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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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It’s News To Us

If you have local news to share, deadline for news items is noon on Monday. Send your news items by e-mail to therepublican@ sbcglobal.net. Call 317- 745-2777 or fax to 317- 647-4341. After hours, news items may be slipped in the mail slot in the front door at 6 E. Main, Danville. __________