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Sensational Gillette Trial Centennial Approaching
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| Newpaper photo of Chester Gillette's cell, August 1906 |
Modern photo of Chester Gillette cell, May 2005 |
Plans are underway to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Chester Gillette-Grace Brown murder trial of 1906. The trial of Chester Gillette, who murdered his pregnant girlfriend Grace Brown on Big Moose Lake and was held for many months in the Herkimer County Jail, became a national story, making major headlines in New York City newspapers and in other major American cities. The case later became the basis for Theodore Dreiser's famous 1925 novel An American Tragedy and the 1951 film A Place in the Sun, which only furthered the legend of this famous case.
Various individuals and organizations, including the Friends of Historic Herkimer County, the Herkimer County Historical Society, the Ilion Little Theatre Club, and former Herkimer County Assistant D.A. Jack Sherman, are coordinating efforts to bring the events of 1906 back to life. Current plans are to have events stretching across Herkimer County throughout the summer and fall of 2006. Some of the ideas brought up so far have been boat rides on Big Moose Lake, bus trips to some of the historic sites associated with the famous case, a literary/historical conference of scholars and experts, a reenactment of the trial based on original court transcripts, a performance of the Glenn Allen Smith play Chester and Grace to be performed by the Ilion Little Theatre Club, and more.
Originally published in FHHC newletter "Historic Happenings in Herkimer County," June 2005.
Next Meeting:
Wednesday, January 11, at 7:00 PM, Washburn Room at Basloe Library
North Main Street, Herkimer
Please Note:
February 2006 Meeting is cancelled
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