The following is a list of upcoming Shelby County Historical Society events, programs and exhibits in 2008. In addition to these special events, we also have ongoing exhibits at the Ross Historical Center. For more detailed information contact the Ross Historical Center at 937-498-1653.
 

This event has been rescheduled from March 4, 2008 because of weather.

We have all heard the phrase, “America is a melting pot.” All of our ancestors came from other lands, melting together to form our great American experience.

But what is it like for people from other countries to join us during the 21^st century? Join us and find out! On March 4, 2008, at the Ross Historical Center at 7:30 p.m. the Shelby County Historical Society has invited Jaswinger, Sukhwinder and Harwinder Singh, Marco and Jill Ronechese, Victor Colon and Lam and Le Ho to share why and how they emmigrated to Sidney, Ohio.

This program is the first in a series of educational events that will be offered to the public in 2008.  The Society has received requests from the public asking that evening programs be offered to the community that co-incide with the educational exhibits being hosted by the Society.

The Singhs have traveled from India to find their new home in Sidney.  All three are students in the Sidney City Schools. The Roncheses are from South Africa.  They live in Sidney with their daughter, who attends Northwood Elementary.  Lam and Li Ho arrived here originally from Vietnam and now know Sidney as their home.  Their children have been outstanding students in the Sidney School system. Victor Colon, a Senior at Sidney High School, made the trip from Puerto Rico with his mother, sister and two brothers.

 Every family has a unique story to tell concerning why they chose to come to America. 

In conjunction with this program, every fifth grader in Shelby County toured the “Coming to America” exhibit.  They were given the opportunity to relive how their ancestors traveled from Europe to America.

Visit the Ross Historical Center on March 4 at 7:30 p.m. to learn how committed immigrants are still to ‘Coming to America.’
 

April 11 - Spring Fling Art Show and Sale

Old Man Winter is here now, but remember spring is just around the corner. That means the Spring Fling Art Show and Sale will soon be opening at the Ross Historical Center.  It is not too early to contact the Society office and reserve you tickets for the opening gala to be held on April 11 from 6-8 p.m.

Tickets will be $25.00 a person.

April 17, 2008 - Gen. Robt. E. Lee to visit Shelby County
(at Senior Center 7 p.m.)

You will not want to miss this one of a kind program. Richard Crozier will portray the great Confederate Civil War general in a living history presentation. Mr. Crozier is from the State of New York. You an learn more about him on the web at www.geocities.com/DickCrozier/.

Admission for the evening will be Adults $2.00   Seniors and Students $1.00
 

May 20, 2008 - Rock Your World !
(at the Ross Historical Center-7 p.m.)

The Ross Historical Center, 201 N. Main, Sidney, at 7:00pm.  Rock Your World!  The Shelby County Historical Society will be opening a new exhibit featuring collections and hobbies of our community’s residents, appropriately titled, “Rock Your World!”  This exhibit is about what people love to collect. 

This exhibit will feature a NASCAR-Autograph collection that includes a quilt, photos, and jacket.  There will also be pocket-watches, postcards, figurines from Occupied Japan, Elvis memorabilia, coins, and tokens to name a few.  On May 20 at 7:00pm, at the Ross Historical Center, there will be guest speakers Herb VanTilburgh, who will discuss his pocket-watch collection, Tom Dunnavant who will discuss his postcard collection, and Dale Wilges and Thomas Wehner will discuss tokens. 

The event is free and open to the public!  The Museum hours are Monday – Friday 1pm till 5pm and Saturday 9am till Noon, closed Sundays.  For more information please contact us at 937-498-1653 or shelbyhistory@embarqmail.com, or visit us on the web at www.shelbycountyhistory.org
 

June 19, 2008 - A Twilight Tour of Graceland Cemetery IX
(at Graceland- 8 p.m.) 

You do not want to miss this event! What is agnosticism? Are you able to identify Sidney’s most controversial monument in Graceland? What do you know about the father of Sidney’s parks? Who brought the great tradition of candy making here from another country? Join the Historical Society and find out!

The Shelby County Historical Society will host its ninth annual tour of historic Graceland Cemetery this Thursday, June 19, beginning at 8 P.M.

The tour draws over 200 people each year and is the Society’s most popular program. The twilight tour of Graceland will begin in the middle of the cemetery next to County Road 25A across from the I.U.E. hall.

The hosts for the evening will be local historians Rich Wallace and Linda DeVelvis, who team as tour guides for the event.

The twilight tour offers a unique way to learn and appreciate history. Perhaps the most well-known section of the burial ground will be covered this year. The life and times of some of Sidney’s most celebrated citizens will be explained.

The tour this year will begin at the monument of C. H. Roman. This well-known and some would say controversial agnostic expressed his views on agnosticism in granite for all to see and consider. His given name is Christian and he was born into a Christian family. What happened in his life to change his views?

Some of the great Sidney business leaders will also be memorialized, including Joe Cook and Fred Dull of Monarch

The tour begins at 8 P.M. The public is invited. Parking is available in the southern or northern ends of the cemetery or at the I.U.E. Hall on County Road 25A.
 

September 18, 2008 – Shelby County’s Prisoners of War
(at Ross Historical Center- 7 p.m.)

Programs on World War II are always well attended, and this one promises to be no exception. Society president Rich Wallace and former POWs from our community will join us to share information on their capture and captivity. Wallace will also present information of our POWs from the Civil War and the Korean Conflict. This program will support the Society’s newest exhibit on World War II.
 

October 7, 2008 - Pioneer Story Telling 
(at Ross Historical Center 7 p.m.)

The Society’s yearly Pioneer Program at the county Fairgrounds for 4th graders in the city and county schools has always featured wonderful crafts people and historians from all over Ohio. Some of the best will be at the Ross Historical Center on October 7 to tell Pioneer tales and show you how you can write your. Featured will be Carol Wentz. She is a professional personal historian.