 |
Home | Search | Browse | About IPO | Staff | Links |
|
Home | Search | Browse | About IPO | Staff | Links |
|
The Putnam County Historical Society
Ellen Vogelgesang On March 17, 1963, in the Putnam County Courthouse thirty interested people met to form the Putnam County Historical Society and discuss the preservation of the county's rich history. Mrs. Walter Griffith of McNabb was named president and Edward E. Hawthorne of Granville, who was the publisher of the Putnam County Record, was elected vice president. The courthouse in Hennepin provided them with room to store small articles and a record file. They later used the basement of the town hall for storage. In July 1972 the Village of Hennepin leased to the society the building that had housed the Hennepin Telephone Company. The society used it to start a museum and later moved to the historic Pulsifer House, a home originally owned by an early settler. In 1839 Edward F. Pulsifer moved to Hennepin and purchased land on which he built his house. He had hoped that he would find his fortune in Hennepin. While he was in Hennepin he made his living by dealing in dry goods, hardware, and groceries. When he did not find his fortune he moved to Chicago and became a partner in the Chicago, St. Louis Transportation Company. After he moved from Hennepin in 1863 the land and house were deeded to his children. William Thomas, a Hennepin farmer later purchased the house and after his death his nieces Maude Holly and Mary Porter inherited it. In 1979 John, Lyman, and Palmer Porter, Mary Porter's sons, deeded the house to the Village of Hennepin. The historical society now rents the house on a ninety-nine-year lease. The society has almost finished refurbishing the house with period furnishings, including a Sheraton four-poster rope field bed. Over the years the Putnam County Historical Society also has collected a great deal of genealogical information. The library contains approximately thirty thousand names from cemetery, church, school, and census records along with various diaries that have been found. On July 2, 1994, the society commemorated the achievements of Major John Wesley Powell, who taught in Putnam County before exploring the Grand Canyon. Powell arrived in Putnam County in 1858, acquired a job at the Hennepin school, and was named principal in 1860. He later explored and mapped the Grand Canyon. The society meets four times per year and produces three quarterly publications and one annual publication. Examples of quarterly programs include one on Powell, a panel discussion about Putnam County's German heritage and a presentaion from author Kristie Miller's presentation about her book on her grandmother, Ruth Hanna McCormick: A Life in Politics. Pioneer Certificates are also awarded to any family whose ancestors arrived in Putnam County from 1830 to 1880. The society published two annual newsletters called Putnam Past Times. These contain articles on the society's meetings, new items introduced into Pulsifer House, fundraisers, and a list of new golden and life members to the society. Golden members are those who donate five hundred dollars annually to the society; life members donate one hundred dollars annually. The society holds two fundraisers per year. For the first fundraiser, Karen Ehrhardt, who is well known locally for her artistry in designing and constructing quilts, sews a quilt that is then raffled. For the second it sends out a year-end appeal for donations. The donor designates where he/she wants the donation to go, choosing between the general fund, the endowment fund, or the agriculture fund. The general fund helps the society with its operational expenses, the endowment fund is invested to maintain the society in years ahead, and the agriculture fund contributes to the society's goal of building an agriculture museum. The society has reprinted two books that can be purchased at Pulsifer House: Records of the Olden Times and History of Putnam County. The latter is used to teach third and fourth grades in the Putnam County grade schools.—[From "Putnam County Historical Society Takes Organizational Steps March 17," News Republican, 1963; Putnam County Historical Society, 1844 Edward Pulsifer House; Putnam County Historical Society, Putnam County Historical Museum; Putnam County Historical Society, Commemoration of the Achievements of Major John Wesley Powell in Putnam County, Putnam Past Times, Sept. 1998.] The Pulsifer House in Hennepin was constructed in 1844. The Putnam County Historical Society has refurbished the house and filled the rooms with period furniture. (Photo courtesy Ellen Vogelgesang}
|
|
|
