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HISTORIC BOXLEY CABIN RESTORED AND DEDICATED
By Brenda Bush &
SheridanNews Staff
SHERIDAN, IN - On April 24th, more than 300 people gathered on Pioneer
Hill at Veteran's Park to dedicate the restored log cabin of Sheridan's first
pioneer settler, George Boxley.
Boxley, a Virginia-born abolitionist, was a person of unique significance to
Indiana's early history. He settled on the knoll in 1828 after evading bounty
hunters for 12 years, following his escape from the Spotsylvania County jail in
1816, where he was imprisoned for allegedly inciting a sabotaged slave rebellion.
Boxley's son Caswell later built a large prestigious home near the cabin in 1878, and the town
of Sheridan eventually grew up around his frontier farm as its residents
embraced him as both friend and schoolteacher.
Famed jazz musician, John Stafford, a Sheridan native who grew up in the
historic Boxley home, returned to perform for the special event. Stafford
gathered band members and played patriotic tunes as people arrived for
festivities. He and his brother Jim and others in the Sheridan community once used the
cabin behind the home as a clubhouse.
Sarah Tanselle, Sheridan High School, performed a solo drum tribute to George
Boxley, setting the mood for the event and underscoring the intent to recognize
him—and his family--for their sacrifices.
Members of the Sheridan Historical Society and Town of Sheridan cut a long red
ribbon to open the cabin to visitors. Cabin interiors were donated and loaned by
Conner Prairie and Fall Creek Questers #758 unveiled the gold and black
historical marker which was installed down the hill near street level. A granite
fieldstone has been carved to showcase an embedded tribute plaque featuring
names of contributors and grantmakers who donated more than $120,000 to save the
cabin.
The preserved cabin, now on the National Register of Historic Places, was a
result of four years of hard work and collaboration between the Sheridan
Historical Society and the Town of Sheridan. Completion of Boxley Cabin
restoration represents the first step in the development of a larger heritage
tourism complex. The Society continues to collaborate in conducting studies to
assess economic strategies for funding the build-out and exhibit assessments to
assess the appeal of museum collections that feature one-of-a-kind artifacts.
The complex would include a Boxley visitor center, new museum and multi-purpose
center. For more information or to make donations, visit the site of the
Sheridan Historical Society.
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