Portrayals of President James Madison, Dolley Madison highlight of event at Valley View Park

Jul. 9—VALLEY VIEW — Visitors at Valley View Park watched the distinctive personalities of the fourth United States president and first lady come to life on Sunday.

As part of the park's Hessian Heritage Day event, two professional actors staged a play in which they portrayed President James Madison and his wife, Dolley Madison, who exchanged correspondence and reminisced on events leading up to his administration.

Played by Kyle Jenks and Judith Kalaora, members of the Boston-based acting company History At Play LLC, the Madisons presented an engaging story that began in August 1814, with the president preparing to evacuate the White House due to the imminent British invasion.

As Dolley Madison, Kalaora provided a lively counterpoint to James Madison's famously quiet and retiring personality.

"James, you are the commander in chief," she said to the president shortly before their separation. "You must wear a military hat. ... You look so very martial in it."

Dolley, an elegantly dressed lady who liked to wear turbans, often addressed her husband as "Jamie," or "my great little Madison," in reference to his small stature.

During the play, she recalled the Madisons' extravagant inauguration ball at Long's Hotel, where dancers fainted due to the excessive heat and humidity in the crowded room.

"I'm sure that your memories captured more of a pomp and circumstance regarding," James said in response. "I was rather nervous and worried that I wouldn't last the whole day."

After their initial presentation, the Madisons fielded questions from the audience and addressed topics such as slavery, education and the role of the first lady.

Asked which amendment he authored in the Bill of Rights was most important, Madison cited the First Amendment, which was originally to be the Third.

"I would say the (First) Amendment, the individualized rights ... freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, freedom to petition the government and get a redress of your grievances from them," he said.

Jenks and Kalaora concluded their presentation by treating guests to ice cream, like the real-life Madisons did at the White House.

Their play was part of the annual Hessian Heritage Day, which is hosted by the Johannes Schwalm Historical Association, based in Scotland, Franklin County.

The JSHA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to researching German auxiliary troops — generically called Hessian — who remained in the United States after the Revolutionary War and became citizens, according to its website.

The association is named after Johannes Schwalm, a Hessian soldier who settled in the Valley View area after the Revolution. Many of his descendants, who grew up in western Schuylkill County, are now involved in the association.

Also during Sunday's event, the JSHA held its annual meeting to discuss the association's latest historical and genealogical research.

Although it rained through much of Sunday, about 75 people turned out to the park over the course of the daylong event. Many gathered at the pavilion to converse, dine and catch up with friends and relatives, including those involved in the JSHA.

Roger Schwalm, treasurer, estimated that about 25 visitors were descendants of Johannes Schwalm.

"This is the one event where we do a lot of reconnecting," he said.

President Ross Schwalm, who is originally from Tower City and now lives in Woodbridge, Virginia, portrayed a continental militiaman and introduced the Madisons' play.

Also in attendance was Dave Williams, president of the Valley View Park Association.

Williams said that family reunions, such as the JSHA event, are the "backbone" of the park's events.

"The Johannes Schwalm reunion is one of the oldest in the park, besides the history they open up to the public," he said.

Over the past several years, the park has hosted on average four new family reunions each year, Williams said.

"We just think that's amazing — that people are having family reunions and want to have family reunions," he said.

Bernadette Morgan, of Trevorton, said she attends the event every year because her neighbor, Mason Wiest, is a JSHA member.

As usual, Morgan enjoyed the event, including the portion dedicated to Hessian history.

"I thought everything was great," she said. "The program with the president was great; it was really interesting. And also, the history of the Hessians, how they migrated here."

Contact the writer: hlee@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6085