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 April 9, 1896

Mont Clair: Masters Otis Day, Ansel and Cecil Griggs are the most industrious boys in our town. They deliver messengers, sell soap and papers and do any work they can do. They save their money and will surely meet success always. It would be well for some of our large boys to pattern after them instead of loafing.

Avon: Last Saturday morning the thermometer marked 25 above zero, and before ten o’clock, and before all the frost was gone, two enterprising sons of Lon Parson’s started to barefoot to the postoffice. One mile sufficed when they weakened and put on their boots, which were carried under their arms.

There will be over one hundred graduates from the common schools of the county this year.

Bicycles, bicycles, bicycles, bicycles. Vanguard, Conde, Crescent, $40 to $105. Christie Bros., Danville.

The water works whistle blows at 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Parties driving near the power house with wild horses should bear these hours in mind.

An indication of the number of students in the city, it can be said that in two days last week, 603 pieces of baggage were received at the station.

Belva Lockwood delivered a lecture in the chapel, Tuesday evening, But the audience failed to obtain the benefit of. The lecturer seemed to be suffering from a cold, and a few rows from the stage, very few complete sentences could be heard. The lecture was the greatest failure a Danville audience, expecting so much, ever experienced.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO Issue of April 14, 1921

To vote by machines or not to vote by machines. That is the question. And the Hendricks County Council is called to meet Saturday, April 23, to assist in solving the problem and incidentally to pass on the question whether the expenditure of probably $20,000 of the tax-payers’ money for the purchase of voting machines will be authorized by them.

Base ball for Danville is the program for the summer and well organized and well backed base ball. The St. Louis Cardinals have an open date early in June and they have indicated that they would like to play here. The fame of Danville’s park has gone far and wide as second to no park in the country.

Belleville: The Jolly Dozen met Tuesday night with Mrs. Simeon Garriott, each one tring to see who could dress the most ragged. Mrs. Aden Evans won the prize.

On Thursday, April 28, the Danville Gun Club will give a great shoot, a registered tournament, under the authority of the American Trapshooting Association.

After being out some ten hours, the jury in the case of the State vs. John M. Towles, charged with keeping a gaming house, found him guilty and laid a fine of $10 upon him.

Fire of unknown origin destroyed a barn on the Shirley farm yesterday morning and James P. Ison, living there, lost his driving horse, three calves, 100 bushes of corn, ton of hay, buggy and harness and various minor articles.

Commissioner Pierson wished it stated that the new shaker grates for the boilers at the water works would cost only $340.00, instead of $3445.00, as the linotype would have it.

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO Issue of April 11, 1946

Finals in the sixteenth annual commercial contest were held at Central Normal College, Saturday, with winners of the six district contests competing.

Eleanor Parsons, 16-year-old Clayton high school senior, has been awarded a four-year scholarship to any college of her choice, in a nation-wide Pepsi-Cola Scholarship contest.

Dr. L.H. Ellis, who has just returned from forty-five months in the service as a doctor, is opening an office at Lizton.

Kenneth Baird was appointed student manager of the Wigwam at Central Normal College at a recent meeting. New drapes have been hung in the Grid room and three ping-pong tables have been installed.

William R. Hughes, AM 3/c, received his discharge at Great Lakes, last Tuesday, and arrived home Wednesday. Mr. Hughes was one of a crew that flew surplus planes fro Siapan to Chicago. He was in the Navy thirty-two months, twenty months overseas. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Hughes.

William P. Rigdon, of Danville, who is vacationing in Miami, Fla., has captured a citation award and is in line for a possible first place prize in the eleventh annual Metropolitan Miami fishing tournament. “Doc” caught a 29 ½ pound Jack while fishing in Miami waters recently.

FIFTY YEARS AGO Issue of April 8, 1971

Bids are being sought by the Hendricks County 4-H & Agricultural Fair Association on a Community Building to be completed no later than July 15 and also a Horse Barn to be completed no later than July 1. Both are hoped to be used for the 1971 Hendricks County 4-H Fair.

Miss Coleen Chandler, 6-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Keith Chandler of Danville, recently won two trophies in the ITI Twirling Contest, March 27, at Monroe, for Beginner Solo.

The Benefit Fund for Danville Jaycees Community Building Project will be launched at 11:30 a.m., Saturday, at the Danville State Bank.

Sheila Davenport of North Salem has been awarded a $500 scholarship by the Indiana State Sunshine Society to be used at an accredited nursing school.

Robert Cooper’s three-year-old pointer, “Dandy,” was the top dog last week, at the Plainfield Conservation Bird Dog Club’s 1970-71 season finale.

Opening of the 17th annual exhibit of the Hendricks County Art League is April 20. Previously in the auditorium of the Public Service Company at Plainfield, the exhibit this year will be in the rotunda of the Hendricks County Court House, Danville.

“We Got ‘Em – Neck Bands – Chokers (all kinds) – Velvet – Pearl – Gold and Silver – Denim – Lace – Leather. The “In” Thing! – Meazel Jewelry. P.S. – Otho has watches from 10.95.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO Issue of April 4, 1996

The Danville Town Council learned for the first time, Monday night, that Danville is among three town in Hendricks County which fill the needs of Qualitech Steel Corp. for the steel mini-mill. The other two are Brownsburg and Pittsboro.

J. Kenneth Given and Marcille Abbott, former Hendricks County Recorder, received the coveted Hershel A. Gentry, Sr. awards at the Hendricks County Republican Lincoln Day Dinner.

Organist Gene Denton entertains seniors at the Hendricks County Senior Center in Danville each Wednesday from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

The marriage of Jennifer Jo Williams and Jason Alan Hankins was Saturday, 7:30 p.m., at the North Salem United Methodist Church with Rev. Russell Allanson officiating.

Brooke Nicole Chenoweth, daughter of Roy and Susanna (Burkett) Chenoweth, and a graduating senior at Danville Community High School, has been named one of the candidates in the 1996 Presidential Scholars Program.

After a long, cold winter and snow galore, the Hendricks County Women’s Lady Bug Golf Club is ready and anxious to return to favors and start swinging their clubs.

Phillip Gulley, son of Mr. and Mrs. Norm Gulley of Danville, has had another article published, “The Front Porch Classroom,” about his paperboy days and his favorite front porch customer, Widow Stanley.

TEN YEARS AGO Issue of April 7, 2011

Hendricks County Solid Waste Management District, in partnership with the Avon-Washington Township Park and the Hendricks County Soil & Water Conservation District, are hosting an Earth Day Festival, Saturday, April 16.

The North Salem State Bank’s North Salem office will host an Open House on Friday, April 8, to mark Tinie Kisner’s retirement.

Danville Middle School student Brock Hudkins finished this year’s school wrestling season with a 21-0 record, making his total Middle School record 42-0.

Danville Community High School is hosting the 4th annual Mr. Warrior Contest on Friday, April 15, at 7 p.m.

The Town of Brownsburg is installing a new electronic message center to help communicate matters of interest to the public. The LED sign located in front of the Town Hall on Green Street, will display messages about municipal services, meetings and projects.