Students Help Translate German on Wegan Gravestones

Students in Angie Sibrel's third-year German class at Brownstown Central High School are helping members of the JCHC's cemetery census and transcription committee translate inscriptions at the Old Wegan Cemetery southeast of Brownstown. Margo Brewer, who made the photographs, said she, Debbie Holle and Nancy Burge thought the students had a good time helping to translate the names and epitaphs.

The gravestones are those of some in the 1800s who were part of one of the largest migrations of German immigrants into the area. Several German language newspapers eventually were published and the Seymour Times sometimes ran side-by-side columns of German and English text.

The former Jackson County Genealogical Society, now merging with the county historical society, has taken the census of cemeteries in all twelve Jackson County townships during the past 20 years and published the results in books available for sale at the JCHC genealogical library. The books now are in the process of being updated to include burials made since the original publications and to add other information not available during earlier editions.

Basic Genealogy Sessions Planned

Under auspices of the Jackson County History Center at Brownstown a series of basic genealogy classes is planned Wednesday afternoons starting February 3, 2010, at the genealogical library, 415 1/2 South Poplar Street in Brownstown.

Teaching the class will be Nancy L. Hudson Burge, a JCHC member and an experienced genealogical researcher. A $30.00 fee will be charged for study materials. The classes are scheduled to meet from 12:30 to 2:30 pm Wednesdays for six weeks. Census records, cemetery research, charting and organizing, courthouse and historical research will be among topics covered.

For more information on the class persons may call the genealogical library at 812-358-2118 or email jcgs@verizon.net with February 2010 Genealogy Classes in the subject line.

Officers 2010

OFFICERS slated to take over the newly organized Jackson County History Center in 2010 are Richard Rumph, seated center, president; Martha Killey, left, secretary, and Gloria Sue Cross, first vice president. Standing from left are Raymond Bachmann, Bill Day, and Tom Cooley, respectively 4th, 3rd, and 2nd vice presidents. Phil Nash, treasurer, was absent.

JCHC Slates Officers for 2010

A slate of officers accepted by those present at a meeting in Brownstown tonight, Thursday, October 15, told their hopes for the Jackson County History Center, formed by the newly merged historical and genealogical societies.

Dick Rumph of Seymour, who will take office as president in January, told about 20 members that he wants to hear things members would like to do and what talents they can use to bring new life to the History Center. "We will try to fit everyone into a team effort," Rumph said. "That's the only way things will change."

The first membership meeting of the new organization is scheduled for 6:30 pm Tuesday, January 12, 2010. The meeting will be at the genealogy library building off US50 just west of the stoplight at Commerce and Main Streets in Brownstown. Ask if you need directions. The meeting is being held there because of an anticipated need for heated space not available on the pioneer village campus.

Other officers named tonight were Gloria Cross of Brownstown, first vice president, in charge of day-to-day operations;  Tom Cooley of Seymour, second vice, in charge of buildings and grounds; Bill Day of Brownstown, third vice, in charge of the research library; Raymond Bachmann of Brownstown, fourth vice, in charge of collection, display, and maintenance of museum artifacts; Phil Nash of Brownstown, treasurer; and Martha Killey of Brownstown, secretary.

Rumph distributed a "program potentials" sheet that includes public and school programming and performances as well as member education. "This will not be a 'one-man' show and it will not be a 'seven person' show. It will become an every-member adventure - all of us working together."

The new president acknowledged that the organization has "a big job" ahead, not just managing day-to-day operations but planning for new facilities that will move the genealogical library to the historical village campus and begin to fulfill the program potential.

"I personally will be looking forward to working with all of you to accomplish the many tasks before us," Rumph said. "I sincerely hope you all feel the same way."

For the rest of 2009 the historical and genealogical societies will continue their current operations and meetings: Historical Society, 2 pm Sunday, December 13; Genealogical Society, 7 pm Tuesdays, November 10 and December 8.
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Tradition and Change

Be sure to mark two uprushing dates on your calendars - the traditional historical society fall tour at 2 pm Sunday, October 11, and the election of officers for the new Jackson County History Center organization at 7 pm Thursday, October 15, at the JCHC meeting house.

