August 5, 2008

 

The Spencer County Historical Society met on Tuesday, August 5, 2008 in the Rockport Library Genealogy Room.

 

The meeting was called to order by the president at 6:30 PM with six members present.

 

The minutes from the last meeting were read and approved.

 

The treasurer’s report was given. 

 

A member reported on the Commissioner’s meeting on June 10, 2008 concerning the Huffman Mill Bridge.  There is the possibility that the bridge might have to be raised because the bridge sometimes floods.  Lisa Gelhausen was at the meeting and is trying to get more grants to help do the project.  One of the grants is from the DNR (Department of Natural Resources).

 

A thank you card was read from the winner of the 4-H Genealogy award which the Society sponsors.

 

A member mentioned the meeting concerning the George Honig paintings.

 

The president read an invitation for the Civil War Ball that is to be held on September 27, 2008 in the Spencer County Courthouse Rotunda.

 

The president had received a notice about the upcoming Apple Fest.  It was decided to not have a booth this year.

 

A member talked about the flatboat that will be leaving the Bluff Landing on Tuesday, September 9, 2008.  The speaker will be Richard Mourdock, Indiana State Treasurer, who will talk about Abraham Lincoln.  There will be an unveiling of the plaque honoring the 1958 flatboat trip.  The family members of the 1958 crew will be given a Tom Kennedy print.

 

Jeff Lindsey will emcee the launch celebration and the president is going to contact him to see if the Society can have a booth to sell books. 

 

There is to be a meeting with the Rockport Town Board to discuss parking and how they are going to shuttle people down to the landing.

 

The president asked if William Bartelt had finished his book about Lincoln.  It is believed that he has.

 

A member suggested the Society put an ad in the papers about the books that will be available at the boat launching.

 

The flatboat is scheduled to make eighteen stops during its trip.  Over $8,000.00 will be spent on gas for the trip.

 

The president mentioned that a member had recently passed away.  A motion was made and seconded to buy a book in her memory.  The motion carried.

 

The future of the Society was discussed.  Several ideas were mentioned and the By-laws were checked.  It was decided that the Society would continue and there was no need to have a meeting every month.

 

A motion was made and seconded to keep the same slate of officers for the 2008-2009 year.  The motion carried.

 

The officers are:            President                                  Steve Sisley     

                                    Vice- President                         Duane Walter

                                    Secretary/Treasurer                  Patricia Dawson

                                   

The president had a membership renewal for the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana.  A motion was made and seconded to renew our membership.  The motion carried.

 

A member brought up several items for discussion:

            1.  Spencer County Fair plaque which was purchased in April 2004 still has not been mounted.  What about the possibility of having another plaque made and having it mounted at the Rockport City Park?

            2.  The Thomas Langford plaque that is in the cave on the Bluff.  What about the possibility of having another plaque made and placed outside the cave giving the significance of the cave?

            3.  The George Honig plaques that are located at the Lower Landing are very dirty and hard to read.  With the flatboat celebration in September, what about having the plaques refurbished?

 

After much discussion, a motion was made and seconded to have the two Honig plaques refurbished if it could be done before September 9, 2008.  The motion carried.  A member was to contact Grandview Aluminum about the project.  (This motion was amended by the Executive Board on August 6, 2008 to cover the cost of the project.)

 

A member mentioned the possibility of Lincoln Pioneer Village being made a part of the State or Federal Parks system.  Several people have been contacted by a member to see what could be done to make this happen.

 

A motion was made and seconded to adjourn the meeting.  The motion carried.  The meeting adjourned at 8:40 PM.

 

The next meeting will be September 2, 2008 at 6:30 PM in the Genealogy Room.