No Compromise! Dinner Theater Kicks Off Crane Township Bicentennial Festivities

Crane Township Cecil Fire Department hosted the No Compromise! Dinner Theatre on Friday and Saturday nights, August 1st and 2nd as a kick off to Crane Township’s Bicentennial month of celebrations.  This dinner theatre play was written by local historian, Jane Nice, and directed by Renee Boss of Paulding. Many Crane Township residents were involved in the planning and casting of this historical play about the Reservoir War that took place at the Six Mile Reservoir just southwest of the village of Cecil.

Let’s set the mood — it’s spring of 1887, the mosquitoes are waking up, and there is a constant white noise of buzzing in the air. Settlers are wading through the mud from living in the Great Black Swamp. Amongst their struggles of day to day pioneering was the daily threat of disease and sickness caused by the overabundance of the minuscule nuisances. The “ague” claimed many lives in those early days of Paulding County history. This is the stage of the weekend’s Dinner Theater. The cast walked guests through the areas of Cecil, Antwerp, Tate’s Landing, Junction, Defiance (Ptooey!), and Columbus during April of 1887. The historical tale is narrated by the illustrious duo, the Bargain Bin ladies — Rhonda Smalley and Eileen Kochensparger. They navigate the dinner guests through the days of how the locals at that time responded to the state’s negligence at listening to the people to abandon and drain the Six Mile Reservoir. 

Each scene began with a course of dinner prepared by local caterer, Above and Beyond (Robin Dobbelaere). There was a mystery to solve during the dinner theatre — who killed Private Reeves? This less-than-humble private from the National Guard of Ohio was the only casualty of the Reservoir War. If you weren’t fortunate enough to attend, you’ll have to talk to someone who was there! Local Paulding County residents of the time – the Applegates, Zubers, Sperrys, Lambs, and other families, showed guests how the dynamiters’ acts of civil disobedience led to the demise of the reservoir and canal system on the night of April 25th, 1887. From the creative liberties of Private Reeves to the sermon of Rev. McCluskey and speech made by Gov. Foraker, the performance was enjoyed by all. Special guests made an appearance in this 4th production of No Compromise! — Johnny Appleseed … and Oliver Crane and family! Oliver Crane traveled to Paulding County from his home state of New York in search of the county named for his mentor, John Paulding.

The weekend was a SOLD OUT event, bringing in funds for the Cecil Fire Department. During the dinner, interacters served guests their meal and gave them tidbits of historical information about their characters and the events … for a price! It was a fundraiser after all. Other items for sale for the guests were the “Cecil Cyclone” replicated newspapers filled with newspaper articles from 1887 of the area as well as Crane Township’s Bicentennial books, “From the River’s Edge: 200 Years in Crane Township” created by Crane Township’s Fiscal Officer, Carol Razo.

The weekend was a memorable experience for not only the cast who made new friendships and connections, but for guests who supported Cecil Fire Department and learned a little more about the unique history of Paulding County Ohio.

There can be NO COMPROMISE … the Reservoir MUST go … and it did!