Ghost towns from Guthrie and Dallas counties will be featured in an upcoming speaker program in Stuart.

The Stuart People Active for Library Service, or PALS is sponsoring the event, “Off the Map: Stories of Abandoned and Disappearing Towns Around Iowa.” Speaker Rosa Snyder from Humanities Iowa will share photographs and stories of several towns including Dale City in Guthrie County and Ortonville and Zook Spur in Dallas County. Snyder has a lengthy resume aside from giving presentations across Iowa: she’s worked as a restoration painter at the Iowa State Capitol, she has worked as a design consultant and artist, and wrote the book “Glimpses of Iowa’s Capitol.”

Stuart PALS Program Coordinator Carol Brewer talks about Snyder’s passion for Iowa history, “When she does these presentations her passion is to help bring the names and memories from oblivion, and to have everyone who attends enjoy this presentation through the windows of memories from people that maybe are familiar with these towns or not familiar.”

The event will take place at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 16th in the City Hall Council Chambers and is free to the public. Attendees are encouraged to bring photos and artifacts from local ghost towns as well.