Dr. Glen J. Stuesser, a retired surgeon from Madison General Hospital and an avid naturalist, has been instrumental in the attempt to restore this native species to our woodlands.  You can find out how Wisconsin is a key location in this campaign by attending his natural science class for a local homeschool group, on Thursday afternoon, May 17th at 1 pm at the Soldiers Grove Library. It will be open to the public.

Conserving trees is not all `Doc' Stuesser, is interested in, either.  This self-styled historian, who grew up on a farm in southeastern Wisconsin , will also give an evening presentation about the Peshtigo Firestorm of 1871, the worst natural disaster in North American history. The great Midwestern city of Chicago endured a terrible fire that same fateful night, but for whatever reasons, that fire became part of the national consciousness, while the Peshtigo tragedy, with more lives lost, slipped into obscurity.  

Stuesser will bring the story of this small Wisconsin community to light, along with fascinating bits from that time in local history, at 7pm on Thursday, May 17th at the Soldiers Grove Library.  Stuesser lives in rural Verona , with his wife Joan and many young American chestnut trees.  Both programs are free of charge and open to everyone.