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 June 4, 1896

Rainstown: Wallis Wilson rides a new bicycle.

George Doty reports a baby at his home who will be a voter in twenty-one years.

Janitor Moore, at the court house, has had to remove a great quantity of straw from behind the ventilators where it was carried by the English sparrows.

The telephone company made arrangements to move the office to the office of the express company but different arrangements have since been made and the “hello” will remain at Curtis’ grocery.

Tuesday evening, May 26th, Coatesville Lodge Knights of Pythias celebrated their third birthday by spreading a banquet and a very enjoyable time was had. In three years the lodge has grown from a membership of twenty-five to a roll of fifty-six and the boys still think there are more to follow.

Monday was “Guest Day for the ladies of the Browning Club and in the afternoon about fifty of the friends of the members were delightfully entertained in the beautiful home of Mrs. Showalter on West Main street. Immense vases of roses adorned the tables, and their delicate perfume mingled with that of the honeysuckle in every room.

Owing to failing health, Dr. Bennett, of the Keeley Institute, has retired and has been succeeded by Dr. Box.

Hazlewood: Marbles is the prevailing game. It is played by both young and old.

Pecksburg: Dayton Carter has purchased a new threshing outfit of the Stevens pattern through their agent, Geo. Harvey.

B.P. Hyten, of Pittsboro, claims to be the only man in the county who marched in the famous Harrison campaign of ’40 in Danville. He was then ten years old.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO Issue of June 2, 1921

With 350 new students at the midterm opening this week, Central Normal College touches the highest attendance record.

A step forward. Tuberculin-tested cows insures pure milk. Help stamp out the white plague by using good milk. Order of Harry Hall. Phone 228.

Darnell’s grocery is to be moved from the Shirley corner to the corner room of the County Fair building. The Citizen’s Motor Co. is to occupy what will be the middle room of the building by erecting a partition on the west side of the grocery room.

Miss Stella Hendricks, of the faculty of Elon College, North Carolina, has arrived for a few days’ visit to her brother, S.M. Hendricks and family, before entering Columbia university for advanced work.

Coatesville: Hilden Harris has purchased the Mecca [theater] from Otto F. Lakin and it will be under new management the first of June. Mr. Lakin installed one of the most up to date movies in this part of the state. Allen Campbell bought the furniture and undertaking business. Mr. Lakin will have charge of the same until fall.

Horace G. Miles has been appointed one of a committee of stockmen of he State to seek the improvement of regulation of the Union Stock Yards, Indianapolis.

Police Court: In a family row, harsh words were spoken by some of the Daums in Guilford township. As a result, John T. Daum filed suit against his son, John F. Daum, alleging profanity. ‘Squire Kennedy figured it all up at $12.85.

Maplewood: Short services were held, Sunday morning, at the Christian church and the service flag was taken down.

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO Issue of June 6, 1946

Central Normal College will graduate its last class of seniors at commencement exercises in Chapel Hall, Friday morning at 10 o’clock.

Housing units are being erected on the parking lot at Central Normal College and are expected to be completed by middle of this month.

Dr. W.T. Lawson attended the 198th commencement at Wabash college, Crawfordsville, Sunday. Dr. Lawson graduated with the class of 1876 and is the oldest alumni of Wabash.

Keith Matthews of Danville and Roy E. Jones of Pittsboro have purchased the Evans & Webb funeral directors establishment at Brownsburg and will assume ownership, Friday.

George Hadley, of Danville, was appointed service officer of Hendricks county at a special meeting of the board of Commissioners Wednesday night.

Kenneth Smith and Crit Waters played in the Legion Band at the 500 mile race Memorial Day.

Western Star Masonic lodge of Danville will observe its one hundredth year with a centennial celebration, Friday, June 21.

FIFTY YEARS AGO Issue of June 3, 1971

Weather balloons, which were released as a part of the ground-breaking ceremonies for the new First National Bank of Danville, have been discovered as far away as 300 miles in such places as Rachel and Middlebourne West Virginia and Logan and Stockport, Ohio.

Nancy Gibbs, Grade 3 student at Avon Elementary School was won first prize in the National AAA poster contest. Her prize of a $75 savings bond was awarded by the Hoosier Motor Club.

W.C. Eggers, president of the First National Bank of Danville, presented the first monetary donation for the Danville Jaycees Community Building Fund to fund chairman Jack Lawson, at the shelter house at the Danville park.

John Paul Mowery, son of Mr. and Mrs. John A. Mowery of Danville, as received his A.B. degree in missions from St. Paul Bible College, St. Paul, Minn.

North Salem: The Porter Insurance Agency has moved to their new office across the street and are now located between Charlotte’s Glamour Nook and the North Salem Sundries.

The G.V. Wellman, Jrs. hosted their annual “Indy 500 Pit Stop” all-day party, Saturday, for a large number of local friends and the Norman Baylisses, vacationing here from there Florida home.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO Issue of May 30, 1996

Sue Allen, bus driver for the Danville Community School Corporation is retiring after 27 years.

Gill Pool in Ellis Park will be under new management this summer. Sally Boles is the pool manager for the 1996 season according to Brad Andrews, Park Superintendent.

Rosemary Helton, retired math teacher and veteran tennis player, presented her award last Tuesday at the Spring Sports program at Danville Community High School, to Laura Williams. The award goes to the girl who best exemplifies athletic ability, scholarship, and mental attitude among the senior athletes.

The “Health Tracks Locomotion,” a 4K run and 3K walk, is being planned for Sunday, June 9. The Avon Station Medical Center will also host a Health Fair that same day.

Sheriff Roy Waddell presented Cory Mason of Danville a $500 scholarship from the Indiana Sheriffs Association and the Hendricks County Sheriff’s Department.

Rob Copeland was presented the Robert Leedy Award at the Danville Community High School Commons by Principal Davie Marcotte. This award is presented to the boy who best exemplifies athletic ability, scholarship, and mental attitude among senior boys.

The Danville Police Department and the Danville Auto Dealers Association will sponsor the first annual benefit Golf Tournament on August 10, at the Tomahawk Hill Golf Course, Jamestown.

TEN YEARS AGO Issue of June 2, 2011

In honor of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, the Danville Public Library and the Hendricks County Historical Museum are sponsoring Civil War Heritage Days – Hendricks County on Saturday, June 15 and Sunday, June 16.

Shoppers at the Chamber of Commerce’s Farmers Markets at Danville, Avon, and Plainfield, will be able to carry their purchases home in new, reusable market bags, provided through a grant from Hendricks County Solid Waste Management District.

Diana Virgil, a modern day “trail blazer,” was honored by the Hendricks County Commissioners for her efforts and advocacy in the establishment and growth of the B&O Trail.

Danville Chamber of Commerce will host the 1st Annual Family 4th Festival on July 4th at the Danville High School Football Complex.

Memorial Day was made more memorable for CMS Michael Lucas and family. For the first time in many years, all military family members were “stationed” at home for the holiday.