175th event: Ferdinand Day at the Museum — be there or be square

It’s an event that has been — quite literally — months in the making, organized by a committee headed up by the indomitable Mike Lindauer and his better half, Judy, and EVERYONE is invited.

Ferdinand Day at the [Dubois County] Museum is scheduled for this Sunday, February 22, from noon to 4 p.m. A cast of 120 has been assembled to serve as guides, information sources and re-enactors at 80 stations within the former Jasper Corporation headquarters, now serving as Indiana’s largest county museum filled with thousands of treasures and quite possibly the largest farm equipment display in the nation.

Best of all — it’s all free, including free food — unless one wants to use this opportunity to purchase raffle tickets for four amazing quilts or some Ferdinand 175th souvenirs.

Marvin Kemper will be on hand with the one-of-a-kind Kentucky Long Rifle he crafted to commemorate his hometown’s birthday. The rifle, being raffled via a silent, on-line auction, will be awarded to the highest bidder at 6 o’clock that evening.

Others will play the role of one of their ancestors or share information on something of which they are especially knowledgeable (See sidebar for one example).

The celebration is not limited to Ferdinanders as all are welcome to join in the fun. Heck, there’s even a rumor that President Abraham Lincoln himself plans to get in on the fun.

Following is a listing of what can be enjoyed during this premiere event that will not be repeated.

NOTE: There is plenty of free parking behind the museum so don’t let a packed front parking lot dissuade you.

IN THE LOBBY:

Register at the entrance to museum, which is located at 2704 Newton Street/US Highway 231 North in Jasper.
Obtain brochure/map from greeters Jim Hagedorn, Debbie Johnson, Ron Weyer and Ken Sicard. The map includes all the items below without lengthy descriptions to make it easy to find all the activities.

ROOM ONE:

Greetings and stories by Ferdinand founder Fr. Joseph Kundek (a/k/a Mark Ginter).

Sr. Mary Phillip Berger from the Sisters of St. Benedict speak on her community’s founding and history.
Matthew Hassfurther’s cornet — brought over from Germany. Matthew was one of the earliest settlers who came with his family in 1840.

Fr. John Schipp will share tales of the early history of Ferdinand and where your ancestors came from. He will be stationed near a cast iron cross made by Ferdinand Foundry Machine Works (currently known as Dubois Machine Co. Inc.) on display and brought over for the day from St. Ferdinand Cemetery.

The Freedom Settlement: Eric Uebelhor will share his vast knowledge of the settlement founded by freeborn African American Emmanuel Pikston.

Abraham Lincoln (a/k/a Dean Dorrell) will be available in the Civil War area.

Sports — St. Ferdinand Crusaders: Talk to James Weyer and friends about the heyday of high school sports and Scott Uebelhor about the history of FPHS Baseball.

Ferdinand Railroad aka Ferdy Flyer: Craig Berndt has been researching the history of the world’s shortest railroad for years and is coming from Ft. Wayne to share his expertise.

Veterans’ section: Stan Fischer, along with Ferdinand VFW and American Legion members, will discuss Ferdinand’s rich military history.

Aristokraft and Masterbrand cabinets: Company employees will be on hand to share their memories.

ROOM TWO:

Bernie Helming Tinning Shop, now Helming Brothers: with Joe Helming and Dennis Kutch

Frank Heidet and Son Blacksmith Shop est. 1865: Items donated by Ed and Betty Kieper with Tim McNellis demonstrating this almost lost art.

Willie Bartley Orchestra and Player Piano: Talk with Vita Bartley, Anna Mae Pund and Dorothy Buechler about making music in Ferdinand.

Wine and Cider press: Donated by Kenny and Selma Lange of Ferdinand. This press was hand hewn and dates to the late 1800s. Kenny and Selma purchased it from the Felix Durcholz family.

Grape Masher: Built by Otto and Francis Lindauer and obtained from Tom and Mary Jean Kippenbrock.
Girl Scouts: Kim Collignon. Boy Scouts: Dick Lange.

Homemade chicken and dumplings, beer batter bread, pineapple upside down cake – Paul and Jenell Schue demonstrate Dutch oven cooking.

Homemade breads and butter with churning demonstration – Katy Gogel, Bridget Lindauer, Judy Lindauer.

Homemade sorghum to slather on the bread, donated by Hubert Farms.

Homemade turtle soup prepared the old-fashioned way by Stan Fischer and Dave Gaesser.

Free samples of lemonade, tea and coffee — Sue and Brian Fink, Glen and Betti Kempf, Jane and Dave Sitzman.

Quilting demonstration: Helen Luebbehusen, Bernice Weyer, Judy Klueh, Joan Weyer, Doris Pfaff, Betty Braunecker.

175th quilt display (raffle tickets available): Joyce Beck, Sara Kunkel, Martha Englert, Mary Luebbehusen, Debbie Blume.

Songs of the past by Ray Major and accordion player Michael O’Bryan on the log cabin porch.

By the Porch – Becky Hedinger will be spinning and Patti Schroeder will be weaving.

Ferdy Flyer Baggage Cart from Ferdinand Railroad Company donated by Francis and Juliana Lindauer family.

Moonshine cooking demonstration: Nick Dilger, Melvin and Jane Daunhauer.

Dubois County Stone Carving Group – Stone carving being restored on tombstone from St. Ferdinand Cemetery by Josh Dodd, who restores and refaces old weathered tombstones.

