BLOOMINGTON - Actors breathed life into Bloomington history Saturday in the opening performances of the 14th annual Evergreen Cemetery Discovery Walk.

With a backdrop of colorful leaves, Don and Kathy Shandrow of Bloomington stood near the final resting places of Assistant Secretary of Agriculture Carl Vrooman and his wife, Julia, and portrayed the Bloomington couple in early 20th-century clothes.

Shandrow told his audience that Julia Vrooman was "as close to royalty as you will find here in Bloomington," noting her mother was a "queen of local society" and her uncle was Adlai E. Stevenson, the 23rd vice president of the United States.

"I do not believe in royalty," said Kathy Shandrow, portraying Julia Vrooman. "We'd be better off if we did away with class distinctions."

Afterward, Kathy Shandrow said she enjoys the historical acting. "I enjoy the fact that we are taking a little piece of history and making it a living, breathing part of what happened here," she said. "For me, the most fun part is during the week when we get schoolchildren and they see that this was a real person."

Don Shandrow said he enjoys paying tribute to founders of Bloomington.

"Bloomington is the way it is because of the founders," he said. "It's an exciting thing as far as an actor is concerned to play someone who actually lived. You have resources to draw on that you can use to develop a character. It's a rich experience as an actor. I know people who knew this couple. I'll hear firsthand stories from them (that) add texture to what we do."

Ron Emmons of Bloomington played Carl Gustav Hanner, a Swedish employee of the McLean County Coal Co. He said many Swedish, Polish and Italian immigrants earned a living through coal mining and were recruited by the local company.

"What we did not know was that we was being brought in as strike breakers," he said, portraying Hanner. "We too had many mouths to feed. You do what is necessary."

He ended his speech with this advice: "Every day is a precious gift. Treasure it. Treasure it."

"I love this contact," Emmons said afterward. "I love this kind of acting, where you have to be real. You're facing a person with no mask, no make-up."

Emmons also enjoys performing for children. "You have to be right on," he said. "You have to nail it to keep them focused because it's so easy to watch the squirrels."

The other portrayals include Judge Louis Fitzhenry, opera singer Grace Wagner and John Edward McClun, a man who contributed to Bloomington's development.

Judy Brown, director of the walk, said the Saturday morning performance drew 184 attendees, a record for an opening performance.

"That's just a phenomenal number," she said.

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Walking with history

What: Evergreen Cemetery Discovery Walk

When: 11a.m. and 2 p.m. today; 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Oct. 11 and Oct. 12

Where: Evergreen Cemetery, Bloomington

Admission: $14 for adults; $4 for children and students

More information: (309) 827-0428