Mark Twain speaks at historical society event

Former teacher Don Maurer, who portrayed Mark Twain, entertained at the 2023 annual meeting and winter banquet of the Tuscarawas County Historical Society. The event was held at the Tuscarawas County Senior Center in Dover.

Maurer began portraying Twain in the 1970s for students of his English/literature class. He has performed for many groups and even traveled to eight states and as far as California to speak as Twain at educational conventions.

Kent State Tuscarawas Archives curator Kim Jurkovic introduced the speaker.

“Mark Twain is described as an eyewitness to history. He saw the growth of our nation through western expansion, through wars, industrialization, and he always had something to say about what he was seeing,” Jurkovic said.

Mark Twain, whose real name is Samuel Langhorne Clemens, was born in Missouri in 1835 and learned the printing trade at a young age. He worked in a variety of jobs at different locations including riverboat captain before he began writing for newspapers. He adopted Mark Twain as his pen name in 1863.

Maurer as Twain spoke of some true stories from the author’s life, on his book “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” and a story about an introduction he once received from a lawyer who kept his hand in his own pocket.

Many of Twain’s most famous quotes were featured on the table decorations including “It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt” and “You could be an idiot or you could be in Congress, but I repeat myself.”

During the meeting the following officers and directors were approved for 2024: President David C. Hipp, Vice President Patti Strickling, secretary Teri Stein, treasurer Sharman Hartson, and Directors Seth Angel, Jon Baker, Margaret Bonamico, Alan Deibel, Scott Derr, Mike DiDonato, Jennifer Hobson, Sami Krocker, Michael Swaldo and David Winston.

Directors emeritus are Jack Fox and Pede Meese.

Hipp gave an update on the progress of the TCHS in 2023. Presentations made by TCHS curator Kim Jurkovic included programs provided to the Gnadenhutten Women’s Club, two cemetery tours in conjunction with the Tuscarawas County Public Library, a presentation on Monroe Mall at the TCPL Tuscarawas Branch Library and two presentations to the Bolivar Historical Society. The society also participated in two special events: the Warren Township History Day and the Kent State Tuscarawas Academic Commons End of Summer Celebration.

The group presented its annual Zeisberger Heckewelder Awards in May and presented the sixth Thomas and Lucille Yeager Memorial Scholarship to Grace Wenzel.

At the Kent State Tuscarawas Archive Room, the group helps others throughout the year with genealogical searches and research projects. They maintain the Fan of Tuscarawas County Historical Society Facebook page.

The society has a new project to translate a diary from the Goshen Mission. The 337-page diary was written in German and covers activities there from 1812 to its closure in 1821. The Tuscarawas County Genealogical Society in Dennison helped in digitizing the book so it can be emailed to a translator. An English translation would provide information about Goshen and the surrounding area during that time. The society is accepting donations to cover the cost of the translation. They can be mailed to TCHS, P.O. Box 462, New Philadelphia, OH 44663. Donations are tax-deductible.

Membership to the society includes a subscription to its newsletter, The Chronicler. The newsletter is published six times a year and contains articles and photos on the history of Tuscarawas County. Gift memberships are available. Call 330-308-7494 or email tuschs@tuschs.org. The website is www.tuschs.org.

The Kent State Tuscarawas Archives are open from 8 a.m. to noon on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Kent State Tuscarawas in New Philadelphia.

TCHS treasurer Sharman Hartson invited everyone to stop in at the archives.

“Just drop in. We’d love visitors. And usually, if someone stops by, they always discover something special, maybe about their family or their community,” Hartson said. “We are kind of the heart of the history of this county. And you’re all very welcome just to come and visit.”