Crepe Day and book-signing at Dennison Depot Aug. 16
A crepe is a dish made from unleavened batter or dough that is cooked on a frying pan or a griddle.
The Dennison Railroad Depot Museum has planned sweet treats and a book-signing for a pop-up event on Aug. 16. Local French baker Alain Marec will make homemade crepes from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. inside the depot. Author David Meyers will be available for an exclusive book-signing from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“We are always looking for new things to try and thought this sounded fun. Who doesn’t love crepes? And we just happen to know an authentic crepe chef,” Dennison Depot Director Wendy Zucal said. “We also are excited about the new book, which included multiple sites in Ohio, and thought pairing the two would be a fun pop-up.”
The event is the first of its kind for the Dennison Depot, but they hope to have more pop-ups in the future.
Marec was born and raised in Paris, France. During summers he and his family would travel to Brittany, France to their ancestral village of Lanvollon. It was there he would spend his time working at his uncle's bakery, delivering bread and other baked goods to local residences and farms in the area.
The crepes menu features a butter and sugar crepe for $4, Nutella and banana crepe for $5, berry crepe for $5, and an ice cream crepe for $6 — toppings are extra. Crepes will be available to go as well.
Meyers is a graduate of Miami and Ohio State universities. He has written numerous local histories, works for the stage and a handful of historical novels. At the book-signing he will have copies of his latest work, “Ohio — Dreamsville, the Magic City and Other Historic Ohio Communities,” which he wrote with his daughter Elise Meyers Walker.
Meyers said Ohio was once home to thousands of settlements extending as far back as 13,000 years ago, and most of its architectural history has fallen victim to the wrecking ball. The book will spotlight some places in Ohio that still retain their history.
Those include SunWatch, which is an 800-year-old Indian village south of Dayton, and Marietta, which is the oldest permanent settlement in the Northwest Territory. Dennison, also known as Dreamsville, was born virtually overnight, thanks to the railroads.
The Dennison Railroad Depot is recognized as a National Historic Landmark. It is the most significant remaining example in the nation of a railroad canteen still reflecting its WWII heritage. During WWII, 1.3 million service members, approximately 13% of all armed personnel, traveling by troop train stopped at the depot. Volunteers served free food to the troops. The Dennison Depot Salvation Army Servicemen’s Canteen became well known, and the nickname Dreamsville, USA was given to the village by the soldiers themselves.
The book covers 21 communities in all where history can still be seen. It will be for sale for $24.99.
Meyers was inducted into the Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame for his contributions to local history. He collaborated with his daughter on more than a dozen local histories including “Lynching and Mob Violence in Ohio,” “Historic Black Settlements of Ohio,” “The Reverse Underground Railroad in Ohio” and “A Murder in Amish Ohio.”
The authors' website is www.explodingstove.com, or readers can follow on Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram @explodingstove.
Dennison Railroad Depot Museum mascot Bing also will be there for the children, and there will be other activities.
“It’s a great time to check out our museum and the Whistle Stop Railroad Gift Shop, which we have been expanding,” Zucal said. “We have new lines of gifts including items from the National WWII Museum in New Orleans, a large Rosie the Riveter Collection, Twin City made items, and many more books and toys.”
In addition to the Dennison Railroad Depot Museum and gift shop, the site also offers Lucille’s Lunch Stand and the Pullman Bed and Breakfast. Visit www.dennisondepot.org or Facebook at Dennison Railroad Depot Museum.