VANCOUVER, WA (August 2, 2018) — August 6-11, The Historic Trust will host COMMONGround: The Vancouver Chautauqua–six days of free history, art, music, and literature events at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site and Providence Academy. COMMONGround is modeled after the iconic chautauquas popular in late 19th and early 20th century America. Chautauquas brought speakers, teachers, musicians, entertainers, and craftsmen together for the entertainment and education of the community.
During COMMONGround The Historic Trust will offer six unique “Walk + Talk” history tours; General O.O. Howard, Chief Joseph, and the Nez Perce Wars; Medal of Honor Recipients; Architecture, People, and the Times; Providence Academy, Mother Joseph, and Her Legacy; World War I and World War II; and Aviation History. Registration is recommended but not mandatory–The Trust encourages people to register on thehistorictrust.org for the programs they are interested in to ensure their spot. Tours are wheelchair accessible, participants in wheelchairs must be able to move unassisted or with the help of a personal attendant.
General O.O. Howard, Chief Joseph, and the Nez Perce Wars (Mon. 8/6, 10am-12pm & 2pm-4pm, free. Tour meets at The O.O. Howard House front porch, 750 Anderson St, Vancouver.) Learn about the epic clash of two American legends, their brutal war, and a battle of ideas that defined America after Reconstruction. General Oliver Otis Howard thought he was a man of destiny and was charged with relocating native Indians to undesirable reservations. Chief Joseph, a young Nez Perce, refused to leave his ancestral land. The war that Howard and Joseph fought is one that Americans continue to fight today.
Medal of Honor Recipients (Tues. 8/7, 10am-12pm & 2pm-4pm, free. Tour meets at Vancouver Barracks Post Cemetery main entrance, E 4th Plain Blvd, Vancouver.) The Vancouver Barracks Post Cemetery hosts ordinary soldiers, general officers, civilians, pioneers, Native Americans, Italian and German Prisoners of War, and most notable, four Medal of Honor recipients. Tours are conducted by Jeff D. Davis, noted military historian and president of the Vancouver Barracks Military Association.
Architecture, People, and the Times (Wed. 8/8, 10am-12pm & 2pm-4pm, free. Tour meets at The O.O. Howard House front porch, 750 Anderson St, Vancouver.) For over a century, these late 19th and early 20th century homes on Officers Row along the north side of Evergreen Boulevard in the Historic Reserve served as residential housing for many soldiers, officers, and families stationed at Vancouver Barracks. Of particular note are Grant, Marshall, and Howard houses. Take a walk with us and learn about the buildings and the people who lived and worked in them.
Providence Academy, Mother Joseph, and Her Legacy (Thur. 8/9, 10am-12pm & 2pm-4pm, free. Tour meets at Providence Academy’s front door, 400 E Evergreen Blvd, Vancouver) Providence Academy was built by Mother Joseph of the Sacred Heart in 1873 and served as a school, orphanage, and governance offices for the Sisters of Providence. Mother Joseph, along with four other Montreal nuns, traveled to Vancouver to serve the social and religious needs of locals. She raised money for the construction of the House of Providence and 32 other charitable institutions by leading begging tours of local mining camps. Take this tour led by alumni of Providence Academy and learn more about Mother Joseph's inspiring life.
World War I and World War II (Fri. 8/10, 10am-12pm & 2pm-4pm, free. Tour meets at the Artillery Barracks’ front entrance, 600 E Hatheway, Vancouver) Explore the effect and impact of WWI and WWI as seen through experiences at the Artillery Barracks, Red Cross Building, Post Hospital, Dental Surgeon’s Building, Infantry Barracks, Spruce Mill Division Records Storehouse, and the Non-Commissioned Officers Duplexes. Hear stories about WWI, the Spruce Mill Production Division, and the devastation of the Spanish Flu pandemic; the arrival of the Buffalo Soldiers in the 24th U.S. Infantry Regiment prior to WWI; the Kaiser Shipyards and the Pacific arena in WWII; and innovations in health and recovery at the Post Hospital.
Aviation History (Sat. 8/11, 10am-12pm & 2pm-4pm, free. Tour meets at Pearson Field Education Center, 201A East Reserve Street, Vancouver) Pearson Field is the oldest continuously operating airfield in the Pacific Northwest. Through Pearson Field Education Center’s aviation history tour, gain insights into the modern science of flight, pilot heroes and heroines, plane designs of every type of military aircraft, and the possibilities in the future of soaring solo, defying the laws of gravity, and making those breathtaking maneuvers.
