Linda Seal of the Crothersville Sesquicentennial Committee, displays one of the commemorative plates she and committee member Jean Stout designed for the town’s 150th anniversary in September. The plates, which sell for $20, are an updated version of a town centennial plate sold in 1958 and depict local landmarks.
The Crothersville Sesquicentennial Committee has announced the arrival of the fall festival’s commemorative dinner plate and the activation of its new website, www.150YearsAgo.org.
The plates are manufactured by the original company that created the 1958 plate, Kettlesprings Kilns near Alliance, OH, which is located in the northwest corner of that state.
“We’ve been developing unique artwork for all kinds of celebrations since 1950. Historical festivals, churches, family reunions–for anyone, really, who has a need to commemorate or celebrate an occasion and to raise funds for their celebration,” said Evelyn Groves, Kettlespring Kilns spokesperson. “The art work then is applied to our best quality porcelain and fired in the kiln.”
The Crothersville Sesquicentennial plate is a 9 3/8″ delicate cream colored procelain plate with antique maroon lettering, edged in gold. “This plate is really unique, as it has the gold edging which had to be done after the original firing was completed. It should be noted that the plate is decorative in nature and is meant to be a souvenir item only, not an actual dinner plate,” stated Groves.
The plate shows etchings in an outer circle depicting local sites such as the Fire Department, Crothersville Library, and Adams Funeral Home as well as six other sites around town plus a portrait of John and Nancy Hamacher, the founders of Crothersville.
Within the inner circle of the plate is a drawing originally designed by Crothersville native Mildred (Owen) Julian of Scottsburg. The center drawing is of Hamacher Hall Historical and Cultural Arts Center, formerly the home of Crothersville Presbyterian Church. The church was originally built by John Wesley Hamacher in 1885. John W. Hamacher was the nephew of John Hamacher, the founder.
The plates are available at town hall for $20.
The Crothersville Sesquicentennial Committee’s new website, “www.150YearsAgo.org”, designed by member Betty Norris. “We have only just begun,” says Norris. I’ll be uploading lots of information about the upcoming Sesquicentennial, past history of Crothersville, old and current pictures, old news articles. We even have included links to area institutions of interest in Jackson County and throughout southern Indiana.” Links also are included to encourage the public to look into their own past family history. “It’s going to be sort-of like the weather. If you don’t like what you see on the site today, then stop by in a few days. The site will look a little different each time you check in. We are even hoping to add musical sounds from the past as visitors tour our site,” concluded Norris.
For info concerning any aspect of the September 11-14, 2008 Sesquicentennial, contact Rita Ibershoff at 859-582-8697, e-mail: crothersville.history @yahoo.com; Donna Crafton at 317-512-6143, e-mail: dcc0517@sbcglobal.net; Linda Seals at 812-793-2311 e-mail: llseals@verizon.net; or Brenda Holzworth at793-2760, e-mail: auntsamanthas@hotmail.com
