Staff Directory
R. Alan Stello Jr.
Sgt. Keswick Salisbury
Program Director for NSCDA-SC
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Since 2007, Alan has directed programming for the NSCDA-SC, the non-profit organization that administrates The Powder Magazine museum, the Colonial Charleston Coalition, the Charlestown Battalion of Artillery, and other educational initiatives. Alan holds undergraduate degrees in American History and Political Science and has a master’s degree in Public Administration. He is very passionate about sharing American history and has been known to occasionally appear in 18th-century clothing. He contributes research for special projects, consults with museum professionals, and is nationally recognized as a Certified Interpretative Trainer. Alan is the author of Arsenal of History: The Powder Magazine of South Carolina.
John Young
Assistant Director
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John and his family moved from Vermont to Charleston almost a quarter century ago. He had grown up on a dairy farm in the Northeast Kingdom- the most rural part of the state- but escaped for the big city, Burlington. He attended the University of Vermont, graduating with a degree in secondary education. After living in Charleston for four years, John became part of the tour community, first as docent and education coordinator at The Old Exchange, later as a walking tour guide, and currently as assistant director at The Powder Magazine. In 2007, Evening Post Books published his parks history, A Walk in the Parks. In 2012-13, John helped to create The Powder Magazine Tricentennial Exhibit and edited Alan Stello's book, Arsenal of History . John is a writer and editor of Charleston and South Carolina history. In his leisure time, he enjoys playing competitive trivia, and the last three years has served as quizmaster for the Charleston History Bowl.
Chelsy Proper
Education Coordinator
​Forgotten revolutionary of the Charlestown Battalion of Artillery, Salisbury was born in Hexham, England, but raised in St. James Parish (Berkeley County, SC). Has been known to frequent The Powder Magazine to assist young Patriots with musket and cannon training. Salisbury hunts squirrel - a fine complement to a ration of boiled cabbage.
Cpl. Jedediah Young
Corporal Jedediah Young was born to a frontier farm family in the New Hampshire Grants. Craving adventure, he made his way to Portsmouth and became a merchant seaman. Serving on a privateer during the French and Indian War, Jedediah was shipwrecked near Charlestown. After that close call, he moved into town and got work with a ship chandler. Jedediah joined the 2nd South Carolina Regiment in 1775. A year later, he was severely wounded at the Battle of Sullivan's Island. Despite his age and injuries, Jedediah is a thoroughgoing patriot and helps out his friends Keswick and Matilda in training new recruits. There are times when Jedediah misses home, especially when he is forced to eat scrawny South Carolina squirrels rather than plump New England woodchucks.
Mistress Matilda Proper
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In 2009, Chelsy Proper left the hills of Kentucky and has lived in Charleston ever since. She holds undergraduate degrees in European History and English Literature from Charleston Southern University, where she was an editor for the literary magazine. Chelsy's passions include colonial social history, the Napoleonic War, and attending Renaissance festivals. She is the former chair of the Heritage Education Forum and a licensed Charleston tour guide.
Unsatisfied with life on the southwestern Virginia frontier, Matilda left for the bustling metropolis of Charlestown as a young adult. Matilda's immigrant husband caught the liberty bug early, so both of them spent several years traveling and fighting with the militia, returning to Charlestown just in time for the city to be captured by the British. Now Matilda puts her cannoneering to good use in training young Patriots.
Tina White
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