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 23, 1896

Pecksburg: Sam Campbell, of Hadley, Sundayed here.

New Winchester: Every body had his best girl out riding Sunday. A number were airing new rigs for the first time.

Avon: Spring has clothed our little village in green, white and pink.

Coatesville is up to date. We have a bicycle club composed of three members. C. Davis and T. Crews started on a great run Sunday but only got to Amo. Owing to the heat and Crew’s overweight, he couldn’t stand it.

Robert West and Will Gentry moved to Reno the latter part of the week. They have formed a partnership and will engage in managing a store of general merchandise.

Amo: W.W. Ralston is having a bay window attached to his home.

W.R. McClelland’s term as school trustee expires this summer and he says that under no circumstances will he be a candidate for re-election. In all probability, there will be an effort to elect a woman to this position. There are many who think the mothers should be represented on the board and they will urge their views this year.

C.F. Hall has a pair of carrier pigeons which afford him considerable sport. He is training them to fly from Indianapolis to Danville. He has released them at Gale and they reached Danville in twenty-five minutes. From Avon, they flew to town in forty minutes. They are young birds.

Saturday night, a cloud was noticed over the moon that attracted much attention. The cloud assumed the appearance of a lady, all the features being plain and wonderfully life-like, even to the sleeves of her dress,which were large enough for the most stylish. The sight was most wonderful.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO Issue of April 28, 1921

Bonds will shortly be sold for the construction of the Erasmus Brewer road in Franklin township. This road has been “in the making” for thirteen years.

Avon: Jim Francis has built him a little store on Ford wheels. With two standing stores and two rolling stores, this people ought to be well served.

Clayton high school has the largest graduating class in the county this year, there being 26 members.

D.H.S. Notes: Harold Thompson, the manager of the “Annual” this year, is expecting them from the printers the first of next week.

Coatesville: Harry Gilbert is home from attending the Western School of Telegraphy at Chicago.

Clayton: The Bee Keepers of Hendricks county will hold a meeting here at the auditorium on Wednesday evening, May fourth, at 7:30 o’clock, when a state bee man will be on hand to address the assembled.

Avon: John Gipson, of Indianapolis, has established an office and is hauling water from the famous spring on the Gipson farm and selling it in the city.

Mushroom hunters were out in full force Sunday and farmers report that hills and valleys for miles around were scoured and combed clean of every sort of fungus growth that looked like it might be edible.

Lee Bolton’s artists have just completed a large papering contract – that of making the interior of the sheriff’s residence look like new. The ceilings are high and the work was equivalent to a house of twenty ordinary rooms.

The beautiful home west of town known as “Herschel-Anna” has been listed for sale. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, the owners, will probably occupy their residence on West Marion street.

Dr. Thomas R. Barker is arranging to build a handsome new office building of brick on the site of his office.

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO Issue of April 25, 1946

The first Avon Alumni banquet and dance since the beginning of the war in 1941 will be given at the Avon Gymnasium, Saturday evening, April 27.

Miss Kathryn Westphal, daughter of Mrs. Jane M. Westphal, and Herschel A. Gentry, son of Mr. and Mrs. H.A. Gentry, all of Pittsboro, were united in marriage at the Pittsboro Christian church, Saturday afternoon.

Principal E.H. McCleary, Lizton high school, presented diplomas to the eight members of the class.

Danville’s high school track team won the Mid-State Conference track meet, Wednesday afternoon, at Washington high school, Indianapolis.

Bernard Deerr, first baseman, was elected captain of the Central Normal baseball team last week. A senior, Deerr is a veteran and has distinguished himself for his steady play and qualities of leadership.

The Advisory board of Center Township, Trustee Ed Smith and Carey W. Gaston, attorney, met Thursday afternoon to consider a petition for the authorization of issuance of bonds amounting to $11,500 to cover cost of an addition to the Center Township school building.

Prosecutor Lindol L. Lawson is confined to his home suffering from chicken pox. His son, Linn, recently recovered and his daughter, Sarah Ann, now has the disease.

FIFTY YEARS AGO Issue of April 22, 1971

Mrs. Marti McCoy of Danville took the “Best of Show” Sweepstakes award on her “Archaeological Doodle” at the 17th annual Hendricks County Art League Exhibit in the rotunda of the court house.

The Senior Citizens of Hendricks County met, April 14, and celebrated their first anniversary with a covered dish luncheon at the Democratic Headquarters, Danville.

The “Adobe Hacienda” of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Martin, Sr., 748 W. Mill street, Danville, will be featured on the third annual Tri Kappa Home Tour, May 15.

Open auditions are set for Sunday, 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m., by the Proscenium Performers of Brownsburg for their next play, “Don’t Drink the Water,” by Woody Allen.

Thom Dean of Coatesville is among eight Indiana State University students majoring in music to have been named to the policy board planning ISU’s 35th annual Songfest, May 7.

Amo: Mr. and Mrs. Ronnie Travelsted are the parent of a daughter, born April 17. She has been named Suzanne.

The Danville Community Art Show, sponsored by the Delta Kappa Chapter of Tri Kappa will be in the Hendricks County Court House, April 26-May 1.

Charles E. Hall has been officially appointed post master at Lizton.

David Paul Allen, R.R. 1, Danville, has been named one of the 71 “Outstanding Students of 1971” at Butler University.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO Issue of April 18, 1996

Hendricks County Clerk Connie Lawson introduces the new PC and “big screen” television at the new Government Center, Danville, where the public will see a “rolling” election update on the TV.

A new program offered at Hendricks Community Hospital, “Kids in the Kitchen,” is a hands-on learning experience geared for kids ages 8 to 12 years.

The Greater Danville Chamber of Commerce announced the recent sale of 3.8 acres in its Commerce Park to Alitec Corp., which becomes the sixth business to locate in the business complex. Altec is a manufacturer of construction equipment.

The second annual Avon Haunted Bridge Flea Market & Craft Festival will be Saturday, August 17, on the grounds of the Avon Junior Athletic Association.

On Saturday, May 11, Danville Tri Kappa will have a Mothers Day/Spring Plant Sale in the Huntington Bank parking lot.

The first annual Junior Golf Clinic and Tournament for ages 8-18 will be in June at the Hendricks County Golf Course, Danville.

TEN YEARS AGO Issue of April 21, 2011

Monday night, Danville Community High School senior Logan Cooper signed his official papers with the University of Indianapolis. He will play tight end for the Greyhounds this fall.

It was an evening of sartorial splendor and indescribable talent at DCHS as six juniors and six seniors competed for the coveted title of Mr. Warrior. The title was awarded to senior Pierson Gulley.

Vincennes University will located its new logistics center factory training equipment, classrooms, and state-of-the-art laboratories in Plainfield.

Hendricks County Parks and Recreation is proud to announce the new Naturalist at McCloud Nature Park, Joe Reagin.

The Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Hendricks County hosted a Service of Installation of the Rev. Andy Burnette on Sunday, April 17, at the church, 95 N. Jefferson, Danville.

A surprise birthday gala was held April 9th for Jeff Herzog’s big 50th at the Roachdale VFW.