The village map has been updated thanks to a lot of work by Marty Cox, Keith Hertenstein, and Nancy Sodders.

Pictured village features added in recent years include:

     Horace Mann School Sign

     Storage Barn

     Timeline Trail

     Proposed Development

Some of the more popular items offered for sale at the Jefferson County Historical Village Welcome Center during Summer months can be purchased outside the office during office hours. 

If you enjoyed reading any of the Articles on Local History, you will love all these publications.

We also offer cookbooks containing the recipes from the annual Chocolate Festivals, Jefferson County Bicentennial tee shirts, and awesome jams, jellies, and more.  Scroll all the way down for a truncated view.

The heritage pathway of memorial bricks was started when the museum was completed in 1996.  It now extends from the village entrance to the flag pole.

Each brick provides a lasting memorial for an individual, a family, or an organization.  They make excellent gifts and gratuities.  Available brick sizes and prices are shown here.

Each brick purchase is also one of the many ways you can support your Jefferson County Historical Village and Museum.  Pick up a brochure with all the details next time you visit the office or call and we will mail you one. 

If you prefer, download the brochure front and back, fill in your selection, and mail to the village. 

Or you can click the Donate button on the Home page, fill in the Donor information, enter the selected brick size and inscription in the Comment window, select the payment amount, and proceed to payment.  All major credit cards are accepted - Paypal will route your payment.

Jefferson County and Mount Vernon are 200 years old this year.  The JCHS plans to celebrate throughout 2019.   All county residents are encouraged to join us celebration is nearing completion.  Only the events that have not been marked through remain incomplete.

First, a photo contest began on September 1, 2018.  The theme is “Celebrating the History and Beauty of our Community”.  Entries must be received by July 31, 2019.  A $50 prize will be awarded to the winner of each of seven categories, and a $100 Grand Prize will be awarded.

Photo contest details and the entry form are available at the office or call and we will mail them to you.

Second, we have designed a flashy new logo.  T-shirts with the logo are available in a variety of colors and sizes.  You can pick some up at the office any weekday afternoon.

Third, newspaper articles and programs in the Schweinfurth Museum will feature Jefferson County history:

Local newspaper articles will feature the history of Jefferson County and the City of Mt. Vernon.  Saturday afternoon programs will cover such topics as:

•  the history of Jefferson County schools
•  the history of Jefferson County churches
  
•  the history of Veterans Memorial Park
•  the tornados of 1888 and 1957
•  Dr. Willis Duff Green portrayal by Sid Milliner

The Jefferson County Appellate Courthouse will be open to the public for tours on March 30.  JCHS members will serve as hosts for the event from 9 am to 4 pm.

Presentations covering the history of churches and schools will be given and discussed.

All JCHS Quarterly Dinners will have a bicentennial Jefferson County theme.

Finally, the 2019 Schweinfurth Museum Exhibit that celebrates will celebrate Jefferson County History has been stored to make room for the annual Trains and Traditions exhibits.  To encourage county-wide participation, the exhibit will feature all 16 township histories.

The “Spotlight on the Townships of Jefferson County” will return in 2020. is the title of the new exhibit now under construction.

Each township has a four-foot square panel with a small map showing its location within the county and a larger map showing features of the township.  Current town locations are shown along with old towns that no longer exist.  Locations of historically important events are pinpointed.

If you have a photo or artifact of historical significance to one or more of the townships, we hope you will be willing to share.  Photos will be scanned and immediately returned to the owners.  Artifacts can be photographed or accepted for loan.

Two hundred years is a lot of history.  As we progress through our 200th-anniversary celebration, we hope you will join us in making the review of our amazing history interesting and educational for all.