Published: May 14, 2008 12:36 pm         

Historical society offers invitation

The Cass County Historical Society would like to invite the Cass County community and surrounding neighbors to drop by the Cass County Historical Society museum grounds at 1004 E. Market between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday, as the society hosts “Historic Preservation Day.”

This fun and educational event is for all ages. At Riverside Park there will be an interurban trolley on loan from the city of Delphi. Park your car and take the trolley, free of charge, down High Street to Eel River Avenue where you may take a tour of restoration and historic preservation in progress at 136 Eel River Avenue. This project is a partnership of Century Career Center, Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana and the city of Logansport. Century Career Center students and advisers will be on hand to share their experiences. Then re-board the trolley to come up East Market Street to the CCHS museum grounds. There you will be greeted by members of the society along with special guests: the Cass County Visitors Bureau, the Cass County Historic Preservation Foundation, members of the volunteer staff of Longcliff Museum and a few Logansport firefighters. Each group is dedicated to preserving Cass County’s rich and varied historic past.

The visitors bureau is in the process of mapping out the county’s historic sites. The Historic Preservation Foundation’s mission is to promote and encourage interest in historic sites and structures, and assist in locating historic sites of interest in Cass County. The Longcliff Museum is dedicated to preserving the history of the state hospital. Their museum staff will have a display of photos and items that will shed light on the history of what was, at one time, a self-sufficient community in and of itself, back in the 1800s.

The Logansport firefighters have allied themselves with the Historical Society in order to preserve the 1873 fire steamer that was made specifically for Logansport and delivered that same year. While the steamer is not available for viewing, there will be some vintage firefighting equipment on the grounds including an Obenchain-Boyer chemical pumper.

In the Chick family log home, all ages will surely enjoy a demonstration of the one-room-school house by Mrs. Andrea Perrone and Mrs. Eileen Copeland. Inside the carriage house there will be a photo display of its restoration. Slide shows of the museum and its events will play continuously. Eleventh Street will be blocked off so that the public can get a close-up look at the CCHS’ 1920 ReVere and two other vintage cars privately owned by Alan Taylor.

Guests may browse all of the buildings — the museum, the office/library/archives, the log home and the carriage house. Guided tours will also be offered. And be sure to bring your camera.

Thelma Conrad

CCHS director