Current History

Cascade Locks Park Association

Thanks to generous grants from the Ohio Humanities Council, the Cascade Locks Park Association is pleased to announce the creation of an archive dedicated to the history of the park surrounding the canal and the families that were such an important part of that history.  Also contributing to the grant is a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Akron Community Foundation, and the Rev. Roderic Dibbert.  

The archives will be enjoyed and utilized by interested parties from school children and amateur historians to serious scholars.  The materials will include:

• Materials dealing with the history and development of CLPA, including photo albums

• Materials on the history of American canals

• Historical photos of the Mustill Store, Cascade Mills, and the Ohio and Eire Canal

• Genealogical information on both the Mustill and Schumacher families, including family photographs of the Mustills and their descendents 

For more information on the archives, please contact CLPA Executive Director, Bridget Garvin at phone number 330-374-5625, or by e-mail at bgarvin@ameritech.net, and be sure to visit the organizations website at www.cascadelocks.org 

Guided Tours of the Cascade Lock Historic District and Trips aboard the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad
October 10*, October 24*
Mustill Store 12:00 p.m.

Come learn about the Cascade Locks Historic District, soon to host the newest section of the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail.  This important section will make the vital link to Downtown Akron!

Canal boats had to negotiate nearly 70 feet of elevation difference in less than a third of a mile within a section of the Ohio & Erie Canal now called the Cascade Locks.  Akron was born along this section and industries thrived.  Join a Cascade Locks Park Association volunteer for a free tour of the area.

For those days with an *, consider combining the tour with a ride aboard the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad and experience history moving from canals to trains.  Board at Rockside Station in Independence at 10:15 a.m. and be transported from the train depot to canal days at the Mustill Store in time for the guided tour.  You will depart Akron on the train at 3:30 p.m.

To schedule your train ride call the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad at 1-800-468-4070 or check out www.cvsr.com

For questions about the walking tour, call the Cascade Locks Park Association at (330) 374-5625.

Cleveland Museum of Natural History

The Explorer Series

Dead Men Talking
Dr. William Bligh-Glover, forensic pathologist
December 3, 2004, 7:30 pm

In his work as Lake County Deputy Coroner, Dr. William Bligh-Glover draws on his knowledge of anatomy, pathology, anthropology, archaeology, meteorology, entomology, geology and other subjects. He discusses how natural history applies to the work of the modern coroner. Please note: Due to the subject matter of this presentation, it may not be suitable for all audiences.

Tickets for individual lectures are $7 for members ($6 for seniors, students, and children), and $9 for nonmembers ($8 for seniors, students, and children).  For tickets and information please call (800) 317-9155, ext. 3279 or (216) 231-1177.

Ohio Archeology
Permanent Exhibit
Regular Museum Admission and Hours

Cleveland Public Library

Isabel Allende - "My Invented Country"
October 6, 2004
Main Library, Noon

Discussion of Chilean award-winning author Isabel Allende's memoir: "My Invented Country."  Allende will appear live at the library on October 24.

For more information contact (216) 623-2800 or info@library.cpl.org

Moral Geography: Maps, Missionaries and the American Frontier
October 14, 2004
Main Library, 7:00 p.m.

Amy DeRogatis is an Associate Professor of Religion and American Culture in the Religious Studies Department at Michigan State University.  She is the author of many articles on religion and American culture.  Her discussion will center on her book and the settling of the Western Reserve.  This event will take place in the Treasure Room which is located on the third floor of the Main Library building.

For more information contact (216) 623-2800 or info@library.cpl.org

Isabel Allende
October 24, 2004
Main Library, 2:00 p.m.

Award winning Chilean Isabel Allende is known world wide for her novels, including Of Love and Shadows, and The House of the Spirits which was made into a movie starring Meryl Streep and Jeremy Irons.  In her most recent work, My Invented Country, she delves into the history, social mores, and idiosyncrasies of Chilean culture.

Free and open to the public.  Join us in the Louis Stokes Wing Auditorium, East 6th Street and Superior Avenue.

For more information contact (216) 623-2800 or info@library.cpl.org.

Great Lakes Historical Society

"The Freedom Schooner ADMISTAD: An Insider's View"
October 19, 2004
7:00 p.m.

Slide presentation by Kaki Brzytwa.

"Fish Tubs: The Commercial Fishing Industry of Vermillion"
October 26, 2004
7:00 p.m.

Slide Presentation by Don Parsons.

Mooreland Mansion, Lakeland Community College

Vintage Fashion show & Lunch at Mooreland
October 20, 2004
11:30 - 1:30 p.m.

Step back in time and enjoy a delicious lunch while being entertained with fashions of days gone by.  The Vintage Clothing Fashion Show includes historical commentary of fashions dating back to the 1900s.

