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Welcome Back & Happy Indiana Bicentennial New Year!
The John Hay Center and the Washington County Historical Society would like to wish you & yours a very Happy Indiana Bicentennial & New Year! The Stevens Museum has reopened from our holiday break and we need to apologize to any patrons visiting our facility through the winter months, for any inconveniences caused by current […]
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This Friday Indiana Turns 199 Years Old!!
Friday December 11, 2015 at 1300hrs/1pm; the Washington County Board of Commissioners would like to extend an open invitation to all of our county’s citizens to attend a public gathering on the North side of the Washington County Courthouse, to honor the 199th anniversary of Indiana’s admittance as the 19th state of the Union. The Washington County Historical […]
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Ordering Books on the Website
We would like to apologize for any inconvenience suffered through trying to purchase books on our website. We had a small glitch in the system, which we believe has been remedied. Thank you for your patronage and Happy Holidays!
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A Brief History of Our Namesake
John Hay was a great American statesman, diplomat, author and poet, whose political career spanned over 50 years. He was born in a small brick home, on College Avenue, in Salem, Indiana, on October 8, 1838. John was the fourth of five children, born in the house, to Dr. Charles Hay and the former Helen […]
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The Legend of Dead Man’s Holler
There’s a hollow out along Cox Ferry Road that many generations of county residents say will inspire eerie and foreboding feelings, even if you visit during daylight hours. Something about the location is just a little off or creepy. Some claim it is haunted by a horrible, unspeakable spirit of a bygone era, while others will tell […]
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A Tribute to Local Racing Legend, Roy Robbins Jr.
The Washington County Historical Society is mourning the loss of our native son and legendary, professional race car driver, Roy Robbins Jr., who passed away on Friday, Oct. 16th, at 88 years of age, at his home in Little York. Breaking into the sport, just after World War II, as an auto racing mania was […]
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The Honorable Judge Benjamin Parke
In 1822, Judge Benjamin and Elizabeth (Barton) Parke, along with their two young children, moved to the east side of the Salem Square from Vincennes. The couple would quickly become very influential members of the community. Benjamin was the United States District Judge of Indiana, appointed by President Madison, from the onset of Indiana’s acceptance […]
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Attention WCHS members!
Attention members of the Washington County Historical Society, in an effort to improve communications with our members, we are requesting you email us, your email address, to info@johnhaycenter.org With this information we will be able to provide you immediate notifications of planned events, special meetings, dinners, touring/temporary exhibits, sales and special offers, important updates to the […]
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Thank you OSD volunteers!
The Stevens Museum and the Washington County Historical Society would like to extend their deep gratitude, to the all the volunteers, who assisted with monitoring the activities inside the museum’s main gallery and the grounds of the John Hay Center. Without your help we would not be able to provide free public access to our […]
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Indiana’s 1st Lt. Governor Lived on the Salem Square
Christopher Harrison was born circa 1780, to an affluent family in Cambridge, Maryland and graduated from St. John’s College. Afterwards, as he began to study law, he went to work, clerking, for the president of the Bank of Baltimore and soon began tutoring the bank president’s daughter, Elizabeth Patterson. Over time Christopher and Elizabeth became romantically involved […]
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