The first in a new series of speaker programs related to local history will be offered 6 p.m. Thursday at the Jennings County Historical Society Museum in Vernon.
Jeanie R. Regan-Dinius, director of special initiatives with the Indiana Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology, will discuss what to do and what not to do when maintaining an historical cemetery. Regan-Dinius will review Indiana laws pertaining to cemeteries on both private and public property and answer questions.
“Recently, many people have developed a fascination with old cemeteries, so we decided the first month of our series will feature a program on historic cemeteries,” said Chris Asher, Jennings County Historical Society president.
Asher added that more than 100 sites are designated as historical cemeteries in Jennings County.
Thursday’s program will conducted in the North American House, located at 134 E. Brown St.
“The idea for the speaker series evolved from the many requests we have had following some of our other programs. Many people have asked us to have more short programs on various topics related to our local history,” Asher said.
The speaker series program, free and open to the public, will take place on the third Thursday of most months.
“We’ve designed this series in a way that people can come in after hours and after work to mix and mingle in a relaxed way with the presenters and other members of the audience,” Asher said, adding that refreshments will be offered following the programs.
Other planned speaker series topics include Native American artifacts, by Robert Donahue; a historical portrayal of James Whitcomb Riley, by first-person interpreter Danny Russell; Gen. Ulysses S. Grant by North Vernon Mayor Mike Ochs; and barn art, by Dorell Harrison and Jennings County Geological history.
For more information: 812-346-8989, jenningscounty.org or the Jennings County Historical Society’s Facebook page.
