DOWNTOWN - Historian Owen Findsen will speak on the Wright Brothers at noon Dec. 2 at the Mercantile Library, 414 Walnut St. Admission is free to members and $5 for nonmembers.
His talk is timely. The 100th anniversary of the first controlled flight, at Kitty Hawk, N.C., is Dec. 17.
At 2 p.m. today, Amanda Wright Lane, the great-great-grandniece of the brothers, will speak in the Huenefeld Tower Room at Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County. She will discuss anecdotes of her famous relatives.
Findsen and photograph collector Walt Burton have collaborated on a new book, The Wright Brothers' Legacy: Orville and Wilbur Wright and Their Aeroplanes, published by Harry N. Abrams of New York.
The book contains rare photos of the inventors from Dayton, Ohio. It also features vintage postcards, posters, stereoscope images and toys. The brothers' personal photographer took many photos.
"The photographs are rare and personal. Each print is worth tens of thousands of dollars," Findsen said.
The former Enquirer feature writer said he "read all the books on the Wright brothers and found they were all written by flying fanatics. My book is about people. It is personally about them."
The 240-page book sells for $37.50.
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HAMILTON - Coin collector Joe Barrett will speak on "From the Half Cent to the State Quarter: The Evolution of U.S. Coins and Currency" at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 1 at the Butler County Historical Society's Ritchie Auditorium, 327 N. 2nd St.
Barrett, an owner of Main Street Coins in Fairfield, will display rare coins and special pieces of currency. He will also evaluate any coin or note brought in by the audience.
Admission is free.
Information: 896-9930.
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DOWNTOWN - On Friday, Longworth Hall, one of the nation's longest buildings at more than a quarter of a mile, will celebrate its centennial.
The building, on Pete Rose Way, is on the National Register of Historic Places. It was originally the Baltimore & Ohio Freight Terminal.
Longworth Hall stands on land once owned by Nicholas Longworth, the father of American winemaking.
The building also features aged brick and stone, high wood-beamed ceilings, natural maple floors and a two-story modern lobby.
It is now called the Longworth Hall Office Complex and Design Center.
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MILFORD - Promont Museum, the home of former Ohio Gov. John Pattison, will celebrate "A Victorian Nutcracker Christmas" Nov. 28-29 and Dec. 12-13.
In addition to its regular operating hours (1:30-4:30 p.m. Friday-Sunday), the museum will be open for tours from 7-9 p.m. on weekends.
Information: 248-0324.
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LEBANON - The Warren County Historical Society will hold its Christmas Open House from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Dec. 6.
Flutist Brenda Doddridge will perform from 11:30 a.m. to noon. The Cincinnati English Country Dancers will perform from 2 to 5:30 p.m.
Admission is free.
The museum is at 105 S. Broadway.
Information: 932-1817.
Randy McNutt's community column appears on Saturday. Contact him at the Enquirer, 7700 Service Center Drive, West Chester OH 45069. Telephone: 755-4158. Fax: 755-4150. E-mail: Rmcnutt@enquirer.com.
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