We thank all of you for your support! This will be our last reminder of the year for renewed or new Memberships or Sponsorships. |
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It is time that we ask our friends to consider renewing their memberships or consider establishing a sponsorship of the organization. Membership dues and Sponsorship contributions are due at the beginning of each calendar year (January 1).
The Pulaski County Historical Society preserves the history of the county in a variety of ways.
- Historical museum, including both a physical space and online access to The Story of Us
- Educational programs
- Monthly e-newsletters with local history
- Partnerships with local organizations
- Access to your family history through the County Genealogist
- Access to general history through the County Historian
The Society does not charge for services, programs, or entry into the museum. The only income available for museum displays and community programming comes through memberships, sponsorships, and contributions.
Membership
Members are allowed to vote at annual and special meetings and to hold office. (Paid per calendar year.) There are three categories.
- Individual ($30)
- Family ($40)
- Corporate or Sustaining ($80)
Sponsorship
Sponsors at every level will have their name displayed on our websites, in our monthly e-newsletter, and on a display in the museum. (Paid per calendar year.) We have several levels.
- Antiquity ($1,000)
- Heirloom ($500)
- Heritage ($250)
- Legacy ($150)
- Tradition (Any Amount)
Contributions
We accept contributions of any amount in lieu of Membership or Sponsorship.
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If paying by check, please send this information as well: |
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The annual meeting, which always includes an informative program, is open to all. Only members can vote at the meeting. This year, the only item of business will be the slate of officers and directors. There is no charge to attend. |
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Slate
Officers
- President: Ryan Harrison
- Vice President: Kathi Thompson
- Secretary: Janet Onken
- Treasurer: Lin Morrison
- Curator: [No name presented]
Directors For Term Ending 2026:
- Steve Morrison
- Anne Rebeck-Scott
- Dave Scott
Remaining On Board, Not Up for Election
Terms Ending 2024
- Brian Capouch
- Karen Fritz
- Judge Michael Shurn
Terms Ending 2025
- Lenora Hoover
- Jolie Simmermaker
- Chris Zahrt
Ex-Officio Member
Mary Conner, Pulaski County Historian (& Pulaski County Genealogist)
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Annual Meeting Details
Thursday, March 16, 2023, at One Eyed Jack's Celebration Station.
Gathering at 6:00 for desserts and coffee.
Short business meeting (short!) starts at 6:30, with program to follow.
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Program Details
This year, Fred Zahrt will present information about kit homes in Winamac and Pulaski County. He is pictured above with some of his kit home books.
Kit homes are mass produced homes that were delivered to the customer, all parts included, in railroad box cars. They became popular around the turn of the century and could be purchased out of Sears and Montgomery Wards catalogs, thus, the typical term, "Sears Home," arose.
Fred has researched these homes for many years. This will be a fun and informative evening!
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While a vast improvement over the old museum in terms of temperature and humidity control as well as atmosphere, our current space for display and storage is small. As we figure out how to best deal with items in the old museum (the Quonset hut, which we are vacating), we have had to make decisions on how best to deal with donated items.
We were gifted many bicentennial items from one local family. We are grateful for that donation, and we have some items on display.
However, due to current considerations, we are offering many items for sale. We have opened a booth at Sell It Here in Lafayette, and you will soon see items offered on eBay.
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The stock at Sell It Here will shift over time, but if you are in town, stop in and check out booth #213 (3805 Fortune Drive, Lafayette). |
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There are also a few items availabe for "sale" (for a contribution) at the museum. Visit us on a Saturday! |
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Text taken from a Facebook post by the Pulaski County Public Library, sourced by A Century of Achievement by John G. Reidelbach:
In 1850 on his return from the California gold fields, John Pearson built what is thought to be the first frame house in Winamac. It was located in front of the log cabin he'd built for his family in 1839 just south of where the first saw mill was later established.
Mr. Pearson, an early pioneer and town founder, is known to be the person who named the town of Winamac.
This painting, by local artist E. M. Jackson, is one of the local artifacts on display in the museum.
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Volunteers can manage their own hours. We use SignUp.com to organize our upcoming museum shifts. Here's how it works in 3 easy steps:
- Click this link: https://signup.com/go/RuLRDVM
- Review the options listed and choose the spot(s) you like.
- Sign up! You will not need to register an account or keep a password.
Note: If you prefer not to use your email address, please contact Kathi Thompson and she will sign you up manually.
Other Volunteer Opportunities
PCHS will need to have some fundraisers in 2023, and we will be happy if anyone with an interest would like to join us!
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The 1st Thursday of every month: persons interested in genealogy can attend the monthly meeting of the Genealogical Society at 5:00.
The 3rd Thursday of every month: Historical Society Board meeting at 6:00. Members and interested parties are invited to attend.
You may find this small space a perfect meeting place for your organization. We have a wifi connection and a screen with a ceiling-mounted projector. We'll be happy to work with you.
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The Historical Museum exists to save and exhibit items of interest to Pulaski County. We have limited space, both for display and storage. As such, we must be judicious in the items we accept.
If a donation has been accepted, it is considered an unrestricted gift. We reserve the right to keep or to dispose of the item as appropriate. All donations should be accompanied with a monetary donation.
A full donation policy is available for review. Please request it via email. |
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Christmas & New Years
Winamac Republican 20 Dec 1902
Train Schedule to right from Pulaski County Democrat 1902
Tuesday night all records were broken in the amount of dressed poultry shipped from Winamac by express to Chicago at one time. The evening passenger and express train was held at the station here between one quarter and a half an hour and passengers who were in a hurry and trying to make close connections at some point beyond fumed and fretted while the hustling depot force loaded over three tons of fine fat turkeys, slick ducks, and yellow legged roosters for the Christmas and New Year's dinners of our Chicago neighbors. Winamac and Pulaski County people perhaps do not appreciate the many great advantages Winamac enjoys in being located at such a convenient distance to the big Chicago market.
