The rain and clouds lifted from Cass Depot just before the start of our evening. Photo by Drew Tanner

One of the Gypsy fortune tellers performs a card reading for Maribeth Saleem. They also specialize in palm readings and predictions. Photo by Drew Tanner

Woody Woodhick talks about the flora and his hopes to see the place become a National Park Photo by Drew Tanner

      Dr. Woody Woodhick, a binocular-toting naturalist who seemed passionate about preserving Cass as a National Park, was also on our train. As he worked through the railroad cars, Woodhick educated passengers about the flora and fauna of the area.
      "Some people want to cut all of this down," he said, shaking his head. "That guy Carlos even wants to build a casino right along the tracks."
      Woodhick invited a number of Senators, Congressional Representatives and their staff on the train ride in hopes of convincing them to sponsor legislation designating Cass as a National Park, protecting it from any further development.
      After Woodhick and Zambini, the passengers were introduced to yet another couple with a very different vision for Cass. Lumber company owner and land developer Upton Ashcroft described his plans to clearcut the area, strip mine it, pave it and put up a strip mall and Sprawlmart.
      Accompanying Ashcroft was his fiance, Jillian Fox. Fox also expressed an interest in seeing Sprawlmart come to Cass. As a fashion designer, Fox said she wanted to market a line of evening gowns at the store.
      As the couples continued through the train, introducing themselves to passengers, we overheard one of the fortune-tellers say to someone, "Be careful! Something very bad is going to happen to you!"

Zambini wants to build a casino on the land. Photo by Drew Tanner

      While the train continued its uphill journey to Whittaker Station, we took in some beautiful views along the way and caught glimpses of the Shay locomotive in action as the train snaked around some bends and up the switchbacks.
      Typically, the rest of the evening unfolds at Whittaker Station, over dinner, but with skies threatening more rain and Bald Knob blanketed by clouds, our train returned to the restaurant at the Cass Depot.
      In the restaurant, we were treated to a delicious dinner, catered by Snowshoe Mountain Resort. The buffet-style meal included a salad, bread sticks, penne pasta in a meat sauce, a rich and creamy vegetable lasagna and steamed mixed vegetables. Lemonade and coffee were on hand, and for dessert we had a slice of deliciously rich chocolate cheesecake. Be sure to save some room for it.
      "There's going to be a speech in the next room," Woodhick announced as we were enjoying some coffee with our cheesecake.

The plot thickens in the dining room when someone turns up missing. Photo by Drew Tanner

      After dinner, the audience filled the next room, and Mitch Overton, assistant superintendent for the Cass State Park, announced that he had made a gruesome discovery: somebody had been found murdered in the meat cooler.
      A confusing mix of evidence found at the scene placed all the remaining characters as potential suspects.
      Who could it have been? What was the motive? Was there a secret tryst? A conspiracy?
      Once the suspects were apprehended and brought to the front of the room, the audience was given five minutes to interrogate each suspect and try to make sense of the evening's dizzying chain of events. As members of the audience asked their questions, secret ambitions and love affairs came to light. As one question was answered, 10 others popped up.
      So whodunit? You'll have to get on board to find out.
      The Murder Mystery Special will run two more times at Cass this season, so release your inner sleuth and catch it while you can. The train leaves from the Cass Depot at 5:00 pm on Fridays, September 3 and 24.
      Rates for the special train are: Adults $37.50, Children (age 5-12) $27.50, Children under 5 $17.50.
      Reservations can be made by calling the Cass Scenic Railroad State Park at (304) 456-4300.

Anna Lee Grimes, in period costume, keeps an eye on the soup at last year's Tradition Day. There's always plenty to eat. Photo courtesy Luther Crouthamel

Huntersville-Minnehaha school reunion to highlight event

Second annual Huntersville Traditions Day steps back into history on October 2

Bring the kids and let them work off a little energy playing traditional children's games like the sack race. Photo courtesy Luther Crouthamel

      This year, the school's students will return to Huntersville for a reunion during Huntersville Traditions Day on Saturday, October 2. The event takes place in Terry and Connie Carr's yard, just below the school itself. That's not all the one-day festival has to offer. In its second year, Traditions Day has more to offer, all in keeping with the 1820s beginning of the town.
      Only Huntersville United Methodist Church will have electricity to provide the beans and cornbread supper. Other vendors will have to rely on campfires for cooking or lanterns for light.
      Demonstrations for the day include traditional music, blacksmithing, cider and applebutter making, basket weaving, American Indian pottery making, lye soap making, caning, whittling and more.
      "We're hoping to have a big turnout who want to see the old jail and where the court house used to be," said Jeanne Dunham, one of the festival's coordinators. "We're trying to get people to realize what they're going to lose if we don't keep up our traditions.
      "It's our history. It's our heritage."
      Last year's festival was attended by local folks and people who were driving through and "curious" about what was going on.

Quilters practice their craft under a tent on the grounds of the Carriage House Inn. You can expect to find more than a dozen displays of traditional crafts and demonstrations during the festival, which runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Photo courtesy Luther Crouthamel

      This year, Dunham hopes, even more people will come out to Huntersville Traditions Day where not only the modern world but politics takes a holiday.