Welcome

Welcome to the Jennings County History of Harness Racing blog!  In 2010, the Jennings County Community Foundation created a board initiated grant to hire an intern to provide added support to the Foundation, as well as giving that intern a chance to learn. The main focus of this particular internship program was to research and preserve the history of harness racing in Jennings County through film, written materials, etc.   I, Jennifer Franklin, received a call in August of 2010 asking if I would be interested in this position.  I found it a wonderful opportunity, as I want to learn how to make documentary films and am deeply interested in the history of our community.

We started out by assembling a "team".  This team includes Bryan Boyd, Dr. Jim Calli, David Beck, Barb Shaw and Chris Asher.  Each member of this team adds an integral and crucial part to this project.  This team meets every few months and stays in communication on a regular basis about the formation of this project.

This project will include many different aspects.  First is the documentary film which will cover the history of harness racing in Jennings County while also relating it to the history of harness racing in the state and the nation.  Another part of the project is an interactive map that will outline key points in the county that is related to harness racing. This will provide a tool for visitors, tourists and current residents to explore the county's history of harness racing. The map will point out sites of former tracks and the houses or sites of houses of families heavily involved in the sport.  We also hope to be able to add to the exhibit at the Jennings County Historical Society's museum located in Vernon.  The museum already holds artifacts donated by harness racing families but we hope to add to the collection.  Lastly we hope to dedicate a website in addition to this blog, documenting harness racing history and providing information and interactive activities to visitors.

I have spent the last seven months researching what harness racing is all about and digging up the little bits of local information one can find.  I have also met many wonderful people who are full of knowledge on this topic.  In April of 2011, we hope to start collecting interviews from individuals who are familiar with the subject of harness racing.  We also plan to visit many races around the state to gather footage.  We look forward to diving into the project and are excited to meet the individuals who hold the key to this all but forgotten piece of small town history.