Robby Pedersen of Jefferson led the Greene County Historical Society members & guests in some time travel on Friday, Nov. 4, in a program at the United Methodist Church in Scranton. Pedersen's focus, in his discussion of both heirloom furniture building and pioneer living, was circa 1875. As most local folks know, he is the owner of "RVP-1875," which makes furniture using only the tools and styles available in that year.

Rick Morain, the retired editor and publisher of the Jefferson Bee & Herald, is one of Greene County's most popular piano players, and he starred on Thursday, March 17, when the historical society hosted a St. Patrick's Day celebration of all things Irish. You can learn more about that event in the story & photos that are published below here.

Peg Raney, retired teacher and community leader, told our St. Patrick's Day gathering at the Greene County Historical Museum about all the singing she'd done growing up in one of Iowa's Irish capitals, the northwest Iowa town of Emmetsburg. She played her guitar and led the singing at our March 17 party. More details are available in the story and photos published below here.

Michael Morain, communications manager for the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, delivered a fascinating and inspiring account of Iowa history Tuesday afternoon when a crowd of more than 50 people filled our Greene County Historical Museum in Jefferson for a celebration of Iowa's 175 years of statehood. Michael, who grew up in Ames, is a fifth generation Iowan whose grandfather and uncle, Fred and Rick, were editors & publishers of Jefferson's Bee & Herald newspapers. Michael's father, the late Tom Morain, was one of the state's leading historians. You can watch the full video of Michael's program right here: https://bit.ly/3GjOjx5.

The current officers of the Greene County Iowa Historical Society were re-elected for another year of service. Left to right are treasurer Becki Cunningham, president David John, vice-president & program director Margaret Hamilton and secretary Joyce Ausberger. The election was held as part of the official annual meeting of the society, which was held in early December as a preliminary to a holiday program of music and stories.

Leo Landis, curator of the State Historical Museum in Des Moines, spent two hours on Nov. 3 doing a walk-through of our Greene County Historical Museum in Jefferson, then sharing ideas with board members and other members of our historical society. We discussed how to refresh and exchange exhibits; have short-term more-public exhibits of peculiar individual items in our collections; maintain and improve access to our archives; manage our other historical facilities, and more.