The Spencer County Historical Society met on Tuesday, August 4, 2009 in the Rockport Library Genealogy Room.

The meeting was called to order by the president at 6:40 PM with seven members present.

The minutes from the last meeting were read and approved.

The treasurer’s report was given. 

Several letters were read from renewing members.

As it was time for election of officers, a motion was made and seconded that the Society retains the same officers as last year.  The motion carried.  The officers are:

            President                      Steve Sisley

            Vice-president              Duane Walter

            Secretary/Treasurer      Patricia Dawson

The president mentioned that the library is being recognized with an award for all the things the library does for the community.  They will be having Library Days on the evenings of September 17 and 18, and on Saturday morning on September 19.  They would like for each department to do something related to their area. 

Several items were discussed:

· A member mentioned a woman who does first person impressions and tells stories.

· The president mentioned that he could have a map and show the locations of the one-room schools in Spencer County.

· A member mentioned the possibility of presenting a program on George Honig or on the History of the School Corporation.

The president was going to obtain more information on what the library wants to do and present it at the next meeting.

A member mentioned that the members of the Meeks family want to have some kind of ceremony and have a stone placed near the marker which was erected by the Society telling of the Meeks massacre.  The family has already contacted Schum Monuments and the stone would be purchased by the family members.  The family would like to have the ceremony sometime in October when the crops would be out of the field.  He would like to show other family members where the attack took place.

A member mentioned the Huffman Mill Bridge.  The Spencer County Commissioners had received a grant to fix the bridge.  It was reported that some want to move or raise the bridge.  The member feels that if they move the bridge, it may destroy it.  An official from Perry County also wants to keep the bridge in the same place.

The president suggested the Society compose a letter recommending the commissioners take serious consideration about the future of the bridge.  A member said he would contact a commissioner to find out what was going on with the bridge.  He may also contact a person who helps write the grants.

The president mentioned some items that had been brought to his attention by a member:

• The Emmick Landing Plantation in Hancock County, Kentucky will be open from September 6, 2009 to October 1, 2009.  The hours are Wednesday through Sunday 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM.
• The Samuel Pate House in Hancock County, Kentucky will be open later.  This is the place where Lincoln won his first law case.

The president also mentioned that the Hayford family history was given to the Genealogy Room.

A member had talked to the current editor of The Rockport Journal-Democrat to see about having the missing years of the Democrat microfilmed.  The years are 1954 and from 1971 to 1980.  The 1950 Journal also needs to be microfilmed.  This would complete the missing years of the microfilm files available for research in the Genealogy Room.  The Journal and The Democrat merged in 1981.  The member is going to get more information before the next meeting.

It was also mentioned that the library would like to have microfilms purchased for the following papers:  1999-2008 Spencer County Leader and 2006-2008 Rockport Journal-Democrat.  These papers are already on microfilm available to be purchased, but the library doesn’t have the money and wanted the Society to purchase them.  The cost is $40.00 a reel.  Some years took more than one reel.  The Society felt that their priority was to get the missing years done.

The president mentioned several Spencer County landmarks that are in danger:

• The building built by Dr. Gwaltney in Midway which was the Midway Masonic Lodge, grocery store, and post office
• The Buffaloville blacksmith shop which had a steam-powered mill
• The Midway School
• The Richland Telephone Office

The president mentioned the Schweizer Fest to be held in Tell City, Indiana.  Last year they had a walking tour with pictures of how the businesses looked years ago and told a brief history of the business.  It was very interesting.  They were going to have another walking tour this year. 

A member mentioned that he was moving back to Texas and told how much he enjoyed being a member of the Society.  The Society will certainly miss him.

A member gave the Society a CD containing the following: the history of Lincoln City, Indiana; the first park at Lincoln City, Indiana; the National Park; and the background on how the park developed.  His family had written the first deed for the cemetery.

The president mentioned a book for consideration, but it was tabled until the next meeting.

A motion was made and seconded to adjourn the meeting.  The motion carried.  The meeting adjourned at 8:50 PM.

The next meeting will be September 1, 2009 at 6:30 PM in the Genealogy Room.