Boca Raton, FL — One of the best ways to learn about Florida’s history is to meet and listen to those who have lived and studied it. That opportunity will be provided at Yesteryear Village-A Living History Park, 9067 Southern Boulevard, when it hosts a lecture series featuring Eliot Kleinberg, Greg Rice, Harvey E. Oyer III, and Judge Nelson E. Bailey.
The four Meet & Greet receptions and presentations will take place in 2018 on Aug. 25, and Nov. 17, and in 2019 on March 16 and May 11 in Yesteryear Village’s Bink Glisson Museum. Kleinberg, Rice and Bailey will give two presentations each at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Oyer will do one lecture at 11 a.m. All four include admission to Yesteryear Village from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Eliot Kleinberg will kick off the lecture series on Sat., Aug. 25, with “Florida’s Amazing History and Why You Should Care.” During his talk, he will address a whirlwind tour of 500 years of Florida history, capped with a strong argument that Florida’s biggest challenge is encouraging its transplants to become Floridians.
Born in South Florida, Kleinberg has spent nearly four decades as a reporter, including 31 years at The Palm Beach Post. In addition to covering local news, he also writes extensively about Florida and Florida history.
He has written 10 books, all focusing on Florida, including “Black Cloud,” on the great 1928 Okeechobee Hurricane; two “Weird Florida” books, and “Palm Beach Past” and “Wicked Palm Beach,” both of them collections of items from “Post Time,” his weekly local history column in the Post. His tenth, “Peace River,” is a historical novel based at the end of the Civil War. He is a member of the Florida, South Florida and Palm Beach County historical societies.
Greg Rice will present the second lecture, “Think BIG! Creative Thinking,” on Nov. 17. Rice is best known as a local advertising legend and Palm Beach County native on television for more than 50 years along with his late twin brother, John.
Rice will share his story about growing up in South Florida, his early business experiences, the lessons he’s learned and his definition of success. He has circled the globe sharing his inspirational Think Big success principles.
Harvey E. Oyer III, a fifth generation Floridian, will present the “Adventures of Charlie Pierce” on March 16, 2019. A descendent from one of the earliest pioneer families in South Florida, he is the great-great grandson of Captain Hannibal Dillingham Pierce and his wife Margretta Moore Pierce, who in 1872 became one of the first non-Native American families to settle in Southeast Florida. Oyer is the great-grand nephew of Charlie Pierce, the subject of his book series.
Oyer is an attorney in West Palm Beach, a Cambridge University educated archaeologist, and an avid historian. He served for many years as the chairman of the Historical Society of Palm Beach County and has written or contributed to numerous books and articles about Florida history.
Many of the stories contained in his book series have been passed down through five generations of his family. Oyer has won numerous awards for his “Adventures of Charlie Pierce” children’s book series.
The lecture series will conclude on May 11, 2019 with Nelson E. Bailey, who will present “Crackers, Cows & Curs.” Judge Bailey is a retired Palm Beach County court judge, a long-time Loxahatchee Groves resident and an acclaimed “Florida Cracker Storyteller.”
His stories highlight Florida’s rich multi-cultural history and agricultural roots that seek to preserve the human accounts that go with that land. For more than 20 years, Bailey told his stories at outdoor events while mounted on his horse (one with Spanish bloodlines that goes back 500 years in Florida), and accompanied by one of his Florida Cur cow-dogs. His horse passed away a couple years ago at age 34 but Bailey still brings one of his dogs to storytelling events.
Pricing for all four lectures is $120. Individual lectures also may be purchased for $18 or $35. For details and to purchase tickets, go online to www.southfloridafair.com/lectureseries.
About Yesteryear Village
Yesteryear Village is a living history park nestled on 10 acres at the South Florida Fairgrounds, 9067 Southern Boulevard, in West Palm Beach. The park showcases buildings and artifacts prior to 1940. The large collection of early, original and replicated buildings includes three prominent historic buildings — The Red Level Baptist Church, The Bink Glisson Museum and the Riddle House — an old school, a farm, a blacksmith shop, a general store, and several houses. There also is the Sally Bennett Big Band Hall of Fame Museum — the only big band museum in the United States. Group and school guided tours are available by request. Call (561)795-3110 to schedule a tour or register and pay online at www.southfloridafair.com. Special events, photo shoots, weddings, and corporate events also are available. Call (561)790-4908 for additional information and to reserve the facility.
