SERVING HENDRICKS COUNTY SINCE 1847
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The Republican
Delving Into Yester~Year
Local historian and writer Paul Miner takes items from
The Republican’s Yester-Year column to develop an interesting, informative and often humorous article.
To the Editor: Someone left switches outside “a certain man’s door” in Hazelwood in late March 1896. I wonder whether it was the White Caps, those self-righteous morality police known to whip, beat and even lynch people. “A few written words of explanation were left with the switches.” Was the man a slacker, a drunk, a wife-beater? Did he abuse his children or livestock? It’s almost a certainty the neighbors knew. Area farmer Carl Labertew bought “a small dirigible of the Zeppelin type” in April 1916. He denied plans to raid towns; instead, he hoped to make some money at county fairs. A southern Indiana paper reported Carl had “thrown the town into a fever of excitement.” Germany used Zeppelins beginning in 1915 to bomb English cities. The small unincorporated community had a post office from 1884 to 1937. As of 1914, Ethor Milhon had been postmaster for 20 years. The town’s leading merchant, before he was 30, he organized a private bank in 1898 that became Farmers Bank of Hazelwood. Starting with a small grocery store, the “clever advertiser” built his enterprise until it was “all out of proportion to the size of the town.” He operated movie theaters in Hazelwood and Stilesville, and co-owned the community phone system for a while. Two Farmers Bank hold-up men fled with nothing in May 1925 after one asked for change for a $5 bill. Just then, Milhon walked in, and one robber shouted, “throw up your hands.” Frustrated when teller Emma Leitzman took too long, one bandit shot at her, hitting a comb in her hair and piercing her dress collar. The crooks jumped into a waiting Lincoln and eluded capture after a long pursuit. Ethor died suddenly in October 1930 after arriving in Clayton to take a traction car to Indianapolis. Feeling ill, he saw a town doctor that morning, laid down and when the doctor checked on him 90 minutes later, he was gone, a year and a day after his son Emory had died. A young Hazelwood man stole a horse and buggy from outside the Pabst Brewing Company in Indianapolis one Saturday night in January 1894, but detectives got a tip and caught up with him and the horse a day later as he and two young ladies arrived for Sunday evening church. The law took the handcuffed horse thief away “as the choir was singing the opening hymn.” A 20-year-old tried to elope with a 15-year-old (three months shy of 16) from near Hazelwood in July 1897, but her father, persuaded to intervene, put an inglorious end to their aim. Charles Fletcher wanted to marry Mary Lou Thompson; her father had twice consented, and had agreed to get a license at Danville, but an uncle talked him out of it. The couple fled, planning to elope. They met at the Friends Church near town and drove to Amo, but missed the Vandalia train. They spent the night in Coatesville before boarding for Marshall, Illinois. Putnam County sheriff Richard Bunton caught them at Greencastle station. Charles carried nothing beyond a Hopkins & Allen revolver and a broken knife. “The cruel officers” fined the fellow $1 and costs for carrying a concealed weapon, totaling $9. Charles only had $8.20, which the cops accepted, and he walked home to Clayton with his revolver in his watch pocket, “broken in purse, but not in spirit, as he vowed to have the girl the next time.” Mary’s father took her home. Mr. Thompson was eight years older than his wife, and their first child, Mary, was born when Mrs. Thompson was roughly 17 or 18. That’s immaterial, but interesting, nonetheless. Greencastle’s paper reported the sheriff had interfered “in more than one prospective life-alliance of young people. He says he hates to do it, but can’t help it.” A reporter said Charles had undergone “a rather tough experience.” He was described as having “a very wide mouth and prominent ears, is not very handsome, was not over-dressed and was chuck full of talk when he got started.” Mary, who was “young and innocent” and “fairly good looking,” blamed her uncle for the couple’s trouble. The reporter declared Mary was “too young to bother long about the sudden stop put to her would-be wedding trip.” Charles and Mary were married the following month. They had seven children. Charles died in 1950, age 74, and Mary followed 10 years later. They rest together at New Crown Cemetery in Indianapolis. Paul Miner Lizton _____________________________________________________________________
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It’s News To Us
Birthday parties, new babies, anniversaries, visits from long-lost cousins -these items that make up the kind of news you only find in the pages of The Republican. If you have a local news item you’d like to contribute, you can call us at 317-745-2777, send by fax to 317-647-4341, e-mail to therepublican@ sbcglobal.net or drop by the office at 6 East Main in Danville. Our deadline for submitting news items is noon on Monday for Thursday’s edition.
