The annual park pass program is sponsored by the Township Trustees in Harrison County. Each year, the Trustees pay for one $39.00 Super Pass for each household in Harrison County. This year, the Parks Department has attempted to simplify the program to make it easier for residents to pick up a pass. Each eligible household was sent a voucher on their tax bill, which they can redeem for their Super Pass. Take your completed voucher to one of the distribution locations listed below.
All voter registrations must be submitted no later than 29 days before the election in which you plan to vote. Visit weall.vote/countusindiana to update or confirm your registration.
Updating Voter Registration
There are a variety of reasons individuals may need to update their voter registration, but the most common are:
It is always a good idea to check your registration in the months leading up to an election. If you’ve registered before or can’t remember, visit www.IndianaVoters.com and click “Confirm My Voter Registration.”
Contributed by Teresa Douglass, Genealogy Specialist
The classic icon of “Rosie the Riveter” has come to symbolize the power and capabilities of women. The symbol originated during World War II as millions of women entered the paid workforce in order to address the labor shortage created by men entering the military. The women primarily filled factory jobs that had previously been male-dominated positions.
Harrison County had its share of “Rosies,” as twenty local women joined the workforce at the Keller Manufacturing Plant in Corydon. Due to a shortage of available men, the company employed women in a few positions, and once they proved satisfactory, more women were employed. Their work included operations on stock for furniture, for walk-in refrigerators, and for truck bodies. The factory shift was from 7 am to 5 pm. The Keller Company acknowledged that in a week’s time, the work turned out by the twenty women compared favorably with the work done by twenty men on similar machines.
Below, Blanche Knight, Anna Shireman, and Ruby Windell demonstrate their capabilities in 1943.
Blanche Knight operates a variety saw, Anna Shireman uses a drill, and Ruby Windell prepares products for shipment at the Keller Manufacturing Company in Corydon, Indiana, in 1943. For these and similar images, visit our “People at Work” collection: https://cdm17251.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p17251coll23
Contributed by Teresa Douglass, Genealogy Specialist
In March, we will celebrate Women’s History Month by taking a look at the lives and contributions of women throughout Harrison County’s history. This week we feature The Woman’s Literary Club of Corydon, which was established in 1878 and was one of the earliest such organizations in the state. The club emerged through the efforts of Anna VanZandt Applegate, who wanted to keep herself intellectually challenged and knowledgeable in addition to fulfilling her roles as wife and mother. She gathered likeminded women in the community to form the club, which was at times called the “Spare Minutes Club.”
The club studied a wide variety of classical literature as well as contemporary works. The women took their work seriously and expected each member to come to meetings not only having read the literature under current study, but also to be well prepared to discuss at length the themes, plot, and characters of the work. They also set aside a portion of their time to discuss current events. Topics ranged from national and world politics and events to arts and culture and scientific discoveries. for example, among the many topics discussed in 1898-1899 were the sinking of the Maine, U. S. involvement in the Philippines, Rookwood pottery, invention of “the talked of flying machine,” a Vanderbilt wedding, and Tesla’s plan to harness the power of Niagara Falls for electricity.
Here are a few images of members of The Woman’s Literary Club of Corydon over the years. These images and others as well as meeting minutes, club program yearbooks, and a memory scrapbook are available online in HCPL’s Woman’s Literary Club of Corydon collection, https://cdm17251.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p17251coll12
The Woman’s Literary Club of Corydon, ca. 1897. The women are identified as follows: front row, l-r: Kittie Brewster, Blanche Ridley, and Charlotte Luckett; 2nd row: Anna Applegate (club founder), and Mrs. A. Riely; 3rd row: Mrs. Trueblood, Lizzie Brewster, Clara Slemmons, Mrs. E. V. Allen, and Mrs. Loweth.
Members of The Woman’s Literary Club of Corydon, 1947. Seated, l-r: Lillian Mitchell, Zelpha Simler, Nina Harris, Eva Kepner, and Cordelia Clunie. Standing, l-r: Elsie Everett Jones, Leona Keller, Lida Self, Nell Jordan, Etta Dropsey, Mary Adams and Minni Skaggs.
The Woman’s Literary Club of Corydon, 1965. At this 1965 meeting of the Women's Literary Club, Emma Dome Miller (far right) posed in the 1858 wedding dress of her grandmother, Martha Kepley Dome, and the lace cap of her great-grandmother, Sarah Hurst Kepley. Club members enjoying her presentation are, seated left to right: Lucy Hottel, Elizabeth Becker, Nola Markel, and Ruth Auxier. Standing are: Lenore LaHue, Hazel Reasor, Rebecca Ramsey, Blanche Davidson, Catherine Roberts, Leona Keller, and Elaine Altemueller.
The Harrison County Public Library Board of Trustees honored outgoing board President Kathy Crimans with a reception on Thursday, January 29, at Harrison County Arts. Kathy served on the Library Board for eight years as an appointee of the Harrison County Council. For five of those years, she served as board president, and for her first three years on the board, she served as vice president.
