by Margaret Piatt
Thomas Corwin, Ohio’s 15th governor stated, “If there is a line where heaven ends and Macocheek begins, it is imperceptible.” He was referring to the valley east of West Liberty, Ohio, where the journalist Donn Piatt and his brother Abram Sanders Piatt built limestone mansions gracing the hillsides of their family’s farm. Named Mac-A-Cheek and Mac-O-Chee and finished a decade apart in 1871 and 1881, both homes were opened for tours by 1915. Margaret Piatt will share insights into the design, decoration and functions of Mac-A-Cheek from her view as a child growing up in the historic house museum, as a professional museum educator and as a descendant grappling with how to best preserve the sites.
Margaret Piatt has recently retired from teaching theatre and speech at Urbana University while also managing events and programs at Piatt Castles. She earned a MAT in Museum Education from George Washington University followed by management of Sunnyside, Washington Irving’s home as part of Historic Hudson Valley in New York and twenty years at Old Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts. Margaret has consulted nationwide in the fields of interpretation, museum education, living history and theatre. She has served on several theatre boards, the International Museum Theatre Alliance and as a council member for Ohio Humanities.
Free to members & students. Please RSVP below.
