Vigo County Historical Society

Historical Treasure Article

Historic Treasure of the Week - June 30, 1985
By Georgia Jones
Vigo County Historical Society

Fan spreads tale of woman's crosscountry travels in 1874

An unidentified young woman graduated 111 years ago today. She may have received the fan that is today's treasure as a graduation gift.

We do not know the school she attended, but the 1874 City Directory lists St. Joseph's Female Academy, St. Bonaventure College, State Normal School and Terre Haute High School as being in operation.

The 8-inch wooded fan is decorated with a tulip design carved into each of the sticks. A bright blue ribbon runs through slits just below. It was an everyday, practical fan. In the days before air conditioning -- when fashions included long sleeves, high necklines, long skirts and layers of petticoats -- fans were necessary.

The fan is interesting because the young lady embarked upon a trip and left a record of the trip on the fan. Was the trip a graduation gift ?

On the first stick of the fan: "Commencement June 30, 1874," was inscribed in ink. Then follows this record of her trip.

"July 24 - Rockville and Parke Co., Ind. - Saw Miss Chane.

"July 27 - Bloomingdale P. Co., Indiana - Miss Hobbs

"July 28 - Turkey Run, A beautiful gorge in sand rock 13 miles from Rockville. Roses and friend.

"July 30 - Chicago -" (There follows what appears to be a list of people she saw but the writing has worn off and cannot be read ).

"July 31 - Crossed L.M." (Possibly Lake Michigan) "Visited Grand Haven and G. Rapids and reached Vern__ville. Saw Dr. (unreadable) Mrs. Parken and other friends.

"Aug. 4 - Attended National Teachers Association at Detroit. Saw W. T. Harris, Pres. Jones & others. Visited Fort Wayne. Got a good view of the city from top of City Hall.

"Aug. 7 - Shalens (?) Visited -- picnic-- "(Here she has glued on a picture of a goat's head over much of the writing).

"Aug. 8, 1874 -- Cleveland, Ohio. Think that Euclid Av. is the finest street I ever saw. The Park on Superior Street is very interesting.

"Aug. 9, 1874 -- Columbus, Ohio. Government buildings very fine. Church attendance large. Large no. of open Saloon on Sabbath.

"Aug 10, 1874 -- from Col. to Cin. Saw the Bridges. Got a good view of the city from near the water works.

"Aug. 10, 1874 - West by R. R. in the P.M. to Louisville, very beautiful scenery. Hot.

"Aug. 11 -- Mammoth Cave, Ky. Not very wonderful to one who knows.

"Aug. 14 -- Down the Ohio R. to Evansville. Spent a pleasant evening with Sis. Scenery fine.

"Aug. 18, 1874 -- Spent P.M. with Sis. Not particularly pleasant for Either of us

"Aug. 19 -- Pleasant P.M. with Sis. started for T.H.. at 4 P.M.

"Aug20, 1874 -- In T.H. again. Not very rested for my trip. Hope to be better soon.

"Sept. 1 1874 -- Attended S. A. Hobbs wedding at Bloonigdale. She is now Mrs. McMillian. Very pleasant indeed."

What an adventure this must have been for a woman of 1874! How fortunate for us she left this unusual diary of a trip.

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