Plaques dedicated and added to Heritage Wall

Saturday, July 11, 2009
Numerous people look over the many plaques that represent some of Putnam County's most memorable heritage. Handy's Dairy and the Putnamville Methodist Church were the latest recipients of this honor.

Greencastle's Heritage Wall, located on the west side of Vine Street just south of Washington Street, grew by two names following the dedication of plaques honoring Handy's Dairy and the recently turned 175-year-old Putnamville Methodist Church.

Members of the Heritage Preservation Society hosted the dedication of the plaques Friday evening just prior to the Historic Foundation of Western Indiana's progressive dinner.

The last plaque placed on the wall was for Jack Cook, president and founder of the society. Other plaques include "John Dillinger Was Here," The Ancient Peoples Who Once Walked Here, The Founding of Greencastle and The Founding of the Eli Lilly family in Greencastle.

Also, plaques include one that celebrates Eli Lilly's first drugstore and his involvement in the Civil War, Percy Julian and his synthesis of physostigmine in his laboratory at DePauw, the Julian family home and the history of Greencastle's courthouse square (including the connection of historian Jesse Weik and Abraham Lincoln).

Norm Handy thanks the Heritage Preservation Society for the plaque commemorating his family business.

A plaque in the middle explains the purpose and creation of the Heritage Wall.

The Heritage Wall, created on a building owned by Lester and Judy Wilson, has been made possible by gifts from the Putnam County Foundation, the Heritage Preservation Society, friends of the society in Greencastle, DePauw University alumni and many others.

HPS is hoping to add to its membership and anyone interested in joining can find information at the Chamber of Commerce, the Putnam County Foundation, the Putnam County Museum or the Visitors and Convention Bureau.

A yearly membership is $25. Donations are also welcome for the Society's Endowment that helps provide funds for the maintenance and additions to the Heritage Wall, funds for building preservation and to raise awareness of the importance of the past.

For more information on the Historic Landmarks progressive dinner, see Monday's Banner Graphic.

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