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- Footprints at the Historic Forks: June 2025
Footprints at the Historic Forks: June 2025
Summer events, project updates, and an opportunity to support the Historic Forks of the Wabash!
Jim Hollar - Board Member, Beth Stricker - Tours & Events Coordinator, Liz Sanders - Board President & Flav Ann Karst - Facilities Rental Manager
May 31, 2025
Exciting News! The Historic Forks has been nominated in the Beacon Credit Union "Project Spotlight" promotion. The organization that gets the most votes between July 1 – 31 will receive $1,000 with 2nd place $500. You can vote every day in July and every vote counts! Thank you for helping!
Upcoming Events
Old Fashioned 4th
Friday, July 4th, 9:30 a.m.
Taking place on the grounds of the historic park, festivities will begin at 9:30 a.m. with a performance by the Erie Band followed by a color guard and program at 10 a.m. This event is free to attend but donations will be accepted. Seating is available under the pavilion, although we suggest that you bring a chair so that you are sure to have a spot! Note: All events are subject to change. Please verify information before attending any event. |  |
Splash on the Wabash
Saturday, July 19th, 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m.
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Escape the heat of summer on this one-day river tubing adventure on the Wabash River. Tickets are on sale now! Experience a relaxing lazy river tube float (approx. 90 minutes) down the beautiful Wabash River in Huntington County. Choose from one of our 3 launch times, making sure to arrive 30-45 minutes prior to your launch time. River tube and life jacket rentals are available for $15. However, keep in mind that supplies are limited, so make your reservations well in advance. Attendees must be 8 years of age or older to participate. If you have your own river tube and life jacket, join the float for a small fee of $10 to help cover event costs. Life jackets are required, and tubes must be river quality – no pool floats! Please note: the event is held rain or shine.
Annual Historic Forks of the Wabash Garage Sale
Friday, July 18th, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Saturday, July 19th, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Historic Forks of the Wabash, a nonprofit organization, is hosting its annual fundraising garage sale. Discover hidden treasures from vintage collectibles to gently used furniture, tools, toys, household items, seasonal decorations, and more. There’s something for everyone! All proceeds directly fund the Forks’ mission of preservation and education at this historic landmark.
Donations for the sale are needed. Anyone wishing to donate items can do so starting Monday, July 14 through Wednesday, July 16 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and from 9 a.m. to 12 noon on Thursday, July 17. Come out and support a great cause!
A Word from the President
Liz Sanders, Board President
As our spring tour season winds down, I want to give a special thank you to our very dedicated core of volunteers. As our spring tour season winds down, I want to give a special thank you to our very dedicated core group of volunteers. With tours running three days a week and hosting 31 field trips in April and May, these volunteers have put in many, many hours of service. It takes between 12 and 20 people to operate a tour. We could never do it without them. Thank you!
One of the fun parts of my job as president is perusing files and storerooms to make sure we preserve all our valuable records and property. One such perusal turned up a copy of the Forks of the Wabash Cookbook, published in 1994. Many of you would be familiar with names on the recipes and may even have enjoyed some of them at family gatherings. I plan to share some of these in the newsletter as time goes along.
The recipe shown below was provided by Sam and Barbara Kaiser. Sam was related to the Nuck Family as the notation with the recipe states that it was handed down in the Sebastion Kaiser family. Sebastion was the brother of Margaret Nuck and had immigrated to Huntington County in 1835. Bon Appetit!
HASSENPFEFFER (Sour Rabbit)
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Brown about 1⁄2 cup flour in lard when the rabbit is well done. Add to the stewed rabbit, vinegar to suit taste. When meat comes off bones, rabbit is finished cooking. Serve with mashed potatoes. (Like many of these old recipes, measurements and instructions are a bit vague.)
Have a wonderful summer! We look forward to seeing you at the Forks of the Wabash!
Repair Update on the Chiefs’ House
Jim Hollar, Board Member
Since the last newsletter, we have been fortunate enough to complete the planned exterior and interior work on the Chief Richardville House at a total cost of $62,652.00. We received our final inspection from DNR in late March and passed with flying colors. They were amazed by the amount of work that was completed considering the limited funds with which we were working.
Many thanks to our great contractors: Harrell and Sons Roofing, J. Drown Painting (interior and exterior painting), Deco Illusions (interior faux painting of woodwork and south main door), Sunderman Solutions (exterior siding repair/replacement), and Don Lee (window shutter repair/replacement). Special thanks to Ed Welling of Grinsfelder and Associates Architects for guiding us through the state paperwork and regulations for completing work on historical structures.
