June 2, 2015

 

The Spencer County Historical Society met on Tuesday, June 2, 2015 in the Rockport Library Genealogy Room.

 

The meeting was called to order by the president at 6:37 PM with five members present.

 

The minutes from the last meeting were read and approved.

 

The treasurer’s report was given. 

 

A member mentioned he had purchased the last issue of Hoosier Ancestor Scrapbook:  Vol. III.  (There is one copy in the display case.)  There are 27 copies of Vol. I & II, including the one in the display case, left. 

 

A member reported he had spoken to State Senator Mark Messmer at the Lincoln Day dinner about his displeasure of the State wanting to give up Lincoln Ferry Park.  The park has a lot of history connected with Abraham Lincoln.  He also told him the State didn’t even mow the roadsides for Memorial Day.  (Ironically, the State mowed and weedeated on Highway U S 231 two days after our meeting.)

 

The president read a letter he had written to the Spencer County Commissioners stating the Lincoln Ferry Park is a historic property that fits in with tourism which the State is trying to promote. 

 

A member also informed the Society of a meeting where Lincoln Ferry Park was mentioned.  The State is seriously trying to get rid of the land and the County wants more river frontage to be better able to sell the parcel of land next to the park.

 

A motion was made and seconded to keep the same officers for the next year.  The motion carried.  The officers will be:

                        President                     Steve Sisley    

                        Vice-president             Duane Walter

                        Secretary/Treasurer     Patricia Dawson

 

The president read a letter from the Spencer County 4-H Association asking for the Society to sponsor the Genealogy award.  A motion was made and seconded to send them $25.00 for the award.  The motion carried.

 

The president mentioned the position of County Historian was still vacant.

 

A member asked about the report which was done on early black history in the county.  The report has been on the Internet, but it is not very in depth.

 

A member announced he had attended a meeting concerning the Underground Railroad.  There are several sites in the area connected with the railroad.  There is the Riley farm on Highway 60 east in Kentucky that has a marker for Josiah Henson who was written about in Uncle Tom’s Cabin.

           

A member mentioned receiving a phone call from James Parker who was seeking information on the Parker Cemetery in Hatfield.  He also read an e-mail he received from Germany inquiring about Charles Lieb and Carl Eigenmann.

 

A motion was made and seconded to adjourn the meeting.  The motion carried.  The meeting adjourned at 8:51 PM.

 

There will be no meeting in July.

 

The next meeting will be August 4, 2015 at 6:30 PM in the Genealogy Room.