Museum Newsletter - 3 Aug 2009

Friends of the Bullitt County History Museum E-Newsletter
August 3, 2009 (Volume 5, Number 10)

Dear Friends,

Announcements...

>>First, a note of respect at the loss of Joe Mooney. Longtime county figure Joe Mooney passed away last weekend. Among many positive things that could be said, Joe, along with his wife Nina, who passed away a few years ago, were collectors (and preservers) of Bullitt County historical artifacts. Thanks to Joe, for example, we have the original silent movie projector that was used in Shepherdsville in the 1910's. It is on display at the museum. Many items that would have likely been lost to the trash heap were saved by Joe, Nina, and their son Kevin. We are grateful for them.

But beyond that, Joe was a real individual, liked and respected by many throughout the area.

We are sorry for his passing and offer the kindest thoughts and sincerest sympathy to his family.

Visitation will be at the Hardy-Close Funeral Home, 285 South Buckman Street in Shepherdsville (across from the Museum). Visitation is 2:00 to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday August 4, and 1:00 to 2:30 Wednesday, with funeral 2:30 Wednesday.

>>Next Genealogical Society Meeting August 15.

We will have a guest speaker about Fort Duffield, the nicely-preserved Civil War fort located at nearby West Point, Kentucky. Meeting is usual place and time, 10:00 a.m. at Ridgway Memorial Library in Shepherdsville. We will have a short business meeting, then the presentation.

>>History Marker dedication to be held August 11.

The Bullitt County Public Library District will dedicate the new historical marker commemorating the tragic Shepherdsville train wreck of December 20, 1917. The new marker is located on the corner of Second Street and Walnut Street, just yards from the site of the wreck. Photos and stories of it can be found on our web site.

The brief ceremony will be at 6:00 p.m. at the marker. The public is welcome to attend.

We at the museum were happy to be part of the process of getting this marker, and thanks the library district for paying for it.

Activity...

>>July meeting and field trip to Belmont Furnace.

Fred Rogers, who is a partner in a historic restoration company, as well as a teacher at University of Kentucky, gave a fascinating presentation about pioneer-era iron furnaces of Kentucky. We also discussed the iron furnaces of Bullitt County, and then made a field trip to our Belmont furnace, led by the owner Dr. James Gregg Kuhns (corrected spelling from last newsletter). Besides looking over the old furnace, we discussed some dreams, hopes, and possibilities for the site. It was generally agreed that properly preserving the furnace would take a cooperative effort of many groups and agencies. At this time, no serious efforts beyond that of Dr. Kuhns' watchful oversight are being done.

>>More Cemeteries documented.

The cemetery documentation team continues to do its good work, despite summer heat, ticks, chiggers, and snakes, documenting more of our old county cemeteries. Check our web site for the updated listings.

>>Web Site Additions.

Many new additions to our web site this time, such as additions to the Time Line; Cemetery List; stories about Ed Croan and the passing of a dog tax law and Bullitt County's connection to it; my report on a caving adventure in Bullitt County, as well as a report on Shaker Village connections to Bullitt County; and several updates and other additions. See our web site and go to "Latest Additions".

By the way, we have done some nice active changes to the front of our web site (rolling photos of the day and daily museum web page of the day). Take a look and let us know what you think.

>>Recent Donations:

Book, "The Buckman Family of Maryland, Kentucky, & Missouri" by Mary Louise Donnelly, 1996, donated by William Smith.

And a generous donation of $1,000 by Steven Brooks!

>>Floyd's Fork research.

Long time Courier-Journal columnist (now retired) Bob Hill is doing research on Floyd's Fork, the very long tributary that starts in Henry County, wanders through Oldham and Jefferson Counties, and empties into the Salt River just east of Shepherdsville. Bob and I met at the mouth of Floyd's and explored it a bit for future work. We did some research on Bullitt County's history with the stream, including the story of Floyd (for whom the stream is named) being ambushed by Indians and killed in the Brooks area of Bullitt County.

I think Mr. Hill plans a two year project on this, and I hope to be part of an expedition that will canoe the stream (Time to get that Indy Jones hat again!).

>>1958 Death Certificate Microfilm.

The museum adds to its collection of death certificate microfilm as it comes available. We have now added the 1958 rolls to our collection. We now have the entire state collection from when records began in 1911 now to 1958. State law retains a fifty year rule that keeps us from having any later years. As you researchers know, death certificates, though a bit morbid, can provide valuable genealogical data such as parents, place of burial, etc.

Finally...

Just a note here mainly for our readers from out of state. The weather has been unusual across the nation this summer. Here in Bullitt County, we had our first-ever (on record) July without a single day reaching 90 degrees. It has been very pleasant and springlike, with plenty of rain, with resulting lush green grass and gardens. I read that weather has been different extremes everywhere this year. How has it been this year where you live?

That's all for now my friends. May you have a very pleasant August.

Thank you for being a Friend of Bullitt County History.

David Strange
Bullitt County History Museum
Executive Director
Museum Phone: 502-921-0161
E-Mail address: David.Strange@BullittCountyHistory.org