St. Henry Sandstone Quarry: The sandstone manufacturing machine was used in the quarry from 1925-1940. About two stones could be made each day, weighed 100-150 pounds and sold for 2 cents a pound. This quarry provided most stones for use in Ferdinand area: Wilfred Lindauer, Francis Lindauer.

The Pit Toilet – The only evidence still found of Ferdinand CCC camps is the group of concrete latrines on the old Joe Leinenbach property southeast of Ferdinand at the junction of SR 162 and SR 264, the State Forest Road. Pits such as these were a popular project of the WPA and the CCC in the 1930s. The smaller hole was for a vent which was piped to the outside in various ways. One could obtain a toilet on their property by applying to the government. Carla Striegel Winner (great-granddaughter of land donor Henry Tretter) will talk about the CCC and the Ferdinand State Forest.

Soap Making demonstration: Shelly Hedinger.

Appliances made by cooper Charles Ehrmann, presented by Randy and Barb Mathies (see separate article).

Helming’s Dairy, owned and operated by three generations of Helmings for 45 years (1914-1959). The dairy’s original name was North Side Dairy, but was changed to Helming’s Dairy in 1939 when the dairy began pasteurizing milk. Helming’s Dairy was sold to Holland Custard and Ice Cream in 1959. Donna Potter, Albert and Elaine Astrike will share their knowledge.

Helming’s Brickyard: Descendants Tom and Esther Kellams, Albert and Elaine Astrike and Donna Potter will share their memories of this esteemed business.

Homemade hog scalding pan donated by Gilbert and Mickey Pund: Learn how this worked from Michael Pund, Steve Kress.

Wooden shoes made by Clement Lueken: Demonstrated by Ruth and Pat Lueken.

Sale of Ferdinand’s 175th Birthday souvenirs: Susan Blume.

1905 Kitten Sawmill — Florenz Kitten started to build sawmills in Ferdinand in 1892. The one on display was obtained from the Francis and Juliana Lindauer family. Daryl Swartzentruber and Larry Brosmer will be on hand.
The Ferdinand Wagon: Ed Hollinden.

Seed setting tools demonstrated by John and Joseph Kern.

Corn shelling and grinding demonstrated by Kathy and Daryl Auffart and Darrel Riley.

Kitten Thresher, commonly called a separator, #136 — This thresher (separator) was built by the Ferdinand Foundry and Machine Works in the early 1900s. Unique tools for thresher also made at Ferdinand Foundry and Machine Works, obtained from the Francis and Juliana Lindauer family. Shirley and Bob Demuth and Darrel Riley.

1923 Kitten Steam Engine — This steam-powered engine used for a threshing machine is the 214th of the 224 steam engines made at the Ferdinand-based Kitten Machine Shop which evolved into Ferdinand Foundry and Machine Works. The Kitten engines were produced there from 1870-1940. In 1889, Florenz Kitten patented his engine with the 24 hp boiler and return flue design. This engine was purchased new by Frank Arnold of Mariah Hill in 1925, then sold to Henry Humphrey of Osgood in 1947. In 1967, it was bought by a collector, then another until Francis Lindauer found her and brought her back to Dubois County. Todd Hulsman and Henry Kempf will share details.

Peters Pneumatic Pump and Pet-son Pump Company – manufactured at Ferdinand Foundry and Machine Works: Tom and Therese Ann Sonderman and Joanne Olinger.

John Russ hay wagon running gear — This was used as a hay wagon to haul hay from the field to the barn. It was also used to haul wheat, oats and barley shocks to the threshing machine. Eric and Jeff Russ will share knowledge of their ancestor’s business.

Frank Heidet and Son hay wagon A-frame — situated atop the Russ running gear. The gin pole on top of the load was used to stabilize the load. Ed Kieper and family.

Ferdinand mural by noted artist Alice Kemper: Dave Kemper.

Ferdinand display case in front of mural contains cast iron funnel, cast iron wrench and wooden shoes, all made in Ferdinand.

Orchard Sprayer from Penny’s Orchard: Penny and Sonny Gollar.

Sorghum press and evaporator — Hubert Farms: Steve and Lily Hubert.

Reaper and Binder: Randy and Doris Schaefer.

Horse equipment: Tony Hassfurther.

Cannonball safe from first Ferdinand bank (and named Ferdinand Bank), donated by Roger Quante.

Dubois REC: Greg Dilger.

Artifacts: Ferdinand Historical Society.

MAIN STREET

Jail: Ferdinand Police Dept.-Lloyd Froman

Shoe Shop: Dave Ernst

Photography: Stephen and Rhecia Brown

Barber Shop: Luke Tieken

Millinery: Barbara Mohr

Surveyors: Mehling Engineering

News: The Ferdinand News-Richard Tretter

Church: Deacon James King

Medical Building: Midwife Joan Melton and Dr. Marlin Gray

Saloon: Rich Helming

Bank: Mark Potter

General Store: Kent and Norbert Schreiner

Undertaker: Lance Becher

Hotel: Pearline Brahm

Porch area: Ruth Sickbert with stories of housewifery and Brenda Stoffel knitting ala 1840.

Ferdinand Farmers Mutual: Debbie Johnson, Alan Weyer, Gary Kemper, Kurt Fleck, Nick and Jean Dilger

Summer Kitchen: Brenda Kress, Charlene Kern

Split rails area by school: Kentucky Long Rifle-Marvin Kemper

School: Jim Johanneman

Little pioneers storytelling by Carol Gaesser and Judi Hagedorn

BANQUET ROOM

Best Chairs/ Best Rest/ Best Home Furnishings

Emil Oeding Furniture

Lounge – seating to take a load off

Dubois County Museum Membership drive