Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Engagement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Historic Preservation Commission plans October haunted Circle Hill tours; Voices & Votes Smithsonian exhibit set for March–May 2026
Summary
The commission outlined an October haunted cemetery tour in partnership with Main Street and Trine University, asked for volunteers, and flagged a March–May 2026 Smithsonian 'Voices & Votes' exhibit at the Carnegie Library as an opportunity for outreach and a photo contest.
The Angola Historic Preservation Commission is planning a downtown outreach push this fall and into 2026, including an October haunted-tour fundraiser at Circle Hill Cemetery and local programming tied to a traveling Smithsonian exhibit scheduled for March–May 2026.
Allison D'Agleau, city staff, said the commission will partner with Main Street and Trine University for an October “haunted cemetery tour” at Circle Hill. Local historians and volunteer actors will portray historical figures at marked graves; groups will be limited to roughly 15 people and staggered on 30-minute intervals so narrators are not competing for audibility. Allison said Main Street will handle ticket sales and “tickets will be limited to 15 people per group.” The commission set two time windows described in planning as a family night and a scarier, adults-only evening: an earlier slot (approximately 5–7 p.m.) and an evening slot (approximately 6–8 p.m.). Tickets will be $5 each.
Kathy (local historian) described the planned format and sites and confirmed the event will include actors from Trine University and the Steuben County Theatre. She urged using photos, maps and framed images to make the stories tangible for tour participants. The commission asked for volunteers to assist with check-in and crowd movement; staff will circulate a volunteer sign-up and ticket QR code once Main Street publishes it.
On future programming, Allison said Angola will host the Smithsonian’s traveling Voices & Votes exhibit at the Carnegie Library in March through May 2026; the exhibit focuses on the history of American democracy and voting. She encouraged commissioners to consider programming tied to the exhibit (talks, local-history displays or a curated photo contest) and said the exhibit was funded through a state grant so there is no entry fee for hosting communities.
The commission discussed coordinating a photo contest to run through the Voices & Votes visit and historic-preservation month in May 2026. Commissioners suggested contacting local educators early so student participation can be incorporated into syllabi. Allison asked commissioners to decide a theme and timeline by December 2025 to allow outreach to Tri-state schools and the college. Commissioners also discussed holding a photo display or video at the exhibit or other public venues.
Why it matters: The events aim to raise public awareness of the commission’s role, generate modest revenue for preservation projects and engage residents and students with local history. Staff framed the haunted tour as both a community-building event and a small fundraiser for future preservation work.
What happens next: Staff will circulate volunteer sign-ups, the Main Street ticket QR code when available and a follow-up email listing the actors and docent assignments. Commissioners asked staff to coordinate with local schools and the Klein Museum on Voices & Votes programming and photo-contest outreach.
