Tag Archives: 200 years

In this episode of The Bicentennial Journal, Suzanne Faulk tells us about her African-American family and their historical relationship to Monroe County. Support for The Bicentennial Journal and WFHB comes from Monroe County and Visit Bloomington. More information about Monroe County’s Bicentennial is available on their website. The Bicentennial Journal is produced by Kate Welch, with help from Joyce Polling and …

In this episode of the Bicentennial Journal, architectural preservationist Cynthia Brubaker talks about the importance of limestone in Monroe County. Limestone in southern Indiana is unique in its building properties, and began as a family-based industry. Brubaker tells the history of the buildings around Bloomington’s Courthouse Square and other places in the United States using Indiana limestone in their construction. Support …

This episode of the Bicentennial Journal tells the story of life in Richland Township, as written by James Parks. Parks was among the earliest homesteaders in Monroe County. A member of the first board of County Commissioners, in 1818, Parks later served on the board of school commissioners. In 1832, he was elected to the Indiana legislature. His letters are read …

In this episode of The Bicentennial Journal, Monroe County Sheriff Brad Swain tells about the “Tommy Gun” on display in his office.  It was purchased by the police during the bank robbery boom era of the 1930’s.  Sheriff Swain relays the story told to him by George Huntington, long-time Monroe County law enforcement officer, about the killing of a fleeing …

Perry Township is a three-part edition of The Bicentennial Journal. Perry Township Trustee Dan Combs tells the history of how townships came to be, and what a township trustee did historically, and the continuing tasks of the township trustee today. In part three Dan continues his talk about township history and about the township trustee responsibilities today. Support for The …

Perry Township is a three-part edition of The Bicentennial Journal. Perry Township Trustee Dan Combs tells the history of how townships came to be, and what a township trustee did historically, and the continuing tasks of the township trustee today. In Part Two, Combs about the more than 1,000 townships across the state. Townships in Indiana began when the state …

James Parks was among the earliest homesteaders in Monroe County. A member of the first board of county commissioners in 1818., Parks later served on the Board of School Commissioners, and was elected to the Indiana legislature. Support for The Bicentennial Journal and WFHB comes from Monroe County and Visit Bloomington. More information about Monroe County’s Bicentennial is available on their …

In this episode of The Bicentennial Journal, Guy Loftman tells his story about pledging to an IU fraternity in 1963, quitting the fraternity, and leading the IU student march against the Vietnam war.  He was a founder and president of the IU chapter of SDS (Students for a Democratic Society) and helped form the PRP, (Progressive Reform Party). In 1966, …

In this episode of The Bicentennial Journal, Christine Friesel from the Monroe County Public Library tells the story of the disappearance of Ester Beck in February, 1923. Being the daughter of a well known family, the whole town came out to look for her. Support for The Bicentennial Journal and WFHB comes from Monroe County and Visit Bloomington. More information …

In this second episode of The Bicentennial Journal, Trina Sterling tells the story of the John Waldron Arts Center. Originally known as lot 91, the building was constructed in the early 1900’s as Bloomington’s city hall. Support for The Bicentennial Journal and WFHB comes from Monroe County and Visit Bloomington. More information about Monroe County’s Bicentennial is available on their website. …