Babs
HCI Forum Board Member
Posts: 589
|
Post by Babs on Apr 6, 2007 13:27:41 GMT -5
Historic site
Talk about widespread interest.
The Historic Columbus Indiana Web site mentioned in Thursday’s column about the upcoming April 14 History Bartholomew County History Celebration at the Commons certainly has a lot of fans.
Nanc Stevens, who lived in Columbus from 1938 to 1952, emailed to report that she is a faithful poster to the Web site and plans to be on hand for the 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. event with her daughter.
Nanc lives in Yorba Linda, Calif.
If she’s any indication, the get-together should serve as a sort of county reunion.
The Web site which was created by David Sechrest has had quite a bit of support in its history.
Among the initial sponsors were Sue Breeding and Bob Anderson of the Heartland Center on Washington Street.
Since then, the Web site has been funded through the Bartholomew County Library.
Harry McCawley is associate editor of The Republic. He can be reached by phone at 379-5620 or by e-mail at harry@therepublic.com. (The above article printed from The Republic, dated 6 April 2007)
|
|
|
Post by richard on Apr 6, 2007 16:22:32 GMT -5
The following appeared in Harry McCawleys Column on Thursday, April 5, 2007. In this article Mr. McCawley said that the Bartholomew County Historical Society stepped in and kept it going financially and this statement isn’t correct. The Bartholomew County Historical Society did support the July 15, 2006 celebration at Donner Park and are supporting this year’s April fourteenth celebration at The Commons. Michele Bottorff, Director of the Bartholomew County Historical Society is co-chair of the committee this year and has opened her building for the committee meetings. The Society will again have displays at the April 14, 2007. Financial support for hosting fees for David’s web site www.historiccolumbusindiana.org is being paid by the Bartholomew County Public Library. This Message Board is free, However donations are accepted to assist with the other expenses associated with the site. BELOW IS THE ARTICLE OF APRIL 5, 2007 by Mr. McCawley. Sechrest no ‘mover, shaker’ but makes big mark on city THERE’S a theory that things don’t happen in this town unless the “usual suspects” are involved. I wonder if anybody bothered to tell David Sechrest. “Usual suspects” is a phrase that some folks use in place of “movers and shakers.” It applies to a group of people, organizations and companies that have the resources to make things happen. In truth, Columbus’ “usual suspects” do make things happen around here, and they can take justifiable credit for many of the things that make the city a very desirable place to live. But, there are also people such as David Sechrest. David is not one of the “usual suspects.” He certainly doesn’t have the requisite resources (spell that money), and I seriously doubt he’s on a first-name basis with many of the “usual suspects.” But when I looked at the agenda for the second annual Columbus Historic Celebration, I marveled at what one person could start. The celebration — which focuses on the city’s history through displays, talks and walking tours — will be at The Commons from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 14. David’s involvement will be limited this year because of illness, but make no mistake, this would have not been possible without him. Actually, Year 2 of the celebration involves several individuals and organizations. Bartholomew County Historical Society has stepped forward to assume overall sponsorship. Live entertainment will be provided by Columbus Indiana Children’s Choir, Chordlighters VLQ, Senior Center Line Dancers and guitarist Dale Sechrest. There’s to be two off-site walking tours. Ricky Berkey will lead a tour of the downtown area starting with Zaharako’s, and Rovene Quigley will show off Crump Theater. Speakers include: Mayor Fred Armstrong (Columbus over the years), Maj. Gen (ret) John Hoff (Atterbury/Bakalar Air Force Base), Allen Conrad (Central Junior High School), Shirley Lyster (Wilson Jr. High and Columbus High School), Gwen Wiggins (Second Baptist Church) and yours truly (talking about the downtown of old). There will be more than 40 display tables with keepsakes from the city’s past. Massive undertaking None of this is a small undertaking. It certainly wasn’t last year, when David did the first one. He essentially did it alone. It wasn’t the first time he had set out on a solitary mission that a lot of people would have dismissed as beyond his means. Several years ago he surmised that there were others in the community who shared his fascination with Columbus history. He wanted to take his interest beyond museums, history books and quarterly meetings. He decided to put Columbus history online. He created a Web site —historiccolumbusindiana.org — starting with old Columbus High School yearbooks, painstakingly scanning photos and transferring them to an electronic format. He solicited people from around town to loan him their old photos of the city. He set up a chat board where people could send in their reminiscences and other photos. It grew and kept growing. It got to the point that David was providing pieces of Columbus history that largely had gone undetected. He did this all on his own. At times his resources went beyond limited to non-existent. At one point medical expenses were so great that he was about to shut the Web site down because he couldn’t pay for the upkeep, but Bartholomew County Historical Society stepped in and kept it going financially. He could have been content with just posting things on the Web site, but he wanted to make the city’s history more public and available to more people. That’s why the celebration came to be. No, he’s not a usual suspect. Nor are scores of other people around here who might not have resources but still do good things that benefit us all. We should be thankful for the usual suspects. Without them, Columbus would not be what it is. But we should also be thankful for people like David Sechrest. Harry McCawley is associate editor of The Republic. He can be reached by phone at 379-5620 or at harry@therepublic.com. If you go What: Columbus Historic Celebration. When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 14 Where: The Commons.
