Rocky J. Squirrel Presents
GEMS+H:
The Stories That Bind Us
Discovering the Stories Behind the History
My interest in history has never been limited to memorizing dates and events.
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I was fascinated by the stories—why things happened, the people involved, and the connections that are often easy to overlook.
A date can tell us when something happened.
A textbook can tell us what happened.
But the people, choices, circumstances, and connections behind those events can help us understand why they happened—and why they still matter.
That is the kind of history that has always captured my attention.
For me, history begins with a question.
And often, one question leads to another.
From Facts to Stories
The more I researched history, the more I realized that historical events rarely exist in isolation.
A person who appears in one story may suddenly appear in another.
A local event may connect to a national movement.
A family member may have played a small role in a much larger historical event.
A railroad may explain why a community developed where it did.
A stamp may preserve the memory of a person or event that might otherwise be forgotten.
And sometimes, the most interesting discoveries happen when seemingly unrelated pieces of history begin to connect.
That is where history becomes a story.
And that is where my approach to history begins.
Asking a Different Question
Much of my historical research begins with a simple question:
What else is there to this story?
That question has led me into American Revolutionary history, Freemasonry, genealogy, railroads, philately, local history, and the lives of individuals whose stories deserve to be remembered.
It has also taught me that history does not always look the way we expect.
Sometimes the person who appears in the margin of the story turns out to have played an important role.
Sometimes a familiar event looks completely different when viewed through the experiences of the people who lived through it.
And sometimes an unexpected connection changes the question entirely.
History Through the People Who Lived It
One of the areas that has particularly captured my attention is the American Revolution.
Rather than simply studying battles, dates, and famous events, I became interested in the people who experienced the Revolution and the choices they made.
That interest eventually led me to research Dr. Joseph Warren, a Revolutionary-era physician, patriot, Freemason, and leader whose story deserves far more attention than his brief appearance in many history books suggests.
My research into Warren eventually became more than a historical interest.
It became a series of presentations, a commemorative project, a cachet, and a continuing effort to help others discover his story.
Remembering Dr. Joseph Warren
My interest in Dr. Joseph Warren extends beyond research. In September 2024, I participated in the unveiling of a bust honoring Warren, a physician, Freemason, and Patriot whose story connects directly to my interest in the relationship between Freemasonry and the American Revolution.
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The Cincinnati Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution documented the ceremony, including a photograph of Scott Freeman and me participating in the bust unveiling.
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Read the Cincinnati SAR account of the Dr. Joseph Warren bust unveiling →
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Remembering the Revolutionary Generation
My interest in the American Revolution also extends to the people who took part in the conflict and the communities that continue to remember them. In January 2026, I participated in a commemoration honoring General Richard Montgomery and the Battle of Quebec, another opportunity to connect historical research with the work of preserving and remembering Revolutionary-era history.
The Cincinnati Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution documented the commemoration and listed me among the civilian participants.
Read the Cincinnati SAR account of the Richard Montgomery commemoration →
Discovering History Through Connections
My research has also shown me that history can be discovered in unexpected places.
A stamp can lead to a historical figure.
A family tree can lead to an American Revolution story.
A Masonic record can reveal a connection between people who lived centuries ago.
A railroad line can explain the development of a community.
And a local story can suddenly become part of a much larger national story.
This is one of the reasons history fits so naturally within GEMS+H.
The subjects may appear different, but the approach remains the same:
Ask questions.
Research the evidence.
Find the connections.
Tell the story.
History Through Speaking
My interest in history has naturally found its way into my public speaking.
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have presented historical programs to Masonic organizations, the Sons of the American Revolution, High Twelve, the Ohio Lodge of Research, stamp clubs, schools, libraries, and other organizations.
Some of these programs focus directly on historical events and individuals.
Others use history as a starting point for exploring larger ideas such as leadership, service, perseverance, brotherhood, or the importance of remembering those who came before us.
Among my historical presentations are:
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The Life of Dr. Joseph Warren
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The American Revolution & Freemasonry
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Leslie's Retreat
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Soldiers, Statesmen & Surveyors
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Four Chaplains: A Legacy of Faith, Sacrifice, and Brotherhood
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Duty Calls
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Trains, Tracks & the Brotherhood that Built Them
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Freemasons' Flourish in Forging Freedom's Path Through Philately
These presentations are not simply attempts to recount historical facts.
They are opportunities to discover the people, choices, and connections behind those facts.
Local History Matters
Some of the most meaningful history is not found in a national textbook.
It may be found in an old building.
A railroad right-of-way.
A cemetery.
A family photograph.
A newspaper article.
A lodge record.
Or the story remembered by someone in the community.
My interest in local history has led me to explore subjects ranging from the history of Hamilton and the surrounding region to the railroads that helped shape communities.
My presentation Trains, Tracks & the Brotherhood that Built Them grew from that curiosity—looking beyond the tracks themselves to the people and communities connected to them.
History Preserved in the Community
History is not preserved only in books, archives, and museums. Sometimes it is preserved by people who take the time to remember those who came before us.
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Through my involvement with the Sons of the American Revolution, I have had opportunities to participate in commemorative events that help keep those stories connected to the communities where they unfolded.
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One example was a July 4, 2026 grave-marking ceremony at Washington Park in Cincinnati. Participating in ceremonies like this reminds me that historical research has a purpose beyond discovering facts. It can also help us recognize and remember the people whose lives helped shape the history we study.
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The ceremony was featured in the Fall 2026 edition of the Ohio Country Bulletin.
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Rocky is pictured on the far left.
History and Genealogy:
Where Stories Become Personal
Genealogy has changed the way I look at history.
When you discover that an ancestor lived through a historical event, history suddenly becomes more than something that happened to other people.
It becomes part of your own story.
My genealogical research has repeatedly led me back into historical questions:
Who were these people?
Where did they live?
What was happening around them?
Why did they make the choices they made?
And how did their experiences shape the generations that followed?
That is one of the reasons genealogy and history are so closely connected within GEMS+H.
History Preserved in Unexpected Places
My work with philately has reinforced another lesson:
History is everywhere.
A postage stamp may commemorate a person.
A first-day cover may preserve an event.
A commemorative cachet may tell a story that connects an organization, an individual, and a moment in time.
What initially appears to be a small piece of paper can become the starting point for hours of research.
My work with Masonic philately has allowed me to explore history through stamps while also developing exhibits and presentations that bring those connections to life.
Bringing History to Life
Whether I am researching a Revolutionary War figure, following the history of a railroad, examining an old family record, studying a Masonic connection, or building a philatelic exhibit, my goal remains the same.
I want people to see the story behind the facts.
I want them to become curious.
I want them to ask another question.
And I want them to discover that history is not something that simply happened long ago.
History is made up of people.
People who made choices.
People who faced challenges.
People who took risks.
People who served others.
People who succeeded.
People who failed.
People whose names became famous.
And people whose names were almost forgotten.
Every one of them has a story.
The Story Continues
The more history I study, the more I realize how much remains to be discovered.
Every answer seems to lead to another question.
Every person connects to another person.
Every event fits into a larger story.
And every story gives us another opportunity to understand where we came from—and perhaps see our own place in the story a little differently.
That is what keeps me searching.
Not the memorization of history.
The discovery of it.
And that is what I hope to share through Rocky J. Squirrel Presents GEMS+H: The Stories That Bind Us.
Because history is not simply about what happened.
It is about the people, the connections, and the stories that bind us.
Explore GEMS+H
The stories don't stop here. Explore the other parts of GEMS+H and discover more of the people, history, education, and connections that bring these stories together.
