Gordon C. Curry collection
Collection — Folder: S0328
Identifier: S0328
Scope and Contents
There are five documents relating to Wyandotte Cave. The first document is a 41-page handwritten manuscript by Harrison Washington Rothrock (1840-1925), who described his work as a guide at the cave in Crawford County, Indiana. He told about four military students touring the cave in April 1878 and finding a new room. The document was written about 1913, although the date December 28, 1915 is on page 40.
Charles J. Rothrock wrote two handwritten letters to Mr. and Mrs. Gordon L. Curry in Louisville, Kentucky in 1941, telling about doing “some prospect work in the cave.” He said that he felt “positive we are finally about to make a big find.” There is a typed, single-page letter to Mr. Curry and signed Charlie, dated April 19, 1941, in which he wrote: “The air flow in this new cave is from the Mountain, not to it. No, Bob and I have not solved the air puzzle as yet.” The signature of “Charlie” is the same as the signature for Charles J. Rothrock.
The last single sheet is entitled “Home Deserted, The Old Sharp House in the Valley, Wyandotte Cave, Crawford Co., Ind.” This paper tells the history of Wyandotte Cave and the house built by Hines Sharp, who married Polly Rothrock and had six children: Emma, Andrew, William, Ida May, Lydia, and Robert. For many years, William and Lydia, both unmarried, lived in the house until William died in April 1957. The house remained empty for three years, at least until Gordon C. Curry wrote this paper on December 5, 1960.
Charles J. Rothrock wrote two handwritten letters to Mr. and Mrs. Gordon L. Curry in Louisville, Kentucky in 1941, telling about doing “some prospect work in the cave.” He said that he felt “positive we are finally about to make a big find.” There is a typed, single-page letter to Mr. Curry and signed Charlie, dated April 19, 1941, in which he wrote: “The air flow in this new cave is from the Mountain, not to it. No, Bob and I have not solved the air puzzle as yet.” The signature of “Charlie” is the same as the signature for Charles J. Rothrock.
The last single sheet is entitled “Home Deserted, The Old Sharp House in the Valley, Wyandotte Cave, Crawford Co., Ind.” This paper tells the history of Wyandotte Cave and the house built by Hines Sharp, who married Polly Rothrock and had six children: Emma, Andrew, William, Ida May, Lydia, and Robert. For many years, William and Lydia, both unmarried, lived in the house until William died in April 1957. The house remained empty for three years, at least until Gordon C. Curry wrote this paper on December 5, 1960.
Dates
- 1913-1960
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Rare Books and Manuscripts, Indiana State Library, Indianapolis, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Rare Books and Manuscripts.
Biographical Note
This Collection was donated by Gordon C. Curry, the son of Dr. Gordon L. and Alice C. Curry. Dr. and Mrs. Curry were living in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1941 when Charles J. Rothrock wrote to them about Wyandotte Cave in Crawford County, Indiana. Dr. Curry, who was listed in the 1935 Louisville City Directory as a dean and residing at 2164 West Broadway, with his wife Alice. He made his first trip to Wyandotte Cave in 1905. Two of Dr. Curry’s granddaughters were Agnes G. Palmer of Louisville, and Mrs. Howard H. Smith (nee Jean Curry), the eldest granddaughter, of Vicksburg, Michigan.
The original owner of Wyandotte Cave was Dr. Samuel Adams, who made gun powder in the big cave during the War of 1812. When Dr. Adams left, the land reverted to the government. In 1818, Henry Peter Rothrock (born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in January 1792) came to Jeffersonville, Indiana, and purchased the land on which Wyandotte Cave was located. Henry P. Rothrock’s son, Harrison Washington Rothrock, born December 2, 1840, became a guide at Wyandotte Cave.
Source:
Information Found within Collection and Ancestry.com accessed Dec. 5, 2013.
The original owner of Wyandotte Cave was Dr. Samuel Adams, who made gun powder in the big cave during the War of 1812. When Dr. Adams left, the land reverted to the government. In 1818, Henry Peter Rothrock (born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in January 1792) came to Jeffersonville, Indiana, and purchased the land on which Wyandotte Cave was located. Henry P. Rothrock’s son, Harrison Washington Rothrock, born December 2, 1840, became a guide at Wyandotte Cave.
Source:
Information Found within Collection and Ancestry.com accessed Dec. 5, 2013.
Extent
0.01 Cubic Feet (1 folder)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
This collection is arranged chronologically.
Custodial History
This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a donation from Gordon C. Curry.
Accruals
No further additions are expected.
Processing Information
Collection processing and finding aid completed by Nikki Stoddard Schofield during December 2013. EAD finding aid completed by Bethany Fiechter on 2018/05/11.
- Title
- Gordon C. Curry collection
- Status
- Completed
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Repository
Contact:
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
