Council Bluffs Historic and Theatrical Photo Exhibition to be Held

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa - April 13, 2013 - PRLog -- Council Bluffs history, local theater, and Thomas Jefferson High School may seem an unlikely combination for a special event, but that’s exactly the mix for what’s happening at the Western Historic Trails Center, 3434 Richard Downing Avenue in Council Bluffs, Sunday April 21, from 2 to 4 p.m.  The common denominator is one man, retired educator and historian R.H. Fanders.  

   Historical Society of Pottawattamie County president, Mariel Wagner, has  announced Fanders recently donated hundreds of artifacts to the Society which are in the process of being cataloged and digitized.  The donations encompass pictures and heirlooms of Council Bluffs history, the Renaissance Faire, local stage productions, artistic photography, as well as decades of pictures and memorabilia from Thomas Jefferson high school where Fanders taught drama.  Wagner explains the Society is hosting this event for people to meet and thank Fanders and his family as well as to provide an opportunity to view some of the donations.

   The event is being organized by Historical Society volunteers Karen DeForest and Richard Warner.  DeForest explains she was amazed at the sheer number of photographs and items contained in the collection and plans to select a cross section representing different years and subjects to display at the reception.  DeForest emphasizes the artifacts will go back into storage after the event, noting “This may be the only opportunity for people to enjoy these things until Council Bluffs gets a general interest museum or other opportunities for display come up.”   Warner adds, “If you ever had the desire to walk through the Council Bluffs you remember this exhibit is for you.”

   The reception will feature a continuous loop picture program running in the Trails Center’s theater with photos from Council Bluffs’ past.  A second continuous loop slide show will run a program Fanders put together with pictures of students, teachers, and events from Thomas Jefferson High School in the 1970’s and 1980’s.  Albums will available to visitors to browse that show TJ drama productions, the Renaissance Faire, and Fanders' artistic photography.  A collection of TJ yearbooks will also be on hand for guests to look through.  A sample of some of the photos to be displayed can be previewed at www.HistoricalSocietyEvents.com.

   The event is free and open to the public.  Complementary refreshments will be provided courtesy of one of the Historical Society’s corporate sponsors, Warner Family Dentistry.