4-H Genealogy Project

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I am currently judging 4-H exhibits for area county fairs... something I have done now for almost 30 years and enjoy doing. It is an honor for me to contribute to 4-H Youth by judging the 4-H Genealogy Fair Notebooks for 3-5 local counties each year and for the last 3 years at the Indiana State Fair.

Over 30 years ago, I asked the Tri-State Genealogical Society to sponsor an Achievement Award for the Genealogy Project. The Executive Board agreed to sponsor the award. Edna Kasper was working at a print shop and she helped me to design a very nice 4-H Certificate and we created the TSGS Certificates of Appreciation, as well. Over the years, I have re-designed the 4-H Certificate. Marti Williams, at one point, after Glenda Trapp's death, suggested that we make the Certificate a Memorial to her. So, now we have the Glenda Trapp Memorial Award Certificate for 4-H Youth.

County 4-H Fairs will be popping up all over the tri-state, in fact several are going on right now. I have found links to the dates for county fairs in the three states of IL, IN & KY if you would like to attend one of the local county fairs... many will have genealogy fair exhibits on display. Check them out and let me know what you find. Not all states or even counties have the 4-H genealogy project... each state's projects vary. If your local 4-H program has the genealogy project, see what you can do to help.

Here are those fair lists:
http://www.agr.state.il.us/fair/countyfairssched.php
http://www.four-h.purdue.edu/downloads/new/10%20County%20Fairs.pdf
http://www.kyagr.com/marketing/fair/lclagfairs.htm

- Compiled by JGWest

Marker/Plaque/Monument Monday

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Evansville Fire Department...

Hose House #10

This is one of two Fire Stations in the news late last year and were scheduled to be closed. It is one of the larger "Hose Houses" (as they are called) and was erected & dedicated by this plaque in 1977.

This is the old station that it replaced. It sits boarded up just across the street from the newer one.

Someone designed and created this emblem that is on the wall next to the certificate awards that the fire fighters that work out of this house earned over the years.

- Photos taken & submitted by JGWest

From the FIRST MATE's PHOTO ALBUM...

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Evansville's Downtown Sears Store...

Opened on 05 Oct 1925, this store on 101 Northwest Fourth Street in Evansville, Indiana was the first Sears retail store not connected to one of the company's Catalog Merchandise Distribution Centers. The downtown store closed in 1975. Today the building is part of Old National Bank's operation in Evansville. This photo was taken on 13 Aug 1962 by Marshall Ross during Evansville's Sesquicentennial Celebration.

- Photo of this photo was taken by JGWest at the Evansville Museum where it is on display.

RIVER DEBRIS –TSGS Dock of Shame

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Cemetery Vandalism, AGAIN...

I do not understand how anyone could get pleasure or think that knocking down tombstones is funny or cool??? Let's realize first that any idiot can damage tombstones. Secondly, there are family members who care about these tombstones, most are not abandoned over the years. Also, each grave marker, no matter how old or small, is a monument or memorial to that person's life and should be given respect by all. Something that is often missed by these vandals that do their dirty work in the dark, is the staggering costs to repair the damages... this is a serious criminal offense. Each stone is a historical record for all to see, not destroy! Would these fools do this to their mother's grave or to someone they deeply cared for? I am sure they think no one saw them running amuck, probably giggling like little school girls, knocking down markers that could not defend themselves from such cowardly actions in the dead of the night... but, I believe God was watching!


Members of this small church in Vanderburgh County are trying to figure out how to make repairs after vandals hit their cemetery twice in a week's time. Phyllis Happe, a member of Zoar United Church of Christ, says damage estimates are totaling $100,000. "That's not easy to come up with for a small church with maybe 100 people in it. We will do something with them. We will not leave our cemetery in disrepair, but it may take time." Deputies with the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's office tell NEWS 25, they do not have any suspects or leads in this case.

Tamara Kincaide posted this link on the INVANDER email list on Friday: Cemetery Vandals Hit Zoar United Church of Christ Cemetery
http://www.news25.us/global/story.asp?s=12674528

I just hope these sick vandals can handle the haunts of the ghosts from these graves of the tombstones that were damaged! - JGWest

Tombstone Thursday - Bryant

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Roy C. Bryant

03 Apr 1918 - 22 Oct 2006

This marker was found in Alexander Memorial Park Cemetery in Evansville, Indiana. It caught my attention because the plaque is blue (which this photo does not give the color justice!). I do not think it is tarnished brass or copper. The color is pleasant.

- Photo taken & submitted by JGWest.

[Tombstone Thursday is dedicated in memory of Donald G. West 1952-2000]

From the FIRST MATE's PHOTO ALBUM...

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If you look close enough...
you can find unusual things! I found this very nice street clock in New Harmony, Indiana recently and thought it might be a nice photo for this feature of our blog. After taking several photos, I noticed the name of the clock company and thought I should write it down in case it did not show well in the photos. By the way, the clock is about 12 feet tall.

You should click on the photos to get a larger image and you may be able to read what is on the face. Leaves from a tree is reflected on the clock face making it difficult to read.

The face reads: "Memory Station Clock Company Newburgh, Indiana." So, this is from Newburgh to New Harmony!

-Photos taken & submitted by JGWest

"Abe & Me" by Bill Bartelt

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Willard Library's Midnight Madness

Becky & I enjoyed last night's presentation by Jon Carl. "Feel the History" was an interesting look at the work done by Reitz High School history students. The students researched & produced several films (documentaries) on local history subjects. One film became a national award winner!
We plan to go back on Wednesday night to Bill Bartelt's presentation "Abe & Me" which should be a great program. Mr. Bartelt is an author & historian who specializes in Abraham Lincoln. His book, "There I Grew Up: Remembering Lincoln's Indiana Youth" -2008 is a great must-read book for southwestern Indiana historians. In fact it is a great book for anyone to read.