Leaf through local history at the museum

~by Denise Van for the Greene County Historical Society

A second “Leafing through Greene County HIstory” roundtable will be held at the Greene County Historical Museum, 219 E. Lincoln Way, at 2 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 20.

Four presenters wil share items from the Museum’s collection, and then audience members will be invited to chime in with their memories and thoughts on what they’ve seen.

Dianne Piepel and Mikki Schwartzkopf will display wedding gowns that were worn at nuptials in the late 1890s through the mid-1970s, plus a lace wedding night nightgown from 1877. The 1977 wedding gown was worn by the former Dianne Durlum when she married Mike Piepel.

Carol Natzel Schultz of Jefferson will jog memories of an almost forgotten 1953 visit to Jefferson by three members of a French magazine’s staff. 

Reporters Pierre and Renee Gosset wrote an article about life in a small midwestern town, and photographer Edouard Boubat took the pics for “Realites,” a monthly publication that featured stories of interest to tourists. How they found Jefferson is an interesting story in itself.

Jed Magee will talk about former Greene County businesses. He searched through old county atlases and phone books to find information, and acquired a list of Jefferson commercial sites from longtime, and now retired, businessman Rolfe Blaess, who had a shoe store on the Court House Square.

The afternoon will end with a tea party— scones, clotted cream, jam, tiny sandwiches, cookies and, of course, tea in flowery china teacups.

The first “Leafing’” event was held in November 2022, and was so successful and enjoyable, said Historical Society program chair Margaret Hamilton, “that we decided to do it again.”

The discussions will happen in a circle, so the event is limited to 25 persons. To reserve a seat, call 515-386-4408.

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