4-Hers explain log structure project

From left, Fatima and Bernadette Murillo and Rory Ferrell present a program to noon Rotary Thursday about their involvement in the 4-H Technology Club. (T-G Photo by John Philleo) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

The 4-H Technology Club visited Shelbyville's noon Rotary Club Thursday, informing members about a club project that involves recording some of Bedford County's history.

The six-member club is involved with finding old log structures in the county, and recording as much information as it can about the structures.

"It's a really, really long process," said Bernadette Murillo, a Cascade student and member of the club. "But it's really fun."

First, members of the club find a structure within the county and ask the owner's permission to work on the property.

The second step involves taking pictures from all different sides and angles. Next, they sketch the pictures on a grid for further documentation of the structure.

They measure all the walls, windows, doors and other areas within the structure, and use Global Positioning System receivers to record the structure's location.

Murillo and other club members, including Rory Ferrell, Fatima Murillo and club leader Carol Ferrell -- who were all present at Rotary Thursday -- will compile all of the information and give it to Rotary member Jane Townes, who has used documentation from the project in her graduate work.

"They have done a terrific job," Townes said, noting the kids have been extremely thorough with their findings. "These recordings give a lot of Bedford County history."

So far, the club has documented about 18 structures in the county, but they want to hear from anyone who knows of more old structures to record. They are looking for historical log structures, including barns, sheds, houses, outhouses and cabins.

"We are looking for anything with historical value," said Carol Ferrell.

While the project began to help Townes with her dissertation, the members have enjoyed it so much that they want to continue.

The project may also help the club receive a state grant for a geographic information system. These systems serve as locators for existing informational structures throughout the state.

Rotary has a new bell

In other Rotary news, Barbara Blanton surprised club president Jim Allison with a presentation of a new Rotary bell.

"She lied earlier," laughed Allison upon receiving the bill. "You can pay the bill for this now, Beverly."

Allison was referring to Blanton telling a white lie earlier in the meeting when Allison approached her about the bell, asking her if she had received one yet. He had received a bill for one, yet there was no bell to go along with the bill.

Back in March, then-club president Blanton filed a complaint with the Shelbyville Police Department that the 86-year-old bell and gavel had gone missing.

The Rotary Club of Shelbyville was founded in 1922, with the bell and gavel having been purchased somewhere around that time.

"It is not necessarily the cost, but rather the historical significance of this bell," said Blanton, in a previous interview with the Times-Gazette.

After months of wondering what happened to the bell, the club finally decided it was time to order a new one. And while it may not provide the same historical significance as its predecessor, the shiny bell, which reads "Rotary Club of Shelbyville," will certainly be of great use in calling future weekly meetings of the club to order.

A coffee mug has been used in the interim.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

For more information about the 4-H Technology Club, contact Ferrell at 639-0792.