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.

Midnight Madness! @ Willard Library

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Time for Midnight Madness...
Jun 14, 2010 - Jun 18, 2010 9:00am to 12:00 Midnight
This is an annual event, offering free genealogical information, classes and help.

This week long event provides extended hours that Willard Library is open for genealogical researchers and offers some great programs/presentations by some of the areas most experienced genealogists and historians. Take a look at the schedule of these programs by clicking Midnight Madness. Here is Monday's line up:

Beginning Genealogy - (Lyn Martin) Jun 14, 2010 - (10:00 am)
An introduction to genealogy; what you need to know to start your family tree.
Newspaper Research From a New Prospective - (Connie Conrad) Jun 14, 2010 - (11:00 am)
Brief overview of how and where to find newspapers, and what you can find in them.
New Harmony & the Working Men's Institute - (Sherri Graves) Jun 14, 2010 - (2:00 pm)
Learn about the history of New Harmony.
Feel the History - (Jon Carl) Jun 14, 2010 - (7:00 pm)
History of Evansville. Jon Carl, E-Learning Coach at Reitz High School, will show videos of two history episodes made for WNIN-TV and discuss the research sources used to make them."Evansville's Great Flood of 1937" won first place in the Adobe School Innovation Awards in 2008. “James Gurzard’s Story – the Battle of Stones River” is the story of a Civil War Soldier and his family.

I was recently visiting New Harmony, Indiana and took a few photos concerning the Working Men's Institute (see below, click on image to enlarge).

- Photos taken & submitted by JGWest