“Kathy was a calm and effective leader,” said Library Director Alisa Burch. “Through all her years of leadership, it was obvious that she always had the best interests of the community and library employees in mind. She has a great sense of humor and is a tireless library advocate. Her library education and years of experience as an elementary school librarian were invaluable in understanding library priorities.”
“We thank her for her service, “ Burch added. “She will be missed.”
During the reception, Kathy was presented with a plaque that read: “Certificate of Appreciation presented to Kathy Crimans. The Harrison County Public Library Board of Trustees and staff wish to express our sincere gratitude for your 8 years of dedicated service to the Harrison County Public Library. We wish you good health, happiness and continued success.” She was also given a thrown glass bowl from Zimmerman Art Glass.
On Wednesday, January 7th, Steven Schifcar, head of grounds & maintenance, Trevor Smith, systems administrator, and Town of Corydon employees placed a new historic marker on the existing base in front of the Corydon branch.
The old marker had deteriorated.
The updated marker includes the building’s history on one side and the library’s history on the other.
Contributed by Teresa Douglass, Genealogy Specialist
Have you started shopping yet?
Today’s flashback kicks off the official Christmas shopping season with a sampling of Christmas advertisements from 1950. These ads were published in The Corydon Democrat and feature some of the well-known and loved stores from years past, such as Alstott’s Hardware, Berlin’s Department Store, The Fair Store, Griffin’s Dry Goods, Western Auto, and others. Check them out – you might come up with some unique gift ideas!
Contributed by Teresa Douglass, Genealogy Specialist
Corydon Girl Scout Troop No. Five celebrates National Book Week in November 1960. The girls are standing in front of the Corydon Public Library (now HCPL’s Frederick Porter Griffin Center for Local History and Genealogy) with props they have made reflecting some of their favorite books.
The girls are, left to right: Jean Ann Doolittle, Jill Ann Moss, Ardis Reising, Becky Brown, Becky Shireman, Betty Martin, Janet Conrad, Becky Leffler, and Cindy Robson. Troop leaders were Mrs. Jack Moss and Mrs. Robert Brown.
Librarian of the Corydon Public Library at the time, Muriel White Doolittle, stated that the observance of National Book Week stressed the importance of reading and getting into the practice of being informed early in life.
Celebrate your freedom to read with a book of your choice. HAPPY READING!
Contributed by Teresa Douglass, Genealogy Specialist
These two images date to the late 1950s and were taken by Walter (“Ham”) Fried. Both can be found in the Walter (Ham) and Mina Fried Slide Collection on HCPL’s Digital Archives. Walter Fried (1908-1975) served as postmaster in Corydon from 1949 to 1970. He was an amateur photographer, and, along with his wife, Mina Redden (1911-2021), he captured many everyday sights and occurrences as well as special events throughout Harrison County. Click here to view the Fried Collection, and visit our website to view our complete list of 64 digital collections.
A young girl watches as two men and a woman make sorghum over an outdoor fire pit. The location is noted as Ed Steen’s property in Laconia, Indiana.A view of colorful autumn trees along Forest Road near Corydon, ca. 1960.
Contributed by Teresa Douglass, Genealogy Specialist
In honor of Veterans Day, this week’s Flashback pays tribute to all Harrison County veterans. These are just a few of the many photographs of veterans that are in the collections of HCPL’s Frederick Porter Griffin Center.
Veterans Day parade in Corydon, 1945. Leading the group north on Capitol Avenue just past Chestnut Street are: Earl Miller, Marshall Robson, Leo Cromwell, and Ray Resch.
Seasoned veterans and new recruits gathered together for this photograph taken September 20, 1917 as the younger men were preparing to leave for service in World War I. A total of 58 young men from Harrison County left that day and headed to Camp Zachary Taylor. They were photographed alongside Civil War and Spanish-American War veterans who came to see them off and show support. The men are lined up across what is now Capitol Avenue near where the current Corydon Town Hall is located.
A few of Harrison County’s World War II service men and women.
Marine Sergeant James W. Arnold of Palmyra in the South Pacific during WWII.Corporal Mildred Wilson of Elizabeth re-enlists in September 1943.
Staff Sergeant John R. Sieg of Depauw is awarded the Bronze Star by Brigadier General James M. Lewis, field artillery commanding officer, 30th Infantry Division at Falkenstein, Germany, June 25, 1945. Sieg was with the 823rd Tank Destroyer Battalion, 30th Infantry Division, 7th U. S. Army.
Sergeant Edmund Rainbolt of Corydon is presented with the Bronze Star in 1945. Rainbolt entered the service in 1942. After basic training he was deployed to the European Theater. He served as staff sergeant in Company L, 119th Infantry and entered France as part of the Normandy Invasion, landing on Utah Beach on D-Day +4, and served throughout France and Germany. Throughout his military career, Sergeant Rainbolt was awarded several medals, including two Purple Hearts, The Bronze Star, five Campaign Stars, and a Sharpshooter Badge.
