By Renee Larr
Calling all history buffs. On Sept. 14, the Hamilton County Civil War Roundtable will host speaker Ray E. Boomhower, senior editor for the Indiana Historical Society Press. The topic for the evening will be Hoosier native Lew Wallace.
“The title of the program is a Hoosier Renaissance Man. Wallace was from Crawfordsville, Indiana,” said Jack Shaffer, HCCWR treasurer. “We’ve had programs on him in the past, but Ray is taking it in a little different direction. He has researched Wallace extensively.”
Wallace was a general in the Civil War but was also governor of the New Mexico Territory, a politician, a diplomat and an author. He wrote “Ben Hur: A Tale of the Christ.”
Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the discussion begins at 7 p.m. There will be a drawing and book giveaway prior to the discussion. The roundtable meets each month at the Carmel City Hall, 1 Civic Square.
“We were really looking for a new home for our meetings, and the mayor of Carmel, who happens to be quite a historian himself, learned of our need and volunteered to let us meet there at the city building,” Shaffer said. “It’s free of charge and open to the public.”
Boomhower is a Hoosier, but not all speakers are local. HCCWR brings in speakers from across the country each month.
“We’ve really been pleased with the various programs we’ve been able to provide the public,” Shaffer said. “We have dues paying members who help pay for the speakers and their travels.”
Boomhower has written books on several historically relevant Hoosiers, including Gus Grissom, Ernie Pyle, Juliet Strauss and May Wright Sewall.
HCCWR will host another speaker Oct. 12. Jenny Terpening will discuss Civil War medicine. For more information, visit indianapoliscwrt.org.
Civil War Round Table
When: 7 p.m. Sept. 14
Where: Carmel City Hall, 1 Civic Square
Cost: Free
More info: IndianapolisCWRT.org
