The annual meeting of the Marion County Historical Society will be held on December 5, 2015 at 10:00 A.M in the auditorium of Heritage Hall located at 169 East Church Street, Marion, Ohio. Elections of officers, year-end reports, and recognition of volunteers will be the highlights of the meeting.
The meeting will be followed by a potluck lunch at approximately 11:30 A.M.
At 1:00 PM, the Book Signing featuring Marion County and other Ohio authors will take place in the Museum Lobby and Atrium. Attending members will receive a discount in the Gift Shop as well. The event provides an opportunity for visitors to shop for books covering a wide range of topics and, in several cases, to meet the authors and have them sign their books.
As an added bonus, admission to Heritage Hall and the Wyandot Popcorn Museum will be free for the event. Visitors can view the current exhibit “From Soldiers to Businessmen” which tells the story of the growth of Marion immediately after the Civil War, and enjoy a box of freshly popped popcorn while shopping for holiday purchases in the Museum Gift Shop.
Among the authors expected to be participating are:
- Scott L. Hoffman, author of A Theater History of Marion, Ohio. His delightful book tells the story of one of the last remaining atmospheric theatres in the nation, the elegant Marion Palace Theatre. From the “Wigwam,” the Grand Opera House, and Germania Park Pavilion to nickelodeons, vaudeville houses, and movie theatres, performance has been an essential part of Marion’s history, and the Palace is the city’s jewel.
- James E. Ryhal, author of Ezra’s Journal, tells the fascinating story of his great-great-grandfather during the Civil War as passed down to him from his grandfather.
- Randy Winland, historian and longtime MCHS member, will be present to autograph his latest book on Marion Postcards. Winland has also authored or edited several other local history publications, including the Marion Activity book, an activity book used in local schools to educate children on local history and Timeline of Marion City Schools.
- Shary Williamson, author of The Woodland Elves, will be attending the event. Russ Kendall (composer of songs for the book), will also be in attendance. The Woodland Elves is the (almost) true story of how one family came to know and love an entire community of elves living in a forest near the family tree house. It is now used in classrooms around the world and has been translated to several other languages.
- Maxine Marshall, author and editor of a multitude of Marion County genealogical publications will be here with an assortment of publications, including the History of the Silver Street School.
- Phil Reid, is the author of The Mystifying Murder in Marion Ohio, the story of an incident in 1919 that sparked racial tension and violence.
- Pamela Johnson, author of Praise God First, will be in attendance with her story of how she survived a car accident that killed three people and how she found inspiration through her faith.
- Ruth Cowgill will also be in attendance with her latest book, She Hums A Lullaby, as well as On Grandfather’s Farm. Learn more about what has been called “The Greatest Generation” through Ruth’s reminiscences.
- Scott Fields will be here with his latest book, A Collection Of Short Stories. Scott is also the author of A Killing in a Small Town and Geezer Bench, as well as several other novels.
- Willis C. Thomas, author of The Schools of Marion County and several more publications will be in attendance.
More authors are coming on board every day so there will many more at Heritage Hall, the day of the event.
One of the latest local author additions to the MCHS gift shop is Seven Months A Soldier by Mary Ellen McOwen, who is unable to attend the event. It is a compilation of tender, complaining, gossipy letters sent back and forth between Nashville, Tennessee, where Pvt. Arnold Southwick was stationed during the final conflicts of the Civil War, and the Big Island Township community, where his wife, children, relatives and friends fretted about the continuing terror. This Civil War story is based on the actual letters written by the great-grandparents of the editor and enriched by letters Arnold received from his family and neighbors in Big Island Township, Marion County, Ohio.
The Heritage Hall Gift shop has a large selection of other books available for purchase including: Haunted Marion by Josh Simpkins; My Not So Ordinary Life by the late Trella Romine, historian and longtime MCHS member, who also authored or edited several other local history publications including Day Before Yesterday; Tales from the Sage of Salt Rock by the late Judge Charlton Myers (a treasure of forgotten Marion County history and trivia based on his WMRN Radio programs in 1960); The Life and Loves of Catherine Loudenslager (the reminiscences of a farm wife in the mid-twentieth century); Jim Thorpe and the Oorang Indians by Robert Whitman of LaRue, and many more. They also have many Marion-related items for sale as well as popcorn-related gifts.
For more information call 740-387-4255 or visit www.marionhistory.com.
About Marion Online News
