"Peanut Day" celebration at the museum Tuesday

Cast members of "The Farmer's Daughter," getting ready to rehearse Saturday morning in the museum barn, include (from left) Linda O'connell, Matt Rebol, Sara Allison and Chesire Burns. Ev Brightman and Macey Brackin also are cast members.

An old-fashioned melodrama presented by the Chariton Valley Players, birthday cake to mark the Lucas County Historical Society's 50th anniversary --- and fresh-roasted peanuts --- will be featured Tuesday when the society holds its annual "Peanut Day" open house on the museum campus, 123 North 17th St. in Chariton.

All buildings on the museum campus will open at 5:30 p.m. --- Stephens House, Lewis Building, Otterbein Church, Puckerbrush School, Pioneer Log Cabin, Pioneer Barn and Blacksmith Shop.

At 6 p.m., birthday cake will be served at Otterbein Church to mark the 50th anniversary of the month the society was first incorporated --- June 25, 1965. Scrapbooks related to the society's first 50 years will be on display.

Beginning at 7 p.m., Chariton Valley Players will present an old-fashioned melodrama, "The Farmer's Daughter, at the Barn --- on the patio if the weather's clear, inside if it's raining. Cast members in this dastardly drama are Sara Allison (Sally McDougal), Macy Brackin (Annie McDougal), Linda O'Connell (Pa McDougal), Ev Brightman (Ma McDougal), Matt Rebol (Willie Singletree) and Chesire Burns (as the vile Benjamin J. Slick, aka Hiram Shark.

Throughout the event, Bob Ulrich and Jerry Pierschbacher will serve fresh-roasted peanuts near the vintage Piper's Grocery roaster located on the lower level of the Lewis Building.

Everything is free and all are invited. A free-will offering will be accepted for the Chariton Valley Players.

The event will go on --- rain or shine. But for the moment, at least, Tuesday promises to be the first clear day in nearly a week of constant sporadic rain. And it's going to be fairly cool, too, according to the forecast.