Marker/Plaque/Monument Monday

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The Rick Borries

Memorial Garden

Becky and I decided to go downtown Evansville to get a few photos of the life-sized chess set and board that was constructed next to the Signature School across from the Ford Center and the Civic Center.  The TV news covered the story about this outdoor chess set with pieces between 3 and 6 feet tall.  We found the chess board, but the pieces were being stored in the Victory Theater in some un-disclosed location by another group responsible for its care.  I just wanted to get a photo of one of the pieces, at least... possibly the king or queen.  It was not going to happen.  To save the expedition to the downtown area, I had noticed several beautiful gardens east of the U.S. Post Office near Data Mail - one of which I posted on Saturday.

The other set of gardens (closer to the Post Office and the Civic Center) was to my surprise a very nice garden dedicated to Rick Borries about one year ago.  I did not remember this being done or mentioned via any news media, but I do not always follow the news as closely as I would like.  I would have attended the ceremony, since Rick was a long-time political associate.  Rick had been in several political offices including serving as an elected Vanderburgh County Commissioner.  We had many close mutual friends.

Rick Borries was a Social Studies Teacher in the Evansville Vanderburgh County School System.  Quite some time back (possibly 30 years), Rick was looking for someone to present a beginning genealogy class for two of his Central High School Classes.  So, he called Willard Library to request someone to do this.  Willard Library suggested me.  Rick was very pleased because he knew me and thought I would do a good job.  I had always wanted to be a teacher and even took classes at University of Evansville in Elementary Education before going into the U.S. Air Force in 1968.  So, this was a big thrill and a great opportunity to complete a dream even if it was just being a "teacher for a day!"  It was a lot of fun and with my 4-H Genealogy Project experience giving workshops for 4-H teenagers... it was an easy assignment.  Special thanks to Rick for providing that opportunity that I will always remember and cherish! 

 Click on these photos to get a larger, better image.  In the photo below, you can see downtown Evansville in the background... and I must say, with a smile, that it is appropriate that in the background is a political "yard sign" for a candidate running for an office that another friend (and TSGS member) is running for, J.D. Strouth - County Clerk (this is not J.D.'s sign).

These gardens are part of "Keep Evansville Beautiful" and these gardens sure do just that.  Rick "Rest in Peace!"

- Photos taken by JGWest

From My Email Box - "Genealogy Workshop"

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Online Genealogy for Beginners
Thursday, Feb. 9 at 9:30 am
North Park Branch of the
Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library

Use EVPL databases and Internet resources to discover your ancestors.

Register here .

- Submitted by TSGS member J.D. Strouth

TSGS Meeting Recap For Those Not Attending

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We had a nice TSGS Monthly Meeting last night. President Don Counts led the meeting... he was not sure if he would make it back from an Indianapolis meeting earlier in the day. I was on standby as the Vice-President to to lead the meeting if needed. Click on photos to get a larger image.

Below is a view of most of those in attendance. I counted 24 people! An excellent crowd for a January meeting... great weather! The last two years we had to cancel the meeting in January due to bad weather.

In photo below our Secretary Kim Nightingale is reading the previous TSGS meeting minutes.

Below Diana Davis is giving the TSGS Treasurer's Report.

Becky West, TSGS Program Chair is introducing the night's speaker, Peggy Gilkey (seated on the right with the blue Colonial dress & straw bonnet). Her presentation was about the life of Elizabeth Grisom Claypool (better known as Betsy Ross).

In the photo below, Peggy had said that she wanted to impress me with her ability to make a perfect 5-pointed star with one-cut of the scissors as Betsy demonstrated to George Washington. She carefully folded it, and then snipped it one time... then from behind the poteem she showed us some paper dolls - I was impressed!!! :)

Then she showed us the 5-pointed star!

Peggy's husband assisted Peggy during the program showing several Colonial flags. Here he is showing the "Betsy Ross" U.S. Flag. Ken is wearing Colonial attire with a tri-corn hat.

