A History of Batesville, Indiana
Batesville Area Historical Society Museum
The Batesville Area Historical Society formed on May 20, 1999, with new Batesville resident Doug Evans spearheading the group, which included Judy Tonges and Jean Struewing . Mr. Evans served as the organizations first president, followed by Jean Streuwing in 2000. Mrs. Struewing served as president for many years. On August 18, 2008, BAHS purchased the historic house on George Street and transformed it into its museum, a function it serves today.Batesville Area Historical Society
The BAHS met monthly, most times at the Batesville Memorial Public Library. Some meetings took place at other sites of historic interest to the community. Many of the early meetings featured speakers or demonstrations of historic interest to the members.
Batesville Area Historical Society Museum
The first museum operated by BAHS operated in a vacant store structure on Main Street during Batesville's 2002 Sesquicentennial year. After the year of celebration, the Batesville Memorial Public Library agreed to allow BAHS to operate a museum in a building it had purchased on Boehringer Street. This facility opened in 2003. It would remain open until BMPL needed the building, forcing BAHS to put the displays into storage.
Batesville Area Historical Society Museum
BAHS member Elsa Soderberg provided a substantial donation to BAHS to establish a museum in Batesville. On August 18, 2008, BAHS purchased the historic home on George Street to use as a museum. John O. Kaiser, who had established a tavern in Batesville in 1899, had built the home around 1910. The home's original location was on the site of the current Post Office. It had been moved to its current location when the post office relocated there in 1937. The structure has served as a home and medical office until BAHS purchased it. The structure features a mural painted by students of the 2002 Batesville High School art class and the wood basketball floor from the old Batesville High School Gym.
The first floor of the museum features special exhibits hosted by the museum during the year and the upper floor displays from local businesses in Batesville.
For more information, contact:
Batesville Area Historical Society
15 West George Street
812-934-3266
http://www.batesvilleareahistoricalsociety.org/
