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Classic WoW: The Lore Of The Lich King: 7 Historic Events That Led Arthas To Northrend

title split image Arthas Historic Events Northrend Cult of The Damned Lordaeron throne room Icecrown Citadel Naxxramus interior skulls

The history of Azeroth goes back a long time, before the MMORPG even existed, to a time when Warcraft III was a standalone and making games for phones was unthinkable. The Classic side of World of Warcraft is taking players back to that earlier time when the lore of the old 1990s games evolved into the backstory for the modern multiplayer universe.



RELATED: Classic WoW: Features From 2008 Wrath Of The Lich King You Won’t See In The Upcoming Classic Expansion

With the Wrath of the Lich King slated for a late September release, there’s renewed interest in this part of history. This timeline involves the fall of the Kingdom of Lordaeron and the path of Arthas Menethil from his ancestral family home to the wastelands of Northrend.

To put the timeline in perspective, most of the following events take place during the era of Warcraft III, and many are playable campaigns within the old game and locations that players can see in the new one. The World of Warcraft started about three years after Arthas donned the Helm of Domination and ascended to the Frozen Throne.


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7 Ner’zhul, The First Lich King

Ner’zhul held an honored place as Chieftain and Elder of the Shadowmoon Clan, compassion for the wandering Gul’dan that was his undoing. The orc Gul’dan was an agent of Kil’jadeen, and the demon used his disciple to twist the Shadowmoon Clan and their leader to evil purposes. He appears as one of the main antagonists in the Warcraft II expansion, Beyond the Dark Portal and re-emerges as part of the malevolent forces in the next game.

Ner’zhul was instrumental to the forces of the Legion in the Second War and opened several portals to other worlds before his mortal form was destroyed and turned into the first Lich King. Later, during the Third War, he would compel Arthas to travel north to become his right hand and eventually take his place.


6 Kel’Thuzad And The Scourge

It was not just Arthas Menethil that was drawn to Icecrown Citadel by a faint but compelling voice. A wandering mage of the Kirin Tor, exiled to the frozen wastes because of his interest in Necromancy, Kel’Thuzad also answered the call of the Lich King.

RELATED: World of Warcraft: The Top PvP Players In Classic WoW History

He was there years before Arthas and helped pave his way north through the Kingdom of Lordaeron before becoming a close ally. His achievements included founding the Cult of the Damned and keeping the forces of the Argent Dawn and Scarlet Crusade in check. After Arthas became the Lich King, Kel’Thuzad was left in the tattered remains of the Kingdom of Lordaeron in the Eastern and Western Plaguelands, to rule as the final boss in the floating ziggurat Naxxramus.


5 The Cult Of The Damned

Arthas thought he spent most of his time fighting the Cult of the Damned, and it took at least one campaign playthrough to find out that there were much darker and more powerful forces at work. These weren’t just a random group of scattered fanatics but an organized group working for the Lich King, and the tasks they carried out were the beginning of the Prince’s military campaigns.

Their most successful project was the distribution of infected grain throughout the kingdom, and even though this was mostly halted after the Culling of Stratholme, the price was worth it from their viewpoint. Prince Arthas had given his soul to evil, and his path would continue into cruelty and madness.


4 The Culling Of Stratholme

Players and loremasters alike mark this event as the beginning of the end for Arthas. It was a desperate and ultimately successful act to end the undead plague that had been started by infected grain, spread and shipped by the Cult of the Damned, but it signified the ruthless nature of the prince and his potential for evil.

RELATED: WoW Classic: Must-Play Questlines Before They End

This was one of the events that started the Third War and set the heir of the Menethil family on a path alone. The leaders of the other factions, including those of Jaina Proudmoore, refused to support this venture or anything else he did after this.


3 The King Of Lordaeron

The vast courtyards of Lordaeron are quiet now, and not even the present denizens of Undercity deep below dare to disturb the voices that still whisper here. For those that want to hear them, go into the Sound settings and turn the ambient sound all the way up and the music all the way down, and stand in the throne room.​​​​​​​

The voices you hear are those of Arthas and his father at this crucial moment, still echoing with the horror of the old king’s betrayal at the hands of his son. Arthas did rule as king of Lordaeron for a brief time, but only as a puppet of the Scourge and the Legion, allowing them to take over the kingdom.


