March 5, 2019

 

The Spencer County Historical Society met on Tuesday, March 5, 2019, in the Rockport Library Genealogy Room.

 

The meeting was called to order by the president at 6:38 PM with eight members present.

 

The minutes from the last meeting were read and approved.

 

The treasurer’s report was given. 

 

The secretary had received a 1932 postcard from a woman in Bloomington, Indiana.  It had been written to a family in Princeton, Indiana.  It told about the daughter’s experience of spending the week at the Rockport, Indiana fair. 

 

The secretary also mentioned an article in the February 16, 2019, Evansville Courier and Press stating the Indiana now had its first national park - Indiana Dunes National Park.  She thought the Lincoln National Boyhood Memorial was the first Indiana Park in 1962.

 

A member told when the national park service took over the Lincoln Boyhood Memorial; they had pulled six of the 12 stones on the “Trail of Twelve Stones” and then had to put them back.  They were told not to disturb anything the State of Indiana had done to the area.

 

The president announced he had given copies of the 2018 Bicentennial book to the two nursing homes in Dale (Willow Dale and Core).  The nursing homes were very appreciative of receiving the books.

 

The president had prices for reprinting the 2018 Bicentennial Book.  It would take about four weeks to reprint them.  Several people spoke in favor of having them reprinted as they could be sold at various festivals in the county.  A motion was made and seconded to purchase another 100 books.  The motion carried.

 

A member read an e-mail he had received concerning the Langford plaque.  He had talked to the Rockport Mayor about the plaque and sent the information to a member was going to contact the mayor.  A member said they had checked out a location near the cave where the plaque would be placed and they didn’t have a conflict with the stone bluff.

 

The president reported there had been a lot of interest in the Time Capsule.  Many people and businesses have been bringing in items to be placed in the capsule.  A cabinet had been made in which to place the capsule so it would be on view to the public.  The capsule is going to be sealed on Sunday, March 10, 2019, at the Spencer County Youth and Community Center in Chrisney, Indiana, at 2:00 PM. 

 

An article of agreement was signed stating the capsule would be kept at the Community Center and when it is open in 2068, the items will be turned over to the Spencer County Historical Society if it is still in existence.  If not, the contents will be turned over to the County Commissioners or executive body.  Family items will be given to the heirs.

A member mentioned the Southwestern Indiana Historical Society had done a Lincoln Inquiry in 1920.  There was very little Spencer County representation on the committee.  There is a book coming out in October that disproves some items in the Inquiry.  The member said that he also has research that he would like to put in booklet form that also disputes some items.  Many things written about Thomas Lincoln are false. 

 

A member brought up he had been communicating with Craig Berndt about presenting a program about the traction line that existed in Spencer County.  Craig has done much research on this area and has several programs available.  The member had checked out locations and the best place would be in the conference room in the library basement.  It was decided to have Craig present his program on April 2, 2019, at 6:00 PM in the conference room.  (The president has already reserved the room.)  This would take the place of the regular Society meeting.  The Society will put an article in the papers and a notice will be sent to the members informing them of the program.

 

The meeting ended with an Abraham Lincoln story from a member.  He has been reading about the women Abe loved.  Apparently Abe was smitten by Hannah Gentry.  Hannah couldn’t stand onions.  Abe loved to eat onions.  If Hannah had liked onions, history might have been entirely different!  Hannah married John Romine.  (She was a member’s great, great grandmother.)

 

A motion was made and seconded to adjourn the meeting.  The motion carried.  The meeting adjourned at 8:29 PM.

 

There will be no meeting in April.  Instead there will be a program presented by Craig Berndt.  His topic will cover Southern Railway’s Rockport Branch with an overview of Southern’s other lines in Indiana, and will include the Evansville & Ohio Valley Railway.

 

The next meeting will be May 7, 2019, at 6:30 PM in the Genealogy Room.