November 1, 2016

 

The Spencer County Historical Society met on Tuesday, November 1, 2016, in the Rockport Library Genealogy Room.

 

The meeting was called to order by the president at 6:32 PM with five members and one guest present.

 

The minutes from the last meeting were read and approved.

 

The treasurer’s report was given. 

 

The secretary read several items she had received:

 

The 990-N e-postcard was filed with IRS on September 7, 2016.  It was accepted on September 7, 2016 but filing status is:  pending.  This is a filing for a non-profit organization.

 

The paperwork for ordering a Heritage Cemetery Sign for the Rockport Pioneer Cemetery was sent in September 14, 2016.  To get the application processed, a check needed to be included with the form.  A personal check had been sent by a member.  The sign has since been approved by the Indiana Historical Bureau.  A motion was made and seconded to reimburse the member for the cost.  The motion carried.

 

The secretary filed the Indiana Business Entity Report on October 3, 2016.  They have changed the filing.  It is now for 2 years - 2016 & 2017 and is $20.00.  The Society won’t need to refile until October 31, 2018.

 

An e-mail was received from Dr. Greg Waltermire about a possible Lincoln presentation.

 

A member discussed several items he had mentioned in an e-mail he had sent to attending members about the locations of former high schools in the county and the possibility of erecting signs for the schools.  He also told about his research on Sumner School which was located in Rockport and the desire to erect a sign at its location next year during Black History month.  He had talked to Mayor Harney about sharing the cost and was told the placing of the sign would have to be approved by the Housing Authority and there was a possibility they would share the cost.  A motion was made and seconded to allow the member to proceed on getting a sign for Sumner School.  The motion carried.

 

A member had noticed there were several historic pictures of Rockport in an office at Rockport City Hall.  He had asked to be able to copy the pictures.  He was told they were family photographs and she would check with her family.

 

An e-mail was received from the Hot Spring Historical Society of Missouri concerning a photo that had been given to them of the Rock Port Bottling Works and was wondering if it was the Rockport Cider and Vinegar Works in Rockport, Indiana.  They had sent a copy of the photo and after researching the fire maps in the Genealogy room, decided it was not the right Rock Port. (Rockport at one time was called Rock Port.) 

 

An e-mail was received about a Tell City Historical Society book for sale - Perry County Marriage Records 1950-1970.  The Genealogy Room has the following books of  Perry County Marriage Records:  1850-1920; 1887-1905; 1921-1930; and 1931-1950 and this would complete the set.  A motion was made and seconded motion to purchase the book.  The motion carried.  The secretary said she would have to check with the Genealogy Room to make sure they hadn’t ordered the book. (NOTE:  Checking the next day, the secretary was informed the Rockport Library was going to purchase the book, so the Society will not be ordering the book.)

 

An e-mail was received from the President of the 4th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry Descendants Association seeking information about a Civil War veteran.  Using the Society’s cemetery books, the person was located.  This gave the association grave #1401 out of 2391 men who had served in the 4th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry.

 

It was mentioned that Historical Calendars were to be available from The Spencer County Journal-Democrat in December.  There was an ad in the October 20, 2016 issue.

 

It was reported that Charlie Finecy had resigned as Lincoln Pioneer Village director effective October 30, 2016.  His replacement, Gary Rhea, is a graduate of Murray State University and is from Meade County, Kentucky, and he will begin October 26.

 

A brochure was received from Southern Indiana Leadership Program - University of Southern Indiana.  The cost of the program was $1,000.00.  The Society was not interested in the program.

 

The president suggested the Society have a stamp made to mark the books the Society has purchased.  It would say: 

Property of

Spencer County Historical Society

Rockport, Indiana

 

A member mentioned the e-mail he had sent to members about the Spencer County Bicentennial Celebration that is coming up in 2018.  He had told the county group that the Society had neither the manpower nor the finances to lead such a celebration. 

 

A member also informed the Society the tours from the Springfield, Illinois Museum and the Indiana Pioneers were very impressed with the information they were given.  The Lincoln Colloquium was not very well planned and there will be changes made in the program for next year.

 

A motion was made and seconded to adjourn the meeting.  The motion carried.  The meeting adjourned at 8:14 PM.

 

There will be no meeting in December or January.

 

The next meeting will be February 7, 2017, at 6:30 PM in the Genealogy Room.