NORWAY — Local historian Larry Glatz will highlight the issues, personalities and events that made the War of 1812 so important during a presentation Tuesday, Aug. 21, at the Historical Society.

The event will begin at 7 p.m. at the society headquarters on Main Street.

Although Norway had no newspapers at the time to recount the war, Glatz will present the War of 1812 as it affected Norway and the surrounding communities using citizens’ and soldiers’ letters, militia records and historical articles from Norway area newspapers printed later in the century.

“During the war years themselves, Norway found itself in a part of the state which was particularly favorable to the war; and as a result, recruiters were able to enlist many local men who were willing to risk their lives for the honor of their new country — as well as many others who agreed to leave farm and family in exchange for cash bonuses and the promise of a generous plot of bounty land in the West,” according to a statement released by the Norway Historical Society about the event.

“In fact, the strange little war which is almost forgotten by Americans of today was one of the most contentious in our history. For every citizen who thought America’s honor required the fight, there was one in the next town who believed Mr. Madison’s war the errand of a madman,” the statement continued.

Refreshments will be served following the program.