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In 1969 the
"Italianate" style tenant house at 524 Third Street was
purchased. Much work was needed to update the historical monument.
By January 1973 the first floor was renovated and opened to the
public. Later the same year, the second floor's renovation was
complete. Click
here for the history of the McEwen-Samuels-Marr House.
The first meeting of
the newly incorporated Bartholomew County Historical Society (BCHS)
was held April 3, 1921 at the First United Presbyterian Church.
Organizers of the Historical Society were George Pence, Vida
Newsom, W.H. Newsom, D.J. Richard, Hugh T. Miller, W.G. Irwin,
Yandell C. Cline, J.R. Dunlap. The mission was for the
"literary purposes, generally but in particularly to actively
engage in the collection of data and material for and in the
preservation of county and state history, biography, and to
disseminate such information in any and all proper ways."
The first
organizational meeting of the Bartholomew County Historical
Society was held at the First Presbyterian Church on April 3,
1921. This small but enthusiastic group stated their purpose as
"to actively engage in the collection, preservation and
dissemination of county and state history." These men saw a
historical society as the guardian of our historical heritage
which has a vital and continuing function in this fast-moving
world.
The Society's first
president, George Pence, had a vast collection of manuscripts and
papers that reflected on the history of Bartholomew County as
early as the 1870s. The primary sources of historical information
became an important part of the Society's collection.
In 1926, the
Historical Society was granted permission to use the basement of
the Court House; artifacts abounded as residents donated pioneer
tools, household furnishings, Civil War items, and other
interesting items. In 1966, the Historical Society needed to find
new quarters for its growing collection. The present site at 524
Third Street opened its doors as a museum in 1973.
In 1990, various
programs and services still adhere to the founding fathers'
original purpose. We see ourselves as an educational organization
for the community to enjoy. Through the exhibits, lectures,
publications, tours, library research, quarterly meetings, and
oral history programs, we provide an entertaining and exciting way
for the Society's members and non-members to learn about the rich
heritage of Bartholomew County.
The first home for the museum was in the basement
of the County Courthouse, opened in February of 1927. In 1948 it was determined
more space was needed for the growing collection. In 1969 the "Italianate"
style tenant house at 524 Third Street was purchased. Much work was needed to
update the historical monument. By January 1973 the first floor was renovated
and opened to the public. Later the same year, the second floor's renovation
was complete.
In 1969 the
"Italianate" style tenant house at 524 Third Street was
purchased. Much work was needed to update the historical monument.
By January 1973 the first floor was renovated and opened to the
public. Later the same year, the second floor's renovation was
complete.
|
Museum
Hours:
|
| Tuesday-Friday |
9:00 a.m. to
4:00 p.m. |
| Other times by
appointment |
| Suggested Donation: |
| Adults |
$4.00 |
| Seniors |
$3.00
|
| Children Ages 5-17 |
$1.00
|
| Under 5 |
free |
Bartholomew County Historical
Society
524 Third Street Columbus, IN 47201
Phone (812)
372-3541 Fax (812)
372-3113
email bchs@tls.net
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