New event showcases Silver Valley history
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 9 years, 3 months AGO
<p>Buffalo Soldiers of the 25th Infantry gather around their mess tent in Wallace while on duty during the 1910 Fire.</p>
<p>The Northern Pacific Railroad Depot will serve as headquarters for "Fall For History" October 7-9 in Wallace. The event will include writing and photography workshops, a historic home tour, a Civil War gravestone dedication, the theatrical play "Voices of the Big Burn" written for the 1910 Fire centennial, and presentations by Buffalo Soldiers expert and author John Langellier, explaining the black soldiers' peacekeeping role in the Wallace mining wars.</p>
Peek into five historic homes. Learn to write your history. Witness a Civil War gravestone dedication. Hike the Pulaski Trail and hear about the Big Burn. Get tips on photographing historic buildings. Enjoy dinner with Wyatt Earp, May Hutton and Molly B’Damm.
Those are just a few of the things to do at “Fall for History,” a new event taking place Oct. 7-9 in historic Wallace.
The Wallace Chamber, in collaboration with many other organizations, has packed three days with activities to celebrate the Silver Valley’s rich history.
“Whether you are a writer, photographer, hiker, bicyclist, Civil War re-enactor or just a history buff, the weekend offers something for you,” states the group’s announcement of the event.
The activities begin at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 7 with University of Idaho professor Dr. Katherine Aiken presenting “Save Your History for the Future,” a workshop on researching, organizing and preserving your family history.
At 1 p.m. Friday, College of Idaho archivist and award-winning photographer Jan Boles will teach workshop participants how to “shoot” historic architecture. He will follow his Friday workshop with a Saturday walkabout for those who wish to put their newly-learned skills to use.
Also Friday, Wallace photographers Indy Behrendt and Lizzie Keitel will demonstrate techniques to digitally restore vintage photos.
The three workshops are $15 each or all three for $30.
At 7 p.m. Friday, author and scholar John Langellier, who recently published a book on the Buffalo Soldiers, will speak at the Sixth Street Theater. His presentation is free, with seating on a first-come basis. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Langellier will do a second talk at 11 a.m. Saturday, this time focusing on the Buffalo Soldiers’ experimental bicycle trek.
A highlight on Saturday will be the dedication of a gravestone for a Civil War soldier who was buried in a pauper’s grave without a marker. Civil War re-enactors will participate in that event at 3 p.m. at the historic Nine Mile Cemetery, a short drive from downtown Wallace. Trolley tours to the cemetery begin at 2 p.m.
Visitors are encouraged to stop by the three Wallace museums on Saturday, and participate in a “poker run” on the Historic Wallace Stairs. That evening, a “Step Back in Time” dinner-show will feature the colorful, costumed characters of Wallace past. Dinner and show is $30 per person or $50 per couple. Reservations required.
Sunday’s highlight will be a Historic Home Tour, featuring five homes and two churches. The homes include the earlyday residence of May and Al Hutton. Guided tours depart every 15 minutes, and end with refreshments at the iconic Jameson Hotel. Advance admission tickets are available for $20 per person.
Outdoor enthusiasts are invited to the Pulaski Trailhead at 10 a.m. Sunday to hear a free presentation by historian Jim See. At 4 p.m., Ed and Emma Pulaski will come to life on the Sixth Street Theater stage when Paul and Carol Roberts present “Voices from the Big Burn.” Admission is $10 per person.
Fall For History is made possible through the support of the Idaho Humanities Council, Idaho Association of Museums, Idaho State Historical Society, Frank A. Morbeck Foundation and Callahan Zeller Foundation.
For further information, call the Historic Wallace Chamber, (208) 753-7151, or visit www.wallaceidahochamber.com.