June 7, 2011

The Spencer County Historical Society met on Tuesday, June 7, 2011 in the Rockport Library Genealogy Room.

The meeting was called to order by the president at 6:30 PM with 5 members and two guests present.

The minutes from the last meeting were read and approved.

The treasurer’s report was given. 

A member introduced the two guests from Lebanon, Oregon, who were researching a member of the Meeks family.

The president mentioned the upcoming St. Meinrad, Indiana Sesquicentennial.  A motion was made and seconded to purchase a book of the sesquicentennial if St. Meinrad publishes one.  The motion carried.

A member read several articles.  One was from the Owensboro, Kentucky Messenger-Inquirer concerning Grandview, Indiana 100 years ago.  The other article was from the June issue of Maturity Journal about the dedication of the original Santa statue at Santa Claus, Indiana.

A member suggested the Society send out copies of the June issue of the Maturity Journal along with a copy of a newsletter and the dues reminder that is usually sent out in late June.  He stated that it would require a large envelope and extra postage, but felt that the members would appreciate receiving the materials.  A motion was made and seconded to allow the secretary to get large envelopes and the required postage to send them out.  The motion was carried.

A member reported there were few membership cards left.  She also mentioned that we had been postponing selecting a new logo for the Society.  The members looked at various copies of new logos before making a selection.  A motion was made and seconded to purchase new membership cards and stationery.  The motion carried.

The president had received a letter from a Meeks descendant who had visited the Graf Cemetery in Luce Township, had noticed the Meeks plaque was on the ground, and mentioned most people would not notice it.  She wondered if there could be some kind of marker on a pole erected to make people aware of where the plaque was located.

A member asked about putting a sign from Grandview Aluminum near the plaque.  The president asked him to check on the cost for such a sign.

A member mentioned that $200.00 had been donated to the Society in memory of George and Alda Honig.  He wondered about spending that money towards markers for the graves of George and Alda at Mt. Zion Cemetery near Richland, Indiana.  He was going to check with Grandview Aluminum to get a cost.  The Society was informed of the person to contact about regulations for placing a marker in the cemetery.  A motion was made and seconded to spend the money for the markers.  The motion carried.

A member reported that the David Turnham sign he, his wife, and the president had refurbished according to detailed instructions found on the Indiana Historical Bureau’s website was no longer legible.  The gold paint had completely faded.  He had talked with Grandview Aluminum who explained how to apply the gold paint so it would stay visible.  A motion was made and seconded to purchase the paint for the project.  The motion carried.

There was some discussion about putting up a plaque for the Huffman Mill Bridge after the work is completed.

A member told about the Bicentennial Park in Fulda.  The road is washed out and the park is overgrown with weeds.  It is a historical site and needs to be cleaned up.  There is supposed to be a marker and a sun dial in the park.  There was an article about it in the Rockport Journal in 1976.  A member suggested it would be a good idea to have a picture of the dedication in the local papers and then ask, “Who is responsible for the maintenance of the park?”

A motion was made and seconded to adjourn the meeting.  The motion carried.  The meeting adjourned at 7:50 PM.

There will be no meeting July 5, 2011 or August 2, 2011.

The next meeting will be September 6, 2011 at 6:30 PM in the Genealogy Room.