Barker Hall at Trinity Episcopal Church

11/18/2024

The British custom of Afternoon Tea comes to the elegant Memorial Reception Lobby of historic Barker Hall adjacent to Trinity Episcopal Church, Sixth and Franklin Street. The Women of Trinity are continuing their annual tradition of preparing holiday tea on Saturday, December 7, 12:00 – 3:00 p.m. Visitors will experience a traditional tea-time menu. The table will be laid will be bite-size sandwiches, a variety of holiday scones topped with Devonshire clotted cream and jam, and a selection of traditional cakes, pastries and chocolates. English style tea with cream, and the Russian style tea with lemon and sugar will be served on elegant fine china. Tickets are $15.00 for adults, , $12.00 for children 5- 12 and free for children under 5. Proceeds support the charitable work of the Women if Trinity.

The Holiday Tea will be held in the romantic Renaissance gothic style lobby of Barker Hall. The building was a gift of the railroad car heiress Catherine Barker in 1930. It was dedicated as a memorial to her father John Barker and his children who died in infancy. The room features stone floors, wood beamed ceiling, leaded glass windows and grand double staircase leading to the upper level.

10/18/2024

Our current times of political unrest and social disturbance make the themes of fear, obsession, and death explored in the 1922 classic film Nosferatu especially relevant today, The film has great cultural significance having been produced in Germany during the Weimar Republic. That time period between the two world wars was marked by political and social turmoil. This sense of uncertainty is reflected in the film, making it a time capsule of the era that is fascinating to watch.

The film will be shown at Barker Hall at Trinity Church Saturday, October 19 at 7pm. Barker Hall is located adjacent to Trinity Church at 600 Franklin Street, Michigan City. The presentation will be complete with live music. Trinity Music Director Dr. George Karst will accompany the film on the Barker Hall Baldwin grand piano and organ. Tickets are $10 at the door. Proceeds will benefit the Trinity Youth Group travel fund. Traditional movie treats will be provided by Trinity youth. Proceeds from this event will benefit the Youth Choir Educational Travel Fund.

10/16/2024

Check out the story from the Beacher page:

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1041579764643349&set=a.474721204662544

The following article arrived after we went to press with this week's edition.

10/14/2024

Local moviegoers will have the rare opportunity to experience this extraordinary film when it is shown at Barker Hall at Trinity Church Saturday, October 19 at 7pm. Barker Hall is located adjacent to Trinity Church at 600 Franklin Street, Michigan City. The presentation will be complete with live music. Trinity Music Director Dr. George Karst will accompany the film on the Barker Hall Baldwin grand piano and organ. Tickets are $10 at the door. Proceeds will benefit the Trinity Youth Group travel fund. Traditional movie treats will be provided by Trinity youth.

In my parents darkened living room the 8 mm movie projector sputtered and clattered to life. The light beam splashed onto the screen and slowly over the next one and one half hours emerged the chilling images from a neurotic nightmare. That was my first viewing of E. F. Murnau’s 1922 creation Nosferatu. My close high school friend had a unique hobby. He collected silent movies - sometimes from underground vendors. Somehow he managed to get a copy of the 50 year old German film. That evening was supposed to be a fun teen age party to watch a creepy old film. When the projector finally was turned off we were huddled together quietly murmuring that this was indeed the most frightening film we had ever seen. I’ve watched a lot of scary movies since that night but for me none has so deeply touched the inner fears we strive to hide from the world. It is quite simply a cinematic masterpiece.

The story is a close approximation Dracula by the English author Bram Stoker as seen through the lens of dark German Gothic Expressionist filmmaking. It is 1850 in the beautiful town of Wismar. Ignoring the warnings from his wife Lucy, Jonathan Harker is about to leave on a long journey to Transylvania in order to make a valuable real estate transaction. The supernatural events that transpire convince Harker that he is in the presence of a vampire. What he doesn't know is the magnitude of danger he, his wife and his town face as victims of the Nosferatu.

In the 21st century we have become numb to brain eating zombies and bloodsucking vampires who are supposed to scare us. However, the Count Orlok character in Nosferatu is a disturbing figure that lingers in viewers’ minds long after the movie has ended. The actor Max Schreck portrays the vampire as a bone-chilling undead monster. Ironically the German name Schreck, ( his real name), translates as shock or fright in English. The creature of evil emerges from dimly lit rooms or the dark of the night revealing his elongated fingers, pointed ears, rat -like fangs and lidless eyes.
E. F. Murnau’s use of experimental filming techniques, masterful use of shadow and light combined with unconventional storytelling establishes Nosferatu as a milestone in the history of cinema.

The film also has great cultural significance. The movie was produced in Germany during the Weimar Republic. This time period between the two world wars was marked by political and social turmoil. This sense of uncertainty is reflected in the film, making it a time capsule of the era that is fascinating to watch. Our current times of political unrest and social disturbance make the themes of fear, obsession, and death explored in Nosferatu especially relevant today,

Barker Hall at Trinity Church (NOT Barker Mansion), provides the perfect atmosphere for this dark and brooding film. Its Renaissance Gothic architecture echoes the moody medieval castles of the film. The buildings’ Great Hall with its beamed ceiling, 20 foot tall leaded glass windows, oak paneling, and tiered chandeliers embodys the spirit of the great movie palaces of yesteryear. The film will even be projected onto the original 90-year-old silent movie screen.

Silent films were never truly shown silently. The screening of Nosferatu will be accompanied by the original music of Dr. George Karst. Karst is a composer of art music and his works have appeared in new music festivals in New York, Florida and elsewhere. His output includes choral music, chamber music, and electronic music. He is a professor at Indiana University Kokomo where he teaches music, music history, composition and keyboard. Karst lives in Michigan City and is vice president of the Michigan City Messiah.

I have seen Nosferatu many times since that first night of teen-age terror. At this time of year I am especially drawn to its expression of evil overcome by love and light. It remains a must-watch film that will leave you spellbound by its artistry and influence. .Whether you’re a horror enthusiast or just appreciate great movies, Nosferatu at Barker Hall Trinity Church accompanied by live music will provide the full cinematic experience you won’t soon forget.

10/12/2024

Saturday Sale! Aurora is all set up with her lemonade coffee and water stand. So many cool things for sale.