August 5, 2014

The Spencer County Historical Society met on Tuesday, August 5, 2014 in the Rockport Library Genealogy Room.

The meeting was called to order by the president at 6:35 PM with five members and two guests present.

The minutes from the last meeting were read and approved.

The treasurer’s report was given. 

The treasurer read several items she had received:

• A thank you note from the 4-H Association thanking the Society for sponsoring the Genealogy Award. 
• A notice about 2016 Bicentennial Train that was going to be in Jasper September 25-27.
• A Bicentennial Brown Bag meeting at the Dubois County Museum in Jasper to discuss items for the 2016 Indiana Bicentennial
• E-mails concerning a book written by a graduate of Rockport High School – “A Nurse Remembers” by Eula M. Awbrey Sforza telling about her experience in WWII.  The woman was going to send the book to the Society.
• A renewal for membership in Indiana Landmarks.

A motion was made and seconded to renew the membership for Indiana Landmarks.  The motion carried.

The president read a letter telling about the Indiana Genealogy Fair on October 25, 2014 in Indianapolis at the Indiana State Library.

The president mentioned the Lincoln Presenters will be having their annual convention in Spencer County in 2016.  A member said there are plans to have a bus tour of the county and various Lincoln sites.  They will be eating lunch at the Lincoln Pioneer Village in Rockport.

The president also had a letter about the Santa Claus – Lincoln Discovery Multi-Use Trail.  They were asking if the Society wanted to be part of the consulting committee on the project.  The president had replied that the Society would like to be involved.

A guest gave the Society a painting of Spencer County that had been in her family for over fifty years.  The painting had been started but had not been completed. 

The Historian of the Year Banquet was discussed.  The date will be Saturday, October 11, 2014 with the meal being served at 12:00 PM.  The Rockport Inn was selected as the caterer with the same menu as in previous years:

· Fried Chicken

· Marinated Pork Chop

· Mashed Potatoes/Gravy

· Green Beans

· Combination Salad – separate bowl

· Rolls

· Tea/Lemonade

Dennis Hutchinson will be the speaker.  He is a Civil War re-enactor.

A member mentioned her family took an enjoyable trip this summer with their grandchildren.  They visited the Lincoln Museum in Springfield, Illinois.  The museum has the original copy of the Minute Book of Little Pigeon Creek Baptist Church 1816-1840.  She had contacted the museum to see if they would be able to view the original.  While there, they were able see the book.

A member also mentioned someone had donated money to re-create the Lincoln funeral train from Washington, D.C. to Springfield, Illinois.  It will be the 150th year anniversary next year.

A member announced that he had been contacted to help locate two gravesites of members in a person’s family.  He was able to do this.

A member has also made part of the plat of the cemetery where Nancy Hanks Lincoln is buried at Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial.  He had done dowsing there earlier this year.

The meeting several members had in July with a woman doing research on black families in Spencer County in 1870 was discussed.

A new member brought old postcards from the area and they were passed around for members to see.

A motion was made and seconded to keep the same officers for 2014-2015.  The motion carried.

A motion was made and seconded to adjourn the meeting.  The motion carried.  The meeting adjourned at 7:52 PM.

The next meeting will be September 2, 2014 at 6:30 PM in the Genealogy Room.