While preparing for one of the August events, namely, the book signing by Mr. Jeffrey Kerr, I was asked what Mr. Kerr has written, so here is a short article from his website, which those with computers can find by just searching his name.

Jeffrey Kerr’s debut work, “Austin, Texas -Then and Now,” was a 2005 nonfiction finalist for the Writers’ League of Texas Violet Crown Award. His second book, “The Republic of Austin,” is a collection of true stories taking place in and around Austin during the thrilling days of the Republic of Texas...

“For those of us who love Austin, Texas, and its history, this collection of stories, written with the intent to bring history alive and to locate the sites where people made early Austin come into being, is a fine contribution to the understanding of our past,” praised Frank Cooksey, former Austin mayor.

I would also like to inform you that Mr. Kerr is moving to the Blanco area very soon, so come out on August 28 from 5pm to 7pm at the Blanco Library to hear him speak about his books and meet our newest neighbor.

If you have ever taken a guided tour at a national historic site, then you’ve experienced how the history and people of that place come to life. Credit goes to the guide’s natural enthusiasm and unique storytelling abilities as well as seeing the actual location where the events took place. From my own experiences, this is very true.

During our “The American Road to Victory” three-part series on World War II, your tour guide will be Ellwood von Seibold, a World War II battle tour guide based in Normandy, who has successfully translated his battlefield tour to film. The host of the trilogy is a surprisingly agile and energetic 63-year-old who literally runs, climbs, and crawls through Europe to give viewers the full battlefield experience of three crucial points in World War II: from the blood-soaked beaches of D-Day, through Hell’s Highway in Holland ,and to the frozen Ardennes forests of the Battle of the Bulge.

A typical documentary relies primarily on archival footage and a history professor, but our guide stands in the actual foxholes, wears the actual gear and uniforms, and goes inside the actual farmhouses and taverns where soldiers took refuge and hatched their plans. Von Seibold’s narratives are punctuated with short archival clips, re-enactments, and interviews from World War II vets.

The museum will be showing this trilogy each Tuesday for three weeks in August at the Blanco Library. The movies are The Americans in the Bulge (showing time - 60 minutes), The Americans on D-Day (showing time - 60 minutes), and The Americans on Hell’s Highway (showing time - 90 minutes). More about the showing dates will be coming later.

The museum conducted a tour for 16 people on Tuesday, July 10. This group has been to the World War II exhibit before and continues to find new things in the museum to enjoy. On July 20, members of the museum board will be attending a Museum Financial Workshop at the Dr Pepper Museum in Waco. The sponsors for this workshop are the Texas Association of Museums and the Texas Historical Commission. The next workshop we will be sending volunteers to is in New Braunfels at the Sophienburg Museum and Archives.

Another fantastic development is a meeting we have had with Mike Bainton and Dennis Moore; these gentlemen will be providing some of the entertainment for the opening of our Western exhibit. You will be hearing more and more about Mr. Bainton because he is interested in bringing world-class events to our town of Blanco. I believe his beautiful girl knife throwers will add thrills to our opening celebration! Mike Bainton will also be at Dennis Moore’s Buggy Museum this weekend, so go out and see what he is doing at the Buggy Museum!

Reminder: We are always seeking new volunteers so we can open the museum more often and offer more services. If you are interested in volunteering, please give Nell Krueger a phone call at 830-833-5774.