2 Called To Northrend

Arthas had already visited Northrend and taken up Frostmourne when he returned to Lordaeron to take his place as King. By the time he was called back, this time never to return, most of the survivors of both the kingdom and the city of Lordaeron had fled as refugees to Stormwind, Alterac, Kalimdor, or various outposts of the Argent Dawn or Scarlet Crusade.

RELATED: Classic WoW: Things You Need To Know About The New Fresh Start Realms For Wrath Of The Lich King

In Arthas’ absence, Sylvanas Windrunner took the city in the name of the Forsaken, and his path home was closed permanently. He had been called to defend the Lich King from attacks by Illidan Stormrage and his naga minions, and it was only because of Ner’zhul’s help that he was able to defeat Sylvanus and escape to Northrend.


1 The Defeat Of Illidan

Also known as the Betrayer, Illidan Stormrage has a habit of “pretending” to be a bad guy only to claim he was just faking it the whole time. In this instance, he only agreed to destroy the Lich King for Kil’jaeden to get on the demon lord’s good side and learn the deepest secrets of the Burning Legion.

The fight was one of the closest in Azerothian history, between two of its most infamous NPCs, and ended with Arthas victorious. It was after this fight that he ascended the highest tower of Ice Crown Citadel and donned the Helm of Domination, joining with the spirit of Ner’Zhul and becoming the Lich King.

World of Warcraft is currently available on PC.

MORE: Warcraft: Most Powerful NPCs From The Lore

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India independence to lockdown: Meet Indians named after historic events

India independence to lockdown: Meet Indians named after historic events
Azad Kapoor, Emergency Yadav and Lockdown

(From left) Azad Kapoor, Emergency Yadav and Lockdown Kakkandi

How often do you meet a person with a truly unique name?

Most Indian parents prefer to name their children after gods, sports icons, film stars or even famous cartoons. But some get inspiration from entirely different sources.

As India marks 75 years since independence, the BBC met six people across the country whose parents named them after a historical event that unfolded during their birth.

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AZAD Kapoor, 75 years

Azad Kapoor

Azad Kapoor was born on the day India became independent

Azad Kapoor was born on 15 August 1947 – the day India got freedom from British rule.

“When I was born my family celebrated, saying Mother India has come home and brought us freedom,” she says.

Azad – which means free – was not very happy with her name as a child since it sounded like a boy’s name. But as time passed, she came around to it.

“No-one ever forgets my birthday. Everyone who knows me remembers me on 15 August. My friends joke that the whole country celebrates my birthday,”she says.

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EMERGENCY Yadav, 47 years

Emergency Yadav

Emergency Yadav’s father was jailed during the state of emergency in 1975

Emergency Yadav was born on 26 June 1975, a day after a state of Emergency was declared in India.

“My father told me that he gave me this name so that people would not forget about this sad, dark period in India’s history,” he says.

In a radio announcement to the country, then prime minister Indira Gandhi said she was declaring a state of emergency, citing a threat to national security from “internal disturbances”. Constitutional rights were suspended, press freedom was curtailed and many opposition leaders were jailed.

Emergency Yadav’s father Ram Tej Yadav – who was an opposition politician – was arrested hours before his son was born. He spent 22 months in jail and met his son only after the emergency was lifted in 1977.

“If there is emergency in any country, it means that the country is regressing. I really hope that we never have to see another instance like this again,” he says.

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KARGIL Prabhu, 23 years

Kargil Prabhu

Kargil has never visited the town he was named after

Kargil Prabhu – born during the 1999 Kargil conflict between India and Pakistan over the disputed territory of Kashmir – didn’t know the significance of his name for a long time.

“Even though I was named after this conflict, I didn’t know much about it until I grew up and Googled it. My father passed away when I was young so he couldn’t tell me what my name meant,” he says.

Kargil works as a video editor in the southern city of Chennai and has never visited the town he was named after. But it is on top of his bucket list of places to visit.

More than 500 Indian soldiers died during the conflict, which began after India retaliated against infiltration from Pakistan – though Islamabad has long denied this. The conflict lasted three months before India declared victory.

“I don’t believe in war, but I think India had to defend itself during the Kargil war, and that was the right decision,” Mr Prabhu says.

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TSUNAMI Roy, 17 years

Tsunami with his mother Mounitha

Tsunami with his mother Mounitha

Tsunami’s mother’s eyes well up when she remembers the day her son was born.

