picture albums

Blackford County Historical Society

321 North High Street, P.O. Box 264
Hartford City, Indiana

Preserving our History


Our Building - The Beginning. "Sealed bids will be received up to 12pm on the 3rd day of May, 1898, for the furnishing of all material and labor for a two-story brick dwelling for Jesse H. Dowell. Plans and specifications can be seen at the office of P. J. Loney, architect." so states the local newspaper. To see a list of the property transfers beginning in 1887, click here.
The building was purchased in 1976 by the Blackford County Historical Society. It is now the home of the BCHS, The Museum and The Cecil Beeson Genealogy Library.


book shelf
Research Library

Our Building - The Present.
The Cecil Beeson Genealogy Library is located on the first floor and contains many items of interest to historians and genealogists. See below for a short list of items in the library.

Museum items are on the first and second floors and should be explored. Below is a small sample of our displays. Click any thumbnail image to see a larger version. Right-click and choose Save Picture As to download a copy.

Old Barber Chair Toyroom dressed mannikin Stand with Ladies Old Hats

Bulletin Board
Check back often for current information on:

    • Messages and meeting notice
    • How to Contact Us
    • Books and Other Items For Sale

    Short list of items in the Library


    • Individual Family Names. An index of these files has just been completed and a pdf file is available. This individual material is filed alphabetically in the vertical file cabinet. These files might contain newspaper clippings, pictures, brochures, letters, family bible pages, etc..
    • 9/20/2010 - A NEW LIST OF RESEARCH MATERIAL
      Click here for a list of research material in our library. This list will be updated as more items become available.
    • Church Files These files may contain church directories, photos, bulletins, etc.
    • Directories This is a list of city directories and telephone books in our library
    • Family Genealogies. This material has been donated to the Library and an updated list is now available as a pdf file. Click on Family Genealogies to view. These Family Files are shelved alphabetically in our library.
    • High School Year Books, H.C/Blackford County 1917-2009 except 1987. A few year books for Roll and Montpelier,
    • Newspaper Collection, dating from 1905 to 1961 - 37 Books from News Times; 36 Books from Times Gazette; 8 Books from News; 22 Books from Evening News - Not complete for all years.
    • Picture collection sorted by category and filed
    • Book - History of Jay and Blackford Counties, 1887
    • Book - Biographical Memoirs of Blackford County, 1900, B. G. Shinn
    • Book - Blackford and Grant Counties, Indiana, 1914, B.G. Shinn
    • Book - History of Blackford County, 1986
    • Book - Indiana Civil War Veterans, Blackford County, 1861-1865 2nd edition

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    Board Members: Joyce Colbert, Ron Dodds, Yvonne Farling, Joan Stanley, Dick Tarr
    Current officers: President - Sinuard Castelo, V-President - Ron Storms, Secretary - Judy Sodders, Treasurer - Jane Winder




    Blackford County Historical Society
    321 North High Street
    PO Box 264
    Hartford City, IN 47348
    Sinuard Castelo (765)348-3103, email sinuardcastelo3@gmail.com or
    Jane Winder (765) 348-4028, email gjwinder@pcdoctors1.com



    Last Update 4/20/2012
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