The Great Black Swamp, lost towns of Northwest Ohio, Ohio ghost stories, presidents and their relationship with the media and more will be explored this fall during History Roundtable with Mike Gilbert.

Gilbert, a retired teacher and local historian, shares his historical research and findings during these six sessions on Saturdays in September and October. Sessions are from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, sessions will be live online only through Go To Meeting, an online meeting format.  A link to each session for which participants register will be emailed to participants by the Thursday before the session.

Admission is $5 per session or $25 for all six. Pre-registration and pre-payment are required. Cash, checks and credit cards are accepted. To register and pay, contact Julie Mayle at jmayle@rbhayes.org.

History Roundtable is sponsored by an anonymous donor.

The schedule of sessions is:

Saturday, Sept. 12 – Return of the Great Black Swamp Northwest Ohio was the last section of the swamp to be settled in Ohio.  Experience the hardships faced by the early settlers and their attempts to control the environment. This segment will discuss how visible reminders of the swamp exist today and their connection to the past. Session sponsor is Rebecca White.

Saturday, Sept. 19 – Lost  towns of Northwest Ohio – Walk back in time as Gilbert explores the lost towns of Northwest Ohio. The rise and fall of many of these localities were based on transportation, employment and location. Discover the circumstances surrounding the success and failure of various locations throughout the area.

Saturday, Sept. 26 – News Media and the American Presidency – The news media has the potential to influence the American presidency in a variety of ways. Through the use of T.V., newspaper, social networks and radio, the media can shape our perception of presidential hopefuls – both winners and losers.  This session will focus on some of the more memorable presidential moments in our nation’s history. This session ties in with Hayes Presidential’s special exhibit,  “The Press & The Presidency.”

Saturday, Oct. 10 – Native American Burial Grounds and Township Cemeteries – Investigate the known and unknown graveyards of our area. Native American and township cemeteries take center stage in this presentation as the unveiling of hidden burial grounds uncover the rich history buried beneath us.

Saturday, Oct. 17 – A History of Fremont City Schools – Growth of a school system reflects the evolution of a settlement into a successful community, village, town or city.  In 2020, Sandusky County celebrates 200 years of education and growth. Celebrate the anniversary with a look at how education has progressed in our community.

Saturday, Oct. 24 – A Road Map of Ohio Ghost Stories – In a continuation of one of the most popular presentations, Gilbert delivers a road map of Ohio’s myths, legend and folklore.  New stories concerning Ohio’s ghostly past will both enthrall and thrill those brave enough to appear.

The Hayes Presidential Library & Museums is America’s first presidential library and the forerunner for the federal presidential library system. It is partially funded by the state of Ohio and affiliated with the Ohio History Connection. The Hayes Presidential Library & Museums is located at Spiegel Grove at the corner of Hayes and Buckland avenues.

For information, call 419-332-2081, or visit rbhayes.org. Like Hayes Presidential on Facebook at @rbhayespres and follow on Twitter and Instagram at @rbhayespres.