BROWN BAG HISTORY SERIES

The next Brown Bag History Series event at the Blount County Memorial Museum will be Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, from noon until 1 p.m., and will feature Stephen Guesman, who will share his knowledge of “The Wondrous Geology of the Locust Fork.” 

The splendor of the Locust Fork River and Blount County, as well as all North Alabama, is evident to anyone with an open eye that appreciates the beauty found in nature. But underneath the vast acreage of a tremendous array of the flora growing abundantly and the equally diverse variety of fauna that scampers across the lands lies what Guesman calls a “geological marvel.” 

Guesman credits Dr. Jim Lacefield, a retired educator and author of Lost Worlds in Alabama’s Rock: A Guide to the State’s Ancient Life and Landscapes, with stimulating his interest in the geology of the area. Guesman said Lacefield became “giddy with excitement” as he researched the Locust Fork River in preparation for a speaking event to the Friends of the Locust Fork River organization. Lacefield discovered and told the group the river is ancient, at least 300 million years old. Guesman said the river is “a fine example of the geological forces at work in North Alabama.”

Guesman and his wife, Martha Hunter, raise goats in Blount County at their off-the-grid farm near the Locust Fork River. He is president emeritus of FLFR and the current president of the Locust Fork Scenic River Trail chapter. Guesman recently came out of retirement to work as a home energy efficiency trainer.

Bring your lunch, or not, join in, and learn about the unique and fascinating geology of the place we call home.

To RSVP or for more information, contact the museum at 205-973-0465.

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Warrior Rivers Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution member Irene Latham will be back Wednesday, March 11, at noon to present the DAR exhibit American Women’s Fashion, 1780-1925. The exhibit looks at “the history of American women’s fashion through some highlights from the DAR Museum’s collection.” Join us as we celebrate Women’s History Month and our semiquincentennial, y’all! Even wear a period costume if you wish!

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Carmen Britton will be speaking about the History of the ARC of Central Alabama on Thursday, March 19 at noon. (more information later)

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OTHER EVENTS

If you missed the February book club meeting at the museum, you missed an entertaining discussion, some revelations about colonial food, and some delicious samples of the cuisine of the American Revolutionary period. That’s the bad news. The good news is, you have another chance to join in the fun next Tuesday, March 3, at 10 a.m. as the book club takes on Angelica: For Love and Country in the Time of Revolution by Molly Beer.

The book club events are part of the partnership this year between the Blount County Memorial Museum and the Warrior Rivers Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution to commemorate the 250^th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Award winning novelist, poet, and playwright, Irene Latham diligently compiled a slate of books relevant to the celebration.

Angelica is an account of the real-life story of Alexander Hamiliton’s sister-in-law, Angelica Schuyler Church. Born in Albany, NY in 1756 to Philip Schuyler, a well-to-do patriot who would obtain the rank of general in the future Continental Army, Angelica lived her teen and early adult years in the stormy period leading up to the Revolution. Her father was wealthy, prominent, and influential. He was also a patriot, and she was present when meetings at her home regarding the disillusionment and subsequent break with Great Britian took place. It was at one such meeting where she was introduced to John Barker Church, a British born merchant who nevertheless sided with the patriot’s cause. The two married in 1777. As the Revolution progressed, John Church amassed a fortune selling arms to the French and American armies. For her part, Angelica befriended many notables of the day including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and the Marquis de La Fayette. The book is described as an “enthralling and revealing woman’s-eye view of a revolutionary era. Molly Beer breathes vibrant new life into a period usually dominated by masculine themes and often dulled by familiarity. In telling Angelica’s story, she illuminates how American women have always plied influence and networks for political ends, including the making of a new nation.”

It’s free to attend, so come even if you haven’t read the book. Listen, learn, and enjoy the refreshments as the club explores how Angelica used position and connections to influence the powerful leaders of the young United States.

The Museum will not be open on Saturdays until further notice. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.