QUINCY — Stories from the turn of the 20th century will be performed by actress Michele LaRue at the Quincy and Soap Lake libraries the first week in May.

LaRue will be performing in Quincy at 6 p.m. April 30, and at 11 a.m. May 5 in Soap Lake. She calls it a “story hour for grownups.” Admission is free, and is sponsored by the North Central Regional Library.

LaRue’s stories use source material from the early years of the 20th century; in Quincy and Soap Lake she will read an essay published in 1912. “Someone Must Wash the Dishes,” advocated allowing women to vote. In 1912 women could vote in state and local elections in some states, but they did not get the right to vote in federal elections until 1920.

Other performances throughout the four-county library system will feature Civil War stories from a woman’s perspective, published in 1913, and a humorous housekeeping story from 1903.

In 1900 radio was about 25 years away, television about 50 years and streaming services were more than a century in the future. Novels kept people entertained, but they also read magazines filled with short stories – and even daily newspapers usually published fiction stories.

Many stories were written to read aloud, LaRue said. “Family members and friends shared stories aloud,” she said, and it’s still an appealing way to experience a story. “During my performances I’ve seen contemporary adults light up like children hearing a new story. Despite TV and films, the internet and special effects, we still crave to listen to a story well told.”

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at [email protected].