Switzerland County Historical Society

06/05/2026

Thank you to the Indiana Historical Bureau for their encouragement and aid in the reinstallation of the historic marker for John Shaw Billings from Allensville, Indiana. Billings was one of America's most illustrious physicians and was born and raised in Cotton Township.
The original marker was on the corner of SR 250 and Allensville Road, but disappeared from view and was later found knocked down and covered with weeds. The marker was repaired by the Switzerland County Historical Society and reinstalled by the County Highway Department in 2018. The marker was again damaged when hit by a truck, necessitating a replacement. Janet Hendricks, County Historian, led the project, just as she had previously done with the Junior Historical Society. The Switzerland County Historical Society wrote the grants to cover the 1/2 match provided by the Indiana Historical Bureau. Thank you to Switzerland County Tourism and the Vevay Switzerland County Foundation for their funding, and INDOT for the installation.
From the marker:
Dr. John Shaw Billings
1838-1913
Dr. John Billings grew up in Allensville. A Civil War Surgeon, he organized field hospitals at the Battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. He transferred to the Surgeon-General’s Office and developed a comprehensive library, revolutionizing medical research. In the1870s, he helped compile the Index Catalogue and Index Medicus, a precursor to databases like MEDLINE.
Billings’ experience treating and transporting wounded soldiers led to his innovations in hospital design. He planned The John Hopkins Hospital, reflecting his novel ideas about medical education, hygiene, and sanitation. He devised more efficient ways to tabulate key statistics for the U.S. Census and was the first director of the New York Public Library, 1896-1913.
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Due to the problems at the previous location, the marker has been placed on the grounds of the Switzerland County Historical Museum, where people may stop and safely read this short story about this amazing Switzerland County native. Perhaps readers will be inspired to do further research into Dr. John Shaw Billings.

06/02/2026

"Back to Basics" registrations are filled!
Thank you!!!

06/01/2026

Just two spots left!

We have a very fun week planned!
Registrations can be dropped off at the museum Monday - Saturday from noon to 4pm.

06/01/2026

A very special offer for art enthusiasts with a love of history. Read on...

“Historic New Switzerland” first published in 1932 is a collection of 13 wood-cuts by August Mead, and serves as a sad reminder of our lost architectural history. Many of the buildings portrayed are gone. Don Stepleton, a close friend to Mead and a frequent contributor to the Vevay Newspapers in the 1970s wrote the foreward to this beautiful collection and serves well to express their importance.

"Thirteen pages cannot picture the whole of a town or the entirety of its history. It was in the houses shown here, however, that the people lived who founded the town and who saw it grow somewhat and change considerably.
The builders of the houses are gone. Their buildings, carefully erected, retain the touch of their hands---the imprints of their characters. The succeeding generations that have lived in and about these homes, which are things unchanging in changing times, have had transmitted to them in one way or another the touch of the pioneers.
These scenes are reproduced by a delicate process of wood engraving. The wood-cut is an especially appropriate medium for picturing houses; the peculiar balancing in the print of masses of light and shadow creates for your visual eye the same impression which you, familiar with the scene, have formed long since in the eye of your mind."
Don Stepleton

Thanks to the generosity of Pat Lanman, a wealth of copies of this booklet have been donated to our historical society due to the selling of the Vevay Newspaper Office building. When Don Wallis was editor and owner, he had "Historic New Switzerland" re-printed under the guidance of August Mead himself. Excellent quality printing makes each page suitable for framing. We originally offered these booklets for $7 (which Don always donated to us). We are now offering them for $3 a copy (since we have quite a few) and greatly appreciate Pat helping us raise funds through our Gift Shop.
Treat yourself and give copies to friends and family, which helps us continue our mission to "preserve, protect and promote the history of Switzerland County, Indiana."
Enjoy this sneak peek!

05/25/2026

Gloom turned into light rain, so no one ventured to join me for a walk in the Thiebaud woodland with the stone wall from the previous post being my destination. While I decided to focus on the sights and sounds of the creek and what was growing alongside, the wall awaits another wander yet to take place. My phone is not cooperating on multiple videos so I will attach other views under comments.
It was an incredibly relaxing and beautiful wander.

