March 2013

The VRA is assisting with the Indy Honor Flight program to gather Thank You letters for World War II veterans who will be flying to Washington DC on April 20^th to visit the National WWII memorial. As a part of the Indy Honor Flight, veterans are treated to a “mail call” on the return flight. During the war, “mail call” was the one opportunity soldiers had to receive personal letters from home. Indy Honor Flight recreates this tradition for veterans and is seeking letters that can be distributed to those participating in the program.

Each Veteran will receive a packet of 10 letters, examples range from a simple card, a handwritten letter or a coloring page from a child. Letters need to use “Dear Veteran” as the salutation and should not be dated. 

Photo from the September 2012 Indy Honor Flight

Please mail your letters to:

Village Residents Association

PO Box 831

Zionsville, IN 46077

CPR Class April 18 6:30-9pm

The Zionsville Fire Department offers CPR Certification Classes. The VRA is working with the ZFD to offer this class to VRA members on April 18th at 6:30. The cost is $30 per person and there are limited spaces. If you are not available that day, we can put you in touch with ZFD to go to one of their regularly scheduled classes on the first Saturday of the month. If there are enough people who are interested in this, we can do additional classes. Please contact rsvp@zvra.com to sign up or ask questions. Payment is due by March 30th.

DK Pierce to remodel and expand at 112 N. 9th St

3-13-13 Neighborhood meeting to introduce project to neighbors and Village HOA at 6:30pm in DK Pierce conference room 112 North 9th Street. The VRA and any interested neighbor has been invited to attend this informational meeting.

In January, 1962 it was noted that the Zionsville Colonial Village Reconstruction Committee had suggested the formation of the historical society.  Around the same time Eleanor Dunn Moore who was President of the Woman’s Club of Zionsville had appointed a committee to investigate the formation of the Zionsville Historical Society. This study committee was chaired by Imo Dunn, Mary Jane Gierhart, Doris Knox, Jennie Tudor, Marie Witherspoon, Bernice Phillippi, Esther Shelburne, and Mable Sparks.  The Zionsville Historical Society was first organized and incorporated March 11, 1962 at the Zionsville Methodist Church.  The first officers elected to our Historical Society were President, Mrs. Frank Dunn; Vice-President, Marshall Brown; Secretary, Mrs. John Moore; Treasurer, William Haugh.  The first directors were Adron Sluder, Gailord Ford and Clora Bramkamp.  During the first year the membership grew to 97 members with junior memberships available. The purpose was “to develop and promote interest in the history of the Zionsville area”. 

Over the decades the Society had a number of projects that included a booth at annual Zionsville Lions Fall Festivals, hosted Christmas wassail parties at the Sullivan Museum now named Sullivan/Munce Cultural Center, carry-in luncheons in the middle of March and October with a guest speaker, and the researching and erection of numerous historical markers in appropriate locations, which continues today.  Initially a list of appropriate locations was provided by Adron Sluder, a local historian, educator and businessman.  Beginning in 1962, a series of at least 10 markers was placed in the community with others to follow over the decades.  During the 1960’s and 70’s the historical society played an integral part in supporting the organization and building of the Patrick Henry Sullivan Museum, which was dedicated to local history , as stipulated by its benefactress, Iva Etta Sullivan.  During our United States Bicentennial Celebration in 1976, there were numerous activities from helping with a large commemorative quilt that was displayed and stored at the Sullivan Museum.  Also, the placement of a time-capsule in Lincoln Memorial Park south of the Lincoln Bronze Plaque Site with the intent of it being reopened in 2076.  Other current activities are the authentication and bestowing of Century Structures designation on structures that are one hundred years old at the time of application, not unreasonable altered in exterior design and façade, and the style of the structures shall be representative of its local time period style and not a replica of an earlier style.  There are 18 structures in the Village of Zionsville that display this distinctive plaque. 

The Historical Society was most helpful in Maplelawn Farmstead acquiring a registration as a Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places by the National Park Service in 2012.  The Zionsville Junior Historical Society was established in 2010 and has regular monthly meetings at Maplelawn under the adult leadership of Marianne Doyle and Lynne Manning.  ZHS Board-Member-at-Large Joan Praed Lyons has compiled a new publications- “A Chronology of Zionsville, Indiana Events” that will be published this year by the Historical Society   This fascinating document details important milestones in the area’s history from 1678 through 2003.

The current Historical Society officers and Board are Ralph W. Stacy, President; Becky Furste, Vice President; Sharon White, Secretary; Guinn Doyle, Treasurer; Marianne Doyle, Immediate Past President; and Board Members-At-Large; Joan Faulkner, Joan Lyons, Jan Stacy and our Newsletter Editor, Lynne Manning. Our annual membership is $8 a year or a Life Membership of $100 payable to the Zionsville Historical Society, c/o Guinn Doyle at 635 West Pine Street, Zionsville.