Category: JCHC Blog

Earlier this year, author, Paul Beck published a new biography of aviator, and Brookville native, Earle Sandt. As there is not much known about Earle’s personal life, Beck concentrated on his flying career which was short, but very exciting. Among the newly discovered photos that are in the book was this gem, printed with permission READ MORE

Genealogy is like putting together a fascinating puzzle where every piece reveals a part of your family’s story. It’s a journey of discovery, a way to connect with your roots and an opportunity to learn about the people who came before you. If you’ve ever considered diving into the world of genealogy, this blog post READ MORE

Genealogy is an enchanting journey into our family history. It’s a rewarding quest that allows us to connect with our roots and discover the captivating stories of our forebears. However, the field is riddled with myths that can sometimes lead both novices and experienced genealogists down a perplexing path. In this blog post, we’ll explore READ MORE

In a world that constantly pushes us forward, genealogy offers a compelling reason to look back. It is the art of tracing our roots and unraveling the intricate tapestry of our family history. While it might seem like a niche pursuit, genealogy carries great significance, transcending mere curiosity. Let’s explore why genealogy is important to us READ MORE

Earle Sandt Air Mail commemorative envelope Larry Anthony hand-cancels the commemorative air mail envelopes May 19, 2023 marked the 85th anniversary of National Air Mail Week. To mark the anniversary, JCHC took a small quantity of original 1938 envelopes from our Archives and affixed the original Air Mail stamp. JCHC Board member, Larry Anthony, a READ MORE

The Corbin family has been part of Jefferson County since its earliest days.  Henry Keys, my 3X great-grandfather, came to the Washington Twp. area in 1823.  The following year, Henry, along with fellow settlers John McIntosh and Tommy Moore, built the first cabin in Beechwoods, near Kyle Run. The story of how Henry met his READ MORE

There is a 2,400 lb. bronze bell in the tower of the Jefferson County courthouse that has been announcing the hour of the day since the beginning of the 20th century. In 1899, a clock mechanism was installed and, since then, a hammer linked to the mechanism strikes the stationary bell every hour. The 1869 READ MORE

Fred Knapp was one of Brookville’s early photographers and documented thousands of local people and scenes over a long career. When he died in 1948, Brookville newspaper editor, H. E. “Pud” McMurray, heard that Knapp’s surviving negatives, many of which were on glass plates, had been taken to the dump. He went out and literally READ MORE

This interesting old photo was posted on Facebook a couple of years ago by Richard & Sandy Holben. It was supposed to have been taken at the old Brookville air-port. I recognized the airplane as a Lockheed Vega, a model that was produced from 1927 to 1934. It was state of the art in its READ MORE

Welcome to the Jefferson County Historical Society’s new Blog. We are excited to add this feature to our website, and we welcome our members and friends to post stories of interest. The Blog is intended for short articles (250 – 1,000 words) about local historical people, places and events. Please follow the submission guidelines here READ MORE