Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 245, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 October 1915 — SCHOOLS TO START CENTENNIAL WORK [ARTICLE]

SCHOOLS TO START CENTENNIAL WORK

Plaaa to Make Every Schoolhouse In Goaty Center of Interesting Local History Study. Centennial Notes. At a recent meeting of those interested in the centennial celebration in Jasper couty for 1916 it was decided that the schools should start the work. In order to proceed in some organized way a temporary organisation has been appointed consisting of the superintendents of the schools of Jasper county, Remington, Wheatfield, DeiMotte, Rensselaer, and also the chairmen of the various township teachers’ institutes. A brief outline of the work has been sent to the above people. Every school house in the county can be made the center of* an interesting study of local history. Much of the work will consist of a study of local, county and state geography at first and followed by the history work. The latter can be done by collecting relics, having old settlers visit the schools and talking about the early days, the gathering of pictures and documents, finding out about the manners and customs and life in general of the early days, etc. An interesting study would be concerning the Indians. After this is done, it is tha plan to have local celebrations in various parts of the oounty and later a county observance of some sort. For these occasions it would be possible to have a historical pageant, a “home coming," an “old folks” program, ~.i exhibit of the relics and documents. It is hoped that the people of the county'will respond to the efforts of those in charge of this work by giving any information they can. If one has any interesting news, it should be published in the papers. From time to time there-will be notices published of what others are doing over the state. Centennial organization has been started in nearly 60 counties. Together these chairmen compose Ihe grand committee. They are representative citizens of the state —busy men, already doing things worth while. In the list there are fourteen school men, including county and city superintendents and others; ten attorneys, two judges, five men in general business; five bankers, eight edi‘tors, a civil engineer, a manufacturer, a physician, librarian, author, postal clerk, and two or three farmers. The commission is to hold its next meeting Oct. 16, at historic Corydon, where Indiana was bom 99 years ago. The grand committee so far boasts two women, who promise to be about the liveliest wires of the 92. They are Mrs. R. F. Dooley, Rockville, thairman of Parke county, and Miss Genevieve Williams, of Huntington, chairman of Dubois. Both already have plans well outlined for next yearis celebration in their counties. The commission has just issued a timely circular on Pageantry by George Mcßeynolds, head of the history department of the Evansville high school. It is full of practical suggestions for next year’s pageants, and will gladly be mailed on inquiry to any address. Chairman John C. Shirk, of Franklin county, writes: In 1897 we had a home coming, and again in 1908 we celebrated the 100th anniversary of the founding of Brookville, and we made a great success of each. We will make the one hundredth anniversary of our state a greater success. We have fixed the first week in June for the celebration. We will have a pageant, an historical exhibit, and a home coming as features. “Professor Herbert Briggs, head of the Vocational Department of the Public chools of Terre Haute,” is the registry title of the chairman of Vigo. But it doesn’t oppress him a particle. He is the very essence of vim, vigor and vitality, chuck full of enthusiasm. “Some men swear and spit tobacco for diversion,” says Briggs, but he says he finds his in chasing down things historical, including his ancestors. Forget his registry data above but keep your eye on red headed Briggs of ‘Terry Hut.”