Palmer Lake Historical Society, Jan. 18 – Annual Potluck and Membership Meeting

By Marlene Brown

On Jan. 18, the Palmer Lake Historical Society (PLHS) held its Annual Potluck and Membership Meeting at the Palmer Lake Town Hall. Started in 1956, the PLHS, a 501C3 nonprofit, is in its 67th year. The mission of the PLHS is to preserve, protect, promote, and provide access to historical data, artifacts, and other items of significance relating to the Palmer Divide area and make resources available to the public primarily through the Lucretia Vaile Museum and annual programming. See palmerdividehistory.org for events.

The PLHS operates the museum, located at 66 S. Valley Rd., Palmer Lake. The PLHS board and members, including museum director, staff, and docents are all volunteers. The museum houses historical exhibits dedicated to the towns of Palmer Lake and Monument, Black Forest, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the Palmer Divide area. The staff works with the Town of Palmer Lake to facilitate events such as the annual Father’s Day Ice Cream Social every June and the Yule Log Hunt in December. The museum is open on Wednesdays 1-4 p.m. and Saturdays 10-2 p.m., with private tours upon request.

After the potluck dinner, Diane Kokes, 2023 vice president and acting president, presented a recap of the past year. Each month was dedicated to a presentation of historical significance such as the Awake the Lake Committee presentation on the history of Palmer Lake and a presentation by past President Jim Sawatzki on the Life and Times of Gen. William Jackson Palmer, founder of Palmer Lake in 1871.

Kokes then introduced John Spidell of the Spidell Foundation as the emcee for the board election. The past board for 2023 had agreed to serve another term for 2024. Kokes; Doug Lang, treasurer; and Patricia Atkins, secretary, were nominated. Spidell asked for any other nominations and as there were none, all three were nominated to continue and, by a show of hands, voted in unanimously to return for another term.

Jeannine Engle, who had agreed but was unable to attend, was nominated for the position of president. Engle has served as a director and docent for PLHS and the museum. The membership voted unanimously for Engle to become the 2024 president.

Above: Returning to serve for another year on the Palmer Lake Historical Society board are, in rear, Kathy Lombardi, left, and Barb Morehead. In front, from left, are Patricia Atkins, Wayne Russert, Heather Kruger, Doug Lang, and Diane Kokes. Incoming President Jeanine Engle is not pictured. *Photo by Marlene Brown.*

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Meetings are usually held on the third Thursday of the month. The next meeting will be on Feb. 15, 7-8 p.m.; doors open at 6:30 pm. The presentation will be Union Printer’s Home: Past, Present and Future. For more information about future presentations and membership, go to palmerdividehistory.org.

Marlene Brown can be reached by email at marlenebrown@ocn.me.

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