Lewiston's Gather to host 'Hellmira' talk

Courtesy of Derek Maxfield

Gather American Eatery will hold a book talk and signing with author Derek Maxfield on Tuesday, Oct. 13, as he talks about his work “HELLMIRA: The Union’s Most Infamous Civil War Prison Camp – Elmira, NY.”

Long called by some the “Andersonville of the North,” the prisoner of war camp in Elmira is remembered as the most notorious of all Union-run POW camps. It existed for only a year – from the summer of 1864 to July 1865 – but in that time, and for long after, it became darkly emblematic of man’s inhumanity to man.

Confederate prisoners called it “Hellmira.”

Hailed by Midwest Book Review as “A seminal work of outstanding and meticulous scholarship,” Hellmira is Maxfield’s first book. An associate professor of history at Genesee Community College in Batavia, Maxfield has been called “an expert storyteller with a knack for mesmerizing an audience.” In 2019, SUNY recognized him with the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Guests are invited to dine while listening to the book talk, which begins at 7 p.m. and will be followed by a signing opportunity. Books will be available for sale for $14 (cash only). Folks are encouraged to make reservations to ensure a table. Call Gather for reservations at 716-405-7162. The restaurant is located at 453 Center St., Lewiston.