March 6: 7:30 p.m. Doc Sayman – Sue Blesi

Sue Blesi’s topic this year will be Doc Sayman, a patent medicine salesman, who once held medicine shows in the area and went on to become a big distributor. He built the Sayman Hotel just outside Meramec State Park. Sayman was eccentric to the core and Sue has numerous Sayman tales to share.

Sue Blesi has been interested in and involved in Franklin Co. history for almost forty years. She wrote a local history column in the St. Clair section of the Missourian for many years, has been active in numerous historical societies, and started both the Franklin Co. History Fair, in 2001, and this class at ECC in 2004. She has written several books on area history as well, and plans to have a new book, Hanged by the Neck Until Dead, Lynchings and Hangings in Franklin County, Missouri, ready in time for the class.