The Mount Joy Area Historical Society will host Michael Kaufhold as the guest speaker at the organization's monthly meeting on Monday, Aug. 17, at 7 p.m. at the Cemetery Road Schoolhouse, 120 Fairview St., Mount Joy.

Kaufhold will present "Edgar A. Poe's Formative Years and the Best Kept Secrets of His Link to Lancaster County." Edgar Allan Poe's grandparents lived in Lancaster County during the early days of the American Revolution, and as fierce patriots they had many of the same concerns felt by the young men who gathered around the Donegal Presbyterian Church Witness Tree. Kaufhold will reflect on Poe's connections in Lancaster County, which aided the famous author during trying financial times, and will discuss the scope of Poe's contributions to American literature. The presentation will employ slides and visuals, including old movie posters. It will conclude with a question-and-answer time.

Poe was an American poet, writer, and literary critic who was regarded as a pioneer of Gothic and romantic tales and an early contributor to the emergence of science fiction.

Kaufhold is a current Millersville Borough Council member and a retired English teacher, who taught for 33 years at Penn Manor High School before retiring in 2013. He graduated from McCaskey High School in 1965 and earned bachelor's and master's degrees in English at Millersville University.

Refreshments will be available following the program. The meeting is free and open to the public.

The historical society's building is open every Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m., and visitors may explore the exhibits. For more information, visit http://www.mountjoyhistory.com or follow the historical society on Facebook and Instagram.