The History Speaker Series 2025 is back! Local historian and board member of the Wexford County Historical Society, Richard Shults, will present six engaging talks about our fascinating history with the return of the Cadillac Historical Tours series. Each session is free, open to the public, and will be hosted at the Cadillac Wexford Public Library.
New this year, the Cadillac Wexford Public Library has created a speaker series of its own, highlighting a different community member or business, including: local professionals, hobbyists, and enthusiasts of all kinds. All 12 speaker events are sure to spark interest and imagination as they share their expertise and unique experiences. We hope you will take some time to check them out!
Hosted at the Cadillac Library on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 6pm.
Hosted at the Cadillac Library on the 1st Tuesday of each month at 5:30pm.
January 14th –
The Father of Cadillac: George Mitchell
Celebrate George’s 201st birthday by learning about his life story and why he deserves the title of town father.
February 11th –
The Theaters and Opera Houses of Cadillac
Celebrate the birthday of the Lyric and learn about the other theaters and opera houses in our town.
March 11th –
History of Cadillac in Pictures
Richard has scanned thousands of pictures of Cadillac and its history. Come see some of his favorites.
April 8th –
The County Seat War: Cadillac vs. Sherman vs. Manton
The history of the triple threat match that decided where the Wexford County Seat and Courthouse would be located.
May 13th –
Cadillac Miscellaneous
Come and hear a variety of interesting stories from local historian Richard Shults on his research into Cadillac history.
June 10th –
Cadillac KISS50 Anniversary
Jim Neff, retired teacher, blogger & “honorary KISS member” will share his perspectives and stories on the legacy of the 50th anniversary of KISS’s influential visit to Cadillac back in 1975
January 7th –
Starting the New Year with Emotional Balance
Abbi Mankiewicz, LMSW, CAADC, EMDR/ owner of Vibrant Mind, LLC. Kick off the new year by focusing on your mental health and wellbeing, exploring strategies to reduce stress, build resilience, and cultivate a balanced mindset.
February 4th –
Foundations of Great Coffee
Aaron & Jin Fekete, Owners of Owl Eye Coffee Roasters provide their professional knowledge on what makes great coffee.
March 4th –
Get Your Gardens Started
Mary Galvanek, owner of Forest & Farm, LLC, will offers advice on how to kickstart your perfect garden, guiding you through the essential steps for success.
April 1st –
Sweet History: A Delicious Future (5pm start!)
Caitlin Nickel, owner of the beloved Sweet Shop, will take us on a journey through its sweet history and share insights into how this local favorite is crafting a delicious future.
May 6 –
Unearthing Your Roots: Researching Your Family Tree
Amy Norton, a local historian, will explore how you can uncover the fascinating stories within your family tree and provide expert tips on how to research it properly.
June 3rd –
Thinking Outside the Lens
Anthony Slaughterhawk, artist and owner of Slaughterhawk UNLTD, LLC, will share his insights on thinking beyond the lens and offer creative tips on how to expand your perspective