Museum Newsletter - 14 January 2016

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Dear Friends of the Museum,

I hope everyone made it through the Holidays and are looking forward to 2016. In our culture the New Year represents a new birth, or a new beginning for everyone. It is a time when all things seem possible, and when the ball drops in Times Square, we have a clean slate, and some extra motivation for the coming year. We here at the museum are looking forward to a great 2016, and I hope you are also.”

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The Bullitt County History Museum will be closed January 18, for the Martin Luther King Holiday.

The Bullitt County Genealogical Society meets the third Saturday of the month at 11:00 a.m. Our meeting location, however, has changed. Beginning February 13, 2016 we will meet at the Government Center, 634 Conestoga Parkway in Shepherdsville. Our speaker will be story-teller Mandy Dick, and everyone is invited. As is our custom, we will not meet in January.

The Mt. Washington Historical Society meetings location has changed for the winter months. From February through April the meetings will be held at the City Annex Building off Branham Way. The schedule is as follows;
    February 2–7:00 p.m.
    March 1–7:00 p.m.
    April 5–7:00 p.m.
    April 19–7:00 p.m. (Annual Meeting)

Beginning May 3, the meetings will return to the Lloyd House, Old Highway 31 E and Dooley Drive, on the first and third Tuesday of the month. Meeting time is 7:00 p.m.

The Spencer County Genealogical Society meets the fourth Monday of the month at the Spencer County Library, 168 Taylorsville Rd. Meeting time is 7:00 p.m.

The Louisville Genealogical Society meets the first and fourth Tuesday of the month at the LDS Church, Hurstbourne Parkway and Linn Station Rd. Meeting time is 1:00 p.m.

Henry Crist - Businessman on the Kentucky Frontier has arrived from the printer, and is available for purchase. This long-awaited book is a collaboration between Betty Darnell and the late lawyer/historian Burlyn Pike. For more information call Betty at (502) 422-0150. The book may also be purchased at the Bullitt County History Museum. The price is $50.00.

Our museum volunteers continued their exemplary work in 2015. They totaled 2763 volunteer hours over the twelve month period. Keep in mind that these are only the hours actually spent at the museum. If we ever find a way to accurately count the hours outside the museum, 2763 would probably just be the tip of the iceberg.

Accessions:

• Card table from the mid-1950s with advertisements for some forty Bullitt County businesses, donated by Bruce Thomason.
• Notary Public Seal of James W. Hardaway (1885-1961), donated by Doris Brosick through Jimmy Cash.
• Henry Crist-Businessman on the Kentucky Frontier, donated by Betty Darnell.
• Henry Crist House photo album, donated by Betty Darnell.
• Pipe Bowl scraper, loaned by James Sauss. ??? (see below)
• Small Native-American tomahawk, donated by Donald Crowe.

Christmas Social

The Bullitt County Genealogical Society got together for a Christmas Social at the home of Bonnie and David Strange near Bardstown Junction on December 12. Everyone had a great time talking shop, and playing games that were led by Shirley Miller. Have you ever tried to draw a snowman with the paper on top of your head? It made for some interesting looking creatures.

The food was excellent, and there was probably enough for three socials. Thanks again to Bonnie and David for inviting us to their beautiful home.

What is it?

Take a look at the item below. It is on loan to the museum from Mr. James Sauss. He seems to think this is a home-made pipe-bowl scraper. I think he is right.

The item consists of two parts of an ordinary fork. The first is the butt end of the fork, and the other is a tine (working end) that is soldered to the back. When a right-handed person is holding the item, the thumb fits very comfortably, with the tine at just the right angle to scrape the bowl of a pipe.

Although the item is interesting in and of itself, there is another feature that gives it added interest. When it is examined closely, and in the right light, the words,”Paroquet Springs” can be seen inscribed or stamped on the handle

So, we know the fork was made sometime between the late 1830s and 1879 when the, Paroquet Springs Hotel burned, and we know where it was used. What we don’t know is how, and when, it became the artifact that it is today.

Stop by the museum and take a look. It is in the glass display case in the first floor hallway. See what you think it is. I believe we are right on this one!

Croan Cemetery

I mentioned in an earlier newsletter about the Croan Cemetery that is located on the property of June Dawson in western Bullitt County. Below you can see the beautiful gate entrance fabricated by June’s son Clayton.

Thanks to June and Clayton for the care they have given to one of the burying places of our ancestors

Aw Pshaw

When was the last time you used the term, “aw pshaw” in ordinary conversation? If you have ever heard it used, you would have probably remembered it because it is such an odd term. It is phonetically pronounced, “all shaw.”

I never heard this term growing up in Bullitt County, but when we went to my Grandparent’s house each summer in western Kentucky, I heard it on a fairly regular basis. Webster’s says it is used to show irritation, disapproval, contempt or disbelief. I wonder if seven (wonderful) grandchildren swarming over your farm in the summer like locust could have elicited such a response. Surely not my family!

I want to thank everyone for the support you have shown over the years to the Bullitt County History Museum, and for your continued support in 2016. Let’s make this year even better than the last one. See you next month.

Will Burden, Museum Director