​MOUNT VERNON – Ever wonder how Civil War spies passed along information on the actions and plans of the enemy? The South used what is called Vigenere Cipher. An example is shown below:
 
To send a message in the cipher, you write the letters of the key word under the letters of the message, repeated as many times as necessary, to the end of the sentence. A new sentence repeats the process. If the message is “The North will attack. Send help.” and the key word is “Greenhow,” this would appear as:
 
The  North     will     attack.      Send   help.
Gre  enhow   Gree   nhowGr    Gree   nhow
 
On Thursday, August 29 the Chautauqua Series invites southern spy Rose O’Neal Greenhow (portrayed by Raylene Hlavaty) to discuss her life and perils during the Civil War and she will explain how she used the cipher system to get her messages to the Confederate government and the audience will receive a handout so you can learn how they were used.
 
Raylene has presented several characters over the years including Beatrix Potter, Abigail Adams and Katarina Luther, wife of Martin Luther. Raylene spends up to a year preparing her characters and the audience is in store for a wonderful evening of entertainment, education and fellowship.
 
Opening the program will be Steve Ball, playing and explaining music of the Civil War, performed on authentic instruments of the era.
 
The Chautauqua Series is held in the lower level conference room at the Grand Hotel (12 Public Square, Mount Vernon).The facility is accessible to those with special needs such as walkers, wheel chairs, service dogs and strollers. Doors open at 6 PM and program starts with Steve Ball at 7 PM with Rose O’Neal Greenhow at 7:45 PM, with a Q&A with the audience immediately after her presentation.
 
This living history series is organized by Elixir Presents with the assistance of the Grand Hotel and supported in part by a generous grant from the Ariel Foundation. These programs bring year round entertaining historical programming to our community and presented on a donation basis. All donations go directly to the performers.
 
For more information about this and upcoming presentations, please visit www.elixirpresents.com, www.VisitKnoxOhio.org or call 740-392-3018. To receive a “Gentle Reminder” email on the Sunday before each program, contact Mike Petee at elixir_petee@hotmail.com.
 

​F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald to Speak at Chautauqua
MOUNT VERNON - On Thursday, August 15 the Chautauqua Series, now in its 13th season, continues with F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald. To speak of this famous couple is to invoke the Jazz Age, romance, and outrageous early success with all its attendant perils. Their names summon flappers, reckless spending, gleaming hotel lobbies, smoky speakeasies, ocean journeys, white suits, smart dresses, and nostalgia for lost innocence. In spite of leading short, nomadic lives they defined an era and left an abundance of artistic achievements.
 
The couple will be portrayed by Jim and Amy K. Stoner, veterans of the Chautauqua stage, having presented more 20 characters between them.
Opening the program will be Joe Rollin Porter from Cleveland, Ohio. Joe is a blues guitarist specializing in music from the early 1900’s and has been receiving acclaim for his most recent CD, “Take This Hammer” and charted in the top ten for independent blues station play lists.
 
The Chautauqua Series is held in the lower level at the Grand Hotel (12 Public Square in downtown Mount Vernon).The facility is accessible to those with special needs such as walkers, wheel chairs, service dogs and strollers. Doors open at 6 PM and program will start at 7 PM with F. Scott and Zelda coming on at 7:45 PM, with a Q&A with the audience immediately after the Fitzgerald’s program.
 
The Chautauqua Series is organized and brought to you by Elixir Presents, the Grand Hotel and supported in part by a generous grant from the Ariel Foundation. These programs bring year round living history to our community and are presented on a donation basis. All donations go directly to the performers.
 
For more information about this and upcoming presentations, please visit www.elixirpresents.com, www.VisitKnoxOhio.org or call 740-392-3018. To receive a “Gentle Reminder” email on the Sunday before each program, contact Mike Petee at elixir_petee@hotmail.com.

​MOUNT VERNON - On Thursday, August 8 from 7 to 8 PM, the Chautauqua Series is extremely proud to have three of this year’s History Day students from the Middle School as they present their projects to our audience.
 
The program includes Cora McFadden, who will present George Muller and his work with the Orphans of Bristol, England. Cora went to the National competition at the University of Maryland this past June. Rylee Jarosz, a competitive athlete will discuss the trials and tribulations of the Olympic Gold Medalist, track and field athlete Wilma Rudolph. Being she wishes to work with exotic animals, especially primates as a career Brooklyn Ellis will portray Jane Goodall, a great role model for young women.
 
The Chautauqua Series is held in the lower level at the Grand Hotel (12 Public Square in downtown Mount Vernon).The facility is accessible to those with special needs such as walkers, wheel chairs, service dogs and strollers. Doors open at 6 PM and program will be presented from 7 to 8 PM. There will not be an opening act for this Chautauqua.
 
The Series, now in its 13th season, is organized and brought to you by Elixir Presents, the Grand Hotel and supported in part by a generous grant from the Ariel Foundation. These programs bring year round living history to our community and are presented on a donation basis. All donations go directly to the performers.
 
For more information about this and upcoming presentations, please visit www.elixirpresents.com, www.VisitKnoxOhio.org or call 740-392-3018. To receive a “Gentle Reminder” email on the Sunday before each program, contact Mike Petee at elixir_petee@hotmail.com.