Mounitha Roy was heavily pregnant when she took refuge on top of a small hill in one of the islands in the Andaman archipelago, which was struck by a devastating tsunami in 2004.

“I told my husband to escape with my elder son. I had no hope for myself and the baby in my womb. At around 11pm, I delivered my son in the dark on top of a rock, without any assistance or medication. My health never recovered after that,” she says.

At school, Tsunami was mocked for being named after a disaster. But for his mother, the name means hope and survival.

“My son came as a ray of hope to all of us, in the midst of everyone mourning the deaths of their family members. My son was the only good thing that happened that day,” Mrs Roy says.

More than 200,000 people, including 10,000 Indians, were killed in the 26 December tsunami, which was triggered by an underwater earthquake in the Indian Ocean.

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KHAZANCHI Nath, 5 years

Khazanchi Nath with his mother

Khazanchi was born a few weeks after the 2016 demonetisation

Khazanchi was born in a branch of Punjab National Bank in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, a few weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a surprise announcement withdrawing high-value banknotes from circulation.

Khazanchi’s mother, Sarvesha Devi, went into labour while standing in line to withdraw some money after the move – called demonetisation or note ban in India – triggered massive cash shortages.

“Since he was born in a bank, everyone said he should be named Khazanchi (cashier),” she says.

Mr Modi gave only four hours’ notice on 8 November 2016 while declaring that 1,000 and 500 rupee notes would no longer be valid, wiping out more than 85% of Indian currency. Authorities said it was done to target bribery, tax evasion and terror financing, but experts said it severely impacted common people and small businesses across the country.

But to Khazanchi’s family, his name brought luck. The main opposition leader in Uttar Pradesh made Khazanchi one of the stars in his campaign ahead of state elections held earlier this year.

“He’s brought us money and wealth, everyone is helping us. I have a proper house and enough cash because of his name,” says Sarvesha Devi.

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LOCKDOWN Kakkandi, 2 years

Lockdown with his mother

Lockdown is a celebrity in his village

Lockdown Kakkandi – born one week after a Covid-led shutdown was announced in India in 2020 – is a celebrity in the small village of Khukhundu in Uttar Pradesh.

“My son was born at the peak of the lockdown. It was very hard to find a vehicle to take my wife for delivery. Many doctors were even unwilling to attend to patients. Thankfully my son was born without any complications,” says Lockdown’s father Pawan Kumar.

In Lockdown’s village and surrounding areas, everybody knows his address and many visit his house to meet him.

“People may make fun of him for some time, but everyone will remember him too. I want his name to be a reminder of what people were going through at that time,” says father Pawan Kumar.

The nationwide lockdown, announced by Mr Modi on 24 March 2020, came as a shock to many Indians as they were given just a few hours’ notice. The weeks after it were marked by a shortage of necessities and massive job losses, especially in the informal sector.

India at 75

India at 75

India, the world’s largest democracy, is celebrating 75 years of independence from British rule. This is the second story in the BBC’s special series on this milestone.

Read more from the series here:

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Pride Week in the Battlefords offers historic number of events

Pride Week in the Battlefords offers historic number of events

Pride Week in the Battlefords looks to showcase the growing LGBTQ2SIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, and Two-Spirit) community.

THE BATTLEFORDS — Priide Week 2022 has officially begun in the Battlefords. This past week, sidewalks in Battleford and North Battleford were re-painted by the Battlefords Pride organization in order to mark the 2022 event.

Each year, participation in and recognition of the event has grown, and with restrictions uplifting, 2022 Pride Week in the Battlefords will be historic in terms of its events offered to the public.

Acting deputy mayor Bill Ironstand from city council led the flag-raising ceremony at City Hall Monday morning. Following the ceremony, the giant flag was on display at the Don Ross Hill from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., complete with a photo-op option.

Tuesday will see Queers and Beers take over at Downstairs bar at Portabella’s, featuring social, trivia games and karaoke.

Wednesday involves free admission to Gutters Bowling from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., donations are welcome.

Thursday’s theme is art and crafts, with artist Holly Hildebrandt leading the way at the Lion’s Park Gazebo in Battleford from 6 to 8 p.m.

Friday’s movie night at 11 p.m. at Capitol Theatre will screen To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar.”

