By Wayne Kruse
A German immigrant hatmaker who helped shape downtown Broadway will be the focus of a free lunch program Thursday, May 7, at the Lee Dam Center for Fine Art, Marysville.
“Boss Milliner: The Legacy of Mathilda Lorke” will begin at noon. The program is open to the public, and a complimentary lunch will be provided.
Business historian Michelle L. Spencer will share the story of Mathilda Lorke, who arrived in Marysville in 1884 and built a family millinery business that anchored downtown Broadway for 71 years.
The presentation will trace Lorke’s path from immigrant entrepreneur to “Boss Milliner” and examine how her work, business sense and family ties shaped a portion of Marysville’s proposed Downtown Historic District.
The program is part of OneMarysville’s effort to help residents, business owners and property owners better understand the proposed historic district, the people behind the buildings and the role downtown has played in Marysville’s development.
Spencer is the owner of Roma Mary Grace Historical Research and a specialist in business history, small towns and historic preservation. She has more than 30 years of experience, has lectured at major genealogical institutions and the WWI Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, and has co-authored more than 60 National Register of Historic Places nominations.
Her work has appeared on “Who Do You Think You Are?” and “Finding Your Roots.”
For more information, contact the OneMarysville office at 785-562-3101.
