Historic Hoosier Hills RC&D
JPG Heritage Partnership
January 15, 2008
Minutes to be reviewed at the February Meeting
The Jefferson Proving Ground Heritage
Partnership met at South
Ripley Elementary School in Versailles, Indiana at 7:00 p.m. Norma Lou Irwin, Chairperson, called the meeting to order with Bob Irwin, Ken Knouf, Louis Munier, Mike
Moore, Leroy and Mary Harsin, Ilene Harsin, Charles Dilk, Marilyn Browning, and Carl and Millie Busch in attendance.
Minutes of the December meeting were
reviewed. Ken made a motion that the minutes be approved; Louis seconded the
motion and the minutes were approved. The financial report was reviewed. Income was mainly from the sale of books. The
financial report was filed for audit.
Ken reported that contractors have
been busy doing environmental samples. Ken had been considering retiring in April,
but now has decided to delay his retirement until at least the end of this year. Everyone
was delighted with Ken’s decision because he is such an important person in the group and he contributes in innumerable
ways.
Daily average visits to the web site in
January were 56/day, consistent with the number for the last several months.
Work on oral histories has progressed. Ken had his co-worker Yvette Hayes label about 100 acid-proof file folders for oral
histories to the specifications of the Jefferson County Historical Society. Yvette
also read the oral histories and selected 20-25 that she thought were most interesting and significant. Louis will also look at all the oral histories and select the best ones.
Ken needs the draft manuscript back from Ron Harsin so Ken can tweak a couple chapters.
They are also looking at pictures to incorporate in the book.
All copies of the Old Timbers Book have
been sold. Mike got a quote from Thomson-Shore, Inc. for printing the Old Timbers
book. The quote, which was based on having digital files in the correct format,
was about $5000 for 500 books or $10 per book. Carl asked how many books are
needed. However, since our funds are not sufficient to consider printing the
book now, some of our inventory of the Sue Baker book will have to be turned into cash and we will have to find additional
funds to print the Old Timbers book.
Mike talked to David Cart about carpentry
work for the display at the Jefferson County
Historical Center and David
prepared a quote. However, because of computer issues the quote was not available. Ken mentioned that the quality of David’s work is outstanding as seen in the
window ledges at Oakdale school, the floor at the wagon factory, and much work at the Eluetherian College. Louis said that David does outstanding work for a reasonable cost and he is conserving
in the materials he uses. Mike will continue to work with the display.
Mike showed the group a framed photo
of Old Timbers Lodge. Star Quality Awards engraved the wood frame in appreciation
to Judy and David Wolfe for selling books for us. Judy’s dad worked on
the survey for Old Timbers and she is interested in the history of Old Timbers and JPG.
Marilyn mentioned she has an oil painting of Old Timbers done by former JPG Commander Colonel Jim Bishop’s wife;
several members of the group were interested in seeing this painting. Mike gave
Marilyn an enlarged copy of the cover of Sue Baker’s book to take to the Versailles
drug store that has been selling books for us.
Jim Leveille is gung ho about Old Timbers
and is moving forward with the project. He has set a work weekend on May 17. It will also be a cookout and campout weekend.
Anyone who would like to help with the cleanup and work or come to the cookout and campout is welcome. People can bring sleeping bags and stay overnight. Next weekend
a walk-through to determine what work should be planned for the work weekend in May will be done by Jim, Dave Bear, who is
vice-president of BOCS and a construction trades teacher at Madison
Consolidated School, and Master Sergeant Kerry Brinson from the Air Guard. BOCS will prepare a materials and supply list and will buy the supplies. Any request for access or use of Old Timbers should go to Jim. HHH
thought of having their March 24 annual meeting at Old Timbers, but it probably will not be ready for that function this year. A money-making project is underway by BOCS to mesh pictures of Old Timbers with voice
and to create a video. Carole Poffinbarger, Norma Lou, and Ron Harsin are working
on this project. Amazing progress is underway with Old Timbers Lodge.
A new topic about caves in JPG generated
input from several members. Nora Lou brought up the topic as Ray Shelton had
called her about his work in surveying caves in JPG. There may be about 25 caves
in JPG. Ray Shelton, who is in his early 50’s and works in surveying in
Columbus, had interest in the caves and he had gotten permission
to survey the caves a few years before JPG closed. He has seven books about the
caves and the work he has done. One cave he said was on the Everett Shonk place. Norma Lou thought the cave was south of Everett Shonk.
Norma Lou said you could walk in the cave. The cave is on the south side
of Graham Creek,
west of Bomfield Road, and was said to be used by
the Underground Railroad. You could walk in 200 feet, then go down a little and
walk 200 feet further. There was a stone wall in front and it looked like farmers
may have kept livestock in the cave. There are many initials and names written on the walls in the cave. There was another
cave on the Bernice Chandler place. This family had 11 children and they kept
butter and milk in a spring. One daughter, Catherine, was in Norma Lou’s
class, and Catherine’s son is former JPG employee, Jerry Walker, who was Ray’s guide for the caves. Ken also pointed out that right now the caves are a point of controversy as questions arise about the possible
fear of depleted uranium getting into ground water through all the karst topography (the type of limestone where caves form). Mike hasn’t gone far into any caves but he did take pictures from the entry
of the Harvey Gray
Cave at Middlefork Creek. Mike
said there were many names on the walls and he would like to go back and get good pictures.
Another interesting aspect about the caves is that Fish and Wildlife have brought in experts and have documented two
or three previously unknown species in the caves. So there is interest in the
caves from several viewpoints…historically from use in the Underground Railroad and by residents for themselves and
their livestock, geologically for the karst topography, biologically for species, and safety for spread of uranium and for
unexploded ordinance that has been moved into the caves.
Ken asked Charles if he would be interested
in a hike to the big cave and to Fred Hill’s grandfather’s place. They
will try to do this when the weather permits. Ilene will look for the interview
of Leroy Harsin and give it to Mike.
Next meeting is Tuesday, February
19, 2008, at 7:00 pm at JPG, Building 125, in Madison, Indiana.
Respectfully submitted by
Millie Busch, Secretary