Saturday will be the most jam-packed day. Family Circus Day will overtake Kinsmen Park from 2 to 6 p.m. following the 1 p.m. Pride parade. The free family fun will feature bouncy castles, a circus tent, face painting, art projects, vendors and more. Live music will come from Lance Whitecalf, Gypsy Moonbird, and at 7 p.m., LJ Tyson will headline.

Sunday evening will see the YXE Drag collective return for their rendition of their hit tour “Drag Me Across Saskatchewan.” There will be an all-ages show at 7 p.m., followed by an 18-plus show at 9 p.m. at the Cadet Hall in North Battleford.

For complete details and to keep updated on events, check out the Battlefords Pride page.

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The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee: Plenty of pomp and pageantry planned for historic event – National | Globalnews.ca

The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee: Plenty of pomp and pageantry planned for historic event - National | Globalnews.ca

The Royal Family is gearing up for Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee to mark 70 years since her ascension to the throne.

The Queen is the first British monarch to celebrate 70 years of service and will be honoured for the work she’s done for the people of the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and the Realms.

Celebrations have been ongoing for the past year, but it culminates later this week with a four-day holiday in the U.K. that promises to be full of pomp and pageantry.


The free flower festival, Chelsea in Bloom, launches on May 23, 2022 in London, England. The streets around Sloane Square are full of tributes as businesses participate with ‘British Icons’ as their 2022 theme. The festival coincides with The Chelsea Flower Show and is inspired by the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.


Martin Pope / Getty Images

Where will you be able to see the Queen? Will Prince Harry and Meghan Markle make an appearance? Which British celebrities will we spot raising a glass to the monarch? Read on to see what the palace has planned for the long weekend.

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The major events

Trooping the Colour: The Queen’s annual birthday parade will kick off the festivities on June 2, when more than 1,200 officers and soldiers, the 1st Battalion and the Irish Guards will put on a display of military pageantry. They will be joined by hundreds of army musicians and approximately 240 horses.

It’s an annual birthday tradition that has been used to celebrate the birthday of the British sovereign for more than 260 years.

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, right, with Prince William holding Prince George, centre, and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge holding Princess Charlotte, left, on the balcony during the Trooping The Colour parade at Buckingham Palace, in London, Saturday, June 11, 2016.


Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, right, with Prince William holding Prince George, centre, and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge holding Princess Charlotte, left, on the balcony during the Trooping The Colour parade at Buckingham Palace, in London, Saturday, June 11, 2016.


AP Photo/Tim Ireland

It will be one of the busiest events in London — tickets are already sold out — but officials say there will be an opportunity for people to view the parade as it travels from Buckingham Palace to the parade ground. There will also be large screens erected in St. James’ Park for Londoners to watch and the festivities will be shown live on TV.

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Once the parade has ended and the procession has returned to the palace, the Royal Family will make a balcony appearance, as they do every year.

Only working royals have been invited to stand on the balcony this year, leaving out Harry and Markle. The Queen’s embattled son Prince Andrew has also been left off the invite list after being stripped of his royal title and patronages earlier this year.


Click to play video: 'Prince Harry and Meghan snubbed from Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations'







Prince Harry and Meghan snubbed from Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations


Prince Harry and Meghan snubbed from Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations – May 9, 2022

Platinum Jubilee Beacons: The U.K. will uphold the long-standing tradition of lighting beacons to celebrate the jubilee.

The beacon chain, once used as a tool for communication, is now used for royal jubilees, weddings and coronations, as a sign of unity across towns and borders in the U.K.

In 1977, 2002 and 2012, beacons commemorated the Silver, Golden and Diamond Jubilees of the Queen, and in 2016 her 90th birthday. More than 1,500 beacons will be lit throughout the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and U.K. overseas territories.

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A Diamond Jubilee Beacon is lit in this file photo.


Rick Harrison / Getty Images

A principal beacon, called The Tree of Trees, will be lit in a special ceremony at Buckingham Palace on the evening of June 2.

There are three kinds of beacon events:

  • Community Beacons — thousands of beacons will be lit by communities, charities and different groups throughout the regions of the U.K., Channel Islands, Isle of Man and UK Overseas Territories.
  • Commonwealth Beacons — beacons will be lit in all capital cities of the Commonwealth – 54 in total.
  • Principal Beacon — to be lit on June 2 in a special ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

Service of Thanksgiving: On June 3, Great Paul, the largest church bell in the country, will ring during a service of thanksgiving for the Queen’s reign, to be held at St. Paul’s Cathedral.

