DeKalb County Historian

10/08/2026

Thank you to the Eastside High students who spent time at the Spencerville Covered Bridge today picking up trash and caring for the native plants.

For the past several years, they’ve returned each fall to help clean up the bridge. Over the last two years, they’ve found significantly less trash, a clear sign that their continued efforts are making a real difference and even making the job a little easier each year!

THANK YOU!!

The Spencerville Covered Bridge

10/06/2026

DeKalb County’s history belongs to all of us and together, we can help preserve it for generations to come.

The DeKalb County History Preservation Endowment Fund was established in 2024 to support the important work of the DeKalb County Historian.

From protecting local records and photographs to preserving the stories of the people and places that shaped our community, this fund will help ensure our history isn’t lost. Before the fund’s earnings can be used, the endowment must reach $20,000. That’s where we need your help.Every donation, no matter the amount, brings us closer to our goal. A gift today isn’t just a contribution it’s an investment in DeKalb County’s memory and a way to pass our shared history on to future generations.

Please consider donating to the DeKalb County History Preservation Endowment Fund. If you can’t give right now, sharing this post can make a real difference, too.[Insert donation link or instructions]Let’s preserve DeKalb County’s story—together.

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10/05/2026

Help Us Find DeKalb County’s Historic Outhouses!

Do you or someone you know have an old outhouse on a property in DeKalb County?

We’re especially interested in outhouses with roofs that slope from high in the front to low in the back. These buildings may be connected to the WPA Outhouse Program, and we need your help finding and documenting them before they disappear.

If you know of an outhouse that might fit this description, please contact us. Photos, locations, family stories, and any other information are welcome. We’d also love permission to visit and take a closer look.

Join us for a PowerPoint presentation about the WPA Outhouse Program and what local field research has uncovered so far:
October 19 at 6:30 p.m.Waterloo Train Depot

Please spread the word. The outhouse we’re searching for could be hiding in your backyard, on an old family farm, or just down the road!

10/04/2026

Cleaning an ancestor's headstone or a loved one’s? Many resources offer best practices. It’s important to know the “Do’s & Don’ts.”

Fall is the perfect time to get out there in our cemeteries and explore.

Do you have a question about cleaning or preserving a headstone? Share it in the comments, then join us for Hoosier Roots Live on October 6.

09/28/2026

A longtime county fair favorite is back and better than ever!

After taking some time to regroup and make the move from the tent to a food trailer, the St. Joe Lions Club is back! 🦁

What beautiful weather we have to enjoy this year. It’s shaping up to be the perfect fair week, and if you’ve been around our county fair for any length of time, you know it’s about so much more than rides and food - it’s a little like a big family reunion. You’re bound to run into old friends, catch up with neighbors, and make a few new memories along the way.

I’ll be working the Lions Club Trailer today, so stop by for a bowl of chili, say hello, and stay awhile at the picnic tables. There’s nothing quite like good food, good conversation, and fair week in our community.

09/24/2026

Please join us for a special fundraiser supporting the DeKalb County Historical Society. Enjoy an unforgettable evening filled with great food, lively entertainment, and a warm community spirit. This is an event you won’t want to miss! Thank you for considering attending—we look forward to seeing you there!

Mayor Mike Hartman

{Scan code on flyer to purchase tickets}

09/22/2026

Thank you to historian follower Mr. Robert Wilder for locating an article in the St. Joe News that matches this mystery photo! Great detective skills Bob.

The exact date of this photo was April 29, 1938 when the County Home Bureau honored outgoing County Director, Grace Dilley. The gathering took place in the basement of the Auburn Chamber of Commerce.

See below the women that have been identified and help us fill in the rest of the names. Tag someone that may be able to help us.

1).
2).
3). Mrs. Lehr Wilder (Berniece)
4).
5). Mrs. Lester Boger (Lazesl)
6). Stella Goldsmith
7).
😎
9.) Mrs. Hollis Dilley (Grace)
10.)
11).
12).
13).
14).
15).
16).
17).
18). Mrs. Mildred Brand (Mildred is not listed in the article - so I need help verifying who this woman is).

The newspaper article mentions the following women. The names that have numbers next to their names are the ones that have been identified thus far:

Mrs. Grace Dilley #9
Stella Goldsmith #6
Mrs. Frank Baltz
Mrs. Rose Farmer
Mrs. Lester Boger #5
Mrs. Fred Hart
Mrs. Adrian Washler
Mrs. Lehr Wilder #3
Mrs. John Washler
Mrs. Andria Brown
Mrs. Ethel McCleery
Mrs. Ed Rickhard
Mrs. Alice Schweitzer
Mrs. Harold Wise
Mrs. Earl Farrington
Mrs. Virgil Korff
Mrs. Donna Mitchener
Mrs. Helen Ellert