Thursday, April 29, 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 April 30, 1896 Pecksburg: The remains of Milo Hardwick were put off here Friday evening and buried at Mill Creek. He was nineteen years old, six feet four inches high and weighted 216 pounds and fell 136 feet off of an Indianapolis building. Avon: Charley Ragan wheeled up from Plainfield to see old friends, Sunday. Plainfield: Lawn tennis is all the go at the academy. They say: There is a grandmother in Danville learning to ride a wheel. Charley McCurdy will repair anything at his shop except bicycles and on them he draws the line. It would surprise you to know of the dignified people who have been practicing on a wheel these moonlight nights. It is said that a plan is on foot whereby the Vandalia will build an electric line from Terre Haute to Indianapolis. This line will be used for local traffic and the main line will be used for through business and freight. Danville will have an election after all. The mistake in not certifying the ticket caused quite a commotion and lawyers were in demand. Evan Estep has passed the examination and been admitted to the practice of law at Honolulu. W.R. McClelland, bicycle, met a buggy, fell off, almost broke an arm. A new press will shortly be added to the outfit of his office which will be in still better condition to turn out the neatest and best work. The colored people had a social event of no little important last week, in the marriage of Mangrum Phillips and Mary Harper, Rev. Taylor officiating. The McKinley club of the college has received a number of fine McKinley badges and they are to be seen on almost every student. The club now numbers about 400 members and will exceed 500 when the ladies are enrolled as members. _____
Gordan Smith, of Indianapolis, former pilot and instructor will give instructions. A hanger is under construction and final plans include an additional hanger and a chicken dinner establishment. With a class of twenty, Mrs. Martha Eunice McHaffie Traylor, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Melville McHaffie of Clayton, was administered the oath before the Supreme Court, Wednesday, April 24, in the court chamber, admitting her to the practice of law. She will enter general practice immediately. ______
ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO Issue of May 5, 1921 The architect who came to inspect the Mattie A. Keeney building last week though some of the walls were not in the best condition and estimated that $40,000 would be required to put the building in shape. Avon: Forrest Hessong has a Jersey cow decorated with the badge of the Legion of Honor. She is the greatest milker on that street. Brill & Roberts, last week, purchased from Cunning Stewart, the vacant lot on West Broadway, between south Jefferson and Cross streets, and will erect a large warehouse and garage upon it. The building will be so constructed that it can be converted into a dwelling house, if the occasion arises. The service flag of Central Normal College was taken down yesterday morning with appropriate exercises. New Winchester: Leslie Goodwin held a “rat killin’” in his barn Monday afternoon in which they murdered one hundred and fifty-two rats and let one get away. A model school will be conducted in connection with the college this summer thus affording a number of children the opportunity of a longer term of schools. Friday evening, stockholders of the farmers’ organization completed their organization. Those named as directors were Norman Parsons, C.A. Mackey, Horace G. Miles, J.C. Lowe, J.H. Bradford,John G. Shelton, and Arthur M. Davis. _____