The bell was made in 1882 but fell silent in the 1970s due to a broken mechanism. It was fixed in 2021 and has been rung eight times since, but this is the first time it will ring for a royal occasion since its restoration.

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Read more:

Queen Elizabeth celebrates 96th birthday, Mattel makes Barbie for Platinum Jubilee

People magazine reports that the service might be the first glimpse we see of Prince Harry and his wife, although it’s expected the couple’s children, Archie and Lilibet, won’t attend due to their young age.

The Derby at Epsom Downs: On June 4, members of the Royal Family will attend the Derby at Epsom Downs.

The Queen is known to love a good horse race, and it’s been noted that she often appears happiest when watching and interacting with thoroughbreds. However, there have been some reports that the Queen might not make this year’s race, opting to “pace herself” over the course of the weekend, and will use the afternoon to meet her granddaughter, Lilibet, instead.


Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh attend Derby Day during the Investec Derby Festival at Epsom Racecourse on June 4, 2016 in Epsom, England.


Matt Mumby / Getty Images

Regardless, the Derby website promises lots of fun and a carnival-like atmosphere for this year’s event. We’re sure to see the very best of British horse-racing fashion come out of this event, too, so get your fascinators and top hats ready.

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Platinum Party at the Palace: On June 4, royal watchers will also be treated to a concert that will feature some big names from the music scene.

The party, sponsored by the BBC, will feature three stages with performances from Queen + Adam Lambert, Alicia Keys, Hans Zimmer, Duran Duran, Andrea Bocelli and many more.


Diana Ross performs a medley at the 61st annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019, in Los Angeles.


Matt Sayles / The Associated Press

Diana Ross will close the two-and-half-hour show with her first live performance in the U.K. in 15 years.

Stars from the stage and sporting worlds, including Sir David Attenborough, David Beckham, Stephen Fry, Dame Julie Andrews and The Royal Ballet, will make appearances and there will be a specially recorded performance from Sir Elton John.

The Big Jubilee Lunch: According to the Palace, more than 60,000 people in the U.K. have registered to host Big Jubilee lunches on Sunday, June 5, which will feature events ranging from world record attempts for the longest street party to small, backyard barbecues and plenty of events in between.


A file photo shows residents of Murrayfield Drive in Edinburgh, sitting down to a Jubilee street party.


Courtesy / The Royal Family

The festivities aren’t just limited to the Brits, however. Worldwide, more than 600 international Big Jubilee lunches have also been organized, including a number in Canada.

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The Platinum Jubilee Pageant: The weekend’s festivities will be capped with a final pageant that the palace promises will feature some of the biggest names in celebrity, as well as the inclusion of more than 6,000 volunteers, essential workers and 2,500 members of the general public.

Read more:

Has the Commonwealth ‘run its course?’ Platinum Jubilee raises questions on future

Although the Queen won’t personally lead the parade in the Gold State Carriage, the pageant serves as an opportunity to pay tribute to her and will bring to life iconic moments from her 70-year reign. The three-kilometre parade route from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace will start with the chiming of the bells at the church before 10,000 parade participants act out of the story of the Queen’s reign as they travel the route.


Queen Elizabeth (R) and Prince Philip ride in the Golden State Carriage at the head of a parade from Buckingham Palace to St. Paul’s Cathedral celebrating the Queen’s Golden Jubilee June 4, 2002 in this file photo.


Sion Touhig / Getty Images

According to several news sources, tributes to the Queen and Philip will include a Bollywood-inspired reimagining of their wedding day in 1947, including a six-metre-tall wedding cake and performances by 250 Bollywood dancers.

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The pageant will culminate directly outside Buckingham Palace with a show from pop superstar Ed Sheeran, who will perform his love song Perfect at the pageant as a tribute to the Queen and her late husband.


Click to play video: 'Platinum Jubilee: 70 Years of Queen Elizabeth II'







Platinum Jubilee: 70 Years of Queen Elizabeth II


Platinum Jubilee: 70 Years of Queen Elizabeth II – Feb 6, 2022

© 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

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Greeley Historic Preservation to host 2 free events, calls for speakers

Greeley Historic Preservation to host 2 free events, calls for speakers

Greeley’s Historic Preservation Commission will celebrate the city’s agricultural past with two free public events this month, which is celebrated as Historic Preservation Month.

