Vigo County Historical Society
Historical Treasure Article

Historic Treasure of the Week - June 21, 1998
By Barbara Carney
Vigo County Historical Society

Historical Museum turns 40

More than 1,200 people attended the May 11, 1958 opening of the Vigo County Historical Museum at 1411 S. Sixth St. The Terre Haute Tribune-Star covered the event in the rotogravure section with a pull page of photos.

One of these photographs depicts Dorothy Clark, curator, with board members C. Weir Cook at the piano and Allen Merrill turning the sheet music of "On the Banks of the Wabash" by Paul Dresser.

At the 1958 open house, Mary E. South, to whom Dresser dedicated his song, was a hostess. Cook accompanied Jerry McCarthy, who sang Dresser songs and Earl Hooker performed the music of Malcolm Scot. The Sarah Scott Junior High School band, directed by Leslie Baine, gave a concert on the lawn of the museum.

Forty years have gone by since this opening celebration. Under the guidance of visionary board members and executive directors, these have been years of consistent growth and improvements for the Vigo County Historical Society and museum.

From 1 to 4 p.m. on June 28, the historical society is marking the 40th anniversary of the museum opening with a birthday party. Special attractions will be the opening of the Civil War exhibit and a research room, which was made possible by the Fort Harrison chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

At the piano will be Louise Clark. There will be two performances, at 1:30 and 3 p.m., by Sandi and Mike Treaster, acting as a Civil War surgeon and his wife.

The Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley, 1411 S. Sixth St., is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.