SERVING HENDRICKS COUNTY SINCE 1847
Page A-2
The Republican
Delving Into Yester~Year
Local historian and writer Paul Miner uses items from The Republican’s YesterYear column to develop an interesting, informative and often humorous article.
To the Editor: An article appearing Feb. 20, 1896, disclosed a “trace of ground” on the corner of the Square had been sold for $2,000, “a fair valuation,” to the First National Bank. Danville was growing. Yet all may not have been well across the county for years. Marshall Todd, abstractor of titles in the county recorder’s office declared in April 1879 that title to more than half of county real estate was “defective.” Might there be a chance I could reclaim the land wealth wrongly stripped from my ancestors all those years ago? Even if they didn’t live in this state? If the land my family eventually did buy here didn’t legally belong to the sellers, aren’t we due at least a substantial refund? For mental anguish and undue suffering? And high taxes? I wonder. Todd said it again two years later. More than 100 southern New York farms declared “worn out” were being sold by one agent in October 1881. The Republican mused whether if county land was advertised as it should be, “we might secure a liberal share” of those failing farmers. I wonder if they’d wear out their next farms. Land a quarter-mile south of Cartersburg “on the pike” was sold at public auction from the Court House north door from noon until 3 p.m. in January 1882. I’d have to be county surveyor David Gaston to adequately pinpoint the tracts totaling 82-1/2 acres, what with all those ranges, rods, sections and quarters cited. Standing three hours in the cold outside that door, prospective buyers had to be shivering down to their union suits. Bidders stood for six hours outside a Court House door for a late March 1882 Sheriff’s sale. Some $290 was due, plus interests and costs, and if the money from “rents and profits” was not raised, the acre in town would be sold. What happened, I cannot say, but now imagine standing six hours in bad weather in a dry town. That month, the paper reported vaccine farms were “just now, the most profitable real estate.” I’d never heard about it. Those farms were used to raise animals to meet the demand to produce large amounts of “animal vaccine” to combat smallpox. The approach was safer than “arm-to-arm” vaccines which could transmit syphilis, I discovered. Also, that month, it appeared Indiana was to be “cursed” with a lottery, kettledrums were no longer “very popular” in Washington State, a Vermont town daily manufactured 50,000 slate pencils, glass burial cases were now “proper” in Connecticut and poet John Greenleaf Whittier used as a bookmark a tail from a gray squirrel that his cat killed. That old six-hour sheriff’s sale came around again in November 1884, this time involving $9.53. If I had to guess, someone came up with a ten-spot. The following month, a more respectable $520.06 was on the line. “Something new for our staid old town” was happening in mid-1882. A real estate man said more property was changing “than he has known for years.” But townsfolk were consistent “fixtures.” They settled in when they arrived 20-50 years earlier. They built to suit their tastes, “however much they might conflict with the different styles of architecture, and then . . .” they adorned “these architectural paradoxes.” Danville became “quaint” and “down home.” Conservatism was inherited and Danville remained unchanged and secluded for decades. “The star of empire left but a few lingering rays as it wended its way westward.” Moreover, “the iron horse” to Danville’s north and south “did not waken the old town.” When war came, “the tramp of the boys” roused Danville. More than half a dozen subsequent conflicts kept the town awake. Time and real estate movement reflected “the ushering in of an era that will bring wondrous changes in a few years.” I can’t think what that might be. Wondrous? Danville’s homes were responsible for its “good morals,” and they made it “a temperate town.” I don’t get that. Danville would improve and its homes “made handsomer.” They would be “better ventilated, neater, more convenient” and more comfortable. The town would grow and be the home of “hundreds of intelligent, healthy, handsome and hospitable residents.” I worry about the rest. Paul Miner Lizton ______________________________________________________________________ _
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And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three. But greatest of these is a sense of humor. Eleanor Hallowell Abbott
Thursday, February 25, 2021
Yester~Year
The Republican has published local news weekly since 1847. We offer this column as a look back at events from our archives and to help connect today’s readers to the people and events in our past. ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO Issue of February 27, 1896 Monday morning gave promise that maple molasses will would soon be ripe. Lew Pounds reports a fine new girl at his home and as a result Lew says he is “walking on feathers.” Rev. A.M. Taylor is now the regularly engaged pastor of the A.M.E. church at this place. If certain deals now on are finished, Danville will have an elegant opera house ere another season. Amo: Cigarettes can not be bought in our town because public sentiment is against them and our dealers yielded to the wishes of the people. Other towns would do well to adopt the same rule. Pecksburg: Chess is the prevailing amusement here now. Avon: A creditable lantern show was given by the Hawkins family, at the school house Tuesday evening, and repeated Wednesday evening. The children of the neighborhood were much pleased with the pictures and music, and it is reported that some of the older inhabitants were caught laughing out loud in the meeting. Pittsboro: Any one acquainted with Squire Jordan is aware that he is a gifted cachinnation. Well, we hope his laughter will not work injury to himself because he has another boy at his house. The Daughters of Rebekah had a gala time Tuesday evening, there being a spirited contest for two handsome specimens of lodge regalia as prized by a supply house. Chester Scearce is a Democrat. It is not known that he can give any good reason for being one but he is a rock-ribbed Democrat who always votes his ticket like the Kentuckian takes his whisky. ______ ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO Issue of February 24,1921 The Indiana General Assembly has refused to aid the