Corning
Heritage Center
Our mission is to preserve the cultural legacy of nineteenth-century Irish immigrants in Southern Indiana.
Newsletter
January 2023
This edition of the newsletter is a new adventure for the Corning Heritage Center. It is the first that will be available on our website. This will broaden our exposure and provide up-to-date information to our members and potential members. We will still be sending hard copy issues to those on our mailing list.
Reschedule is not a bad word.
Our Coming Home to Our Irish Roots event was scheduled to be held on Sunday, June 26, 2022. The week previous to that Sunday, Daviess County was experiencing an unprecedented heat wave. Based on the fact that Celtic Hall has no air conditioning, the board struggled with choosing to proceed with the event or rescheduling. Upon due consideration the decision was to reschedule the event to September 18.
Members, guests, and new friends were treated to a glorious autumn day, Sunday, September 18. The Coming Home to Our Irish Roots event was one of the best attended in its history. The food was delicious, and the entertainment by John "Eddie" Albertson was unparralleled. The stars definitely aligned to give all who attended an opportunity to enjoy beauty of the Corning Heritage Center.
Groundskeeping!
Ground maintenance is always an on-going concern. This year it has mostly involved trees. Notably one of the most evident changes was the removal of the large maple tree at the entrance of Celtic Hall. The decision to have it removed was made with heavy hearts. However, it had become a safety and liability problem. The week of June 20 brought a strong wind storm through the area. Several massive limbs were blown down on the south lawn. Dave O'Connor and Bob Ryan brought their equipment and along with David Carroll (and several chainsaws) worked two days to clear debris.
They got'r done!
It's always sweet when a goal is accomplished, and the CHC met a huge one this fall. It might not have taken a village, but it sure took a crew. The years of talk, fundraising, and planning finally came to fruition. There is now a fully-equipped handicapped restroom in Curran House! Every step of this project from installing new floor joists to painting walls was guided and often implemented by super member Jim Corn. The CHC owes this man an immense amount of gratitude. He gave an unbelievable amount of hours to accomplish this goal. Jim had several helpers along the way such as Dave O'Connor, Bill O'Brian, and Bernie Fields. Moral support in the form of crew dinners were also provided by Peggy Ryan, Connie Carroll, Vince Sellers, Bill O'Brian, and Dave O'Connor. Thanks also go to the Daviess County Security Center road crew. They spent several of the hottest days of the summer tearing out the old kitchen and bathroom. Brian Dyer donated his plumbing expertise, which brought water to the bathroom and the future kitchen. There are not enough words of thanks for all these folks who have contributed. A special plaque will be placed in Curran House to honor Jim and Rita Corn for their dedication and generosity.
I do! I do!
Family and friends of Erika Fields and Josh Coffman were welcomed to the CHC on October 22, 2022, to join in the celebration of the exchange of their wedding vows. A beautiful sunset provided the background as the promises were made on the south lawn. Guests were then invited to Celtic Hall, which had been magically transformed into a twinkling venue. The CHC wish the newlyweds and daughter Kaidance years of Irish blessings.
For whom the bell tolls.
Guardianship of historic sites brings with it the continuous challenge of maintenance. Past challenges for the CHC have included roofs for both Curran House and Celtic Hall, bathroom and water to Curran House, a furnace, and a floor joist. The latest and perhaps the most costly will be repairing the bell tower of Celtic Hall. It has become glaringly apparent in the last year that the tower has become increasingly dangerous. A grant application is being earnestly prepared, and other avenues of revenue are being explored. If anyone has ideas for funding, please contact a board member. Time is of the essence!