Community Corner

See the Hanging of Susanna Cox Reenacted

A historic execution reenactment is part of daily events at the Kutztown Folk Festival.

The annual Kutztown Folk Festival runs through Sunday and one of the event's more unusual attractions is a daily reenactment of the 1809 hanging of Susanna Cox.

Cox was a poor, simple girl who killed her illegitimate child, according to the festival's website. She was hanged before a crowd of 20,000 in Reading as she wore the only new dress ever given to her.

Her execution inspired Pennsylvania lawmakers to pass a law allowing convicted killers to appeal to the governor to avoid capital punishment.

The festival runs from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The Cox hanging is reenacted daily at 11:30, 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.


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