OFFICERS

President - Richard Copeland

Vice President - Harry Rodkey

Secretary - Andrea Perrone

Treasurer - Linda Lantz

 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Robert Julian

Melissa Moore

Rich Voorhees

David Kitchell

Julian Ridlen

Denise Vinyard

Charles Schaefer

Mike Hardy

Charles Spradling

Dr. Ken Lawrence

Bill Finks

Evert Wolfe

Myra Vanecek

Kathy Pattee

Brad Glasson

Burton Reed

Raymond Roach

Donald Snyder

Executive Director/Curator - Thelma Conrad

Cass County Historian - Richard Copeland 

 

photo credit:  Rich Voorhees

 

 

THE CASS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY CELEBRATES 100

YEARS  AS OF  FEBRUARY 2007

 

 

 The Cass County Historical Society  was organized at a meeting of the Citizens Club in Library Hall, February 12, 1907. W. S. Wright, who had spent several years in Boston, stated the objectives of the organization, comparing it to essential fixtures long established in New England. Several enthusiastic talks were made in support of the proposed historical society. Doctor Jehu Z. Powell was made chairman of the preliminary organization with William S. Wright acting as secretary. Mr. Wright was at that time editor of the Logansport Journal.

A committee was appointed to outline an organization and to draft a constitution and by-laws, to be presented for consideration at the meeting to be held on February 27, 1907. The committee members were W. S. Wright, William T. Wilson and James H. McMillen.

In March of the same year the first officers were elected. They were: President, Daniel P. Baldwin; Vice President, Dr. Jehu Z. Powell; Wils (Wilson) Berry and Mrs. John W. Ballard; Secretary, William S. Wright; Treasurer, Benjamin F. Sharts; Executive Committee: Quincy A. Myers, Benjamin F. Long, William T. Wilson, James H. McMillen, and James D. McNitt. Meetings for the Cass County Historical Society were held for many years at the Public Library building.

n 1925 the organization moved into the city building, where it housed a wonderful exhibit of historical documents, photographs, paintings, music, books, Indian relics, and other interesting objects. The first curator was Mrs. John Barnes.

During the 1950's the museum moved to the Col. Jordan Vigus home, 1100 E. Broadway, with Harriet Mehaffie as Curator.

The Jerolaman-Long home, our present location, was built for Dr. Jerolaman in 1853 by George Bevan and had various owners before becoming home to Judge Quincy Meyers. From Judge Meyers' estate the home came to belong to Benjamin F. Long. In 1967 Benjamin H. Long gave the 1004 E. Market Street home in honor of his parents, the Benjamin F. Longs. Mr. Benjamin F. Long was one of the original organizers of the Historical Society. Samuel Upton began as Curator in 1969.

 

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