Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
PIERCETON — As part of the regional America 250 anniversary celebration, the Pierceton Public Library’s Whitko Community Digital Image Project is hosting three public history programs from Thursday through Monday during Pierceton Days Festival week.
These events are designed to gather and preserve local heritage by encouraging residents to share memories, digitize local photos and documents and learn how to research their own history, according to a provided news release.
The public can participate in the following three festival-week programs:
• "Pierceton Then & Now" Slide Presentation/Library Teen Time Talk, Thursday, 1 to 3 p.m., Pierceton Public Library, 101 W. Catholic St.
Historian and Pierceton native Joan Hostetler will present a slide show featuring dozens of historic photographs of downtown Pierceton businesses. The images show why preserving downtown Pierceton’s historic buildings matters, tracing what remains from decades past. The program is geared toward children and teens, but open to the public; long-time residents are encouraged to attend and share memories with students of all ages. A walking tour will follow if weather permits.
• Pierceton Festival History Hub & Scan-a-Thon, Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Pierceton Senior Center, 205 N. First St.
Attendees can explore a display of Pierceton's historic downtown buildings and businesses, help identify faces in unlabeled school photos and watch a slide show titled "Picturing Pierceton." Residents are asked to bring Whitko-area photographs of businesses, clubs, churches, schools, homes, farms, interesting people and snapshots of everyday life from past to present. A scanning tech will copy items on-site while lenders wait or visit the festival. All originals will be returned to their owners.
• How to Research Your Pierceton-Area Building, House, or Family Workshop, Monday, 6 to 8 p.m., Pierceton Public Library, 101 W. Catholic St.
This introductory workshop provides hands-on experience researching local history. Participants will research primary sources, including Sanborn maps, old newspapers, town directories and genealogy records. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own laptops to conduct guided online research during the session. RSVP by emailing heritagephotoservices@gmail.com or calling 317-771-4129, and include the names, addresses or topics you would like to research.
These programs are sponsored by the Pierceton Public Library's Whitko Community Digital Image Project, with support from the Pierceton Heritage Association. Funding is provided by a Historic Preservation Education Grant from Indiana Humanities and Indiana Landmarks. This project will culminate in the creation of educational signs for Pierceton’s historic downtown buildings. Organizers especially welcome memories and photographs of local businesses.
