Tim would love the opportunity to speak at your meeting or emcee your special event! With several presentations available, you can choose which one you would like, or contact Tim to advise what you are looking for, and he will tailor something to your needs.
Here are Tim’s current presentations:
Sifting Thru the Ashes – Writing about a tragic house fire that occurred over 60 years ago can be a challenge. Attempting to research the event, knowing that none of the survivors are still alive, is an even bigger challenge. And when those now-deceased survivors of the fire are all relatives, look out! Join Tim for a lively, poignant presentation about encountering brick walls in research, learning to sift through family legends in search of the truth, and taking chances that ultimately lead to incredible discoveries and connections to the past.
Chasing the Chadwick Line – Join in on a fun historic jaunt through Greene and Christian Counties in the early 20th century. All aboard for a glimpse of the railroad that once ran between Springfield and Chadwick, and the present-day odyssey to locate remains of the roadbed where the train once snaked its way through the Ozarks hills. This engaging presentation includes photographs and animated maps to enhance the journey.
The First Battle of Springfield – The year 1861 was a rough one for the Union army in Missouri. This lively talk examines the one and only Union victory for the year in the state, a small but heroic cavalry engagement where a greatly outnumbered force managed to take the field.
The Second Battle of Springfield (Otherwise officially known as The Battle of Springfield) – Some legendary Civil War battles began as chance encounters, in which the opposing armies happened upon one another. Others took place on a field of one army’s choosing. But the Second Battle of Springfield, fought on January 8, 1863, was a far from random event. The story of the battle and the events leading up to it includes a race through Douglas and Christian Counties between local militia who needed to warn the city and the southerners who wanted to silence the militia, bold and desperate preparations by local Union officials to bolster the defenses of Springfield, and even a few infamous names of Confederates who were engaged in the battle. This presentation is an exciting look at the battle, including animated troop movements overlaying a modern map of the area, to show where the battle took place in comparison with modern structures of today.
Wild Bill Hickok and Davis Tutt – A Big Bucket of Ugly – Join Tim for a fascinating look into the backgrounds of James Butler “Wild Bill” Hickok and Davis Tutt, and how their lives twisted and turned until they found themselves facing each other with pistols drawn on a public square in 1865. Within seconds, both men became legends. This presentation visits the multiple versions of what happened that dusty summer day, as well as the days leading up to the confrontation.
Edgar Allan Poe – Beyond the Raven – As a poet and writer, Poe’s genius transcends the macabre, even though his tales of horror are at times his most recognized works. His personal life, turbulent and at times tragic, is as fascinating as any tale he wove. Separation of fact from fiction is challenging, especially concerning his mysterious death. Enjoy this presentation, formatted as a series of talks or singular event, which explores the entire Poe experience.
Covered Bridges of Madison County, Iowa – This talk visits the remaining covered bridges in Madison County, Iowa, as well as a few spots in and around the city of Winterset where the movie was filmed.
The Baldknobbers: Terror in the Hills – After the Civil War, violence and political corruption reigned supreme throughout the Ozarks hills. A group of citizens, banding together to create a vigilante force, soon blurred the lines between good and evil. Their murderous version of justice spread to neighboring counties until three nooses convinced the groups to reconsider their cause.
Route 66 – A fun look at the history of The Mother Road, its creation and demise.
The Young Brothers Massacre – On the afternoon of January 2, 1932, ten lawmen and one civilian headed to the western outskirts of Springfield to arrest two brothers, known to be small-time car thieves and one suspected of murder. Within forty-five minutes of their arrival at the small quiet farmhouse, six officers were dead with an enraged community asking why. Buckle your seatbelt for a twisting, winding tale of what happened, what didn’t happen, and what everyone learned that day.
The Tornado Outbreak of April 18, 1880 – Most people in the Ozarks associate April 18, 1880 with the Marshfield Tornado, a destructive F-4 (original Fujita Scale) storm that claimed many lives and virtually destroyed the town of Marshfield. However largely forgotten is the fact that a major tornado outbreak across six states started on that day, with southwest and central Missouri suffering through no less than eleven deadly twisters. This presentation examines each storm, its path, and the destruction left behind.
The Northfield Bank Robbery – September 7, 1876 was a bad day for the James-Younger Gang; a really bad day. At the urging of gang member Clell Miller, Jesse and the boys traveled to Northfield, Minnesota expecting to easily knock off a wealthy bank in an area where no one would expect them to strike. Lawmen were searching all over Missouri for the notorious criminals, but no one was looking for them further north. In the course of just a few minutes that fateful afternoon, one bank employee and two gang members, including Miller, were dead and several members of the gang wounded. All that for just a handful of dollars. This presentation, complete with photographs and animated maps, shows step-by-step what happened and how everything went terribly wrong for the criminals.
The Coffeyville Bank Robbery: The Last Ride of the Dalton Gang – The Dalton Boys knew about the failure of the Northfield Bank Robbery and how the James-Younger Gang was effectively destroyed. Yet they thought they could do better: Knock off two banks at once in broad daylight. It didn’t go well. As a matter of fact, when it was all over, there was only one Dalton left alive. This presentation, with photographs and animated maps, describes inch-by-inch, second-by-second, what happened and where. It’s amazing how badly the whole thing went down.