After the program everyone got a chance to make a perfect 5-pointed star, not all qualified! :) But everyone had a lot of fun trying!

Before adjournment, attendance prizes were drawn. Ernie Payne won the first prize a genealogy book, JD Strouth & Irvin Conrad won a 2012 16-month calendar each. The calendars were donated by Peggy Gilkey.

- Compiled by JGWest

"Happy Easter"

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Rock Chapel... Jasper, Indiana

Thanks to Ernie Payne, on our way home from Spring Mill, we stopped in Jasper to see the open rock chapel on the grounds of St. Joseph Catholic Church. It is made up of round (ball-shaped) rock formations called geodes that are cemented together. Ernie & I share a love of geology and fossil collecting. Don Counts took this photo. Others in the SUV were driver Ken Gilkey, Chris Myers & J.D. Strouth.

The six of us (plus Robert Hall, Rex Legler, & Ed Hitchcock) of the Ohio Valley Chapter of SAR attended the Indiana Society of SAR Annual Meeting in Spring Mill Park on Saturday. J.D., Don & I were re-elected to our State SAR Offices


Easter Blessings to All!


- Photo of Rock Chapel taken & submitted by Donald R. Counts

Marker/Plaque/Monument Monday

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Willard Library Flag Pole & Dedication Plaque...
Please click on photos to enlarge the image. Because of the flowered foliage, the date is hidden. The last line partially covered states: "Dedicated October 1, 1989."
Below: A few years ago before one of the Sat. morning Ohio Valley Chapter, the library staff (on duty that morning) did not know how to put the flag at half mast. So, our Color Guard members did the honors of putting the flag at half mast. It had been ordered by the Mayor for a funeral of a young soldier that had been killed in the war.

SAR members (L-R): J.D. Stouth, Don Counts, Ken Gilkey.

- Photos taken by Chris Myers

From the FIRST MATE's PHOTO ALBUM...

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Local DAR & SAR
very active in the Evansville, Indiana area...

These two photos taken at the 2009 West Side Nut Club Fall Festival Parade of the Captain Henry Vanderburgh Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Photos submitted by Vannetta McDowell.

SAR & DAR participate in the West Side Fall Festival Parade

These two photos at the 2009 Fall Festival Parade are of the Ohio Valley SAR Chapter of the Indiana Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Photos taken by Cheri Baumberger & submitted by Don Counts.

From the FIRST MATE's PHOTO ALBUM...

Oak Hill Cemetery

Evansville, Indiana

Civil War Union Soldiers Section

Eagle Scout Project

Ohio Valley SAR Chapter ~

Community Service Project

My Sons of the American Revolution chapter volunteered to help with this Eagle Scout Project to clean these Civil War Markers. Wearing a tie-dye shirt, cap & googles is Christopher Myers, to his right is me (John G. West). Becky West & J.D. Strouth helped us. April 2006.

- Submitted by JGWest

INSSAR Elects 2009-2010 State Officers

Indiana Society

Sons of the American Revolution

2009-2010 State Officers

Second from left is State Historian John G. West (member of TSGS & the Ohio Valley Chapter [OVC] INSSAR) and in the center of the photo (seventh from left in a Revolutionary War uniform) is State Chaplain Don Counts (member TSGS & OVC). Also in this photo is INSSAR District One Director J.D. Strouth & District Two Director Dr. T. Rex Legler, II both members of OVC. Counts & West were recently re-elected to these offices at the April 2009 Annual House of Delegates Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The OVChapter will meet later this morning at Willard Library... TSGS members Ken Gilkey, President & Chris Myers, Secretary. West serves as the Chapter Treasurer while Counts is the Chapter Vice-President.

