The Franklin Township Civic League has asked us to help promote this upcoming event.  Since you'll already be in town for Old Settlers Day, be sure to stop by and see this amazing photo collection and presentation!

The Franklin Township Civic League is honored to present Dr. Hitwant Sidhu, P.E.D. Please join us for an Open House on Sunday, June 24th from 2:00-4:00pm in the Civic League Community Room, 8822 Southeastern Avenue.

Dr. Sidhu will make a presentation at 2:00pm and would like to invite all former students, coworkers and the entire Franklin Township community to come.

Dr. Sidhu has been a township resident for over 50 years and will be sharing how so many people have touched his life.  He has amassed an awesome collection of signed photographs that will be on display.  Come and find out about the life of this most interesting person!

Fifty-Cent Books Available at Old Settlers Day - June 24

Attention, readers! Among the items to be offered at the Franklin Township Historical Society booth at Old Setters Day June 24 will be a wide variety of books available for just 50 cents each.  The hardbacks and paperbacks will both be this price, and will include mysteries, suspense, novels, non-fiction, inspirational, books on military history, photography and more.

The 50-cent book sale at the street fair has been a fundraiser for the Historical Society for a number of years, but none of this year's books were offered at previous sales; this is an entirely new assortment of used books, collected just this spring.

The Historical Society booth will also be offering yearbooks and coffee-table books, priced individually, and Society memberships will be available at just $10 / year.

The booth will be located on the north side of Southeastern Avenue, east of Dollar General and not far from the Avanti salon.

Save The Date - IHS Outing

Join us July 11 for a membership outing to the Indiana Historical Society in downtown Indianapolis on the canal.  The outing includes lunch.  More info to come!

Antique Postcard Exhibit

Just a reminder that there will be a special exhibit of vintage and antique postcards on display at this week's Open Hours! Join us at the Meeting House (6510 S. Franklin Rd.) between 1 and 4 p.m. on June 2. Postcard enthusiasts are invited to bring their own collections to share and discuss, and everyone is welcome to visit!

Croquet Tournament May 20

Our third Barnyard Croquet Tournament is this Sunday, May 20 at 1 p.m. Join us on the Meeting House lawn for a delightful game, with prizes to be awarded! Dress is casual. Refreshments will be served.

IHS Tours - Summer 2012

The Franklin Township Historical Society is not affiliated with the Indiana Historical Society, but the members of both organizations have similar interests. For that reason, you might be interested in these upcoming IHS events.  For more information, contact Jennifer Hiatt at 317-234-2670 or e-mail jhiatt@indianahistory.org.

Grave Matters Cemetery Tour - Day Trip

Join IHS Membership and Local History Services staff on June 7, 2012 for an exciting day-trip.  This tour will take us to Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville, Kentucky, one of Louisville’s greatest treasures.

Founded in 1848, Cave Hill offers beauty and reverence, a place rich with history.  Located in the middle of the city of Louisville, it is a shining example of 19th century landscape architecture and the rural cemetery movement.  The cemetery spans nearly 300 acres with 16 miles of paved roads.  It is home to over 600 varieties of trees and shrubs, five lakes and many beautiful flowers.  Cave Hill is also known for its exquisite collection of monumental art, with many pieces over 150 years old. 

This year we are offering two options from which guests may choose.  The first is a two-hour, in-depth guided walking tour of the West side of the cemetery.  Please note: the grounds are considered adverse terrain and may be difficult to walk.  The second opportunity is to explore the cemetery on your own and at your own pace.  The trip will include a brief stop on our return home at The City, Catholic, and Presbyterian Cemeteries in Seymour, IN.

Indiana cemetery expert Jeannie Regan-Dinius of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources will again accompany the group and make presentations throughout the day. Lunch, snacks and transportation via coach will be provided.

To join us, please RSVP by May 18th. Space is limited to the first 50 participants. The registration fee is $50 for IHS members and $75 for non-members (membership is included).

Explore War of 1812 Sites - Overnight Trip

Come and celebrate the bicentennial of the United States’ first war as an independent nation this fall with the IHS’s War of 1812 Members Trip. Beginning on September 24th, join your fellow IHS members on a tour of the War of 1812 International Heritage Trail. Our journey will take us to historic forts, battlefields, and monuments that highlight the conflicts of the war’s western theater. The trip will visit notable sites in Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, New York, and the Canadian province of Ontario – including Niagara Falls, Fort Erie, the Erie Maritime Museum, and other notable sites. This six-day trip will return to Indianapolis on September 29th.

The War of 1812 Members Trip is limited to thirty individuals. So, please reserve your spot while they are still available.

On this date in 1876...

On May 10, 1876, a 37-year-old Civil War veteran opened a small laboratory in a brick building at 15 W. Pearl St. to manufacture medicine. His 14-year-old son quit school to help him run the business, which they founded with only $1,400 in capital. The sign over the door simply read, “Eli Lilly, Chemist”.

Undoubtedly one of the best business decisions ever made in the city of Indianapolis. The rest is pharmaceutical history.