HCHS’s Dine with the Presidents connects past, present
Ever wonder what former U.S. President William McKinley might say if he were sitting at a table dining with you? Presenter Carmen Camacho, who will portray one of several first ladies, and others from the Holmes County Historical Society are giving people a chance to experience what it may have been like during its Dine with the Presidents dinner on March 15.
Many presidents have graced the White House and led the country in the United States’ historic quarter of a millennium of existence, and a couple of them even graced the borders of Holmes County.
On Saturday, March 15 at Berlin Grande Hotel, patrons will have a chance to dine with a quartet of famous presidents and several important first ladies during the Holmes County Historical Society’s presentation of Dine with the Presidents.
The members of the Holmes County Historical Society invite the public to join them for an evening of dining and giving at the Dine with the Presidents fundraising dinner that is being hosted to support the Victorian House painting project.
The dinner event will kick off with a wine tasting at 5 p.m. and dinner at 6 p.m.
“We invite the community to join us for an unforgettable night and to help us paint the future of our community by honoring the past,” said Mark Boley, Holmes County Historical Society president and director at the Victorian House.
Kay Klein is spearheading the event and said it should be a fascinating evening of entertainment.
“A few years ago, a bunch of us from the historical society had visited somewhere else, and they did a similar-type thing that wasn’t necessarily a fundraiser, and we had a blast,” Klein said. “When we started talking about a fundraiser, I felt like this would be perfect.”
Patrons will have a curated dinner, wine tasting by area wineries and some stories from a quartet of presidential speakers, with local actors portraying presidents who will share the significance of preserving the architectural charm of the Victorian era and personal historical stories of their time in the presidency.
Presidents attending will be Ohio Presidents Ulysses S. Grant and William McKinley, along with a pair of the nation’s most prominent and beloved presidents, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.
In addition, patrons will hear from several famed first ladies including Nancy (Ronald) Reagan, Edith (Woodrow) Wilson and special guest Jacqueline (John) Kennedy.
One of the performers will be seated at each table.
Aside from the entertainment value and the historical knowledge being dealt out about each historical figure, Klein said the evening serves another important purpose.
“We have this incredible gem in our county in the Victorian House, and many local people here have never been inside,” she said. “Our hope is that the Victorian House is something worth having, and we should be proud of it. It is its own bit of history, and we hope this helps promote how unique and fascinating the Victorian House is.”
While the evening will be enjoyable and informative, it also will serve as a fundraising event for the Holmes County Historical Society’s ongoing effort to paint the Victorian House, which over time has lost some of its luster and needs a new coating on the outside of the house.
Klein said since the fundraiser was created as part of the effort to paint the Victorian House’s exterior, it becomes an even more valuable evening because it will help beautify the Victorian House.
“We will eventually get to the inside, but the exterior is what needs the most attention right now,” Klein said.
Tickets are $40 per person while wine tasting and purchases will be extra.
Reservation can be made by calling 330-674-0022 or emailing reservation requests to info@holmeshistory.com.
There will be a silent auction where patrons can bid on items during the 5 p.m. social hour. The dress code is business casual or formal attire, and the HCHS is encouraging people to wear attire that will complement the evening event.
There also will be sponsorship opportunities made available.
“We welcome businesses and individuals to partner with us as sponsors for this event,” Boley said.
Sponsorship packages include recognition in promotional materials, event programs and a thank-you during the program.
For sponsorship inquiries or more information, call or email event planner Klein at 330-231-7196 or Kay_Klein@yahoo.com.