Speakers Bureau & STEP-ON Bus Tours Bring history to your organization

SPEAKERS BUREAU

Interested in bringing some history to your program? Let one of our trained speakers or historic characters come to your office, party, or organization to give a presentation today! Presentations typically last 45-60 minutes, depending on audience participation levels. Our programs cost $125.  If you are interested in booking a program, please call 440-639-2945 or email information@lakehistory.org.

Bet You Didn’t Know #1 (Original) – These Lake County stories are at various times interesting, unusual, and surprising. Find out what common word is credited to Painesville. Learn about the millionaire couple whose death sparked a 10-year court battle with the Smithsonian. This Bet You Didn’t Know talk will leave you entertained and armed with new knowledge of the place you call home.

 Bet You Didn’t Know: Lake County Streets – Did you know the name of a road tells you more than just its name?  In Lake County it does. One road was named from a ghost town; a prank was the inspiration for a second. Does your street have a story? Interesting facts will be enjoyed in a new and unusual way, in this addition of our Bet You Didn’t Know series.

Captains of Industry – Lake County has given birth to many national and international companies. What company’s product was first mixed in a copper apple butter kettle? What Painesville business still displays the old Underwood typewriter used to type invoices in the late 1800’s? Learn about businesses founded in Lake County and the famous families who created them.

Christmas of Yesteryear – Northeast Ohio’s Christmas traditions were heavily influenced by downtown Cleveland’s seasonal offerings. They bring memories of Mr. Jingeling, Francis the Talking Mule, lively window displays, and more. Stroll down Memory Lane and reminisce during this entertaining talk.

Eerie and Odd Legends of Lake County – Lake County legends have fascinated locals throughout the years. Which buildings are haunted? Was there really a monster on Little Mountain? Share your own local myths and legends and learn about other puzzling and extraordinary happenings in our own backyard.

Freedom’s Journey: Underground Railroad – When fugitive slaves were escaping from cruelty and death, Lake County was there for them. A well-known haven, it was part of the Underground Railroad.  Folk legends point to a grain of truth, and we have the stories. Meet some of the people involved and learn about the laws that governed this perilous time of history.

Home Sweet Home: Settling the Western Reserve – Before a beautiful landscape took shape in the Western Reserve, men with grit, guts, and guile had to survey the rough and dangerous land. Hear the stories of the original surveyors and the hindrances they encountered, their unique negotiating tactics with Native Americans, and the names they went by that sound familiar even today.

Jonathan Goldsmith: Renaissance Man – There is more to the man than just his elegant Greek Revival architecture. A peer of Sam Houston, famed Texas Revolution leader, learn why Texas was eager to have him and why he chose Lake County instead. This is his story, the story of his family, the adventures he had, and the architectural gems he left behind.

Lake County Summers Gone By – Travel back in time to long ago summer days in Lake County. Did your relatives tell you about the Urban railroad? Did they summer at Willoughbeach? Did you go to drive-in movies and head to summer camp during school breaks? Ever heard of Camp Loretta? Summer stories of old will help you understand why we do what we do today.

Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous of Lake County – As Cleveland became hot, industrial, and crowded, the wealthy class headed for the lake breezes of Lake County. Live the good life as we explore the riveting, sometimes quirky stories of the residents from Lake County’s ‘Gentleman Farms’ and mansions.

Little Mountain Hotels – Hot Springs, Arkansas has nothing on Lake County. Little Mountain was once the home to bath houses, grand hotels, and extravagant amenities. 19th Century millionaires enjoyed Little Mountain and the town folk worked there. Travel back and imagine Lake County two centuries ago.

Milliner Makings – Women began wearing hats in the late 1500’s. Then in the late 1700’s, the first Milliner began a business in Italy. Today, hats still tell the stories of the ages including who wore them and why. Don your own hat or wear one of ours as we learn about the stylish history or hats and about the historic Lake County women who wore them.

