Open House December 20, 2025

New CCGSI Library Center Point, Indiana
New CCGSI Library Center Point, Indiana

We appreciate everyone’s patience while the new library was being built.  The Center Point Fire Department men and women, as well as several community members, helped move the shelves, boxes, furniture, etc. from the old building to the new one.  We could not have done it without their kind and efficient help.

The old shelves have been painted, and we have been placing books on the shelves.  We will have an Open House for everyone to visit the new library on December 20th from 2:00 – 4:00.

Unfortunately, we have one more step before we can officially open to the public. As you know, many people take vacation time or companies close for the holidays. We need a final inspection from the Indiana State Fire Marshal’s office to be open for business. The investigators will not be back to work until after January 5, 2026, so we have to wait. We know this is an inconvenience, but it’s out of our hands.

We will continue to accept research requests via phone (812-835-5005) or email (Researchclaycounty@frontier.com). Please do not send them through Facebook Messenger or this webpage; for some reason neither site gets messages to the library. We will respond to you as quickly as we can.

See you December 20th between 2:00 and 4:00.

Cemetery Walk

Talking Tombstones Presented by CCGS

    The Clay County Genealogy Society held a cemetery walk, Talking Tombstones, on September 13, 2025, at Cottage Hill Cemetery.  The public has expressed a great interest in attending another cemetery walk, and the Society will create a second Talking Tombstones event on June 6, 2026.

    The Society members could not find a tombstone for  famous Clay County artist, Evalyn Gertrude James’.  Society member, Richard Hull, made a stone, which was unveiled at the cemetery walk.  One of Evalyn’s original paintings was there too. There were twelve actors and actresses dressed in period costumes, who portrayed individuals that left an impressionable mark on Clay County.

     The twelve actors and actresses in character were:  Clinton Arthur and Lela Powell, portrayed by Jacob Kunkel and Makenzie Mott; Governor George Craig, portrayed by Jeff Koehler; Dr. James Rawley, portrayed by Kevin McCrea; Jonathan Penna, portrayed by his great-grandson, Ron Penna; Valentine Penna, son of Jonathan, portrayed by Riley LeMay; Evalyn Gertrude James, portrayed by Patricia Wilkinson; Mrs. Caroline Eberwine, portrayed by Susan Blair; Mrs. Minnie VanBibber, daughter of Caroline, portrayed by Debbie Leach; Mrs. Catherine Keller, portrayed by Anna Long; Miss Gertrude Carr, portrayed by Michelle McCrea; Mrs. Josephine Sanders, portrayed by Stephanie Strain.  Tour Guides were Caroline Gilson, Cathy McLin, Janna Wilkes, and Rhonda Tincher.

Clay County Indiana