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Archiver > INMONROE > 2002-07 > 1026227500


From: Randi Richardson <>
Subject: [INMONROE] Blue Spring Community
Date: Tue, 09 Jul 2002 10:13:42 -0500


Local History Microfilm Collection Roll 18, Monroe County Public Library,
Bloomington, Indiana. Microfilmed from originals on file at the Lilly
Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana. Shared with permission.

Blue Spring Community

In the spring of 1826 a number of well meaning citizens of Monroe County,
led by the Berry family, started an organization about seven miles
southwest of Bloomington in Van Buren Township named "Blue Spring
Community." This was located near a large spring, then known as "Blue
Sprint," which was known far and wide as a beautiful place for various
gatherings such as camap meetings, old settlers gatherings, picnics,
etc. This spring is located on the Grant Thrasher farm which was earlier
owned by Alfred Thrasher and before that by William Sadler, an old time
singing school teacher.

This coommunity idea originated from the teachings and writing of Robert
Dale Owen, a wealthy, philanthropic English gentleman who was starting
similar communities in Posey County, Indiana, at New Haromoy. He was
honestly trying to relieve the "numerous ills which are inflicted on
mankind by poverty and ignorance in the individual system of society." He
spent a fortune in his effort.

The community remained in existence for about a year and then
disbanded. Dissensions arose among the members and then, it is said, that
the women quarreled over what color to dye the homespun jeans from which
was made the men's pants.

And so history was made in Van Buren Township, Monroe County, Indiana, in
an altruistic effort to establish a socialistic communism.


There follows the constitution which is well worth a careful reading. Also
the signatures of the 27 men and whomen who banded themselves together to
uplift humanity.

Rodney D. Smith
February 28, 1938

His location of Blue Spring Community may be correct but the deed of the
Blue Spring's Committee says the W 1/2 of the SW 1/4 of Section 21 and the
land belonging to Mr. Sadler was in Section 28. Harmony Church is in
Section 21 and this description would be just south and west of the
church. Of course, this land may have been purchased after the settlement
was started, but as it lasted only one year, I hardly believe it was. No
other deed to the community was found.

Mrs. Pafford

The following constitution of the Blue Spring Community is to be found in
Deed Record Book "B," page 136, Monroe County Recorder's Office...(please
refer to microfilm at the MCPL, the original document at the Lilly Library,
or the deed book for the constitution)

In writing whereon we hereunto set to our hands this 15th day of April a.
D. 1826.

In presence of Isaac Pauley and F. T. Berry. April 15, 1826

Jonathan NicholsJohn A. Given
Robert HamiltonWilliam Berry
John M. BerryHannah Berry
Elizabeth BerryRichard B. McCorkle
Amos CoxWilliam B. May
Orvin S. CrockerDudley C. Smith
Philip RogersElizabeth Bailey
Elizabeth CoxElisa Nichols
Sarah CoxIbby McCorkle

May 11, 1826

Parker ByfordThomas Fullerton
Chisity (sic) D. BailySam Bailey
Aquilla Rogers, Sr.Person (sic) Harris
James MatlockWilliam Armstrong
Wm. B. Ferguson

----------------------

Committee of Management: William B. May, Jonathan Nichols and John A.
Given. Treasurer: Robert Hamilton


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