Because of COVID, the Annual Dinner Meeting of JCHS in November has again been canceled. Election of five board members to serve for a three year period was to have taken
place at that meeting.

Those board members whose terms expire are Kay Locker, Sylvia Morrical, Jane Spencer, Blake Watson, and Rob Weaver. If anyone would like to volunteer, or you would ...

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James A. “Jimmie” Schindler was born in Geneva, Indiana, in 1934. He was put into an orphanage at age three and, following fifth grade, a foster home where he was terribly mis-treated. He graduated from John Carroll University in 1956, served in the U.S. Army, and was the founder and owner of Jimmie’s Pizza Inns and Bandidos. These restaurants were in Fort ...

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The week prior to the Engine and Tractor Show, when the whole town is a giant rummage sale, museum volunteers sponsored a "Trash to Treasures" sale to dispose of unneeded items.  This included many old books, picture frames, decorative tins, magazines, mirrors, prom mugs, bicentennial plates, and much more.  The sale was held on the lawn of the Gilpin ...

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The Jay County Historical Society has been awarded a Portland Foundation grant in the amount of $6,900 to cover much of the cost of a large flat-bed scanner. The total cost of this machine will be about $8,000. Some donations have already been designated toward this project.

The large scanner will allow us to scan boxes of old newspapers which ...

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After giving the matter much thought, the JCHS Board of Directors voted to cancel the Heritage Festival again this fall. With the uncertainty of COVID, especially with a new strain spreading across the country, they decided it was best to cancel now rather than preparing for the event and then
have to cancel.

We know this is disappointing news for ...

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If you are planning to come to the museum to do genealogy research and might need to use probates or need help in doing your research, please call ahead a day or two before coming. Volunteers are not always here to help unless we are notified ahead.

The museum is still in need of more volunteers to help with sorting, indexing, and making data bases of materials. Some of this work can be done at home. Simple-to-follow directions will be provided.

We also have many journals which were published by the Indiana Historical Society in the past. We would like to have someone who is willing to look through these ...

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Three items are being highlighted this month at the museum.

Some of the museum’s many clothing items are displayed on mannequins throughout the museum. A black suit which was worn by Portland resident and Portland Forge employee, Gordon Meeker.

The two-piece peach knit dress, is from a collection of clothing from the estate of Pearlie Rowles. Pearlie ...

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