"Rebecca: the story of Rebecca Ebey"

Three years ago, Jill Johnson was rummaging around in the historical files at the Island County Museum and stumbled upon a diary.  Written by Rebecca Ebey, wife of Isaac Ebey, the diary described their early weeks and months of settlement here on Whidbey in 1852.  "I've read lots of pioneer journals", said Jill, "but this one was special, unique -- for it's depth of feeling and the beauty of it's prose."

Thus began the process to turn this historical document into a full lenght theatrical production.  "Rebecca -- the story of Rebecca Ebey" will premier on March 23, 2012 at the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts as a part of their Local Artists Series. 

"Rebecca is the story of a woman -- and the pioneer community she helped found here on Whidbey," says Jill. "But it is also a story about a place...where the wind and the rain and the seabirds circling in the fields are much the same as they were when Isaac and Rebecca were here."



Ebey's Landing, Photo by Dan Pedersen

 "Rebecca" does not begin on Whidbey - but in Missouri - where both Rebecca and Isaac's families lived.  The production will move west, just as Rebecca did with her two sons in 1851 to the (then) Oregon Territory as part of the Great Migration.  "There will be authentic Oregon Trail music -- even dancing! -- and the journey will be enlivened by the voices of people who lived it."  Rob Prosch is the muscial director for the show and will stage the action as well.  Thoomas Allen will provide technical assistance with photographs and images, sound effects, and lighting.  Chris Fisher is the dramaturg for the production, assisting Jill with the script and Elizabeth Grant is the choreographer.

A grant form the National Storytelling Network, a national storytelling organization, helped Jill complete research at the Special Collections Library at the University of Washington.  Weeks of research into the letters and correspondence of the Davis and Ebey families deepened and enriched the story.

But the diary remains the core of the production.  "It's an intensely personal document," says Jill, "allowing Rebecca to pour out thoughts she would never have spoken aloud: her joy in the warmth and love of family and the beauty of the land, pride in the development of the tiny community and the region, frustration and fear of the challenges she faced."

Jill's image of "Rebecca", from the files of
Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve

But some of the most powerful moments in Jill's preparation process involved ongoing contact with the land.  This from an essay on September 30, 2011:

"I can see it now...the land.  It stretches out -- bands of green, yellow, and black: squash fields, hay stubble, and black earth, ringed by forest and shore.  For centuries Native Americans gathered camas root and nettles on this prairie and then burned it...year after year, layer after layer of ash, rich in nutrients which became ithe farms and fields of Ebey's Landing.  I stroll down the road, munching apples from a tree near the Ferry House.  The wind whistles in my ear and I can hear the surf sounds below.  Rebecca heard those same sounds; yesterday was teh 158th anniversary of her death.  Now...for just a moment...it is almost as if we share this landscape together."



Prairie Bottoms, Photo by Amos Morgan

 For more informaiton on the production, please contact the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts, 800-638-7631 or 360-221-8268 or http://www.wicaonline.com/

4th Annual Ebey's Forever Conference Promises Fun for All!

Registration opened this week for the 4th Ebey's Forever Conference & Community Event, and this year's program promises family fun, field trips, and tasty fresh food. The program was just released for the November 4 - 5 event hosted by the Trust Board of Ebey's Reserve and its partners.

Its full day of workshops and field trips will be headlined by a keynote on sustaining our fragile land by Roylene Rides at the Door, Washington State Conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Rides at the Door grew up on her family's ranch on the Blackfeet Nation in Montana where she learned how to care for the land.


After kicking off on Friday night with a free "Celebrating Rural Character(s)" potluck featuring pioneer stories, live bluegrass and a homemade dinner at the Crockett Barn, Saturday morning's workshop sessions will be held at the historic Camp Casey Conference Center. Afternoon field trips will let attendees hike some new trails, tour historic buildings, and enjoy a "taste-off" featuring Ebey's famous Rockwell Beans prepared by local chefs and farmers.


