A print of a painting by American artist Norman Rockwell will be featured at this year’s festival. Following a visit to the Steed farm in southern Jay County, Mr. Rockwell painted a picture which included members of the Steed family and county extension agent, H.K. Rippey. The original art appeared in a 1948 issue of the Saturday Evening Post. the painting now hangs at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln.

The committe is looking for small farm items or old farm toys to be displayed during the festival. These are to be put in showcases one week before the festival (September 20 to 24, 27, and 28) and to be removed by October 15. No items will be accepted for display inside the museum after September 28. If you have items you would like to display, please call Sandy Bubp at 260-726-9871.

Barry and Elizabeth Hudson and family prepared the display commemorating the anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America. Also on display will be part of the extensive collection of Indian arrowheads and artifacts from the late Frank Cline, which is on loan to the museum for a month. All of the arrowheads are identified and labeled and come from Indiana or Eastern Ohio, many from the Fort Recovery area.

It seems to be a straightforward transaction to transfer title to a piece of property, and the paperwork is relatively simple. But as I held the signed deed and prepared to have it recorded at the courthouse, I was aware of the loving gift the Gilpin-Locker family is making with this transfer. The signatures on the deed of Kathryn (Kay), Sarah, Scott, and Sue are a personal statement of one family’s continuing commitment to help fulfill the goals and mission of the Jay County Historical Society. We are hoping to have a small celebration to recognize the donors, but for now the Board of Directors and all the members of the Jay County Historical Society say, “Thank you, Kay, Carl, and the rest of the family.”

Thanks to Barry and Elizabeth Hudson and family for preparing this attractive display. Their son, Aaron, recently became an Eagle Scout.

The museum will be open on Sunday, July 25 from 1 to 4 p.m. for visitors to view displays. The museum is also open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Monthly program meetings have also commenced again. The subject for the June 22 meeting at 7 p.m. will be a presentation by Jay County Historian Jane Spencer on the postcard collection of George and Alta Cull, which was loaned to the society by their daughter, Mrs. Bill Davis.

We welcome everyone, members and non-members alike, to attend both our open houses and our monthly program meetings. The museum is also open to the public Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Come see all the changes we’ve made!

http://www.bsu.edu/wipb/community/Natparks_Webisodes.asp

Although the first time around had a few glitches, all we heard from were pleased with the results. The pictures in the email version are much better and the print can be as large or as small as you want by changing your computer settings. We are working on using full color pictures in the email version, another incentive for you to send us your email address and agree to receive the Journal online.  Of course you need to be a current member to enjoy this service.

Another way we are working to move into 21st century technology will be our meeting on Saturday, May 8th with Connie Rendfield who manages the Indiana Memories project for the Indiana State Library.  Ms. Rendfield will talk with us about adding our digital collection to their website. If you’d like to check out the Indiana Memories  project go to: http://www.in.gov/memories/.  If you are interested in helping us scan pictures into our digital files please contact us at: research@jaycountyhistory.org.  Join us on Saturday, May 8, at 11 a.m.

If you wish to purchase the collection volumes, they are priced as follows: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2007 and 2008 are $30 each year; 2004, 2005 and 2006 are $25 each year.  The complete index for 2000 to 2008 is $35 for a two- volume set.

We have included two links here which will take you to an alphabetical index which you can use to order copies of individual obits. The charge for each obituary copied will be $2.50 including postage.

2000 to 2008v Garringer Obit Book alphabetical last name

2000 to 2008v Garringer Obit Book alphabetical maiden name shortened

1790 to 2010 – The United States Census

Beginning at 7 p.m., a brief business meeting will be followed by the featured program. Refreshments will conclude the evening.

This is our first program of 2010 and the topic will be: “The History of The Census”.  Please join us!

Be sure to stop by our booth at the 2010 Business Expo & Home Show at the Jay County High School on April 10 and 11. Saturday hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday hours are noon to 4 p.m.