|
|
Margo CHS Class of 55
HCI Forum Board Member
Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind; it doesn't matter.
Posts: 376
|
Post by Margo CHS Class of 55 on Apr 7, 2007 7:53:22 GMT -5
[glow=red,2,300] I am hoping some of you will feel like signing up for the FREE Soundoff Site at The Republic.[/glow] Ricky has created a folder for our Event at therepublic.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=82. We need to have at least 20 replies in order for it to become a HOT TOPIC. Would you please take some time one day in the week to to post something of interest there so that we can keep it on the Front Page of the forum and hopefully continue to make it a HOT TOPIC? Just another way of getting FREE advertising for us. Thanks to Ricky for setting it up for me and to Babs for posting also. You might also like to read John Clark's article about the Sound Off Online Forum in Saturday's paper (4/7/07) Lots of very interesting topics discussed . Grandma Margo
|
|
Babs
HCI Forum Board Member
Posts: 589
|
Post by Babs on Apr 7, 2007 10:12:06 GMT -5
Yep, I signed up just yesterday! Very very interesting topics. It's free and simple to sign up so hope more people will do so. Lets make this a "really HOT topic" for the next week or so!
|
|
Babs
HCI Forum Board Member
Posts: 589
|
Post by Babs on Apr 7, 2007 10:15:09 GMT -5
Thanks Richard, for getting the great article from Harry's column on the boards. As hard as I tried, I could not locate it on the Republic's site.
|
|
Rhonda
HCI Forum Board Member
Posts: 279
|
Post by Rhonda on Apr 7, 2007 16:27:00 GMT -5
For all Committee Members... Still looking for someone to help me fill out the parking request form for the City Eng. Dept. People this is my NOT my expertise! I understand the office will close at noon today ( Fri. ) so we may have to do this some time MONDAY. This is the first time I have asked for help and I hope SOMEONE will step up to the plate for me. Had a good interview at WCSI with David this morning !! It should probably start airing hopefully this afternoon or by Monday for sure. Next radio interview is Monday morning with QMIX/KORN Radio. David informed me that his nephew( Dale's son) is flying in from CA to hear his Dad play the guitar on our program and see all the exhilbits !! Ain't IT GRRRRREEEAT !!Margo, What do we need from the City Engineer's office as far as parking is concerned? I am getting VERY familiar with those people down there as that is who I am dealing with to get my historical marker stuck into the ground. Maybe I can help.
|
|
Babs
HCI Forum Board Member
Posts: 589
|
Post by Babs on Apr 9, 2007 8:37:43 GMT -5
We made it into the Parent Magazine in today's Republic! :-)
I am just now going to email the gal in charge of the Zone calendar and get her to put us on the Saturday's Community Calendar page.
Getting good coverage of our event I think! :-)
Don't forget our meeting tonight at the Commons at 6:30.
|
|
RER
HCI Forum Board Member
"Democracy & Freedom"
Posts: 2,462
|
Post by RER on Apr 10, 2007 10:46:43 GMT -5
|
|
Margo CHS Class of 55
HCI Forum Board Member
Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind; it doesn't matter.
