_______________________, read first time and referred to Committee on
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION urging the Indiana department
of transportation to designate the State Road 69 bypass around New
Harmony, Indiana, ending at the Interstate 64 interchange at Griffin,
Indiana, the Thomas F. Mumford Memorial Highway.
Whereas, Members of the Mumford family have lived in
the New Harmony/Griffin, Indiana, area for over 170 years;
Whereas, The first Thomas Mumford came to the New
Harmony area in 1828 to teach manual arts in Madame
Fretageot's school as a member of the Robert Owen
experiment;
Whereas, He trained apprentices in woodworking skills,
specializing in cabinetry. His work is still in evidence today
in St. Stephen's Episcopal Church;
Whereas, Over the years, the Mumfords have accumulated
land in the Wabash River bottoms near Griffin, Indiana,
including their farm that has been immortalized in
photographs by renowned New Harmony photographers
Homer Fauntleroy and Lichtenberger;
Whereas, Thomas F. Mumford spent his early years in
Indianapolis but used the Griffin farm's log cabin as a
getaway;
Whereas, After serving in the United States Navy during
World War II, Thomas returned home to marry his childhood
sweetheart, Emily Letitia Sinclair, known as Tish;
Whereas, After living in New Harmony for a short time,
Tom and Tish moved to the log cabin on the Griffin farm
where their family expanded to a total of six children;
Whereas, Tom, through his association with Governor
Robert D. Orr, was influential in the placement of Interstate
64, specifically the interchange at Griffin, Indiana;
Whereas, Tom was also instrumental in obtaining the
Federal Levy No. 5, which aided in the elimination of
flooding in the area and increased the viability and economic
value of the agricultural land in the Griffin area;
Whereas, In recognition of his years of service to his
community, Thomas F. Mumford was awarded a Sagamore
of the Wabash in 1968;
Whereas, Thomas F. Mumford, who passed away in 1975
at the age of 54, is greatly missed by his family, his
community, and his state; and
Whereas, It is fitting that accomplishments such as these
should receive special recognition: Therefore,
SECTION 1. That the Indiana General Assembly urges the Indiana
department of transportation to designate the State Road 69 bypass
around New Harmony ending at the I-64 interchange at Griffin the
Thomas F. Mumford Memorial Highway.
SECTION 2. That the principal Clerk of the House of
Representatives transmit a copy of this resolution to the family of
Thomas F. Mumford and the commissioner of the Indiana department
of transportation.