Tuesday, March 7, 2006.

The president called the meeting to order with 10 members present.

The secretary read the minutes of the last meeting.

The treasurer’s report was given. 69 members have renewed their membership for the 2005 - 2006 year. There was a membership renewal form received from Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana. A motion was made and seconded that we renew our membership. It will be from 4-1-2006 to 3-31-2007.

A letter had been received stating that David Ranger had been reappointed as the Spencer County Historian.

Another letter was read from a member who told about a fund raiser while he was living in Ohio. Money had been raised by selling a book filled with stories from various families. Some discussion followed and it was mentioned that it took a lot of man hours to write and edit the stories and get them ready for print.

The member also showed us his “Early Settler Certificate” that showed he was a direct descendant of a settler in Clinton County, Michigan ca 1852 that had been issued to him February 10, 2006.

A member gave a report of the meeting of the “Friends of Huffman Mill Bridge” on February 16, 2006 at DJ’s Restaurant in Troy, Indiana. They discussed what they could do on their own. They are going to apply for a tax free status. It was mentioned that the neighbors keep a close watch on the bridge. The member also mentioned that he had attended the Commissioners’ meeting to discuss the bottom structure of the bridge which has pulled away some from the support.

Someone is going to write a grant for the “Friends of Huffman Mill Bridge”. The member had suggested that they make a brochure telling about the Huffman Mill Bridge, the Boner Bridge, and the Natcher Bridge. The brochure could be called “The Bridges of Spencer County”.

Two members had contacted Russ Stilwell and he will attend the Historian of the Year banquet and talk about Charles Lieb who is being honored as the Commemorative Historian.

The two members had also attended the Commissioners’ meeting to ask permission to hang a framed picture of Charles Lieb in the Courthouse rotunda. Permission was granted. The picture is going to be framed and will be ready for the banquet in April.

A member mentioned that the Coast Guard had one more paper to be processed to allow paddlewheel boats to dock at Grandview. They hope to be able to have them stop next year for the 200^th anniversary of Grandview. Passengers would then be able to take bus trips to various attractions in Spencer County.

A member stated that they were going to open the refurbished “Candy Castle” south of Santa Claus next month. The Santa Claus Museum that is located next to the Santa Claus Post Office is also slated to open soon.

A member asked about the work at the cemetery being done as an Eagle Scout project. No one had any information about what has been done.

The president had the tickets for the Historian of the Year banquet to be held at the Chrisney Community Center on April 22, 2006 at 5:30 PM. They are $12.00 each. We will be honoring Orville Martin as Historian of the Year. The newsreporter is to put the information in the local papers.

A motion was made and seconded to purchase the book “Images of America, Jasper and Huntingburg”. Motion carried.

A motion was made and seconded to purchase the book “Military Review of Dubois County, Indiana – Vol. II”. Motion carried.

Several members mentioned the Christmas ornaments that were sold during “Christmas in Ferdinand”. They have a different ornament each year and they are collectors’ items. Some discussion followed about what we could do to honor various locations in Spencer County.

A motion was made and seconded to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried.

The meeting adjourned at 7:40 PM.

The next meeting will be Tuesday, April 4, 2006 at 6:30 PM.