“Remembering
D-Day at Normandy
Beach” by
Jim Grimaldi
The D-Day reenactment on Normandy
Beach will be the topic of the
dinner lecture offered by the
Elkhart Historical Society on Friday
September 27.
Jim Grimaldi, who took part in the
event as a paratrooper, will show
actual video clips and photos of the
event, as well as some of the
equipment used to celebrate the 75th anniversary.
A far cry from Grimaldi’s normal
routine as a criminal lawyer in
Lincoln, the event required hundreds
of participants, aircraft and many
months of preparation.
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The
Elkhart Historical Society is pleased to announce the
return of Springfield Author Taylor Pensoneau, who will discuss of his new book, “Falling
Star”
as the dinner lecture topic for Friday, August
23, 2019. Although it is fiction, he based it
on a true situation he experienced when he was
the night beat reporter at the St Louis
Post-Dispatch in the early 1960s. The plot
revolves around the pursuit by investigative
reporter Jake Brosky of the elusive Clarissa
Monnet- - a still beautiful but fading movie
queen who had written a tell-all manuscript.
Attempts to suppress the manuscript by various
powerful groups in Illinois as well as a few of
the better known organized crime figures
complete the cast of this 1950’s story.
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“the gillett legacy” by marcy brooks
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Marcy Brooks, good friend
of the Elkhart Historical Society, will add
additional findings on her research of the
Gillett family. Marcy, who many will
remember from her previous talk on the Gillett
daughters, will bring new insights from her
recent investigations into this fascinating
family in her talk, “The Gillett Legacy”.
Brooks who is a familiar speaker, organist and
vocalist at the Gillett chapel on the hill now
lives in Tennessee where she is active in
musical endeavors, writing and life coaching.
Come enjoy a close up look into a family whose
patriarch, John Dean Gillett, knew that
education was the key to success.
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WWI historian Paul Osman of Williamsville,
who last November gave a stirring talk at
the dedication of the Veteran’s Park in
Elkhart, is the much-anticipated speaker.
Osman’s knowledge not only of the war, but
also members of the Elkhart community who
served in it, will take you back to an era
that should not be forgotten. Osman has just
returned from his 11th
trip to the Western Front in France and
Belgium. During this recent trip, he
visited the battlefields and graves of
several Elkhart WWI soldiers.
Come celebrate the memory of those who
unselfishly gave to the war effort.
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The event will take place at Horsefeather’s
Wild Hare Café, and the doors will open at 5
pm. The $40 cost covers a choice of
coq au vin or pork tenderloin with wine and
mushroom sauce, each served with savory
rice, vegetables, dessert and beverage. The
cost also includes a contribution to the
Elkhart Historical Society. Space is limited
thus
reservations are
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The Finale of our March celebration of the Irish
will be at the Gillett
Chapel on Sunday March 24th starting at
2pm. Celtic and old time Appalachian
music will be played by “The Hillbilly Celts”,
featuring Dennis Cline, Joe Readnour, and Dan
Grover.
Dennis Cline learned to play guitar and was
influenced by Mississippian John Hurt’s folk
music. Fifteen years ago, he added playing
the claw-hammer style banjo to his many talents.
Joe Readnour is a veteran piper who has played
with various groups including the St.
Andrew-Springfield Pipe Band for 10 years.
Dan Grover, a singer/songwriter, played both
guitar and bass with the Cactus Ranch
Band, and loves to entertain. These
long-time musician friends will bring a lot of
music to Elkhart on Sunday March 24.
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"From Holland to Elkhart by way of Capetown”
Friday March 8th
The Elkhart Historical Society announces
its March dinner lecture entitled, "From
Holland to Elkhart by way of Capetown,” with
Peter Niehaus, which will be presented
Friday March 8th at the Wild Hare Café in
Elkhart, Illinois. Peter’s multi-faceted
life began in Holland, one of eight children
in the family who lived in a farming
community occupied by the Nazis during the
war.
He will recall events of his life there prior to
the family immigrating to South Africa.
Once in South Africa, he completed his education
receiving a degree in mechanical engineering,
joined the SA navy and was assigned to submarine
duty running various missions during the cold
war, for a time being stationed in Toulon. As a
civilian Peter worked for a Cape Town firm using
his engineering skills, later starting his own
building and restoration business.
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Press Reslease <-- click here |
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HOLLYWOOD EQUINE EXPERT - RETURN SPEAKER
On
Friday, February 8th,
The Elkhart Historical Society will offer their
first dinner lecture of the 2019 series with the
return of Karl Luthin, DVM. Karl’s
lectures always fill quickly due to his
extraordinary life experiences and story-telling
skills. Well known in the equine veterinarian
practice with his daughter Kate and a skilled
entrepreneur in gathering equipment, uniforms,
tack, horses and rolling stock to supply movies
with, Luthin continues to have an exciting life.
His knowledge helps to insure the historic
accuracy of the equipment or costumes being
used.
Luthin’s talk will cover a variety of venues
including stories from many of the different
movies in which he has been involved, including
reenacting, veterinarian services, props, and
problem solving- - such as how to get a horse
off the elevated platform in Chicago’s loop.
Just ask Karl about his fleet of Conestoga
wagons and you will get a taste of the charisma
that surrounds this man.
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