Think back...you're watching TV with your family, the show is just ending with "Good night and God bless"...what Hoosier signed off with those words? Stumped? It was Red Skelton! Red was born July 18, 1913 in Vincennes, IN. To read about his life, please visit http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/9709/17/red.skelton/index.html .
When In Indiana....
It's almost time for that phrase anxiously awaited every May..."Gentlemen, start your engines!" If you've never been to the Indianapolis 500, start planning for a trip next year...tickets are a rare commodity on short notice. The "Greatest Spectacle in Racing" lives up to the name---think of the parade, the pre-race rituals, the race, a visit to the Museum just outside the track. (maybe if you're lucky your tour guide will get you on the track itself for some picture taking/video making!) If you're going to visit in May, you can easily get in to the track on the west side of Indianapolis for practice or possibly qualifications. If you're going to Indy without tickets and expect to see the 500 in person, there are "independent salespeople" who will glad relieve you of several hundred dollars per ticket. (And if you're taking your family to the race, the infield is not somewhere you want to let your children go unaccompanied by an adult!) With a little planning, you can get some research done AND soak up some of the Indy 500 atmosphere. If you're bound and determined to try to get tickets for this year's festivities , try http://www.openseats.com/wpindianapolisal.html .
Something New This Month!
Do you have a brick wall in your Hoosier research? Is there a suspicion in your family that a gg-grandparent was an alien life-form since they left no physical evidence of their birth? Then this contest is for you! Each month, a submission will be picked at random to be listed in the following issue...the more eyes that are looking for your ancestor, the better your chances are, right? So, with that in mind....who's the one person in your Indiana family tree who has you at a brick wall?
Civil War Site of the Month
For the chance to read some letters written by the Regimental Surgeon of the 49th Indiana Volunteers, please go to http://gwillritter.tripod.com and put a more personal face to life in the 49th. Many thanks to Gerald W. Ritter for sharing these letters.
When In Indiana...
When planning a research trip to the southeastern part of Indiana, you can first read up on the history of the area, Batesville and Oldenburg in particular. This part of the state has a strong German settler history...to study up on the subject, please go to http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Meadows/6863/imchap1.htm . Another bit of trivia...what national business has its headquarters in Batesville? You might have even seen 18-wheelers carrying the products of this business around the country- I'm referring to the Batesville Casket Company. If you had relatives living in Batesville, you might have a connection to the company...check out its website at http://www.batesville.com .
If you have a family recipe passed down thru the years that you would like to share here, please click on the "submit recipe" button below. Please, no breaking of copyright laws, thanks. A recipe will be picked at random for the following month's issue.
Climbing Your Hoosier Family Tree wishes to thank Country Dayz for the use of their great country graphics. Please visit them at http://www.countrydayz.com .
Something New This Month! 
