---

    The Vernon Home coming and Jennings County reunion, held at Vernon Friday, Saturday and Sunday were attended by many visitors and former residents and by the people of North Vernon and Jennings County.

    Through a mistake in booking, Albert J. Beveridge, Republican nominee for United States Senator, was unable to be present Saturday evening, which caused disappointment to many but despite this fact a very entertaining program was presented and the evening was thoroughly enjoyed. (Albert Jeremiah Beveridge was an American historian and United States Senator from Indiana. He was an intellectual leader of the Era, and a biographer of justice John Marshall and President Abraham Lincoln.)

    W.M. Nauer extended greetings of welcome in the name of the Town of Vernon and the people were treated to an address by George Stineback, of Chicago, whose father was the editor of the Vernon Banner, many years ago, John H. Cox of Sheridam, ex-treasurer of Jennings County, also gave an interesting talk and Fred Fetter of Vernon sang the song, "Memories of Long Ago," the words of which were composed by Fred. H. Bantz, a former Vernon, Jas. Hamrick of Louisville, Kentucky and Mrs. A.D. Hamrick, of Avant, Oklahoma, also had a part on the program.

    The Saturday afternoon program was in the charge of the Jennings County Historical Society and a most interesting address on the pioneer history of Jennings County was given by Lincoln Dixon, president of the society. Miss Vida Newsom, of Columubus ex-president of the Federation of Women's Clubs, read an excellent paper on, "Phases of Southeastern Indiana History." Lack of time and space prevent us from publishing sketches of Mr. Dixon's talk and Miss Newsom's paper, both of which were full of interesting facts of early history. Mr. F.E. Little who was slated for a number on the program did not take the floor owing to the lateness of the hour and the fact that the crowd was assembling for the ceremonies of the laying of the corner stone for the new school building. It is likely that Mr. Little had a treat in store in the way of some of his original poems of local color. Vocal solos by Mrs. F.G. Meloy selections on the piano by Miss Helen Meloy and vocal numbers by a quartette composed by Messrs Whitcomb, Fetter, Jackson and Whitcomb added to the entertainment.

    Ed Jackson, secretary of state, was the principal speaker at the laying of the corner stone of the school building. Mr. Jackson paid high tribute to the people of Jennings County for the interest manifested in the education of children from the time of the early days of the county. Superintendent Shepherd Whitcomb announced the corner stone which had been used in the old school building would be used again in the new consolidated school. The old building was wrecked and much interest was shown by the people of the vicinity when it became rumored that a bottle of whiskey had been among the articles placed in the corner stone, sixty-four years ago. Mr. Whitcomb stated that the township trustee, several citizens of Vernon and himself were present when the corner stone was opened and it was found to contain a Holy Bible and a Vernon Banner printed July 17, 1858 and several manuscripts, all in a splendid state of preservation. He showed the bottle that was found with the other contents. The seal of the bottle was unbroken, it was without break or crack, but it was bone dry. During the period of sixty-four years the liquor had evaporated.

    All the articles were replaced in the stone and manuscripts giving present day data on churches and schools of the township, names of township officers, members of organizations and pictures of buildings and historic spots were included. The bottle also was replaced in its bone dry condition as a symbol of the present prohibition era.

    The pageant given Saturday evening by the Women's Club of Vernon was thoroughly enjoyed by a large audience. The picnic dinner and handshaking fest on the Court House lawn Sunday, was an enjoyable feature of the three days' program, which was cleverly carried out and thoroughly appreciated both by visitors and home folks.

---

You may use this material for your own personal research, however it may not be used for commercial publications without express written consent of the contributor, INGenWeb, and