Chautauqua of Lillian Finnegan\, creator of the Genoa Candy Dance\, at Dangberg Historic Park
\nMINDEN\, Nev.&mdash\; Chautauqua performer Kim Copé\;l will portray Genoa Candy Dance creator Lillian Finnegan in a free presentation at the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park on Sunday\, June 28\, at 10:00 am.
\nLocally known as the woman who started the Genoa Candy Dance event in 1919\, Lillian Virgin Finnegan is presented in 1914 after women gained the right to vote in Nevada. Finnegan was a suffragette and worked closely with Governor Emmett Boyle. She grew up in Genoa\, the daughter of Judge Daniel Webster Virgin\, who was a town pioneer and served for several years as Superintendent of Schools. She was also an early graduate of Nevada State University and taught school in Carson City and Glenbrook\, before marrying wealthy Tonopah businessman Louis Finnegan.
\nThe presentation is part of the park&rsquo\;s Ferris Family Speaker Series\, named in honor of the family of Margaret Ferris Dangberg\, the wife of ranch founder Heinrich F. Dangberg. The series is sponsored by Bently Ranch\, SoaringNV\, The Record-Courier\, Douglas County\, Alpen Sierra Coffee Company\, 88 Cups &\; More\, and the Frances C. and William P. Smallwood Foundation. Alpen Sierra Coffee Company is providing complimentary coffee and 88 Cups &\; More is providing baked goods for visitors throughout the series.
\nCopé\;l\, a native of Truckee and a current resident of Genoa\, is the owner and living history performer at Western History ALIVE!\, and conducts guided tours for her own company\, Genoa Historic Ghost Tours. She also writes scripts\, researches and performs for Cobweb Palace Productions\, and has performed with the Carson Valley Melos and the Carson Valley Community Theatre.
\nThis is a free outdoor event. The park is located at 1450 Hwy 88\, ¼\; mile north of the Carson Valley Veterinary Hospital. Visitors are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or use one of the park&rsquo\;s chairs. Dogs are not permitted in the park\, with the exception of certified service animals. For more information\, visit dangberghomeranch.org or call 775-783-9417.
\nUpcoming speakers in the series include Mary Randall\, author of children&rsquo\;s adventure books\, presenting her book A Walk Through the Woods on August 8\; the Naughty Tea Mistresses of Nevada on August 15\; historian Frank Mullen presenting &ldquo\;Westward Ho\, Nevada&rdquo\; on August 29\; and author Michael Green presenting his book\, Nevada: A History of the Silver State\, on September 27.