John Parker

Portrayed by Reverend Jim Settles

The Parker Society proudly presents their contestant for the Fall Back into Time contest, John P. Parker (1827 – February 4). He was an A frican American inventor, industrialist and abolitionist who secretly participated in the Underground Railroad resistance movement. His house on Front Street in Ripley, Ohio is a National Historic Landmark. It is believed that Parker helped over 600 slaves escape to freedom.

John Parker is portrayed by James Settles. Rev. Settles is a direct descendant of former slaves who escaped from Mason County and a Ripley native. He is the pastor of the Beebe Chapel C.M.E. Church in Ripley and a counselor at Maysville Community and Technical College.

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This new annual fund raiser will return again next year with more regional favorites trying to win your votes and come out the favorite for 2010. Who will it be? We will have to wait and see.

Many thanks to everyone who helped to make the first Fall Back into Time regional event a huge success.

Congratulations to Ralph the Diver the "favorite" for this year.

Fall Back into Time

Regional Events

Listed below are just a few new events or activities the Friends of Jennie Wade helped to plan for the region this Fall. Thanks to BB Riverboats, some special scenic riverboat cruises are scheduled for the area the second weekend in October.

Friday Oct. 9^th / first ever lock and dam school tours out of Chilo Lock #34 Park.

Three student cruises:

9 am to 10:15 Sold out

10:30 to 11:45

12 to 1:30

Friday, October 9th

Augusta Ky. dinner cruises.

5:30 to 7:30

8:30 to 10:30

Saturday October 10^th

Harvest Festival in Chilo and Turning of the Leaves Festival in Augusta.

At Chilo there are children's activities starting at 10 A.M. making clay marbles and learning folk songs from singer songwriter, Steve Free. The children participating in the AM activities are invited to perform with him at his 1 P.M. concert in the park. Group size for children's activities is limited to 25. Arrive early.

The cruises on the Mark Twain sternwheeler between the two events run all day.

9:00 am to 10:30 Augusta to Chilo

Chilo to Augusta 11:00 to 12:30

Augusta to Chilo 1 to 2:30

Chilo to Augusta 3 to 4:30

Augusta to Chilo 5 to 6:30

Chilo to Augusta 7 to 8:30

Sunday, October 11th visit historic Ripley Ohio for

Fall sight-seeing cruises from

12 to 1:30

2 to 3:30

or enjoy a

Family dinner cruise at 5:00.

Tickets for sightseeing cruises will be available at both sites Saturday and Sunday.

For more information or to order tickets call

BB Riverboats at

1-859-292-2449