The first event is a tour of the historic White-Plumb Farm Learning Center, 955 39th Ave. One of Colorado’s Centennial Farms, the site was run by the same family for more than 100 years. Civil War Veteran Charles White settled the farm in 1881, and the city’s first female architect, Bessie Smith, designed the house in 1907.

The tour is 5:30-7 p.m. Wednesday at the center. Inclement weather may shift the event to the Greeley History Museum, 714 8th St.

The second event is a special History Brown Bag presentation at the museum regarding Dearfield and its connection to early Greeley. Historian Bob Brunswig will present “The Conjoined Histories of the African American Dearfield Townsite and Colony and the Union Colony Greeley.”

Nathan Meeker established Greeley in 1870 on the idea agricultural endeavors could provide a superior quality of life. In 1911, during the Jim Crow era, Oliver Toussaint Jackson founded Dearfield about 30 miles east of Greeley. Jackson was inspired by Booker T. Washington’s philosophy of attaining social and economic security through hard work on the land.

The presentation begins noon Thursday, May 19 at the museum.

The commission is seeking speakers to resume its regular schedule of Brown Bag series events. Anyone with expertise in history or historic preservation-related topics and anyone interested in speaking at a Brown Bag event is asked to contact planner Elizabeth Kellums at Elizabeth.kellums@greeleygov.com or (970) 350-9222.

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May Events through Historic Larimer County

May Events through Historic Larimer County

Historical Larimer County has a lot of great events scheduled around Northern Colorado in May, so mark your calendar and get registered! 

May 7

Fort Collins/WellingtonSpring on the Farm. Come enjoy the baby animals, tour the Bee Family Farm, and learn what makes Spring a great time on the farm. There will be local artisans and vendors in attendance, along with free seed planting kits, trolley rides, snacks for sale, and much more. 10 am – 3 pm. The cost for the event is the price of admission to the farm: $8 for Adults, $6 for Seniors 60+, $4 for Children 3-12, under 3 are free.

Berthoud: Join the Berthoud Historical Society at the 6th Annual Spring Festival and Plant Sale! We will have 1000+ plant starts – herbs, vegetables, and flowers. A Master Gardener will be on-hand to answer your garden questions. In addition, we will have several vendors selling hand-crafted items! Pioneer Courtyard (224 Mountain Avenue, in Berthoud) from 9 am to 12 pm.

Soapstone PrairieBison-Archaeology Connection. After a brief history and orientation to Soapstone Prairie’s resources at the shelter of the south parking lot, you will hear and see the story of this unique bison herd present there. It first begins with their past dominance on our continent, their almost total elimination during the late 1800s, and their successful recovery exemplified here at Soapstone Prairie. From that shelter, we will all drive to the north parking lot (3 miles) where we will take a 0.25-mile walk up a gentle slope to the Lindenmeier Archaeological Site. Here we will tell the amazing story of the ancient Folsom culture re-discovered at this location. 9 – 11:30 am. Registration required. 

Centennial2022 Layton Hooper Indian Wars Symposium. Join us on May 7 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, doors opening at 8:30. Featuring well-known speakers, morning coffee, juice & doughnuts, full buffet lunch, authors, and booksellers. The price per person is $40 if paid by May 3 or $50 at the door. This year our no-host party will be held at the Greenwood Village LaQuinta Inn. Speaker List: Eli Paul, All Because of a Morman Cow. John Monnett, Whiskey Trails, the Frontier Army and Outlaws Dressed as Indians. Carol Bruer, Emmet Crawford. Bill Cavaliere, Photo Essay of the Apache Surrender. John Wesley Anderson, Juan Batista de Anza vs. Cuerno Verde: 1779 Comanche Campaign. Colorado National Guard Headquarters, 6868 South Revere Parkway, Centennial.

May 12

LovelandLest We Forget: Veterans Memorials and Monuments in Larimer County. There are many veterans’ burial sites and memorials that have been nearly forgotten or are rather hidden and hard to find. Ron Sladek has researched all of them and has a very interesting presentation about them. This meeting will be proceeded by a member’s meeting at 6 pm during which board members for the Loveland Historical Society will be elected. The presentation will begin at 6:30 pm and is being hosted by the Loveland Historical Society at the Loveland Museum, 503 N Lincoln Ave.

