NORTH VERNON, Ind. – The public is invited to join the Jennings County Historical Society on Thursday, August 1, to celebrate longtime volunteer Chris Asher, recipient of the 2024 Sagamore of the Wabash Award. Drop in at the historical society, 134 E. Brown St., in Vernon, between 5 and 7 p.m., to congratulate Chris and other volunteers.
President Brad Bender will host a brief program at 6 p.m. with a presentation of the award given by a representative from Governor Holcomb’s office. This award is the highest honor that the Governor of Indiana bestows. It is a personal tribute usually given to those who have rendered a distinguished service to the State or the Governor. The award was created during the term of Governor Gates who served from 1945 to 1949.
Asher is a 40-year volunteer at the Jennings County Historical Society where she has served as a member of the board of directors, grant writer, event coordinator, Curator, and past president. Through her passion for supporting other non-profit organizations in the community, Chris has served as a board member of the Jennings County Community Foundation, Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Bureau, and Council on Domestic Violence.
Thanks to grants from the Jennings County Community Foundation, Indiana Arts Commission National Endowment for the Arts, Columbus Area Arts Council, Indiana Historical Society, Indiana Humanities, Cummins Engine Foundation, Irwin-Sweeney Miller Foundation, and Lilly Endowment, Asher and a team of volunteers spearheaded the restoration of the society’s headquarters, the 1838 North American House Museum in historic Vernon, Indiana.
