MPL Bookworm in 2013 Old Settlers Parade

The MPL bookworm float made the "hit parade" this afternoon during the annual Old Settlers parade through downtown Mooresville on its way to Pioneer Park (and the Old Settlers festival itself).  Click images to enlarge.

Since the bookworm was facing left (and our photographer was on the right-hand side of the street), you can't see the bookworm's face very well. Fortunately, we have other photos from a previous blog post.

Great job, MPL float team!

Be sure to visit the Library's booth at the Old Settlers Festival (today through Tuesday, August 6).  There's bound to be some great giveaway stuff.

I Spy Local History Sliding By

Watch local history unfold before your very eyes!  It's a neat trick, if one can pull it off.

 Click Images to Bigify

Mystery Fingers Erase Letters in Our Messages!

The slideshow continuously runs on our monitor next to our adult information desk (in the Library's grand hall).  Take a peek next time you're here.  You can't miss it.  Just look for the group of patrons looking up, like in the movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), directed by Steven Spielberg.

Local History Reading For Old Settlers

Mooresville's Old Settlers picnic, festival, and parade are fast approaching.  This book display from the Indiana Room collections provides many interesting items about our local history.

 Click Images to Enlarge

When is the celebration?  Our handy sign says August 4-5-6, as we previously blogged.

There are loads of great books about local history (Mooresville and Morgan County, as well as Hendricks County, which is literally on the north edge of town, and some general Hoosier historical texts).  Check them out using your Evergreen Indiana library card.

About this time each year, we reprise our video recounting the history of the Old Settlers picnic.

A Slice of Local School History

Last night (Tuesday, July 9, 2013) at its monthly school board meeting, the Mooresville Consolidated School Corporation (MCSC) opened the 1959 time capsule recovered from a cornerstone during renovations at Mooresville High School (MHS).  Courtesy of Susan Haynes, MCSC chief communications officer, we have some wonderful photos borrowed from the MHS Facebook page.  (Thanks to Ms. Haynes for the photo captions in quotation marks.)  Click the images to enlarge.

"We appreciate Mr. Jim Patrick carefully slicing through the copper while keeping the contents safe from harm." (Susan Haynes)

"We Opened It! The 1959 Time Capsule contained several editions of the Mooresville Times, a few articles from the Indianapolis Times, a building dedication brochure, a 1959 yearbook, the feasibility study for consolidating Mooresville-Brown Township, Madison Township, and Harrison Township Schools, a photo of the MHS gym being framed, and a typed copy of the original Mooresville High School Articles of Incorporation from the 1800s."  (Susan Haynes)

Members of the public and MHS alumni examine the time capsule's contents

"We were delighted to have Mr. J. Russell Lambert, a member of the 1959 Building Committee, in attendance. He didn't know what had been placed in the time capsule but found a newspaper article with his photo among the items."  (Susan Haynes)

"This article describes the building committee members signing 770 bonds of $1,000 each to finance the building of the new high school."  (Susan Haynes)

"The framework at the top of this photo is the wooden beams which made the MHS gym. The beams are still visible in the 1959 gym today."  (Susan Haynes)

"This article from the Indianapolis Times describes the school with headlines such as 'Shop Has Precision Equipment,' 'Modern Million Dollar School Is Pride of Citizens,' 'New School Has Large Library,' 'Counselor Puts pupils on Right Track,' 'Mooresville School Has Full-Time Nurse,' and 'Complete Curriculum in Commercial Subjects Is Offered.'" (Susan Haynes)

This important slice of local school history will be digitally preserved for future generations to enjoy.  Although there are no plans presently to install a new time capsule during the current MHS renovations, we think it would be a wonderful idea.  Folks in the 22nd century would surely like to see what was happening at our high school in 2013.

Inside a Time Capsule

Mooresville High School has announced a date on which the 1959 time capsule will be opened. The ceremony will take place at the regularly scheduled school board meeting on Tuesday, July 9, 2013, at 6:30 p.m., at the Mooresville Schools Education Center, 11 West Carlisle Street, in Mooresville.

Mooresville High School Time Capsule (1959)
(Click Image to Enlarge)

What do you think will be found inside the time capsule?  Make your best guesses in our comments section.