May 17

LovelandRialto Theater Open House. As part of the Rialto’s Centennial Celebration, the theater will be open from Noon to 7 pm for tours and a historical overview of the theater. Tours start on the hour. No ticket is needed. Free. The Rialto Theater is located at 228 E. 4th Street.

May 20

LovelandSilent Film Features at the Rialto Theater: The Kid (featuring Charlie Chaplin) and Dew Drop Inn (the first film shown at the Rialto Theater in 1920). Tickets are required, but they’re free. This event is part of the Rialto Theater’s Centennial Celebration at 7 pm. The Rialto Theater is located at 228 E. 4th Street.

May 21

Soapstone PrairieA Hike Through the Ages. Experts in geology, ecology, and history show how Soapstone Prairie was formed, the creatures that keep it functioning, and the homesteading and ranching history that is part of our heritage. The hikes offer participants unique off-trail experiences. This hike will head east towards a spring wetland area, with moderate difficulty. We will parallel the Pronghorn Loop and Plover trails but will be hiking off-trail over uneven terrain. 9 am – 2 pm. Registration required. 

Fort CollinsHistory Hootenanny and Mid-Century Modern Tour. Join Historic Larimer County for a 1-hour meeting in which we review HLC’s past year as well as look forward to the future of the organization. We’ll also have a quick vote on board members. We currently have three open positions, so if you know of someone that would be particularly well suited to the board, please let us know! We’re especially looking for people who will help to run the membership side of things as well as ramp up our fundraising efforts. Following the meeting, Ron Sladek will take us on a tour of three Mid-Century Modern buildings that were part of Fort Collins’s “Urban Renewal” in the 1960s. 1 pm. Meeting location TBD. 

LovelandRialto Theater Centennial Celebration. To celebrate over 100 years in Loveland, the Rialto Theater will host a once-in-a-lifetime Centennial Celebration event on May 21, 2022. Saturday evening’s concert will feature Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Mark Cohn! The Centennial Celebration will be a FREE event (no tickets needed) open to the general public and be held on 4th street outside of the Rialto Theater with an overflow area in the Foundry. Marc Cohn is an American folk-rock singer-songwriter and musician. He won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1992. Cohn is best known for his song, “Walking in Memphis” from his 1991 album. The song, which was a Top 40 hit, has been described as an “iconic part of the Great American Songbook”. with support from Colorado’s own Face Vocal Band. Internationally acclaimed Face Vocal Band has been captivating audiences with their infectious energy and endearing love of performance. The closed-off section of 4th street opens at 4 pm to the public. Face Vocal Band goes on at 7:30 pm. Marc Cohn begins at 8:15 pm. 

May 28

GreeleyCelebrate the opening of Centennial Village Museum’s 2022 summer season! Visit Greeley’s 8-acre living history museum. Check out heritage skills demonstrations, historic house tours, and more. At 2 pm there will be a Buffalo Soldiers performance. Opened during the nation’s bicentennial in 1976, Centennial Village Museum preserves and interprets American western heritage in the Colorado high plains region over the last 150 years. Some of Weld County’s oldest structures are located in this museum. 10 am – 4 pm. 1475 A Street. $3 – $8.

To sign up for the newsletters, or find out what else is happening, visit historiclarimercounty.org.

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Parallels between historic invasion of Poland and current-day events in Ukraine

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The last few weeks have been trying times for us all. It seems we are lurching from one crisis to another. With regards to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, we hear a lot about it being reminiscent of 1938. But what exactly does that mean? Does history really repeat itself? Well, you be the judge.

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In the summer of 1938, German Chancellor Adolf Hitler went after the Sudetenland, the northern part of Czechoslovakia, with the goal of adding the territory to Germany. He felt that because the majority of its population were ‘ethnically’ German, it was Germany’s right to bring these people home. European powers were reluctant to enter a war (many still were recovering from the First World War).

That sentiment emboldened Hitler who was confident the Allies would accede to his demands. The Germans made their move and threatened war over the issue. In an attempt to find a diplomatic solution, the British, Italian, French and German leaders met in Munich in September 1938. The outcome saw the Allies agree to concede the Sudetenland to Germany, evading another war. This agreement became known as the Munich Pact and war was postponed for what would turn out to be a year.