Other COMMONGround events include the Six Degrees of Marshall exhibit on special loan from the George C. Marshall Foundation in Lexington, Virginia; Military History exhibition presented by The Lower Columbia Veterans Coalition; Fort Vancouver Tapestry presented by the Fort Vancouver Tapestry Project; Monotype, Collaborative Crochet, Figure Drawing & Felt Embroidery workshops presented by Arts of Clark County, with an exhibition of the art made in the workshops and performances by Washington Dance Creative featuring Josh Murry-Hawkins and Jackie Genis & Russell Capps; Vet Ink: Military-Inspired Tattoos photography exhibit on loan from Clark County Historical Museum; six nights of live opera in the historic Providence Academy chapel performed by Opera On Tap; and Read Alouds at The Marshall House with Fort Vancouver Regional Library.
For registration & more information visit: www.thehistorictrust.org/calendar/commonground/
About The Historic Trust: The Historic Trust is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with a mission to inspire civic pride and economic vitality through education, celebration, and preservation of our community's history. Learn more at thehistorictrust.org.
VANCOUVER, WA (July 30, 2018) — Next week, join The Historic Trust for six days of free history, art, music, and literature events at COMMONGround: The Vancouver Chautauqua! COMMONGround runs from August 6-11, 10am-8pm at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site and Providence Academy. The Historic Trust has received over 300 event reservations so far, and encourage people to register for the events they are interested in now to ensure their spot.
“We are excited to bring people together through the tradition of the chautauqua which exposes the public to new ideas, new experiences, and new ways of thinking,” says Richard Burrows, Director of Public Outreach and Engagement at The Historic Trust. “Popular in late 19th and early 20th century America, chautauquas brought speakers, teachers, musicians, entertainers, and craftsmen together for the entertainment and education of the community. For COMMONGround, The Historic Trust has brought together Arts of Clark County, Fort Vancouver Regional Library, Opera On Tap Portland, Fort Vancouver Tapestry Project, Lower Columbia Veterans Coalition, Washington State University Vancouver, Vancouver Barracks Military Association, The George C. Marshall Foundation, and Clark County Historical Museum together to offer Vancouver its first chautauqua experience.”
For registration & more information visit: www.thehistorictrust.org/calendar/commonground/
COMMONGround History Events
Walk + Talk Tours (Aug. 6-11, 10am-12pm & 2pm-4pm, Fort Vancouver National Historic Site & Providence Academy) Learn about General O.O. Howard, Chief Joseph, and the Nez Perce Wars; Medal of Honor recipients in the Post Cemetery (presented by Vancouver Barracks Military Association); Architecture, People, and the Times; Providence Academy, Mother Joseph, and Her Legacy; World War I and World War II; and Aviation History on walking tours of some of Vancouver’s most compelling historic sites.
Explore History Through Technology (Anytime, anywhere) Learn about Providence Academy's history in augmented reality with the free Providence Academy Journey App available for download at the App Store. Providence Academy Journey was created in partnership with Washington State University Vancouver.
Military History exhibition (Aug. 6-11, 12pm-5pm, O.O. Howard House conference room) Coming together for the first time, this military history exhibition will include memorabilia, uniforms, weaponry, artifacts, photos, and historical documents recording the impact of the military on Vancouver, Clark County, the Pacific Northwest, and the U.S. This exhibit is presented by The Lower Columbia Veterans Coalition.
Six Degrees of Marshall exhibition (Aug. 6-11, 12pm-5pm, Red Cross Building, main hall) On special loan from the George C. Marshall Foundation in Lexington, Virginia, this display highlights the General's visionary leadership in war and peace. Conceptualized around the theory of close association, the infographic connects Marshall to key personages around him and to the course, conduct, and consequences of the two largest conflicts in human history, WWI and WWII.
Fort Vancouver Tapestry exhibition (Aug 6-11, 12pm-5pm, Artillery Barracks conference room) The Fort Vancouver Tapestry is a surface design embroidered wool-on-linen textile narrative of the history of Clark County, Washington. It was completed over a six-year period (1999-2005) with more than 100,000 hours of volunteer effort. Presented by Fort Vancouver Tapestry Project.
