Published: May 02, 2008 08:29 am      

Exhibit celebrates area’s political past

Fountain County Art Council organizes display

COVINGTON, Ind. — With national news media gorging on around-the-clock coverage of the intensifying race for the White House, and the interest in Indiana’s Democratic primary at an historic high, it’s hard to miss the fact that this is an election year.

But did you know that Fountain County has produced its own share of noteworthy politicians?

Starting Saturday, the Fountain County Art Council will explore and celebrate the political past of this area with a new exhibit at the historical clerk’s building in Covington, Ind.

“Since there is so much discussion about politics this year, we thought it was a good thing to do,” said Carol Freese, president of the council. “There are quite a few people from Fountain County who’ve made a name for themselves in politics.”

The exhibit, called “150 Years of Politics in Fountain County,” highlights 15 Fountain County residents who held office on a state or national level during the period 1826-1976. Among them are U.S. Sen. Daniel Voorhees, General and Governor Lew Wallace, female U.S. Rep. Cecil Harden and, more recently, U.S. Rep. John Myers.

Freese said she was able to compile biographies on the politicians after scouring old newspapers and history books for information.

“The ones from before 1850 were harder to find,” she said. “But I got more (information) than I thought I would.”

In addition to biographies, the exhibit will feature old political ads, newspaper clippings, and campaign buttons and slogans.

The Fountain County Clerk’s Building opens for the season Saturday. The main focus this year will be on politics, but Freese said the art council has several other projects in the pipeline for the museum, including adding an outhouse or storage building, and improving the yard that surrounds the building.

Last year, more than 200 people from 10 states visited the museum. Ginger Orr, also a member of the art council, said increasing those numbers will be a priority this season.

“We need more traffic,” she said.

Orr and Freese both hope history teachers at area schools will start bringing their classes to the museum.

“We’d really like to see the schools pick it up in their curriculum,” Freese said. “It (the museum) is a good learning tool on Indiana history, and it’s free.”

FYI

The Fountain County Clerk’s Building at 516 Fourth St. in Covington, Ind., is open from 1 to 4 p.m. EDT every Saturday through the end of October. Tours can be arranged by appointment by calling Carol Freese at (765) 793-2710.