Here are a few stories and experiences of Harrison County individuals who served during WWII:
Grover Lamar Bodendstadt of Mauckport,
In December 1943, Bodenstadt’s family had reason for concern as they received conflicting information about him. He had written his wife and his parents from a hospital in the Mediterranean area telling them he was wounded. After this, his parents received his name plate from a Red Cross field worker. On the morning of Friday, December 3, his parents received a telegram from a General in Washington, D. C., stating that Pfc Grover L. Bodenstadt had been killed in action on November 11 in Italy. The following day, Saturday, December 4, 1943, Mrs. Bodenstadt received a telephone call from Washington saying that Lamar was not dead. Naturally the family was distraught with the conflicting information and anxiously awaited something more definite. The news was positive. Lamar did survive the war, and earned a Purple Heart.
Robert J. Gettelfinger of Ramsey
Robert J. Gettelfinger completed advanced pilot training at the Blackland Pilot Training Camp of the Army Air Force near Waco, Texas in February 1943. Pilot Gettelfinger was then assigned to the 76th squadron in the Ferry Command base at Miami, Florida. Gettelfinger served with the Army Air Corps in the Burma/China Theatre and was decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross as well as the Legion of merit. He continued his military career as an officer and served in the U.S. Air Force for 27 years, retiring with the rank of Colonel in the Strategic Air Command.
William E. Hornickel of Taylor Township
Hornickel joined the Air Force and completed his basic training at Sheppard Field in Texas. He then transferred to the University of Oklahoma for further training and received his wings at Mission, Texas in January 1944. Lt. Hornickel piloted a P-51 Mustang Fighter plane during WWII and flew over 60 missions. In December 1944, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for a dangerous mission flown during the Battle of the Bulge. On his 61st mission, January 17, 1945, Lieutenant Hornickel’s plane was shot down over Germany. Declared missing in action, his body was found in a shallow grave in Germany a year later and returned home. He was 21 years old. Just three weeks prior to Hornickel’s deadly mission, his younger brother, Corporal Paul Hornickel, a radio operator ona B-29, was killed when his plane crashed over Saipan, December 27, 1944.
James E. Rosenbarger of Corydon
James E. Rosenbarger graduated high school in 1942. He entered the Army in February 1943 then trained in Texas and qualified as an expert rifleman and infantryman. In October 1944, Jim was sent overseas, and he was killed in action in France November 16, 1944. He was twenty-one years old.
Walter J. Simon of Depauw
Simon entered the Army in December 1941, and in July of 1943 he was sent to England as a pilot in the 8th Army Air Force. He was promoted from the rank of First Lieutenant to Captain by the end of the year. In July 1944, Captain Simon was presented with the Oak Leaf Cluster added to the Air Medal. The award was in recognition of numerous photo reconnaissance missions over Nazi-occupied Europe. Simon was a photo pilot and took daily pictures of the land-fighting in Europe. These photographs helped make the initial invasion landings a success and helped show the Allied High Command when and where to strike. By the end of his military career, Simon reached the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
1950 Naval Recruits
Harrison County U.S. Navy recruits in basic training May 1950. In front, left to right are Gene Baxley and Kenny Kitterman. In back are Dick Cromwell, Donald Becket and Pete Timberlake.
These images and many others are available in our Military Photographs collection on HCPL’s Digital Archives. Additional collections on the website associated with veterans include a Ledger of Harrison County Veterans’ Graves, Franklin Township Volunteer and Militia Rolls, 1862, a Grand Army of the Republic collection of records, and records of the Anderson Guards, a Civil War-era militia group based in Corydon. Visit our Digital Archives.
Many more additional materials are available in house at the Frederick Porter Griffin Center, including resources on soldiers and patriots of the American Revolution, including DAR lineage files, War of 1812 soldiers, and a wide variety of information on the Civil War and its veterans. We also have a large obituary collection and cemetery records as well as a vast amount of family and local history files. The Frederick Porter Griffin Center is located directly behind the Main library building in Corydon at 117 W. Beaver Street, and is open 9:00-5:00 Monday through Saturday. Staff will be on hand to assist you with your research.
Please note: The Griffin Center is not ADA compliant. If you would like assistance, please call 812-738-5412 or email us at genealogy@hcpl.lib.in.us to arrange for accommodations.
The Harrison County Public Library Board of Trustees honored outgoing board President Kathy Crimans with a reception on Thursday, January 29, at Harrison County Arts. Kathy served on the Library Board for eight years as an appointee of the Harrison County Council. For five of those years, she served as board president, and for her first three years on the board, she served as vice president.
Seasoned veterans and new recruits gathered together for this photograph taken September 20, 1917 as the younger men were preparing to leave for service in World War I. A total of 58 young men from Harrison County left that day and headed to Camp Zachary Taylor. They were photographed alongside Civil War and Spanish-American War veterans who came to see them off and show support. The men are lined up across what is now Capitol Avenue near where the current Corydon Town Hall is located.
Staff Sergeant John R. Sieg of Depauw is awarded the Bronze Star by Brigadier General James M. Lewis, field artillery commanding officer, 30th Infantry Division at Falkenstein, Germany, June 25, 1945. Sieg was with the 823rd Tank Destroyer Battalion, 30th Infantry Division, 7th U. S. Army.
Harrison County U.S. Navy recruits in basic training May 1950. In front, left to right are Gene Baxley and Kenny Kitterman. In back are Dick Cromwell, Donald Becket and Pete Timberlake.