Upon completion of the inspection, it was noted that some additional work is still needed to stabilize and keep the House up to standards: siding repair/replacement on the northwest corner of the upper level, chimney repair, capping, sealing of flashing, and tuck pointing of both chimneys. (Ceiling damage was noted on the 2nd floor caused by leaking around the chimney.) The estimated cost for these repairs is approximately $10,500.00. We will be using building repair funds from our annual budget, and hopefully community grants and donations from our Forks Friends (YOU) to complete this project this summer. During the years, your support has helped to make the Historic Forks of the Wabash a truly outstanding resource for our students and community.
Thank you for your continued commitment to the Forks of the Wabash!
Volunteer Recognition
Happy Birthday to our Volunteers!
June: Claudia Thompson, Marlene Johnston, Janet Husband, Kathy Hollowell, Jan Tharp, Loretta Wintrode
July: Karen Shane, Phyllis Pieper, Gib Young, Terry Rodgers
August: Ashley Herzog, Chris Smith, Donna Deal, Mary Reust
Welcome to our new volunteers, Jadean Barnes & Phil Dyer!
Volunteer Spotlight
 | Johanna Lange has been volunteering at the Forks for 27 years! What she enjoys most about volunteering is “interacting with children, seeing the looks on their faces when they sing the nursery rhymes, and the fun they are having.” One of her favorite memories while volunteering at the Forks... ”Max Fordyce did the Canal Room for years, and I would hear him ring the bell. Now I get to ring that bell in his honor...” |
One of her favorite memories while volunteering at the Forks... ”Max Fordyce did the Canal Room for years, and I would hear him ring the bell. Now I get to ring that bell in his honor...”
When asked what piece of advice she would share with new volunteers... “it is important to consider the history of Miami Indians, and what it took to make this country what it is today.”
Thank you, Johanna, for your dedicated service!
I love to help people in any way I can. We are here on earth to take care of each other.
Historic Forks Education Program
Beth Stricker, Tours & Events Coordinator
During April and May, the Historic Forks of the Wabash welcomed 1,667 students from seven different counties on field trips to explore Indiana history. Our dedicated volunteers contributed countless hours to ensure each child not only had a fun and memorable experience but also gained valuable knowledge about the Miami Native Americans, the Wabash & Erie Canal, and daily life and education in the early 1800s. We are incredibly proud of the work we do and the meaningful impact it has on the students who visit the Historic Forks!
I love bringing my 4th graders to the Forks of the Wabash. Everything is so organized for maximum learning. I love all the volunteers; they add so much to the experience and are so authentic. I brought a new grade level teacher with me this year and she was impressed with everything. We will be back next year.
Adult Field Trip to the Forks
all ages welcome
Have you ever wanted to learn more about the rich history of the Forks and experience what happens during our popular school field trips? We invite you to join us for our very first Adult Field Trip Day coming this July! Kids are welcome too!
This special event offers a unique opportunity for you to explore the educational programs we provide to students and gain a deeper understanding of the area’s historical significance. Cost is $6.50 per guest.
Stay tuned for more details on our website and Facebook page or call Beth at 260-356-1903 for more information.
The Richardville Room at the Historic Forks
Flav Ann Karst, Facilities Rental Manager
The Forks of the Wabash is not just a historical site; it offers other opportunities such as walking your dog, kayaking the river, and meditating, to name a few. But did you know that we also host events? We have a banquet room called the Richardville Room that serves as a popular venue.
In the last few years, we have held approximately 50 events annually in addition to our major Historic Forks fundraisers and school tours. The Richardville room serves as the reception area, while the park area near the river is the perfect setting for photographs. The change in the seasons is the perfect background for senior pictures, family photos, and wedding parties.
In addition to weddings, we also host graduation parties, bridal showers, baby showers, and family reunions each year. Recently, we hosted a Sweet-Sixteen birthday and a One-Year-Old birthday party.
Local organizations, such as the United Way, use the Richardville Room during the week for breakfast meetings. Local banks, Huntington schools, and the Community Foundation also use our venue for trainings. Several service organizations honor our high school graduates in the spring, and charitable organizations hold their fundraisers in our Room.
If you would like to schedule an event, we are the place! Rental fees vary. To make a reservation, or to learn more about the Richardville Room, please call Flav Ann Karst at 260-225-3515.
Give to the Forks of the Wabash!
Please consider giving a donation to the Historic Forks of the Wabash. Your support makes our continued success possible. Send your check to P.O. Box 261, Huntington, IN 46750, or see our website for options to make a credit card donation. For more information on how you can support the Historic Forks, contact Beth at [email protected]. Thank you!
A Word of Thanks...
As many of you are aware, maintaining our grounds is an expensive and time-consuming task. Many thanks to our volunteers who continue to keep our grounds looking great, especially Don Mathias who spends many hours on our mower. We would also like to thank the following businesses who provide us gift cards to offset the fuel costs for this job: JJ’s, Viking Express, Indus Petroleum, and A&A Quick Stop. These businesses have been crucial in keeping our fuel costs to a minimum.
MANY THANKS TO EACH OF YOU!!!!