05/24/2026

TODAY is our designated day to walk the upward trail at the Thiebaud Farmstead and visit this wall that is part of the story of this historic site.
Weather is gloomy at present and rain is predicted for the 1:00 pm meeting time. Light rain will not deter us. After the hike the house and barn will be open for tours. Guessing about 3:00 pm.
Looking forward to this afternoon♡
Join us for whatever part pleases you.

05/19/2026

We have a very fun week planned!
Registrations can be dropped off at the museum Monday - Saturday from noon to 4pm.

05/15/2026

DATE CHANGE!!!
The Thiebaud Farmstead Woodland
The Natural Aspect of the Property
Sunday, May 24th at 1:00 pm

The previously scheduled Woodland Walk at the Thiebaud Farmstead has been rescheduled to take place on Sunday, May 24th instead of the original day of May 17th.
Schedule conflicts made it necessary to change the date to the following Sunday, May 24th. So sorry for any inconvenience this change may cause.
We will meet at the parking lot where the hike will begin at 1:00 pm. After the hike, anyone interested may have a guided tour of the Thiebaud house and hay press barn.

The destination goal of the hike will be to a stone walk located on a ridge that overlooks the river. This is a steep trail. On the return hike we will be pulling garlic mustard, part of our woodland management goal to remove invasive species.

Garlic mustard has become a tenacious menace in woodland areas and fields and is classified as an invasive species in North America. Originally brought to the United States by settlers in the mid-1800s because of its many culinary uses, it has naturalized and dominates the understory of many forests and woodland preserves, thus reducing the biodiversity of many areas. Garlic mustard is allelopathic, naturally producing biochemicals that influence the germination, growth and reproduction of other plants. This biennial plant can be pulled easily in the spring when the soil is moist and covered with leaf matter. The plants must be bagged and treated as trash because the energy stored in stems allows the flowers and seeds to mature even after being pulled. Getting the roots is important as well, or the plant will grow back.

The Thiebaud Farmstead is a work-in-progress, with several important goals already met since the 165-acre property was donated to the Switzerland County Historical Society by Dow Chemical in 2002. Grants, donations, hiring Erjo Construction and countless volunteer hours provided for the restoration of a hay press barn and the Thiebaud house, stone wall reconstruction, a parking lot and ongoing maintenance.
There is still so much to explore and preserve.

If you are a woodland wanderer, join us on this project day.

05/15/2026

Another great spring day happening at the Thiebaud Farmstead!
Our historical society was the recipient of the boundless energy from the Sophomore Leadership Program yesterday, a combined effort of Purdue Extension and the Switzerland County High School. Kyle Weaver leads the program and the following selected students worked on numerous tasks provided by Brian (historical society president) and Sandy Lucas and director Martha Bladen. Also assisting were Mr. Wilson and Mrs. Robbins from the high school.

KUDOS to Triniti Blevins, Christy Collier, Colton Day, Landon Gross, Nehemiah Holliday, Natalya Hurst, Ashlyn Jesop, Brian Jones, Emma Justice, Taylor Kappes, Greyson Levell, Landen McAlister, Leo Oatman, Peyton Richards, Sam Rogers, Elijah Smith, Madison Spilman, and Sophia Wolter. Kole Kelly, Bailey McGuire and Wyatt Melton are also part of the program but were not able to attend on the work day.

Landscaping issues, organization in the haypress barn and upcoming carriage house restoration, and cleanup kept everyone busy. Leadership was evident as teams organized to complete a task then move on to something else when completed and/or join in with others to help complete a different job. Tenacity was strongly evident.
We are very thankful for this amazing program and the work that was accomplished with youthful enthusiasm.

05/14/2026

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The Switzerland County Historical Society had their annual Conservators' Holiday May 4th - 8th. We had plenty of work to do but started off the week with a trip to Payne Hollow. Last year's programming included hosting the Driftwood traveling exhibit and we also had special guest author Jessica Whitehead weave her story about Harlan Hubbard. We just HAD to visit Payne Hollow. Joe Wolek was an engaging guide.