ski jumpers. Photo Provided
On Feb. 1, a double feature screening of On the Hill and Downhill Racer will be held at The Moviehouse in Millerton, followed by a panel discussion on winter sports and SWSA’s role in Salisbury’s history. There will also be a raffle and SWSA merchandise for sale.
Tickets for the showing are $16 and details can be found at Jumpfest.org/100years/.
On Friday, Feb. 6, Jumpfest will host community night at Satre Hill. SWSA will offer free admission for the night. Gates open at 6 p.m. and “Target Jumping Under the Lights” will begin at 7 p.m. There will be fireworks sponsored by NBT Bank, bonfires, and food and drinks available for purchase. The Human Dogsled Race is set for 8:30 p.m. Teams of five can register at Jumpfest.org
On Saturday, Feb. 7, the Junior Competition on K20 jump will begin at 9 a.m. The Salisbury Invitational Ski Jumping Competition will practice from 11 a.m. to noon and compete at 1 p.m. Community members are invited to the Snow Ball at the Lakeville Town Grove at 8 p.m. Dancers will be accompanied by live music from the Steve Dunn Band. Entrance to the Ball is $20 with children 12 and under free of charge.
On Sunday, Feb. 8, Satre Hill will hold the Eastern U.S. Ski Jumping Championships. Athletes will practice between 11 a.m. to noon and compete at 1 p.m.
Willie Hallihan of SWSA explained that the length of time and number of people involved on an emotional level has made the sport “iconic to Salisbury.”
Hallihan recounted in the PBS documentary “The Jump” that the ski jumps are “like a family member to a lot of people”.
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