Historic Hoosier Hills RC&D
JPG Heritage Partnership
July 17 2007
The Jefferson Proving Ground Heritage
Partnership met at the South Ripley Elementary School,
at 7:00 p.m. Norma Lou Irwin, President, called the meeting to order with Bob
Irwin, Ken Knouf, Leroy Harsin, Mary Harsin, Ilene Harsin, Ron Harsin, Louis Munier, Terry Stephenson, and Casie Auxier in
attendance. Terry introduced Casie as the new program assistant replacing Phyllis
May.
Minutes from the June 21st meeting
at the Jennings County Library were reviewed. Louis motioned that they be approved.
Ilene seconded, and the minutes were approved. The group reviewed the
financial report which included the expenses and income from March 31st, 2007 through July 17th. Casie apologized for not including the balance sheet, but Terry indicated that the
group’s assets amounted to approximately $11,000. Casie said she would
email the missing balance sheet.
For the DOD report, Ken relayed that he
was off work for a week and a half and only gave one tour for the month. Carl
Bruner came out and was shown his family’s land which is located just north of the intersection of D Rd. and Cottrell Rd.,
in an area that was a former impact field. Mr. Bruner was about 10 years old
when his family bought the farm in 1939 but remembered very vividly where the original buildings stood. He chuckled that his father was one of the few pleased with the government’s offer and that his Dad
doubled his money when the family moved in 1940.
Ron distributed the web page statistical
sheet. The website has been averaging 38 visits per day during July. Ron said
visits typically drop during the summer months. There
was discussion about paying for the web page ahead of time. Terry thought that
we would be able to pay up to three years in advance. We will find out definitely
and act on this next month. Ken relayed to Ron that he has heard several compliments
on the web page.
Ken and Ron briefed the group on
the oral history book project. Ken is still editing text, and Ron said he would
be available to identify photos we want to incorporate into the book.
Mike Moore’s proposed contract with
Sue Baker to have her book reprinted was discussed. After some discussion, the
group agreed to give Mike the flexibility in keeping the contract as simple as possible in recognizing Sue as a friend of
the group. Sue will receive a 10% on all books sold and donated. The group felt that this would not cause us any financial distress.
The group asked Casie whether she would
do an inventory of books available at the HHH office since we are not sure of the numbers of books we have on-hand. Casie did say that we were low on Old Timbers books. Ilene
motioned that we place a reorder of 200 copies through Fidler-Doubleday. Ken
seconded and asked that we go back to the brownish-red just jacket cover as this was a much better color than the muddy brown
used in the 2nd re-order. The
motion carried. Ron will contact the publisher.
Ken briefed the group on this year’s
seminar scheduled for Saturday, 3 November, at the Jennings County Library. Four
speakers have been line up. Topics will include “the use of quilt patterns
and symbols in communicating with fugitive slaves on the UGRR”, “Native Americans in the area,” “Memories
along the Benville Rd.”, and “the use
of prescribed fire on Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge.” Lilian has scheduled the caterer-the same as we used for last
year’s seminar at the Jefferson County Historical Society.
The meeting adjourned about 8:20
p.m. Next meeting is Tuesday, August
21, 2007, 7:00 p.m. at the Army’s Site Management office in Building 125 out at JPG in Madison.
Respectfully submitted by
Ken Knouf, Acting Recorder
