June 5, 2012

The Spencer County Historical Society met on Tuesday, June 5, 2012 in the Rockport Library Genealogy Room.

The meeting was called to order by the president at 6:40 PM with 8 members present (one from California and one from Texas).

The minutes from the last meeting were read and approved.

The treasurer’s report was given. 

The secretary gave a report on the Historian of the Year Banquet.  The Society gained three new members at the banquet.  The Society now has 56 members.

The president read notes from the families who were honored at the recent banquet.

The secretary mentioned that the library received 26 reels of microfilm for the Genealogy Room.  Five reels covered The Rockport Journal-Democrat from 2006 to 2010.  15 reels covered The Spencer County Leader from 1999 to 2006 and six reels covered from 2008 to 2010.  The 2007 issues still need to be microfilmed and were sent to be copied in late April.  The Society spent $1,040.00 to purchase these reels @ $40.00 each.  Several donations were used to help with the purchase of the microfilm.

It was also mentioned that a member from Indianapolis, who is a member of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, wanted to use articles and pictures that were in Issue 91 of the Society’s newsletter concerning General James C. Veatch.

Photos were shown of the refurbished Boner Bridge and the work Steve Haaff did installing the Honig plaques in the Mt. Zion Cemetery.

The president read an e-mail from INDOT concerning the hill slide on Highway 66 east of Grandview.  (According to the president, the slide is quite a distance away from Bluff School and a cemetery.  Around 1900, Bluff School burned down and they built a one-room school.  It is still there.)

The president said the Sandy Creek Landing plaque made by Grandview Aluminum Products was now in place at the Grandview boat dock.  The Huffman Mill plaque is finished and the post has been set but the plaque needs to be placed on the post.  The president suggested there be a dedication ceremony for the plaques and to give the Banks family recognition for their help in preserving the history of Spencer County.

It was reported that a bid had been awarded to begin rehabilitation of the Huffman Mill Bridge.  The project will be split between Perry and Spencer counties, each county paying half the cost.

A member asked if anyone had a list of soldiers or groups from Indiana who served in the Civil War.  The president informed him the Genealogy Room had such a book.  It is “Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Indiana, Vol. II, 1861-1865”.

A motion was made and seconded to adjourn the meeting.  The motion carried.  The meeting adjourned at 7:32 PM.

There will be no meeting in July.

The next meeting will be August 7, 2012 at 6:30 PM in the Genealogy Room.