March 25, 2013 – Barb Baltrinic, author of A Founder for All: Abraham Clark, Signer of the Declaration of Independence. Baltrinic, a Munore Falls resident, spoke about her ancestor, Abraham Clark of New Jersey, who was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. A former English teacher, Baltrici spent more than six years researching her ancestor. Her book was published in December. It was written in order to share information about a seldom-referenced Founding Father and also to create a lasting legacy for her family.

A Founder for All covers Clark’s life as he places “country before family” in his efforts to create the foundation for American government that prevails today. Readers will learn things that happened behind the scenes, including stories not usually found in history books. The book also touches on the moral issues Clark faced when choosing between family and love of country.

A Founder for All is availabe on Amazon in paperback or Kindle format.

April 22, 2013 –

Musicians Ruth Ann Hulthen and Olvia Walton presented an entertaining program on the mountain dulcimer at our April 22nd meeting.

Ruth Hulthen has been playing the mountain dulcimer for ten years. She has taught beginner workshops for two years at Buckeye Dulcimer Festival. She has co-authored a dulcimer book and CD, “Bountiful Folk – Duets and Such” with Olivia Walton. Ruth belongs to Tri-County Dulcimer, Mixed-up Strings, and Black Squirrel dulcimer clubs. She and Olivia are co-leaders of the Black Squirrel club. Ruth also teaches dulcimer players of all ages and skills from her home. Playing for hospice and nursing home patients is a particular passion for her.

Olivia Walton started playing the guitar in the sixties while singing country and folk music at a variety of venues. In 2007 she tried a dulcimer while visiting Wildwood Music in Roscoe Village, Ohio. She has been playing and teaching ever since. Olivia is one of the founders of Black Squirrel dulcimer club and is a member in three other clubs. She is a co-founder of the performance group Bountiful Folk. Ruth and Olivia have a new up-coming CD titled “Bountiful Fok – Outstanding in Our Field”.

June 22, 2013 –

The June meeting was a field trip! Members met Saturday, June 22nd at 9:00 a.m. at the Stow City Safety Building parking lot. We then left at 9:15 to carpool to the Mustill Store, 248 Ferndale Street, Akron, 44304 for a tour of the museum and nearby mill site. Our guide was local historian Denny Reiser. The Mustill Store and House is a visitor center and museum on the Townpath Trail. It is the last combination residence and commercial structure of its kind along the Ohio & Erie Canal. The exhibits inside tell about Akron’s rise from a frontier to an industrial power. A short business meeting was held after the tour. This meeting took the place of the meeting normally held on the fourth Monday of June.

September 23, 2013 –

Guest speaker for our September meeting was noted Abraham Lincoln expert, Geoff Elliott. Mr. Elliott, author of The Abraham Lincoln Blog, has studied the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln for more than forty years. He lectures widely on the subject and shared his insights with Stow Historical Society.

October 28, 2013 –

Members of The Ohio Living History Society Society brought history to life at our October meeting. The group’s mission is to educate the community by preserving, developing, and interpreting local history. This enthusiastic group of historical re-enactors have hosted a series of dinners and programs at the Farnam Manor in Richfield, as well as a children’s summer camp – A Child’s Life in the Wild West-ern Reserve. Connect with OLHS on Facebook.