September 3, 2019

 

The Spencer County Historical Society met on Tuesday, September 3, 2019, in the Rockport Library Genealogy Room.

 

The meeting was called to order by the president at 6:33 PM with 13 members present.

 

The minutes from the last meeting were read and approved.

 

The treasurer’s report was given. 

 

The secretary reported she had received an e-mail from someone inquiring about buying Volume 3 of the cemetery books.  There was some discussion about reprinting the three volumes, but the president mentioned that Volume 3 was the last book to be sold out.  It was finally decided the president would contact the person and tell him that he could have one reprinted by the Evansville Bindery which did the printing of the books.

 

There was also discussion about putting the 2018 Bicentennial Book on the web site and the book list. 

 

The president asked about putting together a book of the newsletters starting in 1985 when the Society reorganized.  A member said he would help the president in working on the project.  He suggested starting with the years 1985 to 1989.  Another member stated it shouldn’t be too hard to make an index of items in the newsletters with several people working together.  He said he would also help with the project.

 

The Christmas dinner meeting was discussed.  It will also be the Historian of the Year program.  It will be Wednesday, December 4, 2019, at The Rustic in Rockport.  Each person will be ordering from the menu and be responsible for paying for his/her own meal.  Ordering will begin around 6:00 PM.  Members will be reminded of the date again in the December newsletter and in the local papers.

 

The president had contacted a member about the status of the plaque for the Lankford/Langford cave below the Rockport bluff.  The member had not spoken to the mayor, but assumed the city did not want the marker after the e-mail he had received from another member.  The wording on the plaque is ready to go but it hasn’t been ordered.  The president said he would talk to the mayor and see about going ahead with the project.

 

Three members had attended a presentation on the book “Abe’s Youth” written by William Bartelt and Joshua Claybourn.  They said it was very informative and had a lot of Spencer County history.  A member had contacted Josh to have them make a presentation for the Society in October.  Josh said October 22 or 23 would work for him.  The president is going to see if the small conference room at the Spencer County Community Building is available for one of those dates.  The conference room holds up to 75 people and has a screen and projector available.

 

The president mentioned the dedication of the plaque for the Baker’s Creek Baptist Church will be Sunday, September 29, 2019, at 10:45 AM.  Pastor Carl Jones will have a few words to say and there will be refreshments after the service.  The history of Baker’s Creek is available online.

 

The Society also placed a plaque at the Little Pigeon Creek Baptist Church which is inside the Lincoln State Park.  They do not want a dedication program.  Both churches were honored with plaques during the bicentennial in 2018 as being in existence for over 200 years.

A member announced Trinity Methodist Church in Rockport is celebrating 150 years on Sunday, October 29, 2019.  Church begins at 10:00 AM and there will be a meal after the service.

 

The member also mentioned Ken Burns’ series on Country Music will begin on PBS on September 15, 2019, at 7:00 PM.  He said the new Owensboro, Kentucky, Bluegrass Museum was a great place to visit.

 

A member reported The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War are trying to get information on Private David Jackson Smith, the last Civil War soldier who was buried in Spencer County for the Last Soldier Project.  Private Smith is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Chrisney, Indiana.

 

He also said the group finally had an agreement with the Vanderburgh County Commissioners to preserve artifacts in the Evansville Coliseum.  They had been trying for years to be able to preserve this valuable history of the area.

 

The member stated Eddie Price would be making a presentation on his book. “Widder’s Landing” on Thursday, September 19, 2019, at 7:00 PM at the Evansville FOP Lodge.

 

A member reported the Pioneer Village would once again be having their Christmas “Treemendous” celebration on Saturday, December 7, 2019, if the Society wants to decorate a tree.

 

A member informed the Society there would be a Browning Genealogy & Local History workshop on September 10, 2019, at 5:00 PM CT at the Jasper Public Library in Jasper, Indiana.  This will be an introduction to their website and databases.

 

A motion was made and seconded to purchase a copy of the hardback book “Abe’s Youth” for the library. The motion carried.  The secretary will order the book using the discount on the flyer.

 

A member handed out copies of the 1921 dedication of the Spencer County Courthouse.

 

The member reported a spinning wheel once owned by Nancy Hanks Lincoln has been located in Birmingham, Alabama.  It is believed to have come from Springfield, Illinois.  The Lincolns took it to Illinois when they left Spencer County. 

 

A member had a newsletter from The Abraham Lincoln Association written by Richard Hart, “Thomas Lincoln Reconsidered” which is trying to correct misconceptions about Thomas Lincoln.

 

A motion was made and seconded to adjourn the meeting.  The motion carried.  The meeting adjourned at 8:37 PM.

 

The next meeting will be October 1, 2019 at 6:30 PM in the Genealogy Room.