The Peshtigo Firestorm – In 1871, weather conditions created extreme drought conditions across the Midwest. At the same time as The Great Chicago Fire, and storm of fire swept across areas of Wisconsin. The town of Peshtigo, full of lifelong residents and newly arrived immigrants, stood in the crosshairs of the firestorm. Within minutes, nearly every structure and hundreds of living souls were reduced to ashes. The fire, its origins, and the aftermath are examined in this presentation.
Commanding Lessons from the Civil War: Strategies for Today’s Leaders – There are so many leadership lessons from the American Civil War. Some lessons illustrate great methods for leadership and decision-making. Some lessons are clearly how one should NOT attempt to lead. In this talk, Tim narrows down to just a couple of battles and what can be learned from the behavior of the commanders involved.
The 1913 Fire on the Springfield, Missouri Square – To understand the fire on the Springfield Square in 1913, which was known as “The Big One”, we first must take a look at the early history of the Springfield Fire Department. This presentation follows the creation of the department, the equipment upgrades received over the early years, and how the newest equipment got a genuine baptism by fire. The destruction that morning was swift, and it took everything the fire department had available, and then some, to prevent the entire downtown area from going up in flames.
Famous Couples – Often requested around Valentine’s Day, this talk highlights several famous couples from history and/or pop culture, including John and Jackie Kennedy, Bonnie and Clyde, and Grace Kelly and Prince Ranier.
The Life of Mark Twain – Samuel Clemens, the writer we know more commonly as Mark Twain, led a fascinating life that contributed to his innovational writing and witty commentaries. This talk chronicles his formative childhood and intriguing adult life.
The Life of St. Patrick – Dubbed the Patron Saint of Engineers, Saint Patrick is a good excuse to paint things green and drink heavily every 17th of March. This talk delves into the known details and a few legends associated with this fascinating character.
The Story of Robin Hood – Where does legend end and truth begin? Sometimes the lines are a bit fuzzy. In this talk, Tim explores the men tagged by modern historians as possible inspiration for the legend of Robin Hood. Additionally, this presentation takes a look at certain landmarks that claim to be associated with the actual man who robbed from the rich to feed the poor.
The Story of the Liberty Bell – Have you ever delved deeply into the story of the famous bell? If not, you’re in for a big surprise. The story of the bell is much larger than a crack. This presentation tells the story from the initial request for a bell to the development of the facility in which the relic is currently housed.
The Story of the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri – The arch, the Gateway to the West, was a marvel of architecture and engineering. But even more so, it was a marvel that it ever got built in the first place. Join Tim for a journey into the squirrely trail to appropriate funds, clear land, and finalize design of this majestic monument on the banks of the Mississippi River.
When I-44 Came to Town – For some folks, witnessing the construction of a new highway is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. When Interstate 44 was built through Springfield, Missouri, not only was it an exciting construction project, but it also served as one of the first highway projects for the Federal Highway Act of 1956. The road design was something new for most folks, and it forever changed transportation in the area. This talk takes a look at photographs and newspaper articles that tell the story of the construction of the highway and the citizens’ reactions to the change in their lives.
When the Railroad Came to Town – Springfield started as a small community near a natural spring, but quickly began to grow. Part of the growth enjoyed by any developing community in the 19th century was the arrival of the railroad. However for Springfield, it was not without controversy and frustration. Learn how things didn’t go as planned, and the years required to truly say Springfield had train service.
Travel Presentations – Tim has performed several presentations in which the main point is simply to go on a road trip. Sharing photos and stories, these talks have included areas of Belgium, Canada, Cuba, Denmark, Holland, France (including Normandy) and various interesting areas of the United States.
FOR VIGNETTES PERTAINING TO SOME OF TIM’S PRESENTATIONS, AS WELL AS VIDEO CLIPS OF ACTUAL PRESENTATIONS, VISIT HIS YOUTUBE CHANNEL HERE.
Tim has felt honored to present to the following organizations:
National Association of Retired and Veteran Railroad Employees (NARVRE), Springfield, MO
Heart of the Ozarks Sertoma, Springfield, MO
Rotary Clubs of Springfield, Springfield, MO
Springfield Kiwanis, Springfield, MO
Polk County Historical Society, Bolivar, MO
Ozarks Genealogical Society, Springfield, MO
Springfield Writers Guild, Springfield, MO
417 Professionals, Springfield, MO
Truckee Meadows Community College, Reno, NV
Douglas County Historical Society, Ava, MO
Discover the Ozarks Festival, Ava, MO
Greene County Prosecutor’s Office, Springfield, MO
Springfield/Greene County Library, Springfield, MO
Madison County Library, Winterset, IA
Adult Education Program, Kingsway United Methodist Church, Springfield, MO
West Central Neighborhood Association, Springfield, MO
Daughters of Union Veterans, Springfield, MO
Elfindale Creekside Senior Facilities, Springfield, MO
City of Ozark, MO
Stone County Library, Crane, MO
Christian County Library, Ozark, MO
Christian County Historical Society, Ozark, MO
Maple Park Cemetery, Springfield, MO
Fair Grove Chamber of Commerce, Fair Grove, MO
Republic Library, Republic, MO
Contact me to schedule at tritterman@gmail.com
Need to learn more about me? Check out my About Tim Ritter page.