Before I go any further, I am not suggesting that we are in the same predicament as the world was in 1938, however, it is always good to look at past events to better understand some of the things we are hearing about today. So, from the appeasement of 1938, we move to this in September 1939.

“For months we have been suffering under the torture of a problem which the Versailles Diktat created – a problem which has deteriorated until it becomes intolerable for us. Danzig was and is a German city. The corridor was and is German. Danzig was separated from us, the Corridor was annexed by Poland. Proposals for mediation have failed with the sudden Polish general mobilization, followed by more Polish atrocities. This night for the first time Polish regular soldiers fired on our territory. Since 5:45 am we have been returning fire, and from now on bombs will be met by bombs.” – Adolph Hitler to the Reichstag, Sept. 1st, 1939.

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And with those words, Germany declared war on Poland, leading Europe into yet another massive war. In his speech noted above, Hitler takes exception with the limitations placed on Germany in the Versailles Treaty, signed at the end of the First World War. He sincerely believed that Germany should be able to annex countries and acquire land where German speaking people lived. He used this reasoning in 1938 when he took over Austria – and as we have seen, parts and then all of Czechoslovakia by March 1939.

Thinking that Europe would not block any move he made, Hitler moved quickly on Poland. He staged an attack at the border and used it as an excuse to launch the Blitzkrieg. At 4:45 a.m. on Sept. 1st, 1.5 million German soldiers, 2,000 tanks and 1,900 planes faced fewer than a million Polish troops with less than 500 aircraft and a small number of armored vehicles. The Polish air force was destroyed on the ground.

The attack on Poland did not go unanswered. Great Britain and France sent Germany an ultimatum – get out of Poland immediately or war would be declared against Germany. Hitler did not move, and diplomatic efforts were not working.

On Sept. 3rd, Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain spoke to the people of Great Britain: “This morning, the British ambassador in Berlin handed the German Government a final note, stating that unless we heard from them by 11 a.m. that they were prepared at once to withdraw their troops from Poland, a state of war would exist between us. I have to tell you now that no such undertaking has been received and that consequently, this country is at war with Germany.”

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The French were not far behind. France’s Ambassador to Germany delivered the following note to the German Foreign Minister: “I have the painful duty to notify you that as of today, Sept. 3rd, at 5 p.m., the French Government will find itself obliged to fulfil the obligations that France has contracted towards Poland, and which are known to the German Government.”

Unlike its position in the First World War, Canada had gained the authority to declare war on her own with the Statute of Westminster. Prime Minister William Lyon McKenzie King did so in a speech from Ottawa on Sept. 10th, 1939.

However, it should be noted that the people of the Porcupine did not wait for McKenzie King’s declaration; according to an article in the Porcupine Advance newspaper, by Sept. 7th, plans for a home guard were well underway and ex-servicemen were pledging their loyalty to the Crown and to Canada at the local Legion halls.

Are we there yet today? I am hoping we are not. The stakes are a lot higher now than they were then; and as in all war, the outcomes are always the same.

Karen Bachmann is the director/curator of the Timmins Museum and a writer of local history.

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Get outdoors at events at historic Suffolk hall

Get outdoors at events at historic Suffolk hall

Published:
7:00 PM February 6, 2022



Tudor mansion Kentwell Hall is staging outdoor events this month as the attraction gets its year under way.

For half-term, there will be family Wellie Walks and Nature Trails – promising a fun outdoor adventure and a chance to explore the extensive grounds of the hall, near Long Melford.

The walks and trails will be on from February 12 to February 27 from 11am to 3pm with muddy paths and puddles galore and lots of signs of spring to discover.


Thousands of snowdrops at Kentwell Hall. Picture: GREGG BROWN


There are thousands of snowdrops at Kentwell Hall.

– Credit: Gregg Brown

There will be more signs of spring to discover too at the hall’s Snowdrop Days between February 12 and March 13, again 11am to 3pm.

The gardens, which have been developed over 600 years and include a wealth of special features, are well known for their fine displays of snowdrops at the end of each winter with the Shrubbery and Back Wood carpeted with the tiny white flowers and pockets of aconites, along with winter-scented plants such as mahonia and hellebore.

Bookings can be made online for both events. Refreshments will be available but the house will not be open.