During 1916, Indiana’s Centennial year, much interest was shown over the state in things historical. Porter County did its part to awaken this interest within its boundary. A splendid pageant depicting the county’s history was given, an old-time concert was staged, historic spots were marked, and the Porter County Historical Society was started.
Interesting things to be found in Porter County homes were fathered into a huge loan exhibit and offered to public view at the Valparaiso Public Library. This proved to be so worthwhile that the Historical Society conceived the idea of a county museum wherein all objects of historical interest could be placed as they were acquired and at stated times could be opened to the public.
A room was procured in the Library building and the nucleus of a county museum was started. As people learned of this worthy project many valuable gifts were made to the society. It was hoped that the money remaining in the hands of the general committee in charge of Porter county’s Centennial celebration, after all expenses incurred by it were paid, would be given over to the Historical Society to purchase suitable cases for the displaying of this historical material in the museum.
It seemed for a while as if this hope would be realized and the Historical Society continued gathering material which it stored in the room in the Library building. But finally as the years passed and the money was not forthcoming, with some of its members losing interest and many of its splendid workers dead, the Society was forced to abandon its plan to start a Porter County Historical Museum.
And so the matter rested until another patriotic society, the William Henry Harrison Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, one of whose objects is the collected and preserving of historical materials, not wanting this valuable collection lost to the county and feeling that a county museum would be a decided asset, both historically and educationally voted to sponsor an organization to carry on the aims of the old historical society. It was thought best to start a new organization rather than try to revive the old one and so not wishing to lost the old contacts it was decided to call the new organization the “Porter County Historical Association.” Its object shall be the collection and preservation of all materials and records calculated to shed light on the natural, civil and political history of Porter County. It will be governed by seven officers and four directors. Membership is open to any man, woman or child who is interested in this work, and is classified as follows: active member’s dues, one dollar annually; associate members dues, two dollars annually; and life member’s fee, ten dollars and no annual dues.
The old Porter County Historical Society has turned over to the new Porter County Historical Association its collection, its assets and its good will and its members are diligently working to help the new organization achieve the aims and ideals it cherished. These people with the present membership of the William Henry Harrison Chapter D. A. R. form the charter membership roll. Members of William Henry Harrison chapter are now at work getting the collection in shape and cataloging it. They will go before the Library board at its next meeting and ask that the room assigned the old organization for use as a county museum, be given to the new Porter County Historical association to be used for the same purpose.
Money with which to purchase some cases and equipment is available through the Margaret Cameron Beer Fund. This fund came to Miss Beer as her share of the fund remaining in the hands of the Centennial committee of 1916 of which she was a member and she has held it in trust. That it might eventually be used to purchase equipment for a county museum.
It is the hope of the Porter County Historical Association to have things in shape to formally open the museum to the public early in the spring and thereafter to have it open at least one day each week that every person may come and view the collection. It is desired that Porter County citizens show their interest in this splendid movement by joining the association and by persuading families having things of interest to give them to the museum. With proper support the museum can become a distinctive feature in the community’s life and one of the county’s leading assets.
--Mrs. George F. Chester, Secretary, D. A. R. committee in charge.
This story, written by Marie Chester (1888-1970), originally appeared in The Vidette-Messenger from December 13, 1929.