COMMONGround Art Events
Make ART! Workshops (Aug. 6-10, 10am-1pm & 5pm-8pm and August 11 11am & 2pm, Providence Academy ballroom) Make art with Arts of Clark County! Workshops include monotype with printmaker Jason Mayer, crochet with innovative crochet artist Bonnie Meltzer, figure drawing artist and teacher Alder Suttles, and felt with internationally renowned artist Janice Arnold, with an exhibition of the work made during the workshops and dance performances by Washington Dance Creative featuring Josh Murry-Hawkins and Jackie Genis and Russell Capps in response to the work on Saturday.
Vet Ink: Military Inspired Tattoos exhibition (Aug 6-11, 12pm-5pm, Artillery Barracks banquet hall) Vet Ink: Military-Inspired Tattoos, on loan from the Clark County Historical Museum, features the tattoos and stories of eleven local service members who answered a call for participation in the photographic project of Kate Singh of Kate Singh Photography.
COMMONGround Music Events
Opera in the Chapel (Aug. 6-11, 6pm-7pm, Providence Academy chapel) Opera On Tap Portland will perform selections from classic operas by Puccini, Verdi, Gounod, and Bizet, and musical theatre hits like Into the Woods, The King and I, Pirates of Penzance, and A Chorus Line in Providence Academy’s stunning historic chapel.
COMMONGround Literature Events
Read-Alouds at The Marshall House (Aug. 6-11, 10am & 3pm, The Marshall House). Join Fort Vancouver Regional Libraries at the Marshall House for a special display of popular youth literature from the Victorian era, the 1930s, and today, with read alouds at 10am and 3pm daily. At the 10am read aloud, library staff will read “Young Mac of Fort Vancouver” (1940), beginning the book on Monday reading through until Saturday. At the 3pm read aloud, library staff will read from a variety of literature. Bring a pillow, a blanket, or a mat and prepare to be whisked away into a make-believe realm!
Thank you to COMMONGround event partners Arts of Clark County, Fort Vancouver Regional Library, Opera On Tap Portland, Fort Vancouver Tapestry Project, Lower Columbia Veterans Coalition, Washington State University Vancouver, Vancouver Barracks Military Association, The George C. Marshall Foundation, and Clark County Historical Museum.
For registration & more information visit: www.thehistorictrust.org/calendar/commonground/
About The Historic Trust: The Historic Trust is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with a mission to inspire civic pride and economic vitality through education, celebration, and preservation of our community's history. Learn more at thehistorictrust.org.
VANCOUVER, WA (July 24, 2018) — The Historic Trust is pleased to welcome Mike Williams as Interim President and CEO as The Historic Trust (THT) searches for a permanent lead for the growing organization. Stacey Graham, THT board chair remarked “Mike Williams is very collaborative. He is a great resource for facilitating the programs and activities our staff are involved in. His institutional knowledge from more than 12 years serving on our board is critical to making this a smooth transition.”
William’s 50 plus years living in the Vancouver community, 32-year career in communications, and 12 years serving on The Historic Trust board make him well suited to lead THT through this transition. Williams began his career in communications at Cox Cable in Vancouver in 1982. He moved to Comcast, working his way to Senior Director of Sales during his 18-year tenure. Williams first engaged with The Historic Trust through his involvement in the Independence Day fireworks at Fort Vancouver. He had been part of the celebration for 20 years when The Historic Trust took over management of the event. At that time, he joined The Historic Trust’s board. Retired for just one year when duty called, Williams could not pass up the opportunity to help lead The Historic Trust into the future. Williams explained “The Historic Trust is at a pivotal point in time as we continue our mission to inspire civic pride and economic vitality through education, preservation, and celebration of our community’s history. The momentum established by the THT Board is growing and needs to be kept alive. I will help drive that.”
The Historic Trust is working with Scion Executive Search, a search firm that connects executive nonprofit leadership to nonprofit organizations and foundations, to conduct a regional and nation-wide search for a permanent President and CEO. The ideal candidate for the President and CEO position is a visionary business leader skilled in driving organizational success and empowering high-performing staff. “The new President and CEO will guide the organization’s next phase of growth and evolution” says Williams. For a full job description and to apply visit https://www.thehistorictrust.org/about-us/jobs/.
About The Historic Trust | The Historic Trust is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with the mission to inspire civic pride and economic vitality through education, celebration, and preservation of the Southwest Washington community's history. Learn more at www.thehistorictrust.org.