Central Normal College. There is no use to find fault or to criticize. Danville and Hendricks county must rely upon themselves in maintaining the college. All radio amateurs of Hendricks county interested in organizing a radio club are requested to meet at the home of the undersigned, 367 West Main street, Danville, at 7:30, Friday, Feb. 25. Robert Pogue. Probably the last soldier to return to Hendricks county from his service in the world war is Urban West, who reached Clayton, Sunday. He brought with him an English bride. The Royal Neighbors of America is the name of the new organization of women who are to be auxiliary to the Modern Woodmen. They were formally organized, last week, with 45 members. Hadley: Bennett Tincher and wife, Amos Edwards and wife, Miss Florence McCammack and Miss Cathalene West attended the entertainment give by the Masonic lodge at the Mecca theater in Coatesville, Monday night. Henry H. Hamilton, baker for the East Side Restaurant, took unto himself a wife some three weeks ago, at Kansas city, in the person of Miss Delphia Smolick, a former army nurse. They will make their home here. The Todd block and Howell block of which James A. Downard acquired ownership, some weeks ago, have been thrown together and are rapidly being converted into a system of flats of one, two and three rooms each, suitable for either families or single persons. The building will be modern in every way, with bath and toilet rooms, heating plant and other conveniences. Seventeen new patrons between Avon and the county line are having electric lights turned on and they are rejoicing. ______ SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO Issue of February 28, 1946 Tourney history repeated itself, Saturday night in the final game of the 1946 Sectional when the Danville Warriors and Bulldogs of Brownsburg met to determine the Regional contestant. Danville, 49; Brownsburg, 46. The music department of Danville high school present a program, Friday night, from 7 to 7:30 over WABW television station, Indianapolis. The program will include numbers by the sextette, accordion duet by Marilyn Walter and Beverly Smith and a solo by Fred Benson. Kenneth Truax, son of Mr. and Mrs. Willis Truax of near Pittsboro, has been appointed assistant in the Indiana Rural Youth organization. Mr. Truax was recently discharged from the Marine Corps Reserve, after two years of service. The appointment of Dr. Edgar C.
Cumings, of Bloomington, as president of Central Normal College, effective on commencement day, was announced at a meeting of the newspaper men of the county. “G.I. Joe,” the brown Shetland pony which Robert E. Trimble bought several months ago as a birthday gift for his wife, was sold last week for $20,000. Mr. Trimble paid $13,000 for him at the Chicago Coliseum horse show last fall. Danville’s two main intersections still remain entirely bare of any traffic control devises. Providence is with the motorist and pedestrian, so far. North Salem: The Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars celebrated the organization’s first birthday in Laffew’s Penthouse, Thursday evening. One hundred twenty-five Masons and their wives attended the annual Washington banquet given by the Masonic Lodge, Tuesday evening. The Danville high school sextette, under the direction of Mrs. Margery Clay, sang three numbers. _____ FIFTY YEARS AGO Issue of February 25, 1971 A Coatesville girl is among the 33 princesses who will compete for this year’s title of “500 Festival Queen. Miss Vicki Lynn Wallace, age 18, is a student at Indiana State University. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Irwin B. Wallace, Coatesville. The Brownsburg Town Board is looking over plans for a new town hall. Estimated cost would be $102,520. The location will be the present site. Of the town hall, next to the fire station on E. Main St. Mrs. William Kraft, 10th Street, Danville, has won the Channel 20 “Big Bird” Award for the past week. The award is given weekly to the most outstanding Go-Getter for the Channel 20 auction. The Swing Choir of Danville Community High School received a first place plaque at the State Solo & Ensemble Contest, Feb. 13, at Ben Davis high school. The opening of a new Teen-Age “TOPS” Club is scheduled for March 9, upstairs at the First National Bank building. Last week some 1,100 Plainfield junior high school and grade 6 pupils experienced their second fire drill in three days, while school officials checked for a possible bomb. The Cascade High School Band boarded chartered buses, Friday, and head for the Mardi Gras at New Orleans, where they participated in various parades. _____ TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO Issue of February 22, 1996 In a continuing effort to provide patients at Hendricks Community Hospital of the best quality care, the hospital is renovating several areas. Plans are also underway to expand the Avon Station Medical Center. The Tri-West Academic Decathlon team has won its fourth State Championship. J.D. Clampitt, president of the Hendricks County Commissioners says, “Due to the bad winter we have been experiencing and heavy would like to ask concerned citizens to call 745-9227 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. to report any chuckholes. D&B World Travel owner Barbara Quant has announced the sale of the business, founded in 1985. Hendricks County Senior Services and R&M Tours are planning a trip to Holland, Mich., for the Tulip Festival. Public Service Indiana presented checks totaling $37,866 to the Hendricks County Administrative Building for their participation in the energy-efficient program promoted by PSI. _____ TEN YEARS AGO Issue of February 24, 2011 Six Hendricks County educators have been selected to receive Teacher Creativity Fellowships from Lilly Endowment. Chad E. Seals, Avon High School; J. Maureen Dobie, Brownsburg High School; Jennifer L. Pugh, White Lick Elementary; Tiffany S. Haulton, Danville High School;and Susan P. GIllock, Danville Middle School. Last week, the Indiana Senate welcomed a special guest – Abraham Lincoln. Portrayed by Brownsburg professional photographer Wilbur Tague, Lincoln delivered his renowned Gettysburg Address. Danville High School’s Neal Molloy pinned down his place in the school’s sports history by winning the state wrestling title in his weight class at Conseco Fieldhouse last weekend. The Town of Brownsburg has recently launched its official Facebook page and Twitter feed to increase the ways it communicates with the community. __________
