Fire in the Night Season: The Trial of Philip Partridge

This docudrama celebrates the freedom fighter spirit by retelling the story of Philip Partridge, a County Engineer who stood trial for burning down the Lincoln School in Hillsboro, Ohio. Following the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education ruling that declared school racial segregation unconstitutional, Hillsboro maintained separate educational facilities—white children attended Washington or Webster elementary schools while Black children attended the poorly-maintained Lincoln School. Despite community need for improvements, voters approved funding only for the white schools. On July 5, 1954, Partridge set fire to the Lincoln School, ultimately forcing integration in this rural community.
The production combines lyrical passages of The Hillsboro Story, written by Susan Banyas, with a dramatic staging of Mr. Partridge’s trial. Susan Banyas and Rainee Angles developed this one-night-only performance. Admission is complimentary.
Sponsors: Paul and Mae Jane Pence Trust Patron of the Arts Fund through Southern State Foundation; America 250-Ohio Commission.