Virtual Event: The Old Barn Club and the Golden Age of Hills and Dales Park (Far Hills Speaker Series)

Join Wright Library and the Oakwood Historical Society as presenter David Schmidt takes us back into the pastoral setting of early Van Buren Township for a trip through John H. Patterson’s sprawling country park. The talk will review the major events occurring in Hills and Dales Park, trace its important equestrian history, and explore the Old Barn Club, which served as the hub of the park’s early social activities. You'll also visit the nine Adirondack-style camps that hosted countless picnics and parties during the park’s heyday. 

David Schmidt is Director of Undergraduate Programs in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Wright State University. He grew up exploring the landscape south of Dayton and puzzling over its rocks and fossils. This interest in geology led him to complete his B.S. and M.S. at Wright State University and his Ph.D. at The Ohio State University. 
David is a lifelong resident of the south Dayton area and a consulting member of the Oakwood Historical Society. David regularly contributes to the Oakwood Historical Society/Wright Memorial Public Library “Far Hills Speaker Series” and the Oakwood Historical Society’s quarterly Historian newsletter.