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Something That Never Happened In Francesville
1892: State Geologists Gorby has examined some of the salt obtained from Mr. Leach's salt well near Francesville and reports that the specimen indicated that the water would produce salt of the finest quality. Further examination will be made and if salt is found in paying quantities a sale manufactory will be established in Francesville.
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Workshop Series:
How To Research The History Of Your Old House
Several videos are online for this workshop series. It shows one thing: people are interested in the history of their homes. This series was sponsored by Indiana Humanities and Indiana Landmarks.
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On Our Regular Channel (link HERE):
- A video on the interpretive sign at the Artesian Well, produced by the Pulaski County Tribe.
- A brief history of Vurpillat's Opera House
- 2021 Annual Meeting, featuring Brenda Gilsinger and the history of Pulaski (the town)
- 2022 Annual Meeting, featuring Shirley Willard from the Fulton County Historical Society, the history of the Potawatomi in Fulton & Pulaski Counties and the Trail of Death.
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This poem was written in the summer of 1979 by Mary K. Wiesjahn Williamson. a Star City native. She was born in 1918 and died at the age of 99 in 2018. We start with the introduction. After that, you will be treated to a variety of categories, including The Doctors, The Barbers, The Young Farmers, and more. This will be presented as a series. |
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Introduction
How would you like to go back in time, for
a visit to Star City in the '20's?
That would be over fifty years ago--so get set
for changes a-plenty!
There'll be places and faces whom we'll not be seeing
since that would require a book.
Bu it should be fun to 'skim over the top' as we
fleetingly take a look.
We'll attempt to describe events in the '20's', then
sort of bring it up to date.
Hope you can follow these 'comings and goings' and
the pace is not too great!
Bear in mind, if mistakes you find, this isn't
meant as an 'official paper'.
Bits and pieces gleaned from friends (and my own memories)
is what actually produced this caper.
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Gifts For Any Reason
What do you give to the person who loves history? Give a gift that supports local efforts to record it. Consider a certificate for birthdays or anniversaries, or for any reason!
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Thank you for considering this opportunity to support your local Historical Society! |
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Now through January 2024 – Eva Kor from Auschwitz to Indiana. Learn the remarkable story of Eva Mozes Kor, who survived Auschwitz as a child and the experiments of Dr. Joseph Mengele, and grew up to be one of the most influential Holocaust educators and activists in the world. She ignited a global manhunt for Mengele, organized other survivors, and educated millions about what happened during the Holocaust and about her vision of empowerment and forgiveness.
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Now through January 2024 – Dimensions in Testimony. A new feature allows visitors to take advantage of advanced filming techniques to have inviting one-on-one conversations with Eva Kor – a Holocaust survivor and eyewitness to history. On loan from CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center, USC Shoah Foundation’s Dimensions in Testimony allows visitors to converse with an interactive biography of Eva via a hologram-like projection. Guests can hear her personal testimony and ask questions that are of interest to them — learning more about her story in her own words.
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Indiana Landmarks
In addition to giving tremendous financial and technical support for the local Courthouse project, Indiana Landmarks provides a wealth of information about and support for vintage homes and factories, churches, barns and bridges.
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Support Indiana Landmarks
Join to help save the historic places that make our communities more beautiful, more interesting, singular and special. LINK
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Affiliate Membership
The Pulaski County Historical Society is an affiliate member of Indiana Landmarks. For information about the affiliate organizations around the state, and all of the exciting work they are doing, please head over to our Affiliate's Webpage. |
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Our sponsorship program is new as of January 2023! |
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The successful operation of the society relies on contributions from members and friends. The Society maintains Membership and Sponsorship programs and collects contributions outside both of those programs. |
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Leadership
President: Ryan Harrison
Vice President (& Past President): Kathi Thompson
Secretary: Janet Onken
Treasurer: Lin Morrison
Curator: Vacant
Terms Ending 2023
- Mary Conner (also County Historian & County Genealogist)
- Dave Scott
- Steve Morrison
Terms Ending 2024
- Brian Capouch
- Karen Fritz
- Judge Michael Shurn
Terms Ending 2025
- Lenora Hoover
- Jolie Simmermaker
- Chris Zahrt
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Membership
- Individual ($30)
- Family ($40)
- Sustaining / Corporate ($80)
All members are welcome to volunteer with PCHS in any area of their interest and to attend meetings. Board meetings are held on the 3rd Thursday of every month, in person or via Zoom, or a hybrid.
Sponsorship
We value sponsorships, as they support us on an entirely different level! We have the following sponsorship levels:
- Antiquity ($1,000)
- Heirloom ($500)
- Heritage ($250)
- Legacy ($150)
- Tradition (Any Amount)
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Make a Contribution
In lieu of joining either as a member or a sponsor, you can make a contribution here. This link will assist you in using PayPal or sending a check. A quick and easy way to make a contribution is to utilize this QR code. |
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Subscribe to this e-Newsletter
If someone shared this email with you, you may not be on our email list. Just click the button. On the website, fill out the form, and BOOM! You'll be a part of history!
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To submit an article for consideration for this newsletter, send it via email. If you have photos, please submit them as well. We welcome all articles of historic interest regarding Pulaski County. |
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Pulaski County Historical Society: All Rights Reserved |
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