FEE: $29
SEC. 70431P

To register call (440) 525-7116 or online at www.lakelandcc.edu

Holiday Tea and History of Mooreland
December 12, 2004
11:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Relax from the bustle of the holidays and enjoy a holiday tea while listening to the story of Mooreland.  Get to know the history behind the now famous summer home of Edward and Louise Mooreland and their five children.  Includes a tour of Mooreland.

FEE: $29
SEC. 71117P

To register call (440) 525-7116 or online at www.lakelandcc.edu

Ohio Historical Society

The Ohio Historical Society announces new hours for its Archives/Library and exhibits at the Ohio Historical Center in Columbus.  Note: both the Archives/Library and the exhibits are open until 9 P.M. on Thursdays.

New Archive/Library Hours:

New Exhibit Hours:

Dillon House Victorian Tea
October 6, 2004
1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Hayes Presidential Center, Fremont

Be transported to a time of leisure and elegance as you enjoy tea sandwiches, delectable sweets, plenty of piping hot tea, piano music and other entertainment in the Dillon House.  Stroll the grounds of Spiegel Grove and tour the home of Rutherford B. Hayes.  Join special guest Ellen Krause for tea-leaf readings.  Cost is $20 per person.  Reservations are required.

For reservations, call (419) 332-2081 or (800) 998-7737.

Ohio in the Civil War
Now - Fall
Tuesday - Saturday, 9-5; Thursday, 9-9; Sunday, 12-5
Ohio Historical Center, Columbus

Weapons, uniforms, medical and camp equipment and battle flags from the Society's collections chronicle Ohio's involvement in the American Civil War.  Learn what life was like for more than 340,000 Ohioans who served in 230 regiments, 26 independent artillery batteries and five independent sharpshooter companies.  Free with regular museum admission.

For more information, please contact (614) 297-2300 or (800) 686-6124.

Kilroy was Here: The 1940s Revisited
Through November 1, 2004
Tuesday - Saturday, 9-5; Thursday, 9-9; Sunday, 12-5
Ohio Historical Center, Columbus

Focusing on the 1940s, this exhibit examines the nature of daily life during a time of war.  It looks at the contributions Ohioans made to the war effort and chronicles changes the postwar era brought to Ohio and the nation.  Free with museum admission.

For more information, please contact (614) 297-2300 or (800) 686-6124.

The Ohio Historical Center can be found off of I-71 at 17th Avenue, exit 111.  For more information about OHS sites and events, please feel free to visit www.ohiohistory.org.  

Moments in Time: Images from the Ohio Historical Society's Collections
2004

Since the development of photography, people have been using this medium to capture moments in time.  This exhibit underscores the diversity and strength of the Society's photograph collections through more than 225 photographs, moving images, and related collection objects.  Six galleries address themes of workplace, family, community, and individual events, as well as places in Ohio history.   Free with regular museum admission.

For more information, please contact (614) 297-2300 or (800) 686-6124.

Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center

Events subject to change; call (419) 332-2081 or (800) 998-7737 for confirmation or information

Christmas Dinners in Spiegel Grove fund raiser
December 2 - 4, 2004

A six course Victorian feast in a presidential home.  Cost $250 per person with $175 tax deductible.

Dillon House Victorian Christmas Tours
December 19, 2004 - January 2, 2005
Noon - 6:00 p.m.

Victorian Holiday
December 27, 2004
9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

A single admission price gains all-day admission to a variety of Victorian holiday events.

The University of Akron

The Annual Knepper Lecture
October 5, 2004
5:30 p.m. at The Martin Center

Professor Michael Sherry, a member of the History Department faculty at Northwestern University, will present "Still in the Shadow of War."  His areas of specialization include war in twentieth century America, war and political culture, and gay/lesbian culture.  His books include Preparing for the Next War: American Plans for Postwar Defense, 1941-45 (1977), The Rise of American Air Power: The Creation of Armageddon (1987), and In the Shadow of War: The United States since the 1930s (1995).

"Suzan-Lori Parks' The American Play: History, Spectacle and the Creation of an African-American Perspective"
October 7, 2004
7:00 p.m. at The Martin Center

Dr. Kerstin Schmidt is a professor of American Studies at the University of Beyreuth in Germany.  Her areas of scholarly concentration include Post Colonial Theory, Film Studies, African-American Drama, and more.  Join her for a discussion of African-American theatre and postmodernism.

Archaeology Lab Open House
October 8, 2004
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
University of Akron Olin Hall 101

There will be artifact displays on projects conducted by the Community Archaeology Program, artifact identification, flint knapping and activities for children.  For more information contact Linda Whitman at (330) 972-6179 or whitman@ukaron.edu.

