Norma Tapp (1929-2016)

Norma Tapp (1929-2016), a longtime Mooresville educator and library volunteer, passed away earlier this week.  Her obituary appeared in today's edition of the Mooresville-Decatur Times.  It also appeared on the Carlisle-Branson Funeral Service website.

Norma Tapp Obituary

Mooresville-Decatur Times

Wednesday, December 21, 2016 (Page A-2)

(Click Image Above to Enlarge)

One of Mrs. Tapp's many contributions to Mooresville Public Library was her compilation of newspaper articles about John Dillinger, who grew up in Mooresville.  It is our most popular Dillinger resource, although it is a reference item and does not circulate outside the library. (Learn more about this binder from our Evergreen Indiana catalog.)

I met Mrs. Tapp a few years ago while visiting my father-in-law at a senior living center in town.  She was a warm, friendly, charming person who was interested in discussing many subjects, including local history and library activities.

Many long-time residents will remember Mrs. Tapp as a teacher and friend. She made a lasting contribution to our community, making Mooresville a better place in which to live and grow up.  If you knew Mrs. Tapp and would like to share a memory or leave other comments, please visit the Carlisle-Branson Funeral Service website's celebration wall.

Burial Map to Mooresville's Old M.E. Cemetery

Thanks to Mooresville sexton Ed Bucker, the Indiana Room at Mooresville Public Library has a burial map for the Old Methodist Episcopal (M.E.) Cemetery on West Washington Street. A spreadsheet accompanying the map lists burial plots of many of the town's earliest pioneers and settlers.  (Click the photos below to enlarge.)

Old Methodist Episcopal (M.E.) Cemetery,

also known as Old Mooresville Cemetery,

on West Washington Street 

Old M.E. Cemetery was established in 1829

Painting of the first Mooresville M.E. Church (built in 1839)

(on West Washington Street, in front of the cemetery)

Photograph of the first Mooresville M.E. Church

(from Hadley, Almira Harvey.  A Brief History of Mooresville and Vicinity [1918])

The photos below show where to find the cemetery burial map.  To the left of the map (in a yellow binder) is the spreadsheet listing the names of those buried there, as noted on the map.

Although these materials do not circulate, they may be examined in the library's Indiana Room.

Bobby Helms' Mooresville Connections

Hoosier native Bobby Helms (Robert Lee Helms) (1933-1997)–perhaps best known for the songs “Fraulien” (1957), “Jingle Bell Rock” (1957), and “My Special Angel” (1957)–was born in Bloomington, but, in later years, was a resident of Martinsville (he’s buried there in Hilldale cemetery).  He is a member of the Morgan County Hall of Fame.  His Mooresville connection comes from the 1970s, when he owned a restaurant/nightclub, the Special Angel Club, which was situated at Five Points (between Mooresville and Waverly), where State Road 144, Kitchen Road, and Orchard Road converge.  Learn more about Helms from this official website.  (Click the images below to enlarge.)

Bobby Helms publicity photo (circa 1957)

Advertisement from the 1977 Mooresville High School yearbook, Wagon Trails

Advertisement from the Mooresville Times, February 22, 1979

2016 Victorian Christmas at the Library

At today's Mooresville (Indiana) Victorian Christmas celebration, we had several popular attractions.

The Central Indiana Folk Music & Mountain Dulcimer Society performed in the library's grand hall.  (Click photographs to enlarge.)

Silly Safari's Candy Cane Chris brought a reindeer to greet our patrons.  There was a long queue of excited youngsters (and adults) waiting to meet the star attraction.

Our youth services department spent the day presenting a variety of holiday craft activities as part of our Saturday Crafternoon program.

It was another exciting and busy Victorian Christmas at the library.  To see photos from past events, take a peek at the blog by Cauli Le Chat, our retired feline roving reporter.

Indiana Bicentennial Quilt on Display

Thanks to the generosity of local artist Sherry (Spencer) Foster, we now have an Indiana bicentennial quilt on display in our Indiana Room.  It is a wonderful historical tribute to our flags, featuring the American flag, Indiana State Flag, Indianapolis City Banner, and Mooresville Town Banner.  Stop by to have a closer look.  Click the photos below to enlarge.

Bill Cornwell's "The Bomb"

In case you missed atomic veteran William Cornwell's presentation, The Bomb and What You Might Not Have Known About It, you may watch it on video (below).

The BOMB and What You Might Not Have Known About It
by William Cornwell


(LIVE RECORDING)
The BOMB and What You Might Not Have Known About It
by William Cornwell

Q & A Session (Live Recording) to
The BOMB and What You Might Not Have Known About It
by William Cornwell

Longtime patrons of Mooresville Public Library know Bill Cornwell as one of our superlative volunteers (and building manager emeritus), whose inventive repairs and innovations have saved Morgan County (and, specifically, Brown Township) taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars.  Anyone who enjoys the library owes Mr. Cornwell a huge debt of gratitude for all of his important contributions throughout the years.

William Gregory Harrison's Journal of 1880-1881

Between October 1880 and May 1881, William Gregory Harrison, who lived in Jefferson Township, Morgan County, Indiana, wrote a daily journal detailing farm life in the area. A digitized version is now available online. It is a fascinating look at Morgan County life in the late 19th century, told in the vernacular of the day. Teaching notes are included for Indiana studies/history teachers. Click here (or the logo below) to learn more.

Click (Above) to Read Harrison's Journal

Mooresville Historic Houses

We have a new online handout featuring historic houses in Mooresville, Indiana. Thanks to the Morgan County History & Genealogy Association for the circa 1880s photographs of photographer J. P. Calvert (1842-1917).  Thanks to Mooresville Public Library for the additional photos of Calvert's home and studio.

Our New Exterior Dropbox

We have a new dropbox outside the library's front entrance.

 Click photos to enlarge

You may return items in our new dropbox or also bring them inside.

2016 ALA Banned Books Week

The American Library Association's (ALA) Banned Books Week is September 25 through October 1, 2016.  Our promo trailer (video) below elaborates.

2016 Banned Books Week Promo Trailer, by Mooresville Public Library

Please visit the ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom's Banned Books website to learn more about challenged and banned books and what you can do to preserve your freedom to decide what you want to read.

We have a video playlist of banned books (and promos for previous years' BBW). Also, please visit the library to find banned or challenged books to read from our displays, or ask our staff to assist you.

A Really BIG Morgan County Map

Want to see a REALLY big map of Morgan County, Indiana?  It's on display at the library until Monday, August 22, 2016. Click the photos below to enlarge.

2016 Morgan County Map for the Indiana Bicentennial Celebration

(on display in the MPL grand hall, between the

Giving Tree & the MPL Directors' Gallery)

Find Where You Live on the Map!

Close-up of Brown Township in Morgan County

Letter Explaining Map's Objectives

A History Buff, For Sure

Surely this big fella is a history buff.  Make that a HISTORY BUFFalo.

(Click the images below to enlarge them.)

The official Indiana Bicentennial Bison for Morgan County is on a migration tour, stopping off at Mooresville Public Library until August 31, 2016.  Then it's back to hitting the trails again for destinations far and wide.

The bison is grazing in the library's grand hall, across from the circulation desk, near our Indiana State Flag/Paul Hadley paintings displays.  But please don't touch our bison!  Quite fragile,  you see.  Biting is a possibility, too.  (Just kidding!)

Here are some close-up photos showcasing the bison's Morgan County historical images.