Story City - Town and Country Garden Tour, Saturday, June 26, 2010

Story City Historical Society's Town & Country Garden Tour will have four gardens open to visitors on Saturday, June 26 from 10 - 2.  Tickets may be purchased at the Bartlett Museum that day for $7 or earlier at the Story City Greater Chamber Connection Office. 

A map will be included with the purchase.  Refreshments will be served at the museum.  The event will be held rain or shine.  Hope to see you.            

City Celebrations This Summer

Many of the Story County communities have celebrations during the summer that include their historical societies.  The 2010 celebrations include:

• Story City Scandinavian Days - June 4-6.  The 2010 theme is May The Norse Be You.
• Cambridge Jubilee Days - June 11 - 13.  The complete schedule is on the city website.
• Slater Fourth of July - July 2 - 3.
• Maxwell Old Settlers Picnic - August 5 -8.  The 2010 theme is Knowing the Past, Growing for the Future.  Initial details can be found in this Tri-County Times article.
• Huxley Prairie Fest - August 27 - 29.  See their website for more details.
• Nevada Lincoln Highway Days - August 27 - 29.  See their website for the complete schedule.

Congratulations to National History Day Finalists!

National History Day is an academic-enrichment program that helps students learn about historical issues, ideas, people and events. The year-long academic adventure fosters students’ enthusiasm for learning and encourages them to use primary, secondary, community and statewide resources on a subject of their choice related to an annual theme. The theme for 2010 is “Innovation in History: Impact and Change.”  It is coordinated in Iowa by the State Historical Society of Iowa.

From this years National History Day competition in Iowa there are four Story County students who are advancing to the National Contest in June at the University of Maryland.

In the senior division (grades 9-12), Mikayla Sullivan of Ames High School was chosen in the Individual Documentary category for "Barren to Fields of Plenty".  Her teacher is Dianne Hugdahl.

The junior division (grades 6-8) competitors advancing from Story County were:  Tyler Ronca from the Ballard Junior High School in the Historical Paper category for "Louis Braille: Giving the Treasure of Sight to the Blind" (teacher: Alison Peterson) and Paige Plate and Hanna Bell from the Nevada Middle School in the Web Sites category for "Factory Safety Regulations: From the Ashes of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire" (teacher: Karen Ross).

Additional information about the senior division competition and the junior division competition includes the other Iowa contestants who are advancing to the national competition.

Congratulations to all the students who competed in this and thank you to all their teachers!

Story City - Lincoln and Iowa - May 6 and 7, 2010

The travelling exhibit Lincoln and Iowa will be visiting Story City, Iowa on May 6 and 7, 2010.  This is the first History on the Move exhibit from the State Historical Society of Iowa.  The free semi-trailer exhibit will be in the Story City Pool parking from 9:00 to 6:00 on Thursday and 9:00 to 5:00 on Friday.  More information about Lincoln's connection to Iowa in this bicentennial news release.

Nevada Victorian Tea and Tour - May 8, 2010

The Nevada Historical Society will host a Victorian Tea and Tour for ladies of all ages at their Dyer-Dowell Victorian Home at 922 5th Street in Nevada, Iowa on Saturday, May 8, 2010.  Doors open at 2:15 with the sitting time 2:30 to 4:30.

Cost is $15 for adults and $10 for children 5-12.
Reservations will be accepted up to May 1.  Please call 515-382-6703 for more information and to reserve your table.

Final Ames Historical Society Winter Seminar - April 27, 2010 - The Burning of the Froning Deppe Elevator

The Ames Historical Society presents the final presentation in this years Winter Seminar Series on Tuesday, April 27, 2010 at 7 pm at the Ames City Auditorium, 520 6th Street.  The Burning of the Froning-Deppe Elevator presented by Bob Deppe, former elevator owner, focuses on the history of the elevator and its removal by burning in 1979.  Suggested donation is $2 at the door.

Story City - Celebrate Iowa Wine and Beer, April 23, 2010

The Story City Historical Society invites you to a wine and beer tasting on Friday evening April 23rd from 5pm to 9 pm at the Factory Stores of America Mall, just off I-35 Exit 124 in Story City, Iowa.  Enjoy tastings from six wineries and two breweries, along with food and music by Erin Varley and Keith Lukens. The Cottage on Broad and The Bistro will offer pairing demonstrations, to assist you in making better combining foods and wine choices.

Tickets are only $15, or purchase a $20 ticket and receive a special event tasting glass. The $20 tickets are limited, so get them early at the Story City GCC, Norsemen Realty, or Creation Floral and Gifts in Story City. Tickets will also be available at the door. Information is available at the GCC office, 515-733-4214 or email chamber@storycity.net.

For more information, see this article at the Story City website.