Old Buchtel Hall
Through October 31, 2004
University of Akron Student Union

An exhibit of artifacts and photographs about Old Buchtel Hall will be on display throughout October in the Student Union.  The original hall, which burned in 1899, was partially excavated during the summer of 2003 by the Campus Archaeology Project.  For more information contact Linda Whitman at (330) 972-6179 or whitman@uakron.edu.

Summit County Historical Society

"Windows of the Valley"
October 12, 2004
6:30 - 7:30 p.m. at the Carriage House

Local historical societies will share "Windows of the Valley" -- the newest partnership effort on the Cuyahoga

Barberton in the 1920s
October 19, 2004
6:30 - 7:30 p.m. at the Carriage House

Presented by the Barberton Library

Hale Farm and Village in the 1920s
October 26, 2004
6:30 - 7:30 p.m. at the Carriage House

Presented by Hale Farm and Village

Western Reserve Historical Society

Every Four Years: Ohio's Role in the Making of the American President
Through - February 27, 2005

This exhibit will recount the evolution of the presidency, from the age of George Washington until today.  Drawing from the vast collections of the Western Reserve Historical Society, it provides a revealing glimpse of the culture of the presidency.  Presidential curiosities include James Garfield's campaign desk, Andrew Jackson's cheese scoop, a 1903 Teddy Bear named for Theodore Roosevelt, and William McKinley's campaign torch.

Marcus Hanna, the newest WRHS Timeslider will lead you on a gallery tour of the Every Four Years exhibition every Saturday and Sunday starting September 25 at 1 p.m. & 3 p.m.  Special holiday tours will be available.

Contact the museum at (216) 721-5722 for more information.

Every Four Years Lecture
October 9, 2004
1:00 p.m.

Hear James Cash, author of Unsung Heroes: Ohioans in the White House: a Modern Appraisal, make a case for reconsideration of the merits of the Presidents from Ohio.  Book signing to follow.

Meet Mrs. Florence Harding
October 23, 2004
2:00 p.m.

Craig Schermer of the National First Ladies Library will give a first-person presentation of Mrs. Florence Kling Harding.

Cleveland's Presidential Assassin
October 23, 2004
2:00 p.m.

Hear the story of Leon Czolgosz and the assassination of William McKinley told by John Grabowski, WRHS Director of Research.  Live videoconference session from Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey.  Included with admission.

The Daring Decade: Women in the 1920s
Through October 24, 2004

The 1920s were a decade of rapid change when an emphasis on youth and adventure overcame the traditional social and moral restrictions placed on women.  This exhibit showcases 40 costumes from the Society's collection, plus decorative arts and library archives to address this dramatic transition in the societal role of the American woman.

Regular museum hours and admission applies.

Hello Cleveland!
Through November 14

Pay tribute to the hardworking, hard living, hard rocking city of Cleveland wit this exhibit of photographs by Walter Novak, a local photographer for Scene Magazine.  Compelling performance shots of rock acts like Aerosmith, Alice Cooper, Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie, KISS, The Rolling Stones, Tina Turner, and Judas Priest are accompanied by live classic recordings archived in the WRHS library.

Donald McBride: Life on the Rock
December 4, 2004 - May 29, 2005

This remarkable collection of drawings and paintings was made by Cleveland native, Donald McBride, Jr. while serving in the U.S. Navy on the island of Peleliu in the South Pacific during World War II.  The collection includes watercolors, oils, and photos from wartime life on Peleliu as well as personal items crafted for his own family and those of fellow servicemen.

Lawnfield, James A. Garfield National Historic Site

Ghosts of the White House
October 30, 2004
6:30 p.m.

Take an evening tour of President Garfield's home and hear tales and legends of ghosts at the White House and the U.S. Capitol.  Explore President Garfield's psychic experiences and interest in phrenology.  See a Ducro Funeral Services coach from the 1880s and learn about Victorian funeral customs.

Call (440) 255-8722 for timed ticket prices and reservations.

Behind the Scenes Tours
November 6, December 4
11:00 a.m.

Highlights of this tour include the upper level of the Visitor Center (formerly the 1893 Carriage Barn), the basement and third floor of the Garfield Home, and the observation level of the windmill.  Ability to climb stairs is required.  This tour does not cover rooms seen on the regular house tour.

Tickets are $12 for WRHS members, and $15 for non-members.
Pre-registration is required, call (440) 255-8722 for reservations. 

Loghurst

Civil War Encampment
October 9 - 10, 2004
11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Walk through a Civil War soldiers camp, witness maneuvers and ongoing living history.  Enjoy period games, live dulcimer music, and an old time Hymn Sing on Sunday morning.  Dress as a Confederate or Union soldier and take a photo.  Tours are available of Loghurst, a historic house that is believed to have served as an Underground Railroad safe house.

Regular admission applies.