Posts: 376
|
Post by Margo CHS Class of 55 on Apr 11, 2007 1:08:05 GMT -5
GREAT Meeting on Monday night April 9 th at the Commons. Several persons who will be displaying Columbus items were present and met the members of the Planning Committee. Sam Simmermaker showed up also and needed no introduction to the other persons present. Things went smoothly until I passed the registration form around from the Engineering Dept for a variance for the parking to allow the open cab Stutz Fire Truck to be parked on the street that day. . Unfortunately they require someone to sign it that will be rerponsible for any damages~ injuries or accidents that might occur in these areas. Neither Rhonda B. nor I wished to sign it so it was presented at the meeting. After discussion it was decided to not sign it as we are all Volunteers and do not carry that type of liability insurance. So I am sorry to report that the Fire Engine will NOT be there on Sat. However on a much brighter note.. Sam was gracious enough to allow me to add a time slot for " Conversations with Sam". to our Program. We will have a remote microphone in the Audience and you may pose a question to Sam concerning Sports during the many years he has graced our town as a PREMIER SPORTSCASTER. So please come and try to stump Sam !!! Should be an interesting spot in our Program. It's almost here Folks !! One more final meeting at 7:30 pm on Friday night after the "First Friday for Families" program that night ..aprrx 7:30 in the stage area. We will spend the time wrapping up any loose ends and blocking out spaces for our 45 tables!! See you there Nanc and hopefully Bob and Carol R.
|
|
|
Post by David Sechrest on Apr 12, 2007 21:50:40 GMT -5
I am not sure if this info has been posted or not, but...
Wanda H. is a HUGE Ken Maynard fan. It appears that Wanda will be bringing some unique Ken Maynard items, as well as a tv and vcr to show some very old and rarely seen Ken Maynard clips!
I urge all to come to the Commons Mall this Saturday to take part in YOUR heritage!!!
|
|
Babs
HCI Forum Board Member
Posts: 589
|
Post by Babs on Apr 13, 2007 10:04:29 GMT -5
To all Committee Members: Don't forget our meeting tonight at the Commons to set up for tomorrow! First Friday for Families show should be over about 7 p.m. so plan to arrive between that time (unless you are going for the show) and 7:30. Hoping we can get all the tables set up, etc. so tomorrow morning it will be a snap to just help people unload and get their displays in order. Also the SNOW can just stay way North of Columbus and we will be just fine! ######################################## Addition to previous post: 10:50 Friday night. The Commons is all set up, and we are rarin' to go. Let the crowds come, we are ready for them. Think the layout is going to work great, we had a tremendous amount of help and everyone pitched in and we got it all done. Enjoyed our time at the Dairy Queen, although no Tony! The manager locked up and told us to stay as long as we wanted, but think we were all tired from the moving of tables and chairs, so we all headed to our various homes and some to motels where they are staying. We have visitors from South Carolina, So. California, and I believe it was Fort Wayne, Indiana already here in town. Just have to get all the collections unloaded in the morning and the 2nd Annual Columbus Historic Celebration can begin!
|
|
|
Post by richard on Apr 14, 2007 21:31:10 GMT -5
Smith School 3rd Grade Time line.
|
|
|
Post by richard on Apr 14, 2007 21:32:15 GMT -5
Smith School 3rd Grade Time line.
|
|
|
Post by richard on Apr 14, 2007 21:33:21 GMT -5
Smith School 3rd Grade Time line.
|
|
|
Post by richard on Apr 14, 2007 21:34:25 GMT -5
Smith School 3rd Grade Time line.
|
|
Rhonda
HCI Forum Board Member
Posts: 279
|
Post by Rhonda on Apr 14, 2007 22:37:00 GMT -5
|
|
Rhonda
HCI Forum Board Member
Posts: 279
|
Post by Rhonda on Apr 14, 2007 22:49:08 GMT -5
I had a great time today talking with folks. I came home with a list of 8 people who knew my mother/went to school with her. I sent her a quick e-mail and told her to get busy looking everyone up in her old LOG yearbooks. She was delighted! I took photos of one of her former neighbors, too. Wish I'd thought to do that earlier in the day as I spoke to people.
Hope everyone else had a great time today!
|
|
|
Post by David Sechrest on Apr 15, 2007 6:37:42 GMT -5
Well, the 2nd Annual Columbus Historic Celebration is now a thing of the past (history!).
And what an exciting day it was!
My morning began by getting up around 6:30am and ensuring I had everything I wanted to take to the event. I really didn't have that much. Two of the items were very fragile, and as it was raining when I woke up yesterday morning, I grabbed the two items. One could fit in a magazine bag, so I secured it, and the other, being a picture of the Columbus High School football team from 1901-1902, I grabbed an record album plastic bag and put the picture in it.
A couple of cups of coffee later, I checked out the recorder I wanted to take and the batteries were dead, so I told myself to stop at the Downtown Grocery and grab some triple A's.
My daughter and I left the house and stopped at the Downtown Grocery. After buying the batteries, I picked up the paper and only glanced at the "Connect" column at the bottom.
No mention of our Celebration!
I got to the Commons a little after 8am, and Richard came up to me and said, "Congratulations, young man." I had no idea what he was talking about.
