The Geneva Historical Society's 2014 Fall Lecture Series kicks off Wednesday, September 24  with "Seneca County and the Civil War," a presentation by county historian Walter Gable. Based on his book of the same name, the program will explore the stories of the people of Seneca County who endured the Civil War years. While unique to Seneca County, their stories reflect the common experiences of many people in upstate New York during the war.
 
Gable will share the tales of the many brave men who left home to fight, including solider John Hoster, who was imprisoned at the infamous Andersonville prison camp. At home, the county's farmers fed Lincoln’s hungry army, and its industries provided materiel for the war effort. After the war, Waterloo’s celebration in remembrance of fallen soldiers was replicated around the country, and the village is now recognized as the official birthplace of Memorial Day.