FIFTY YEARS AGO Issue of April 29, 1971 Five students from Hendricks County are among the 115 to enter the finals of the Central Indiana Spelling Bee, sponsored by the Indianapolis News. They are: Jeff Browning, Central Elementary, Plainfield; Larry McClane, Cascade Junior High, Clayton; East Elementary, Brownsburg; Greg Robinson, Lizton Junior High; and Vickie Russell, Hazelwood Elementary. Construction work has resumed at Avon High School’s new addition after several months of delay caused by cement drivers strike and other problems. Paul T. Brenton, age 48, has joined the Danville law firm of Palmer & Hinkle. The firm will now be called Palmer, Hinkle, Brenton & Keck. Marion Township 4-H Dairy Judging team will represent Hendricks County in the state meet. Members of the team are Roger Riggs, Rob Thomas, Richard Thomas, and Jess Wagner. The fairboard announced several new activities are being studied for this year’s fair – horseshoe pitching, freckle counting, watermelon eating, greased pig catching, cheerleading, band battle, and teen dance. The Danville Band Parents Association is making plans for the annual Birthday Calendar drive. Daniel Weaver, 102 S. Indiana, Danville, was among those honored at the recent Chemistry Banquet at the Department of Chemistry at Indiana University. _____ TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO Issue of April 25, 1996 Citizens of Danville are encouraged to participate in an intense, 2-day town meeting focused on preparing the community of over 5,000 for the future. The meeting will be Friday and Saturday, April 27-28 in the new Town Hall, corner of Jefferson and Main streets. The spring semester Government classes of Mike Neilson at Danville Community High School will be hosting a Meet York Candidates Night in the high school auditorium on April 30, at 7 p.m. Mr. and Mrs. Georgie James Woodrum, 103 Old North Salem Road, will celebrate their 25th anniversary. The Spartans of Danville 10 & Under AAU boys basketball team advanced to the final16 teams in the state at the North Regional at Anderson of April 11-14. Total enrollment is projected to increase to 2,300 students by the year 2005 according to the Danville Community School Corporation presentation by the Educatrade Service Co. The Hendricks Community Hospital Guild is hosting an Art Sale on May 2, in the hospital’s conference room 1. The Danville Community High School proudly presents Music Shoppe in concert Saturday, April 27, 7:30 p.m., in the high school auditorium. The 13-member girl group, directed by Mark Montgomery, will pay tribute to the music of Broadway and the music of Duke Ellington. _____
SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO Issue of May 2, 1946 Willa Dean Harris, popular Danville high school senior, will reign as queen of the annual May prom, Friday evening, May 10,in the gymnasium. William McClain, president of the senior class, will be Robin Hood. Of the 191 enrolled for the spring term at Central Normal College, 119 are men, while the women make up the minority group of 72. Eighty-three veterans have enrolled, half of whom are completing college work interrupted by the war. A notice to proceed with dismantling and removal of three barracks from George Field, Lawrenceville, Ill., and their re-erection and conversion for emergency housing use at Central Normal college was given this week. Danville’s new Mecca airport was opened, Saturday, by its manager and owner, O.M. Shutts. Two runways have been cleared and flying instruction and rides will be offered each Saturday and Sunday.
TEN YEARS AGO Issue of April 28, 2011 The First Friday Cruise-Ins return starting May 6, from 5-9 p.m. Hosted by the Downtown Danville Partnership and Indy Hi-Winders Car Club. This will mark the third year for the event. Terry Gregory, Brownsburg, claimed his million dollar prize with his wife, Shelly, at Hoosier Lottery Headquarters in Indianapolis. After a search for candidates, the Town of Brownsburg has hired Grant A. Kleinhenz for the position of Assistant Town Manager. Hendricks Civic Theater will present “The Dixie Swim Club” April 29 & 20, May 1,6,7,8, 13 & 15 at Longstreet Playhouse, 4998 CR 100E, Danville. U.S. Attorney General Joseph H. Hogsett recognized Tamatha L. Hasty, Victim Assistance Coordinator for the Hendricks County Prosecutor’s Office as a recipient of the Carol S. Morris Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Rights of Victims. __________