A birthday party for Dr. John M.

Evans, for whom Evansville was named,

is planned for Friday, February 12th, at 5:30 p.m. at the Eager Free
Public Library. The Library is located at 39 West Main Street, Evansville.
The date was selected as he was born on February 13, 1819 at Rutland
County, Vermont.
The birthday party will kick off the Grove Societys year-long calendar
of events for Evansvilles sesquicentennial year. The party will honor
Evansvilles namesake, Dr. Evans, who was a Civil War surgeon in the
13th Wisconsin Volunteers Infantry. Watch publicity for additional events, articles in the
Evansville Review, and exhibits at the Grove Society Museum [open Saturdays 1:00
3:00 p.m.] about Dr. John M. Evans Senior.
Historically, the Grove Society celebrated President Lincolns birthday
on February 12th. This year, a special birthday toast will be made to
President Lincoln, in addition to Dr. Evans. Francette Hamilton has
promised to make President Lincolns favorite honey almond cake,
which will be served in addition with corn bread and maple syrup.
Guests may want to wear clothing and bring a dish-to-pass from the
Civil War era. All are welcome!
Dr. Steven Oreck, M.A., M.D., a Civil War re-enactor with the 2nd
Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry as a regimental surgeon, will be present,
dressed in uniform, where he will talk about the life of a surgeon in the
field and demonstrate a surgeons instruments and techniques. He will
be prepared to perform surgery, if anybody needs emergency medical
attention.
Dr. Oreck is a very qualified speaker. He graduated from MIT in 1970.
Following active duty in the U.S. Navy, he returned to graduate studies
at MIT and then attended LSU medical school, graduating in 1979. Dr.
Oreck retired as a Clinical Professor of Orthoapedic Surgery (hand &
microsurgery) at UW medical school in 2008. Following retirement, Dr.
Oreck is currently a graduate student at UW-Madison in the
department of history.
Dr. Oreck served 37 years in the U.S. Navy, 5 years in intelligence and
the remainder as a medical officer, primarily with the Marine Corps. He
has deployed as a combat surgeon, and retired as senior medical
officer for all Marine Corps Reserve combat service support elements.
He has numerous articles and presentations on clinical and military
medicine including the chapter on orthoapaedics in Aeromedical
Evacuation. He has presented at national meetings on military
medicine, and received a fellowship from Marine Corps Historical
Foundation for his MA thesis. Dr. Oreck has presented on military

medical history at national and local meetings, and has a chapter

pending publication in a book on World War I medicine. His current
research focuses on the development of military medicine as a
profession in the United States.