FALL TOUR OCTOBER 11

The fall tour this year will be a visit to the JCHC campus buildings - which some members never have visited and of which they know little history. This will be a chance not only to see the buildings but to offer suggestions for uses of the buildings and for what changes or additions may be needed as the merger of the historical and genealogical societies continues. If your membership is current, this is your organization - so please come and participate!

The largest of the buildings is known as the Robertson Livery Stable at the corner of Sugar and Walnut streets, a block east of the stoplight on US50 in Brownstown. The oldest of the campus buildings, the livery once housed horses and their associated tack and vehicles. Sometimes vehicles and horses could be hired for travel, sometimes visitors to the courthouse boarded their conveyances there while on business such as trials. Those attending the old Presbyterian Church across Walnut Street may also have stabled horses there. A Sanborn Fire Insurance Map also shows a horse stable behind the main building at one time.

Next door on Sugar Street at one time was the Brownstown Fire Department. Later, when the livery barn became a feed mill, a corncrib stood there.

Still further up Sugar Street is the Ball Museum building. It has been identified as being the James Bland Blacksmith Shop in the 1920s and 1930s. More research is being done to determine the previous tenants on the JCHC campus.

JCHC ELECTION

A slate of officers for the Jackson County History Center will be put up for election at 7 pm Thursday, October 15, at the log meeting house in the Ketcham Pioneer Village. Putting together the slate which they say cannot be made public until the meeting were Richard Rumph, Nancy Burge, and Dorothy Richards.

We'll Be at Oktoberfest in Seymour

Oktoberfest! Can you believe it's time! We'll have a booth in our tent on Chestnut Street, just north of Second Street. Stop by and say hello!

Melonfest - Were You There?

Volunteers pitched in for two sunny days of fund-raising and entertainment at the 2009 Melonfest in Brownstown. Now we're looking forward to Oktoberfest which opens in Seymour in just over two weeks - but it shouldn't be as much work as the Melonfest - right? Right!

Quilts - or more correctly comforters, handmade by local ladies - were given away as part of the fund-raising. Sue Rommel, who spent hours stirring beans in the Livery Stable kitchen, won the queen-size. Sharon Kamman, who also worked in the livery barn, won the bear-themed baby quilt while Lisa Hoffhaus won the watermelon-themed baby quilt.

The History Center invited visitors to answer history questions to be eligible to win $5 prizes. Winners of those contests were Tyler Neal and Barbara Perry, both of Brownstown; Julia Bell, Barbara Colwell, Delores Arias and Shirley Vice, all of Seymour; Jerry Neal of Freetown; Daniel Johnson of Mitchell; Larry Wayt of Richmond; and John Spurgeon of Brownstown, who contributed his winnings back to the History Center.

Gallons of beans were served with ham, cornbread, homemade slaw and desserts (all yummy!) at the Robertson Livery Stable to several hundred visitors. Dianne Cartmel of Brownstown, former president of the Indiana Historical Society, led children’s games Saturday afternoon in the John Ketcham Pioneer Village where spinning and knitting also were demonstrated.

Ross Rieckers of Seymour fired up his small engines. Hershel Forgey of Brownstown guided visitors through the Heller Museum while several volunteers kept the Ball Museum open.

Speaking at the opening of the renovated log meeting house Friday evening were Raymond Bachmann, presiding; teacher Laberta Otte dressed as a "schoolmarm" telling about a pioneer child's school day; Sheriff Mark Lahrman and Brownstown Town Board Member Margo Brewer telling how the building would have been used for government and community events. Also participating were Alicia Griffin and Gloria Cross. Featured inside was a display on the 2009 Miss America from Jackson County, Katie Stamm.

Entertaining visitors with live music were Leatherwood Valley, Sonja Kay Guffey, Ross Rieckers, Springhill Trio, Sharon Ison and Betty Moore, and the Laddermen.

Running everywhere (for days before as well as during and after Melonfest) were co-presidents of the JCHC merger committee, Gloria Cross and Raymond Bachmann, who thanked all the other volunteers for their work.

Insurance required by the History Center at the request of the Melonfest committee caused several of the expected craft demonstrations to cancel their arrivals. Still activities continued through the days.

Meanwhile, work on merger documents continues along with other activities that keep the volunteers busy.