Museum kicks off 2026 Brown Bag Lecture Series

FINDLAY — The return of the Hancock Historical Museum's Brown Bag Lecture Series is set for noon Thursday. This monthly event invites community members to spend their lunch hour with presentations from local experts, historians andcommunity leaders. To kick off this year's lineup, the February lecture will feature Erika Dietsch-Brokamp, third-generation owner of Dietsch Brothers, presenting "Dietsch Brothers — Celebrating 88 Sweet Years in Business." The year 2026 marks a momentous occasion — the 250th anniversary of the United States, also known as America 250. In honor of this historic milestone, the museum has aligned this year's lecture topics with the monthly celebration themes established by the state of Ohio. February's theme is "Ohio Works: Innovation & Industry," making Dietsch Brothers, a staple of Hancock County known for its handcrafted chocolates and ice cream, an ideal feature. Dietsch-Brokamp will share the story of her family's business. She began her own journey with the company as a young student working at the downtown candy counter and returned to the business full-time in 1998 after completing her education.She and her husband, Steve, who joined the business full-time in 2022, are thrilled to see their son officially become part of the company in 2025, marking the fourth generation of family involvement. The museum is located at 422 W. Sandusky St. Presented by Eastman & Smith, the Brown Bag Lecture Series is held on the first Thursday of each month and highlights topics connected to Hancock County and Ohio history. The program is free for museum members and included with regular admission for nonmembers. No registration is required. Attendees are welcome to bring along a lunch to the program. For more information, visit HancockHistoricalMuseum.org or call 419-423-4433.