Inquiry Project #3Kelsey Zehr

Education 357

History of Lawrence Countyo Established in 1819o Lawrence County is in the south central part of Indianao The county seat is located at Bedfordo Lawrence County is named in honor of Captain James Lawrence, the American naval officer whose trips to England in 1811 produced the unsatisfactory answers from the English that led to the War of 1812. Captain Lawrence is famous for his final words of "Don't Give Up the Ship" which has become the Navy's rallying cry. o Part of the Hoosier National Forest covers the county's west side; this beautiful area provides a very worthwhile visito Other points of interest include:• The Williams Dam State Fishing Area near the town of Williams• The Spring Mill State Park near Mitchell• The Avoca State Fish Hatchery• Blue Springs Caverns• Virgil "Gus" Grissom Memorial• The Devils Backbone on the eastern border• Tunnelton Tunnel• Williams Covered Bridge

Lawrence Countyo 452 Square Mileso 3 Square Miles of Watero Population: 45,922o Cities/Towns: • Bedford• Mitchell

o Townships:• Bono• Guthrie• Indian Creek• Marion• Marshall• Perry• Pleasant Run• Shawswick• Spice valley

o Demographics:• 97.92% White,• 0.39% Black or African American• 0.28% Native American• 0.28% Asian • 0.01% Pacific Islander• 0.34% from Other Races

Bedford Limestone Capital of the World

o Founded as a town and the county seat of Lawrence County, Indiana around 1825.o Total Area: 11.9 Square Mileso Population: 13,758o Bedford is known as the limestone capital of the world, and is surrounded by limestone quarries, many of which are dangerously used by the residents for swimming.o A common name for the light gray Indiana limestone quarried in south central Indiana is “Bedford limestone”o Buildings/Monuments made out of Bedford Limestone:• Biltmore Estate• Empire State Building• The Pentagon• United States Holocaust Memorial Museum• Yankee Stadium• Washington National Cathedral

Mitchell

o Mitchell was built as a railroad town in the mid-19th century.o Became Mitchell in 1853.o Population: 4,567o Points of Interest in Mitchell:• Spring Mill State Park• The Opera House• Gus Grissom Memorial

o Traditions/Festivals:• Persimmon Festival

o Demographics:• 98.31% White• 0.28% African American• 0.11% Native American• 0.09% Asian• 0.02% Pacific Islander• 0.13% from Other Races

Limestone Month June 1st-July 4th

In Lawrence County, Indiana o Festivities Include:• Limestone Exhibit• Cruise In• Tour of Siebolt Quarry• Lost River Tour• Quarry Classic Swim Meet• Limestone Heritage Festival (Week of Independence Day)• Picnic with the Pops• Limestone Heritage Architectural Tour• Limestone Festival Pancake Breakfast• Stone Carvers Exhibit • Parade• Fireworks (July 4th)

For a Full Calendar of Events Click Here: http://www.visitbloomington.com/docs/microsites/LimestoneMonthCalendarwithDesc.pdf

Limestone Heritage Festival The festival includes a parade

featuring a militaryflyover, fireworks, stone carving

exhibition, ice creamsocial, free open-air concert

and more!

Persimmon Festival Mitchell, Indiana

The Persimmon Festival in Mitchell, Indiana occurs the last

full week of September every year and runs for eight days. The festival has been a tradition on Main Street since 1946.

The population of Mitchell swells every year at this time. More events have been added in the recent years until there is truly something for everyone. The festival is kicked off by the Candlelight Tour of the Pioneer Village at Spring Mill State Park just east of town. The major highlight is the parade on the last Saturday that lasts for two hours and attracts crowds, by some estimates, over 40,000 people. An approximate

30 contestants enter each year to be named the Persimmon Festival Queen. In addition, contests are held for Mini Miss, Little Miss and Junior Miss. Midway rides for

the very young and the not-so-young line Main Street. Food booths and special offerings from local non-profits, churches and businesses abound. A popularity

contest for artwork and for photography along with a juried Arts and Crafts Show are held at various sites in and around the downtown area.

Festival Map: http://www.persimmonfestival.org/Maps/FestivalMap.aspx

Persimmon Festival Mitchell, Indiana

The Persimmon Pudding entries are always hotly contested. Not only does it take a winning recipe, but the

most hidden secret is "what tree did your persimmons come from?".

This year was the 63rd annual Persimmon Festival and was held on September 19-26, 2009.

Contests held at the Persimmon Festival are: Horseshoe Contest Lip Sync Contest

Persimmon Queen Contest Junior Miss Contest

Little Miss Queen Contest Mini Miss Queen Contest

Road Rally Contest Novelty Dessert Contest

Persimmon Pudding Contest Photography Contest

Art Show Arts and Crafts Contest

Car Show 5K Run/Walk

Antique Tractor Show/Contest

2009 Contest Results: http://www.persimmonfestival.org/ContestResults2009.aspx

StandardsHistory:• 1.1.1 – Compare the way individuals in the community lived in the past with the way they live in the

present.• 2.1.3 – Identify individuals who had a positive impact on the local community.• 2.1.4 – Identify and describe community celebrations, symbols and traditions and explain why they are

important. • 2.1.5 – Develop a timeline of important events in the history of the school and/or community.• 2.1.6 – Create and maintain a calendar of important school days, holidays and community events.• 2.1.7 – Read about and summarize historical community events using libraries and a variety of

information strategies.Civics and Government:• K.2.1 – Foundations of Government: Give examples of people who are community helpers and leaders

and describe how they help us. • K.2.4 – Roles of Citizens: Give examples of how to be a responsible family member and member of a

group.• 1.2.4 – Describe ways that individual actions can contribute to the common good of the community.• 2.2.3 – Identify community leaders, such as the mayor and the city council.• 3.2.6 – Explain the role citizens have in making decisions within the community, state and nation.

http://www.persimmonfestival.org/Default.aspx

Resourceshttp://www.bedfordonline.com/content/view/21/40/

http://www.limestonecountry.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_County,_Indiana

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=lawrence+county+indiana&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=Lawrence+County,+Indiana&gl=us&ei=kdv6SvxUiIacB7WsnIgN&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CAgQ8gEwAA http://www.in.gov/mylocal/lawrence_county.htm

http://bedford.in.us/

http://www.mitchell-in.gov/

http://www.mitchell-in.gov/