“Cheryl Ogden comes to us with exceptional skills and experience,” Walter continued. “She holds a BA in History as well as an MA in Public History, has worked in several museum venues, and is a Champaign County resident. She works well with the public, and we are most pleased to have her on board - so bring the family out to meet her on a hot summer day and enjoy our cool museum!” Since 1934 the Champaign County Historical Museum has preserved, protected, archived and displayed over 14,000 artifacts. The museum continues to present our local history to groups of elementary students and offer monthly programs - free to the public. All are invited to support the museum and receive the newsletter by joining in person or paying online by credit card.

On Sunday June 2 at 2:00 pm the Champaign County Historical Museum will present a free program on the world-famous Tuskegee Airmen. Captain John C. Mitchell, the son of an original Tuskegee Airman, and the President of the Tuskegee Airmen Inc., Ohio Memorial Chapter, will headline the program.

In addition, the only Tuskegee Airman from Champaign County, the late Wendell Stokes, will be honored. Mr. Stokes, an educator and Urbana city councilman, served as a Bombardier/Navigator in WWII, training with his fellow Tuskegee Airmen in Tuskegee, Alabama. Following the war Mr. Stokes was instrumental in the formation of the Tuskegee Airmen Inc. During his service as President of that organization he helped establish the Tuskegee Airmen Monument which stands in the U. S. Air Force Museum Memorial Park.

Five experienced appraisers in locations throughout the museum will describe the history and estimated value of each item presented. They include Jacob Berner (Donnelsville) – antiques and fine art; Dan Fawcett (Cable) – collectibles; Buzz Jackson (Springfield) – military artifacts; Rob Pollock (Urbana) – mechanical music, radios, business machines and office equipment; and Greg Shipley (West Liberty) – Native American artifacts. At least one of the appraisers has appeared on the PBS TV show.

The price of admission – $20 in advance, $25 at the door – includes one appraisal and a wine and cheese “bistro” provided by Freshwater Farms so that folks can socialize during the event and tour the museum rather than simply wait in line.

Regarding the “show” component, an appraiser will be announced five times throughout the evening; he will then present a special item to those gathered in the main meeting room.

Tickets may be purchased at the museum (Mondays and Tuesdays), at local banks – First Central National, Peoples, Perpetual, Civista Bank, all county Security National Bank locations – and online.

In addition to benefiting the museum and preserving its artifacts, the event is expected to be entertaining to attendees of all ages and hopefully one that will build from year to year. This is an opportunity to have evaluated a family heirloom, an item from the attic or perhaps something found when spring cleaning.

On Sunday, Sept. 23 at 2:00 pm The Champaign County Historical Society located at 809 E. Lawn Ave., will host Bill Kremer, long-time Ranger at Kiser Lake State Park, who will present a program entitled, “Kiser Lake and the Kiser Family’s Impact on Champaign County - and Beyond.”
 
The program will include the history of the Kiser Family, their industrial base, the creation of Kiser Lake, and their impact both in Champaign County and throughout the nation.

On Sunday July 8 at 2:00 pm, longtime DJ and historian DICK HATFIELD (aka The Imperial DeBubba) will present his recollections of The Coconut Lounge at the Champaign County Historical Society Museum, located at 809 E. Lawn Ave., Urbana.

If you hear the drum intro to “Sherry” and burst in to song - or wonder about those who do - you’ll not want to miss this trip down memory lane when the Four Seasons, Beach Boys, and 35 other top bands appeared between April 1963 and Jan. 1965 at this nightclub on the Upper Valley Pike right here in Champaign County.

On Sunday May 13, at 2:00 pm, the Champaign County Historical Society will feature a program entitled History of the World - With Some Jokes in the museum located at 809 E. Lawn Ave., Urbana.

Logan Boggs, historian and comedian, recognizing that too often history is presented as a dry string of facts and dates meant to be memorized, melds a history lecture with stand-up comedy designed to entertain a wide audience - students, scholars, and just plain folks - with some jokes.  And he manages to explain the entire History of the World in just 25 minutes!