• Children’s Books
• Fiction Books
• Non-fiction Books

Our Children’s Books are suitable for students in elementary school. Current titles include the following:

• A Journey Through Time (Third grade textbook)
• My Pioneer Childhood In Early Jay County
• Tell Me a Story, Grandpa (Underground Railroad)

Our Fiction Books are historically correct. The characters are based on real people.

• The Odyssey of  the Blue Swan

Our Non-fiction Books are divided into the following subcategories. They are:

• Census, Directory & Land Books
• Cemetery Books
• Church Records
• Communities
• History Books
• Miscellaneous Books

      Jay County was created by an act of the Indiana General Assembly of February 7, 1835 and organized by a law of January 30, of the following year, effective March 1st. On December 5, 1835, it was ordered by the Board of Commissioners “that the County Seat of Jay County be designated and known by the name of Portland,” – by an act of the Indiana Legislature of January 25, 1843, Portland was incorporated as a town. In 1883, it was incorporated as a city. There are twelve townships in Jay County, namely: Wabash, Bearcreek, Jackson, Penn, Knox, Greene, Wayne, Noble, Madison, Pike, Jefferson and Richland. It was named for John Jay, first Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court.

     The County was organized by another act passed, and approved January 30, 1837. In 1821, Peter Studabaker (born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, in 1790) settled on the south bank of the Wabash River, at what is now New Corydon, Jay County. Here he built a crude cabin, of small round logs. This was the first dwelling erected in the county. There was no other house within thirty-five miles. The first person born in Jay County was Abram Studabaker, in the little cabin on the Wabash River, September 29, 1822. ( courtesy jayco.net)

The meeting this month will be the Annual Picnic at the Museum. Everyone is invited to bring a covered dish to share and enjoy a relaxing evening.

A large display of Barbie dolls from the collection of Kathleen McClung and her daughter Shannon Sadler is also featured at the museum through June. This is a must-see for every little girl or child at heart!

Many of the items which came to us from the original DAR collection in the Jay County Courthouse are being displayed in the horseshoe showcase in the back part of the museum. These date back to the earliest days of Jay County.

Additional pieces of Indiana Glass from Dunkirk have been added to last year’s display, along with information on the history of the glass industry. 

A studio camera used by Portland photographer Roy Hunt in the 1930s is part of a display showing the development of photography. Other cases throughout the museum feature old toys and dolls from the museum collection and several old school newspapers.

Besides the Sunday open house times, displays may be viewed from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday through Friday each week.  Please visit us!  Open House hours are from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m.  ADMISSION is FREE!

Kevin Stonerock of Knightstown, IN, who portrayed Billy Yank, a Civil War soldier at last year’s annual meeting, will be returning to present the program. In A Visit with a Pioneer, Mr. Stonerock portrays the Pioneer, a character compiled from many different accounts of the period 1770-1810. The program centers around the life of Andrew Amonett, a true-to-life frontiersman of the Indiana Territory. The presentation, complete with tall tales, deals with various aspects of frontier life and dangers faced in the Indiana Territory just prior to the War of 1812. Topics include trapping, militia service, Indian affairs, tools, weapons, and frontier clothing.

Members of the board of directors will also be elected at the Annual Dinner Meeting. John Lingo, whose term expires this year, and Larry Paxson, whose term ends in 2012, have asked to step down from the board. Other board members whose terms expire this year and who have agreed to serve again are Dave Frasher, Ralph Grapner, Jim Miller, and Tom Young. Agreeing to run for the two vacant positions are Phil Rager and Judy Zearbaugh.

Phil is a graduate of Ball State University with a history major. He taught at Redkey High School and recently retired from Createc after working there for about 30 years. He attends the Church of the Brethern in Portland and also belongs to Circus Model Builders, Inc., which relates to his hobby of building a large model circus layout, complete with a big top, model trains, and circus wagons. Phil has become a regular on the newsletter mailing crew and also has been doing other volunteer work at the museum.

Judy began working in the office of the Haynes Milling Company after high school graduation. She recently retired when Mars Pet Care, the last owner of the former Haynes facility, left town. Judy has been a faithful volunteer at the museum and has also helped with the relocation of the genealogy library into the museum. She also volunteers at the Jay County Humane Society and is a member of Asbury United Methodist Church where she is president of the United Methodist Women, sings in the choir, and plays handbells.

Don’t miss your opportunity to vote for directors, enjoy an educational and historic presentation, and have a delicious dinner. Make your reservations at the museum by Wednesday, November 3.

We had many new features and vendors and the change in parking to the East Elementary parking lot meant many got to ride in a horse-drawn wagon used as a shuttle.

Special thanks Rob Weaver and the Steed family for telling the story of the Norman Rockwell painting:  ”The County Agent” with  H. K. Rippey.  

All who helped out in one way or another are welcome to join us at the museum Thursday, October 21, 6:30 to 8:30. 

To view a slideshow of the Festival by Becca James click on the link below.  She also has a couple of other interesting videos there also.

Entrance to farm area.

Making apple butter

Jewelry Vendor

Family Fun

Enjoying the program

Vintage transportation

Heritage Jersey

Spinning lesson