A full day of concurrent field trips for families to enjoy together will explore birds and beach, the Ft. Casey Lighthouse and culminate in a trolley ride through Ebey's farmland. The conference wraps up with a special farmers market and closing pie social. For the full program and to register, go to http://www.ebeysforever.com/

*Photos Courtesy of Denis Hill

Jacob Ebey House Opens to the Public

Since 2007 the National Park Service and volunteers have been rehabilitating the Jacob Ebey House and preparing it for its new role as a Visitor Contact Station, when visitors will be able to engage with a living piece of history. Al Sherman, farmer, volunteer docent and member of the Trust Board of Ebey's Landing, cut the ceremonial ribbon today, signifying that the house is officially open and a new phase is beginning. Our first two volunteers, Lee Williamson and Anne Katherine, accompanied Al for the opening, enthusiastic about taking in the scenery while interacting with inquisitive visitors.

Besides the Trust Board of Ebey's Landing and its staff, the amount of time and work that has gone into this project from our partners and community members is inspiring, embodying a sense of unity that the pioneers and Native Americans before them may have also felt. The National Park Service, the Island County Historical Society and the Lions Club (along with Rob Hetler) are just a few. Volunteers from the community have worked tirelessly on every aspect of this project, from the rehabilitation to the interior displays, and now staffing the house through the summer. The Pratt family and the Nature Conservancy cannot be forgotten, without them this land may not be enjoyed as it is today.

Most importantly, the Ebey family, who courageously travelled across the country to their new found paradise, will be recognized - and their lives, which seemed tragically short, will not be forgotten. They are living on through the stewardship of this land and the special feeling that resonates while exploring it. A new life has begun for the Jacob and Sarah Ebey farmstead, come and celebrate it!

The Jacob Ebey House is open Thurs-Sun from 10am - 4pm through September 4th.

A Call for Volunteer Docents

As the sun begins to peak out from the clouds and summer is finally alluring us to take to the trails, the Jacob Ebey House awaits its grand opening. Past and present will convene, and the house that once inhabited one of the original settling families on Whidbey Island will be opening its doors to the public on June 2, 2011.

But we’re not quite there. As was true in the past, when Jacob’s son, Isaac, raised his home on the prairie in two days with the help of fifteen local men, this home needs community volunteers to complete the final push towards the unveiling of this rich historical element of Ebey’s Landing.

We need volunteers who are interested in participating in a docent program at the Jacob Ebey House Visitor Contact Station. The rehabilitated home from the 1850s is located off the Ebey’s Prairie Trail that begins at the Sunnyside Cemetery Prairie Overlook and eventually links with the Bluff Trail at Ebey’s Landing. The scenery is awe-inspiring. The home overlooks farms of the prairie, Ebey’s Landing, the Puget Sound and the prestigious Olympic and Cascade mountain ranges. On a clear day, Mount Rainier can be seen, making this one of the most stunning all-encompassing viewpoints on the island and arguably in the Pacific Northwest. When you stand on the front porch of this home, there is no question why Jacob and Sarah chose this spot, and there is an undeniable sense of the timelessness of the prairie.

We are looking for members of the community who want to enjoy the pristine setting of Ebey’s Prairie while educating the public about the intriguing history of the Jacob Ebey House, the perils of the Ebey family, and the surrounding land. This is a unique opportunity to share our cultural heritage, while talking with curious locals as well as visitors from all corners of the globe. We are looking for docents to fill 3.5 hour shifts during the summer months of June 2^nd through September 4^th. There is no previous knowledge necessary, but a passion for history and interacting with people is a plus.

The two daily shifts will be from 10am – 1pm and 1pm – 4pm, Thursday through Sunday. We are looking for docents to fill weekly, bi-monthly or monthly shifts, as well as standbys that can fill in if necessary.

There is a mandatory orientation on Saturday, May 21^st, from 10am–3pm, lunch and goodies included. We will cover history of the family and the area, logistics, expectations and duties of a docent and also find out what shifts work best for you.

Email alix_roos@nps.gov or call Alix Roos (360) 678-6084 at the Trust Board of Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve office for further information about this opportunity or to sign up for the orientation.