Dublin's revived Second Sunday Speaker Series has three more free talks lined up this fall, covering Abraham Lincoln, local ghost stories and a Polish patriot's surprising tie to the city.

The Dublin Historical Society relaunched the series in March after a nearly 10-year hiatus, and attendance has grown from 50–60 people at the first event to an average of about 80 per talk. Wyandotte Nation NAGPRA Coordinator Heather Miller speaks Sunday, Aug. 9 on the Wyandot Removal Trail's ties to Dublin. Three more speakers round out the fall schedule:

Sept. 13: Kevin Wood, "Abraham Lincoln: A New Birth of Freedom"

Wood, a professional Lincoln portrayer, will deliver a first-person account of Lincoln's life from his frontier childhood through the Civil War. In a July interview with CityScene Columbus, Wood said he mixes Lincoln's personal story with the broader arc of American liberty. "The reason I do what I do is because I believe it's important for people to understand the nation's history, and this is a fun and interesting way to learn about it," Wood told the magazine.

Oct. 11: Becky Schisler, "Stories from 15 years of Dublin Ghost Walks"

Schisler, founder and owner of the Dublin Ghost Walk, will share tales from a decade and a half of leading tours through Historic Dublin. After the presentation, attendees will visit one of Dublin's most haunted locations, making this the only talk in the fall lineup with a field trip attached.

Nov. 8: Chris Hariasz, "Thaddeus Kosciuszko: Who is this Polish patriot and what is his connection to Dublin, Ohio?"

Hariasz, president of the Kosciuszko Foundation Ohio Chapter, will explore how the 18th-century Polish military engineer and American Revolution hero connects to Dublin's own history.

All three talks run from 3 to 4:30 p.m., including a Q&A session, in the lower-level meeting room at the Columbus Metropolitan Library's Dublin Branch, 75 N. High St. They are free.

Registration is handled through the library's online events system at events.columbuslibrary.org.

The 2026 series is themed around American history with Dublin connections, timed to the national America 250 celebration. Dublin Historical Society President Mike Jewell, a fifth-generation grandson of Dublin founding figure John Sells, told CityScene Columbus in May that feedback has been overwhelmingly positive and the library partnership has been key to the series' growth.

Upcoming community calendar

  • Sunday, Aug. 9 — Heather Miller on the Wyandot Removal Trail, 3 p.m., Dublin Branch Library
  • Sunday, Sept. 13 — Kevin Wood as Abraham Lincoln, 3 p.m., Dublin Branch Library (register)
  • Sunday, Oct. 11 — Becky Schisler on Dublin Ghost Walks, 3 p.m., Dublin Branch Library (register)
  • Sunday, Nov. 8 — Chris Hariasz on Thaddeus Kosciuszko, 3 p.m., Dublin Branch Library (register)