Pictured, from left, Edgewood students Ryun Hoffert, Keller Bailey and Jason Benyousky.

WARSAW — The Kosciusko County Historical Society’s 53rd annual banquet was held at the Center Lake Pavilion Wednesday, Oct. 17. 

“The Ambrose Bierce Story” was presented by Edgewood Middle School students Jason Benyousky, Keller Bailey and Ryun Hoffert, winners of the coveted Civil War prize at the National History Day competition held at the University of Maryland in June.

Ambrose Bierce feeding a squirrel.

Bierce was an American short story writer, journalist, poet and Civil War veteran who grew up in Kosciusko County and attended high school in Warsaw. Bierce’s book “The Devil’s Dictionary” was named as one of the 100 greatest masterpieces of American literature by the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration. His story “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” has been described as “one of the most famous and frequently anthologized stories in American literature” and his book “Tales of Soldiers and Civilians” was named by the Grolier Club as one of the 100 most influential American books printed before 1900.

“What Ambrose Bierce did is essentially spearheaded what we call modern writing today,” said Benyousky. “What he did was to write more realistically about things like war. He fought in the Civil War at the age of 18. When he fought, he saw a lot of gruesome things which turned him into a darker person but also a more realistic person.”

Keller spoke about the relationship between Bierce and American poet and playwright George Sterling.

“Sterling lived in California and was influenced by Bierce’s writings. Sterling originally wrote poems that were very romanticized about war. After reading and writing letters to Bierce they became good friends,” said Keller. “Bierce mentored Sterling, showing him the reality of war.”

“He also did quite like squirrels actually,” added Benyousky. “When George (Sterling) would ask Ambrose Bierce for advice, he would say things about how to, oddly enough – in his words, ‘cultivate the good opinion of squirrels.’” 

Benyousky read an excerpt from a letter addressed to Sterling on Nov. 1, 1909, from Bierce, “I’m getting many a good lambasting for my book of essays. Also a sop of honey now and then. It’s all the same to me. The squirrels in the park think me the finest fellow in the world. They know what I have in every pocket. My advice to you, son, cultivate the good opinion of squirrels.”

“Bierce was an interesting man,” Benousky added. “He was dark, but he had his good side.”

Greg Steffe, co-director of the Kosciusko County Old Jail Museum, informed those in attendance that they are currently searching for a program director.

“We would like to find someone who would be willing to come in and donate a few hours a week or a month, whatever they can do. They would be responsible strictly for developing programs moving forward,” said Steffe.

He also discussed the importance of volunteers. “We are a nonprofit organization. Volunteers are the lifeblood of this organization,” Steffe stated. “They make everything that we do possible.”

Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer provided updates related to potential plans for the Central Park area, including the addition of a mixed-use building and a greenhouse. 

Board officers elected were Jerry Frush, president; Ken Fawley, second vice president; Marge Warren, third vice president; Loran Sims, secretary; Bill Huffer, assistant secretary; Jerry Black, treasurer; Connie Schlag, assistant treasurer; Evelyn Rake, membership; Dan Coplen, county historian; Peggy Biltz, county genealogist; and Connie Black, genealogy chair. 

Potted flowers, books and society memberships were given away in a raffle at the end of the evening.

For more information about the Kosciusko County Historical Society or Old Jail Museum, you can visit the website or stop by the Old Jail at 121 N. Indiana St., Warsaw.