Hang that Tom Dooley (Dula)

A performance of the play Tom Dooley has been performed annually in Wilkesboro, NC for a number of years. In 2006 the state built this Amphitheatre in a campground near Bandits Roost and for the first time the performance was outdoors for the first week. Opening night featured the Kingston Trio as the 'warmup' but it was sold out before we heard about it. This is the second night's performance and, aside from the poor sound quality, was excellent. It featured horses, cannons, thunder and lightning (both sound effects and God's) and ending with Tom being placed on a horse and hung. Between scenes the small band pictured here played music from the period including the original version of Tom Dooley. As an aside, the Governor is considering giving Tom a pardon due to the controversy surrounding his trial and conviction. There was only circumstantial evidence against him and the play highlights 3 other possible killers of Tom's girlfriend.

Difficult to read but says 'Thomas C. Dula, 1844-1868, "Tom Dooley" of popular legend and song. Hanged in Statesville for the murder of Laura Foster. Grave is 1 1/2 mi. S.W. This sign is located in Statesville, NC. Locals tell us the grave is no longer marked due to tourists breaking off bits of the headstone for souvinirs. We drove up the road anyway but found only blackberries - no grave.