Our September History Speaks program will be presented by John Harry, discussing the connection between Wausau and Stevens Point and how George Stevens brought the two communities together through the early logging industry. From the moment the pineries opened for logging interests in the 1830s, the areas now known as Stevens Point and Wausau have been linked. George Stevens, Point Brewery, and UW-Stevens Point all have connections to their northern neighbors that run deep in camaraderie, and sometimes, in fierce competition.
Marathon County Historical Society – History Speaks - Stands Before His People: Enmegahbowh and the Ojibwe Our February History Speaks program will be presented by author Verne Pickering who will share the story of Enmegahbowh, from about 1813 to 1901. Discover the life and legacy of Enmegahbowh, the first Ojibwe Episcopalian priest in the United States who, during the turbulent frontier days of the 1800s, worked for peace, opportunity, and cooperation among peoples.
The program will be presented by Michael O’Connor an author and retired librarian from the Marathon County Public Library. His presentation will focus on the story of Dick Bong’s life and legacy. O’Connor’s book Ace of Aces: The Dick Bong Story, remains the definitive work on the topic. During World War II, Wisconsin-native Richard Bong flew his P-38 to the top of the list of American Fighter Aces. At the end of the war, no other American pilot had bested Bong’s record of 40 Japanese planes, cementing his legacy as the top pilot from the United States the Ace of Aces.