Living History, Laughs and Local Pride: Johnny Appleseed “Visits” Ashland as Genesis Christian Academy Launches Chautauqua Series
ASHLAND — It didn’t take long for history to stop feeling like history Tuesday night at Genesis Christian Academy.
With a crowd of just over 100 packed into the academy’s space at 810 Katherine Avenue—directly across from Ashland High School—the launch of the Chautauqua Living History Series for America’s 250th Anniversary quickly turned into something more than a presentation: it became a full-room experience.
The evening opened with welcoming remarks from Terri Marhefka, administrator at Genesis Christian Academy, who thanked those in attendance and emphasized the importance of preserving history while grounding it in faith and education. She was followed by Brent Canfield, Genesis Christian Academy School Board President, who spoke briefly on the school’s mission and its role in bringing meaningful programming to the Ashland community.
Setting a reverent tone for the night, Emily Potts, a senior at Genesis Christian Academy, delivered a moving musical performance of “Wonderful, Merciful Savior,” drawing quiet reflection from the audience before the living history presentation began.
From the opening moments, the performer portraying **John Chapman—better known as Johnny Appleseed—**didn’t simply speak to the audience. He spoke with them, pulling residents into the story with quick wit, playful “frontier” banter, and on-the-spot exchanges that had the room laughing, thinking, and leaning in.
An “apple gourd,” a missing brother, and a crowd ready to play along
The evening’s tone was set early as “Chapman” called out names in the crowd, searching for Martin Ruffner, joking about the long “horrible road” from “the little village of Mansfield,” and dramatically presenting a gift—an “apple gourd”—to Ruffner, with one condition: “Give it back to me later though.”
Then came another running gag: Chapman’s “brother Nate,” described as a mute who “wanders away quite a bit,” prompting audience members to look around and join in the bit.
It was vintage Chautauqua—part storytelling, part improv, part classroom, part comedy club—except the “club” was filled with families, students, and local history lovers.
The Johnny Appleseed story—told like you were there
Through the performance, the audience was walked through Chapman’s origin story in a way that felt personal and immediate: a childhood marked by hardship, the journey west, and the idea that apple trees weren’t just fruit—they were opportunity, trade, and survival.
The speaker peppered the history with humor and bold opinions, warning people to stay out of “wicked” Mount Vernon, teasing the crowd about geography, and riffing on frontier life with lines that landed especially well with younger audience members.
At one point, Chapman insisted he wasn’t just some wandering seed-tosser—he was a businessman, even jokingly calling himself a capitalist, and telling the crowd to “check the court records” for land ownership claims.
A live barter deal in the middle of Ashland
One of the night’s biggest laughs—and most memorable “teachable moments”—came when Chapman turned the stage into a frontier trading post.
Calling up an audience member, Vicki Fishpaw, he acted out a classic barter scenario: a family heading west needs an orchard to satisfy government requirements, but has no cash. Chapman offered apple trees in exchange for her necklace, hamming it up with crowd commentary and mock negotiation.
The audience shouted numbers—“26!” “30!”—until Chapman declared the “majority wins,” upgrading the deal to 40 apple trees and sending the room into another round of applause.
It was part skit, part history lesson, and a perfect example of why the series drew such a strong turnout: people weren’t just watching. They were participating.
An original Johnny Appleseed tree—still producing apples
In a moment that shifted from humor to genuine awe, Chapman invited a family to stand and share what they believe is an original Johnny Appleseed tree still alive today—an heirloom tree with a trunk that fell decades ago, but with an offshoot still attached to the roots and “thriving.”
The family said the farm has been in their family since 1837, that the tree produced 300 to 400 apples this past year, and that they still possess historic paperwork—including an original deed and a land grant document tied to the early era they described.
Chapman’s reaction matched the crowd’s—warm, amazed, and proud—before the program moved forward again.
Faith, spirituality, and the “real” John Chapman
During Q&A, the tone turned thoughtful as attendees asked about Chapman’s spiritual life, prompting discussion of the writings of Emanuel Swedenborg, along with references to carrying both religious texts and symbols of peace and protection.
Other questions ranged from practical (“Why do you have a big knife?”) to historical (“Where were you buried?”), to playful (“Were you lonely without a wife?”), keeping the closing portion of the evening lively and community-centered.
A series built for 2026—and built for the community
The Johnny Appleseed program served as the kickoff to a larger 2026 Chautauqua schedule connected to the nation’s 250th anniversary. The series is designed to bring major American figures to life through first-person portrayals—turning history into something you can feel, laugh with, and remember.
Genesis Christian Academy staff thanked the community for coming and also asked students to remain afterward to help clean up and put chairs away—ending the night with the kind of hometown teamwork that matched the spirit of the event.
Living History Productions 2026 programs (highlights mentioned)
The broader 2026 lineup provided includes appearances ranging from George Washington and Thomas Jefferson to Paul Revere, Eisenhower, and more—scheduled across multiple Ohio communities, with announcements expected as engagements approach.
As one audience moment after another proved Tuesday night, this isn’t just a history program—it’s a community gathering where the past walks into the room, calls you by name, and makes you laugh while you learn.
Living History Productions 2026 Programs
Kenneth Neff Hammontree CEO
302 Center Street, Ashland, Ohio
Tentative Schedule for 2026. Programs will be added as the speaking engagements come in for the year. Each program will be announced in advance through Ashland County Pictures
January 12- Johnny Appleseed at Genesis Christian Academy in Ashland, Ohio
February 16- George Washington Crossing the Delaware River on Christmas Day 1776, at the Dillonvale Public Library, Dillonvale, Ohio.
February 24- General Dwight David Eisenhower on the D-Day Landings. At the Winona Rutitan Club, Winona, Ohio.
February 25-28- George Washington at Valley Forge 1777 at the St. Clairsville Public Library, St. Clairsville, Ohio.
March 14- George Washington crossing the Delaware River on Christmas Day 1776, at Ashland New Hope Church, Ashland, Ohio.
March 19- Pretty Boy Floyd 1932, and the great depression, at the Old Mount Vernon Opera House, Mount Vernon, Ohio.
April 15-George Washington and Patriots in Petticoats at the North Fairfield Historical Society, North Fairfield, Ohio.
April 21- George Washington crossing the Delaware River on Christmas Day 1776, Willard Historical Society, Willard, Ohio.
May 1-2- George Washington at Valley Forge, Ohio Civil War Show in Mansfield, Ohio at the fair grounds.
May 7- Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton at the Columbiana Public Library, Columbiana, Ohio.
June 29- George Washington at Valley Forge 1777 at the Minerva Public Library, Minerva, Ohio.
June 30-George Washington at Valley Forge 1777, at the Clyde Historical Society, Clyde, Ohio.
July 2-Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence at the Columbiana Public Library, Columbiana, Ohio.
July 14, 15, 16, 21, 22 and 23 General Dwight David Eisenhower on the D-Day operations at the MAPS Historical Air Force Museum, Akron-Canton Air Port, Canton, Ohio.
July 25- Holmes County Fairgrounds, George Washington Crossing the Delaware River on Christmas Day 1776, Millersburg, Ohio.
September 1-2 Fort Laurens, Revolutionary Days with George Washington at Valley Forge
September 10-Johnny Appleseed at the Columbiana Public Library, Columbiana, Ohio.
November 11- General Dwight David Eisenhower on the D-Day Landings at the Holmes County Fairgrounds for Veterans day, Millersburg, Ohio.
November 19-Paul Revere’s ride and story at the Columbiana Public Library
