This tale includes harmless mischief, competitive singing, potato sack costumes, puppet theatrics, and uproarious laughter. Proceed with caution if prone to chuckles or inspired bursts of creativity.
By Amos Creekwater
“Well, Amos,” said old Ephraim Tucker, leaning on his cane and surveying the town bulletin board, “this here talent show is either the best idea the school trustees ever had or the beginning of the biggest ruckus Chateaugay Lake’s seen since the barn dance fight of ’37.”
The notice was clear enough. The Chateaugay Lake School Trustees were hosting a town-wide talent show, with a grand prize of a brand-new spinning wheel from the Bellmont Mercantile! The whole town was abuzz.
Schoolmaster Darius Merrill’s singing school students, known for their harmony and discipline, took the challenge as a chance to prove their musical superiority. But not everyone in town shared their orderly enthusiasm. The “Potato Hill Gang,” a rowdy group of farm boys and girls from Bellmont, had their own ideas.
“They think they’re better’n us ’cause they can sing in Latin,” muttered “‘Lige” Heading, the de facto leader of the gang, to his cohorts. “Well, we’ll show ’em what real talent looks like. I’ve got an idea.”
Preparations Begin
The singing school rehearsed nightly in the school house, their voices rising sweet and true in hymnals and folk songs. Under Darius’s watchful eye, their timing grew impeccable. “Sing with your heart,” he’d tell them, tapping his baton, “but don’t forget to breathe proper. Talent is ten percent inspiration and ninety percent preparation.”
Meanwhile, the Potato Hill Gang was anything but prepared—or so it seemed. Instead of practicing music or dance, they spent their evenings hauling odd bits of lumber and rope to the old cider mill. Rumors spread that they were building some kind of contraption.
Curiosity consumed the townsfolk. Ephraim Tucker leaned in close at the general store to whisper, “I heard they’re trainin’ a chicken to tap dance.”
“Nope,” argued Miss Hattie Elkins. “It’s got to be somethin’ with firecrackers. Mark my words.”
The Night of the Show
By the time the talent show rolled around, the schoolhouse was packed to the rafters. Lamps flickered on every windowsill, and the air was alive with the hum of anticipation.
The singing school opened the evening with a rendition of “Down by the Riverside” that left the audience in awe. Their harmonies were so precise you could have sworn angels had flown down to join them.
Then came the gang. Young Elijah Heading led the charge, wheeling in what looked like a wooden stage on wheels. It was painted with bright colors, and a curtain was tacked on the front.
“What in the world…” murmured Darius Merrill, frowning at the peculiar display.
With a loud “Ta-da!” Elijah yanked the curtain aside to reveal a puppet theater. The gang performed a raucous reenactment of “The Great Steamboat Chase,” a local legend involving rival steamboat captains trying to outdo each other on Chateaugay Lake. The puppets—handcrafted and hilariously exaggerated—had the audience roaring with laughter. The potato sacks they wore as costumes and the clever use of a washboard for sound effects were ingenious.
A Twist in the Tale
The two acts were so different in style and spirit that the judges—Reverend Alden, and Miss Opal Dunbar—found themselves at a loss.
“Both are deserving,” said Miss Dunbar, “but for very different reasons.”
Reverend Alden nodded solemnly. “Perhaps we should let the people decide.”
And so, a clap-off was held. The sound was deafening, with townsfolk cheering equally for the refined harmonies of the singing school and the riotous creativity of the Potato Hill Gang.
It was Darius Merrill who stepped forward to settle things. “I propose a compromise,” he said, smiling at his students and then at the gang. “Let the grand prize be shared. The singing school will get the spinning wheel, but the gang should have the honor of hosting next month’s town picnic, complete with their puppet theater.”
The audience erupted in applause.
A Lasting Legacy
The talent show was talked about for years. The singing school kept their place of pride, performing for visiting dignitaries and earning high praise. But it was the Bellmont Potato Hill Gang’s puppet theater that stole hearts. They went on to create new plays, drawing crowds from neighboring towns.
As for Darius, he was heard saying later, “Talent isn’t just about what you can do—it’s about the joy you bring to others. And tonight, Chateaugay Lake was full to the brim.”
And so, under the light of a crescent moon, the townsfolk left the schoolhouse hand in hand, their laughter echoing across the still waters of Chateaugay Lake.
What mysteries of Chateaugay Lake haunt you?