ST. LEON DESCRIPTION & HISTORY

The Town of St. Leon, in north central Dearborn County in Kelso Township, was settled in the early 1800's by Europeans of various origins, including Swiss, French and German. St. Joseph's Catholic Church was the first church established in St. Leon, beginning in a log building in 1841, north of the present church property on Feller Road. St. Joseph's still is the only church in town.

St. Leon originally was called "St. Joe" after the church until the post office was named St. Leon in 1852. Incorporated in 1873 by Dearborn County commissioners after a census determined 531 persons lived in the town, the original plat consisted of 4,334 one-fourth acres.

The population of St. Leon now is estimated at 600 and the town is governed by a three-member council and secretary-treasurer.

The three members of the council are President Terry Boeddeker: 576-2164; 7210 Church Lane, St. Leon, IN, 47060; Jerry Stenger: 623-2209; and Robert Fischer: 576-3652; 29565 Ind. 1, West Harrison, IN 47060. The secretary-treasurer is Randy Stenger: 576-4466; 9928 Ind. 46, St. Leon, IN 47060.

The town has a volunteer fire department, headed by Fire Chief Donald Schumann. The non-emergency number is 576-3351, and the address is 28870 Ind. 1, West Harrison, IN 47060.

The Dearborn County Sheriff's Department, 301 W. High St., Lawrenceburg, IN 47025, is the primary law enforcement agency, and may be reached at 537-3431 or 1-800-543-1149 for non-emergencies. The sheriff's department operates a field office from the North Dearborn Water Corporation office, Ind. 1; 576-3018. The town also employs a part-time police marshal, Brent Hood. 1-317-647-2484 or 1-800-889-6292 ext. 55.

St Leon is in the Sunman-Dearborn Community School Corporation, and East Central High School is on the border of St. Leon town limits.

St. Leon is well known for its election poleraising, a well-attended event dating back to the 1870's. Each presidential election year, Democrats go into nearby woods with a crosscut saw (no power saws) to cut a straight, tall hickory tree, which they trim except for a few branches at the top. Brackets are attached to fasten an American flag and the Democrat emblem, a rooster. A parade and speeches accompany the ceremony, and the pole remains up until after the election.

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