the BEACON Newspaper, Indiana beacon12-18 | Page 4

Page 4A THE BEACON December 2018 Preserving the Richness and History of Dearborn County Continued from page 1A not necessarily true. It just takes someone to start it and somebody to…” “To have that vision,” sug- gests Mrs. Baer. Both women applaud Chris McHenry for starting the organization that was initially based in two small rooms in the courthouse. Mrs. Baer says, “They were there for many years until Doug Hen- drick purchased the house - the Vance-Tousey House - and through his collaboration with the city, they leased it to us for thirty years.” Sometimes history provides more questions than answers: like this discarded device tucked into an upstairs corner. She continues, “The lease was up in May; we now own the house and as long as we Photos by Susan Ray continue to maintain it as a historical society, we have use of it.” Some of the many ways the Dearborn County Historical Society puts the house and grounds to use is by being available to answer questions from residents and out of town guests about the house, city and county; by offering tours of the Vance-Tousey House and Angevine Cabin, and by encouraging public use of the research room. Mrs. Baer says, “If folks want to do their research, we have microfilm which the library does not have. They have microfilm newspapers, but we have deeds, wills, marriage records on microfilm, so we work hand in hand with the library.” Anyone can stop in during normal hours, but are just as welcome to call the office number and make arrange- ments to visit at a time more convenient for them. At the front entrance of the Vance-Tousey House is a par- terre, or symmetrical, formal garden, as well as cut-flower and kitchen, or herb, gardens located along the sides of the house. In 2013, the Historical Society worked with Purdue University landscape students, Casey’s Outdoor Solutions and the Southeastern Indiana Master Gardener Association to research, design, restore, and care for the grounds. Stored inside the Vance- Tousey House are well over 20,000 items including: family histories; an upright Cook piano; albums of vintage postcards, interesting items from the Chapman Lodge in Dillsboro, vintage clothes, hats and shoes; a Military Room dedicated to local veterans; personal diaries; a timeline designed by Lawrenceburg High School alumni Chad Wil- liams, bound newspapers; and much more. The Historical Society considers itself to be a steward This c. 1818 cabin was built by James and Susan Angevine in York Township and used into the 1980s. Believed to have been used as a laboratory for the roller mills, this room is yet another part of Dearborn County’s intriguing past. of historical artifacts as well as the centuries-old house and nearby cabin, so is committed not only to preserving local history, but to sharing well- researched and documented information, also. The organi- zation recently partnered with Indiana Landmarks in hosting the Ridge Avenue Ramble, a self-guided walking tour of four historic homes in Green- dale, Indiana. On the day of the event, volunteers from the Historical Society welcomed visitors into the houses, shared information about the families who had lived there and put the individuals and structures into historical context. Partici- pants were able to talk with the current owners of each of the iconic homes and walk through the houses, some of which were in the process of being restored to their former grandeur. The sold-out event proved so popular that another ‘Ramble’ is currently being considered. On Nov. 25, the volunteers will once again welcome visitors and lead tours during Christmas in the Country. Ac- cording to volunteer Marilee Hamilton, this special holiday celebration will take place at the Angevine Cabin and the Vance-Tousey House. Both buildings and the Boy Scout cabin will be open to the public that afternoon. Families In 2000, the Vance-Tousey House was added to the National Register of Historic Places. can make seasonal crafts, take a wagon ride, enjoy refresh- ments, and visit with Santa. This and future community events are opportunities for residents to learn about the work of the Historical Society and to consider becoming a member, donating a few hours alongside fellow Hoosiers, and/or contributing to the all- volunteer group. Currently the non-profit is raising funds to preserve the Angevine Cabin. After two hundred years, the overall structure of the build- ing is sound, but the decking on the porch needs to be re- placed and sealed, the roof and gutters are in need of atten- tion, and some of the logs and chinking have to be replaced. Continued on page 5A T his Thanksgiving, we here at Mansfield Insurance Agency are thankful for many things, our country, our veterans and our families which includ es our customers. Thank you for your loyalty for the past 37 years. THE BEACON - Bringing our Community and Businesses Together.