- Photo submitted by Don Counts (photographer unknown)

"TSGS Members Elected to State SAR Posts"

Indiana Society

Sons of the American Revolution

Elects State Officers

Four members of the Evansville based Ohio Valley Chapter of INSSAR were elected to state offices on 18 April 2009. Two are TSGS members (*). Second from the left is John G. West * - Historian, fifth is J.D. Strouth - District One Director, sixth T. Rex Legler, II - Recording Secretary, seventh dressed in Revolutionary War red, white & blue uniform is Don Counts* - Chaplain.

Memorial Service being conducted for the past year's deceased members across the state. L-R: U.S. Flag Carrier Robert Cunningham, Flower Vase Holder State Genealogist Mark Kreps, with back to camera John G. West, conducting ceremony is State Chaplain Don Counts, Rose Holder State Registrar Robert Howell, SAR Flag Carrier James Arnold. John West is placing a rose in the vase in honor of Earl Sinnett who died this year as a member of the Ohio Valley Chapter. Compatriot Sinnett is the father of TSGS member Cheri Baumberger.


Photo of Memorial Service with the four Musket Carriers to the left (Rex Legler is at the far left). Once all of the deceased members were honored one by one with a rose being placed in the vase, these four Compatriots fired their flint lock musket as a salute to the deceased members.

The State Annual Meeting of the House of Delegates was held in the Indianapolis Propylaeum Club Building (not shown) with the Memorial Service held on the lawn of the Propyleum. During the state meeting, John West, Don Counts and J.D. Strouth each were presented the INSSAR Bronze Service Medals for their contributions to their local chapter. John West was also awarded the INSSAR Silver Service Medal for his work as a District Director.


Photos taken by Janet Kreps and submitted by JGWest

From the FIRST MATE's PHOTO ALBUM...

Tornado Clean-Up Volunteers

This week we had a tornado hit in Kentucky and reminded me of the Nov. 2005 tornado that destroyed a mobile home park and Newburgh, Indiana was hit very hard, too. The tornado that killed several people brought our community together to provide relief for the victims of this deadliest Tornado of 2005. The Martin family established "PJ's Bus" to help children during disasters... named for their young son killed by the tornado in the park. Click on photos to get an enlarged photo.

Along with members of my SAR chapter & some of our wives, I am shown picking up debris in Newburgh to help with the Tornado Relief Clean-up on April First 2006 (exactly three years ago today). J.D. Strouth is leaning over behind my right shoulder in a yellow shirt & cap.


Becky West working intently at picking up sticks and wood that once was a house and some trees.


Here is our SAR Clean-up Crew (L-R): Peggy Gilkey, John West, Becky West, J.D. Strouth. Look at that pile of debris all of our volunteers picked up! I was interviewed on TV as part of the clean-up effort report on the news that night.

-Submitted by JGWest

From the FIRST MATE's PHOTO ALBUM...

"America 'Re-Cycling' as Never Before!"

(Click each photo to get a larger, better view of it)

Here is one of the most unusual fences that I have ever seen. It is "re-cycling" to a fault! This is a business along US Highway 231

between Greencastle and Crawfordsville, Indiana all just north of I-70 between Terra Haute & Indianapolis. I found this on my way to Wabash University to give a "Flags Over America" program for a DAR & three SAR Chapters in 2006. I had to stop and take photos of it. I was reminded of this fence yesterday as Don Counts, JD Strouth & I went up to Depauw University in Greencastle for a INSSAR House of Delgates State Meeting. All three of us are state officers and attempt to attend the four state quarterly meetings.

This is the perfect type of business to have such a fence... it is a junk car yard with lots of other re-cycables items: camper shells, trailers, etc. But the actual business is painting cars. Becky was with me on this adventure to see this great wonder of the world. She stayed in the car while I took these historic photos. I am not sure that she appreciated the value and "beauty" of this marvel & pure delight that I had found on that glorious day. Well, you have to admit that this fence is like none you have ever seen before!

Notice that the bigger bikes drop down to smaller bikes. They were all painted white and chained to metal stakes in the ground.

Photos taken by John G. West