Master Storyteller Kruk to Bring History to Life in Bedford Cemetery
By Andrew Vitelli
It’s been 237 years since Bedford Village was burned to the ground by British forces during the American Revolution. This Friday, master storyteller and local history buff Jonathan Kruk will bring this past back to life at the Ferris Family Burial Grounds in Westmoreland Sanctuary.
“There’s a bit of betrayal, salvation, patriotism,” Kruk said of the story of the 1779 Burning of Bedford, which he will tell through the eyes of Daniel Ferris. “It really reflects the tenacity of the early settler of Bedford.”
Kruk will bring his dramatic flair to the burial grounds on Friday afternoon, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., for “Every Stone Tells a Story,” a free event sponsored by Westmoreland, Friends of Bedford Burying Grounds and the Bedford Historical Society. Kruk will be dressed in 19th-century garb as he tells the audience about Banastre Tarleton, James Holmes and the intrigues and betrayals the region experienced during the Revolution.
“The people in Bedford suffered terribly. In those days Bedford, after White Plains, was the largest population in Westchester,” Kruk explained. “I think many don’t know, and it’s important because it reminds us where we came from. It gives us a map to show what people wanted to build.”
The cemetery is located within Westmoreland’s 125-acre Wildlife Management Area, across Route 22 from the rest of the sanctuary, and was recently restored in a joint effort by the sanctuary and Friends of Bedford Burying Grounds. While Westmoreland primarily focuses on environmental education, Director Ann Paul said the event will showcase a natural intersection between the site’s beauty and its history.
“I think one of the most interesting things is how old the gravestones go back and how different life really was back then,” said Paul, noting the young ages at the time of death of many of those buried in the cemetery. “We really take for granted our modern conveniences, and that goes to medical care.”
Kruk, a Cold Spring resident who grew up in Katonah, said he’s been fascinated by local history since hearing a lecture by an elementary school teacher and local historian when he was 12 years old.
“That really planted a seed, which then 10 years later after college, began to grow first as an interest in folklore, mythology and literature, and then into a career as a storyteller,” Kruk said. “I feel kind of tailor made, ready to go, to share these stories with a passion that only a local boy can have.”
Kruk, who incorporates music and theater into his storytelling, has been called the “best storyteller in the Hudson Valley” by Hudson Valley Magazine. He said the surrounding woods will provide a perfect backdrop for his trip back in time, as attendees will be able to picture a world without cars, cell phones and skyscrapers.
“They’ll see rolling hills with wildflowers, meticulously made stone walls. It will provide a respite from the world we know today,” Kruk said. “It will be like drawing back a curtain to the 19th century.”
While Ferris’s story will be at the heart of the program, Kruk will tell stories of various Bedford residents from the Revolutionary period. Members of the Friends of Bedford Burying Grounds will answer questions about the grave markers, Kruk added.
The event, held at 21 Old Post Rd. in Bedford, requires a short hike into the cemetery. In the event of rain, it will be moved to Westmoreland Sanctuary’s Museum at 260 Chestnut Ridge Rd. While the event is geared toward families, younger children could be scared by some of the tales.
Martin has more than 30 years experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, including a frequent focus on zoning and planning issues. He has been editor-in-chief of The Examiner since its inception in 2007. Read more from Martin’s editor-author bio here. Read Martin’s archived work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/martin-wilbur2007/