He then proceeded to tell me that Mayor Fred Armstrong had issued a Proclamation that Saturday, April 14th, was David Sechrest Day!
Talk about a shock!
I then saw the article about our Columbus History Celebration in The Republic. Not only had we made news, but it was smack dab on the front page!
The rain let up somewhat while people were bringing items into the Commons. The setting up went pretty smooth.
Wanda Hunter showed up with the video on Ken Maynard and their VCR wasn't working properly, so I ran home and grabbed mine and headed back down to the Commons.
By 9:45, almost all of the tables were ready for viewing, and I stood back and took it all in. It truly was a sight to behold, and what a difference from last year! The Commons was thee perfect location for our Celebration, and the way the tables were all together really made for a nice looking area.
Sam Simmermaker was our guest MC for the first part of the Celebration. Sam is a wonderful and very interesting man, and he did a tremendous job! The first speaker was Mayor Fred Armstrong, and Fred gave a marvelous opening speech.
Then, he did something of which I was totally unaware. He called me up to stand beside him, opened up a manila folder and pulled out a a piece of paper. He continued to read from that paper as follows:
"Whereas David Sechrest has been instrumental in creating a web site devoted to the history of Columbus Indiana; and
Whereas David has worked tirelessly over many years to input all types of documents, countless Columbus High School Log Books, postcards, and informational books on the city's rich heritage, plus an online message board allows other persons to enter and share thoughts and memories; and
Whereas David's web site has earned the coveted Home Town USA Community website award; and
Whereas David took his love for the history of Columbus a step further by organizing the 1st Annual Columbus Historic Celebration held at Donner Park in July 2006; and
Whereas David will be honored for many years to come as we continue the celebration of our heritage--
Now, therefore, I, Fred L. Armstrong, Mayor of the city of Columbus, Indian, do hereby proclaim Saturday, April 14, 2007, as David Sechrest Day in the city of Columbus and call upon citizens of Columbus and Bartholomew County to continue to show support for the heritage of Columbus that has been captured and displayed for all to enjoy."
I was shocked...to say the least...
I said a few words and without preparing something to say, I tried to thank all those involved. I thanked Mayor Fred, Michelle Bottorff with the Bartholomew County Historical Society, the Bartholomew County Public Library for paying the hosting fees of the website, and Bob Anderson and Sue Breeding at Art In The Heartland for covering the hosting fees while I was recovering from my appendix rupturing. I had the entire Columbus Historic Celebration Committee come up on stage with me and be recognized.
I knew I was going to forget someone, and I acknowledged that to the crowd, and stepped aside while Mayor Fred added a few more comments. I then remembered who I had forgot to thank! Harry McCawley at The Republic!
I did get that in, however.
Yesterday was a truly glorious day for me, and it will be one I do not soon forget. I was glad my daughter was there with me, and I was glad that my mom was in the audience.
I may have started the website and the historic celebration of our city on my own, but many things have grown from and through both. I have been able to meet and become friends with some wonderful people, and, today, it is because of those friends that we had the Celebration of our city's history. I cannot take credit for that.
But I AM honored (and still quite dazed) by the Proclamation.
Thanks to all for making yesterday a day I will never forget...
The rest of the day went by way too fast, although I was running on fumes from not sleeping the night before, and still shocked from all that had occurred. All of the entertainment was absolutely wonderful and that was all thanks to Margo (except the last group, Believe My Shame).
We had a great crowd of people all through the day. I would estimate we had somewhere around 500 to 800 people come through and glance over the displays.
The 2nd Annual Columbus Historic Celebration was, indeed, a hugh success, and in the next few weeks, the committee will get together, and talk about what went right with this year's event, and what could be changed to make it even better.
Then we will start working on the 3rd Columbus Historic Celebration for next year...
|
|
mfaure
HCI Forum Board Member
Posts: 53
|
Post by mfaure on Apr 15, 2007 13:54:00 GMT -5
oh what a beautiful morning, oh what a beautiful day!!!!!! rain, rain, go away!!! and it did. Our day was a beautiful day and one we will not forget. If next year's presentation is the same degree of improvement as this years over last, we will shake the timbers of our "Town of Inspiration". I am so proud to be a part of David's Dreams I could just stand up and shout. YaHoooooooo!
can't wait to get started on next year.
Margie
|
|
|
Post by richard on Apr 15, 2007 14:00:14 GMT -5
These two attendees were born the same day at Bartholomew County Hospital.
|
|