Monthly meetings, open to the public, are held on the fourth Monday of each month starting at 6:30 p.m. The society has a committee for each of the properties and other committees are: education, collections, and genealogy/research. All of the committees are eager to welcome new members into active participation. Members of the society receive a quarterly newsletter informing them of activities and opportunities for involvement. Membership dues are $10.00 per person for a 1 year membership or $150.00 for a lifetime membership. Please mail to BCHS, c/o Treasurer, PO Box 22, Vinton, Iowa 52349.
The three properties (see map) owned and maintained by the BCHS are
The Horridge House, The Ray House, and The Depot and Rail Museum.
Tours available Wednesdays between 1:00-4:00 P.M.
Phone 319-560-1923 to Schedule a Tour
It would be appreciated if appointments for scheduled tours could be made two weeks in advance.The Horridge House which houses the Benton County Historical Society's genealogy records was hit by a wind storm on July 11th this summer (2011). We lost the roof and sustained other major damage. For safety's sake we can not get into the building even to retrieve our genealogy records as well as other collections. No research will be able to be done there until further notice. When we can make other arrangements or the house is repaired we will post it on this site. We appreciate your patience. Thank you.The Pioneer Recollections book is for sale by the society for $18.00, which includes postage and the separate index.
The Bear Creek Cemetery ladies have made CD's that are available for sale. The proceeds go to upkeep and maintenance of the old part of the cemetery because it doesn't apply as a Pioneer Cemetery since the part of the cemetery across the road is in use. However, the township trustees only mow the old cemetery, but do not do any maintenance of it.
The CD's contain:
Over 1300 obits.
Some Census Records for Harrison Township.
Pictures of grave stones and the Bear Creek Church.
Memorial Day Celebrations starting in the 1880's to the present.
News Items.The cost of the CD's are:
$30 for obits only.
$20 for the pictures of the stones.For more information contact Martha Long at jimartlong@aol.com or Alice Meyer at ameyer1935@prodigy.net