 Nurseries in Lake County – Mentor, known as the “Rose Capital of the Nation”, joined Lake County, the “Nursery Capital of the World”, a legacy of the glacier age because of its proximity to Lake Erie. At its peak, over 200 nurseries populated the county. Immigrants poured in from around the world to work the fields in Lake County. Hear the stories of the 14-year-old that planted the first plants, the men who stole just to start their own business, and the rose that guest-starred in a movie.

Old Crimes of Old Times – Northeast Ohio was not immune to the crimes of the past. The first murder in Lake County is cringe-worthy. Party girl & husband-slayer Velma West brought a new definition to strong women, and the Mafia reigned supreme here during the old days of the Mounds Club. Lake County has stories to tell from the famous to the infamous.

Prohibition Era Lake County – The Prohibition brought money, stories, and fame to Lake County in fascinating ways. Which Willoughby B&B used to be a speakeasy? Why did it take a woman to stop the rumrunners in Fairport? Who was the famous movie star that frequently visited a Waite Hill millionaire’s basement bar?

Remarkable Ladies of Lake County – Women of today are making a mark on the world, but in Lake County, women have made a mark since its founding. Pioneer Hannah Huntington, first U.S. female mayor Amy Kaukonen, pilot Margaret Hurlburt, and others have influenced politics and our everyday way of life. Get to know these fascinating ladies through the stories of their lives.

Scandals & Mansions – With wealth and leisure comes scandal. Lake County was the home of the wealthy during summers and year-around, and the mansions they lived in were witness to family squabbles, secrets, and illicit encounters. The walls tell stories of dirty dealings, elaborate parties, and outrageous behavior. There is a cost to extravagance, and for some, the price was high.

Suffragettes: Fight for Women’s Rights – Being a suffragette took courage and will and here in Lake County, women stood up to the challenge. Lake County played a significant role not only at home, but also in the national movement. Learn about the ‘Lake County Connection’ as the women’s fight to vote spread throughout the nation.

Taverns of Lake County – They were the community centers of yesterday where church, school, town hall meetings, and social gatherings took place. Many had rooms for rent above. Early Lake County taverns played an important part in settling the Western Reserve. After hearing about the quirky names, stories of adventurous coach rides, and the people of yesterday, you’ll need a drink.

Those Quirky Victorians – Today, we look at Victorian life as dull, conservative, and strict, but constricting fashions were only the beginning. Learn about your ancestors and how their odd hobbies, food, and entertainment made what appeared to be a boring life, instead, one of fashionable fun that could border on bizarre.

 Women Spies of Ohio – From the Revolutionary War to the World Wars, meet the lady spies of Lake County and Ohio. They risked all for their country, demonstrating courage, ingenuity, intelligence, and tenaciousness. Who were they and what are their stories?

st hubertsSTEP-ON BUS TOURS

You provide the bus, we provide the guide. Prices vary.

 Why Lake County Rocks (varies) – You choose the locations or select from our list, then join a Lake County historian as you learn and visit the best spots the county has to offer.

Church Crawl (2-3 hrs) – Savor the divine details of local churches, experience sensory overload while viewing their magnificent architecture, and learn why you are who you are from the fascinating history born of religion.

Wickliffe’s Millionaires Mile (1 hr) – Over 20 homes of millionaires occupied the same stretch of road in Wickliffe, the most anywhere in the country! Travel the paths of the rich, while listening to stories of the wealthy men and women who lived on Wickliffe’s “Millionaire’s Mile”.

Telling of a Township (1 hr) Painesville Township’s history will be fun to learn as you hear stories and explore trivia throughout the tour. Presidents who visited, pranks that influenced the county, and unusual methods for dealing with wild animals are just a few of the interesting stories you’ll take home.

Slaves, Sympathizers, and the Underground Railroad (2-3 hrs) – Lake County played an important role in the slave movement in the U.S. Here, the Underground Railroad is not a story, but a reality. Visit local sites touched by the UGRR and follow the trail that runaway slaves walked on their journey to safety in Canada.