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 11, 1896

Plainfield: Zoro Tomlinson and Virl Osborn made a run to Columbus, a total distance of 125 miles, on their wheels, Sunday.

The largest strawberries seen in Danville this year were raised by W.D. Hawkins, many of them exceeding five inches in circumference and running twenty berries to the quart.

Work on the Orphan’s Home just east of town is progressing very rapidly. When done it will be a very fine home and a credit to the county.

Cy Thompson has fitted up his drug store with elegant new quartered oak wall cases. They are beautiful in design and were made by his brother, Lawrence, at Indianapolis.

The contract for the First National Bank building has been let to Heinsman Bros., of Noblesville, they being the lowest bidders. The contract price is $5,960 and with favorable weather, it is hoped to have the building completed in ninety days.

Brownsburg has a court of the Tribe of Ben Hur.

A broken arm at Amo and one at North Salem is the record for the baseball season in Hendricks County so far.

The senior law class of the Central Normal College was admitted to the bar yesterday. The members are: Charles Jetton, Logan Esary, Ira L. Parrott, A.L.H. Miller, R.C. Pennington, L.D. Cisel, John W. Holcomb, George Young, S.D. Halstead, W.W. Rynerson, W. A. Wesner, M.S. Mahan.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO Issue of June 9, 1921

Voting machines have been contracted for by the county commissioners, the machines to be delivered and paid for by February 1, 1922. The council appropriated $22,585 for the purchase of 20 machines although it is probable that 19 will be bought. The company gives bond to keep them in good shape for ten years.

Frank Guthrie, Adam Record, Leonard Christie, Ezra Mason, and H.H. Boal were before the town board to see what could be done to give them relief from the clouds of dust stirred up by the automobile speeders that daily line the highway jeopardizing both life and limb.

On, and after Monday, June 13th, 1921, the State speed and muffler law concerning automobiles will be strictly enforced within the corporation limits of the Town of Amo, by order of the town board.

Forest Home, two miles west of Stilesville, was the scene of a beautiful wedding Sunday afternoon, when Maxine McHaffie, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. M.E. McHaffie and Freeman Mills, of near Eminence, were quiet married in the presence of their relatives and a very few most intimate friends.

Mr. and Mrs. Henry H. Underwood left Tuesday on an overland automobile trip to Des Moines, Iowa, to attend the Shriners’ meeting. Henry had his tent with him and intended camping out along the way.

Moses Tomlinson, age 84, of Plainfield, made his annual bicycle spin to Avon, Tuesday morning.

We, the threshermen of Hendricks county, to convention assembled at Danville, June 4, 1921, agree that the current prices for threshing this year will not be below 4 cents for oats, 8 cents for wheat, 12 cents for rye, $5 for barn set, 4 cents per pound for clover. L.S. Page , president; A. W. Stanley, secretary.

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO Issue of June 13, 1946

Of the $2,302,049 approved for the entire state for the last few weeks by the Civilian Production Administration, Hendricks county came in for a crumb amounting to $500 for an addition to a building. James Waddell was given permission to add fourteen feet of a needed thirty feet on the front of his building, now under construction on S. Jefferson street in Danville.

Dr. Ernest Price will open an office in the property on the corner of East Main and Tennessee streets, owned by James Daly. Dr. Price served in the Navy and was discharged this spring.

Nearly three hundred new members of the Hendricks County Post No. 118 of The American Legion will be initiated at a public service next Thursday night at 8 o’clock in the Central Normal College gymnasium.

The appointment of Mrs. Rosemary Frazier as dean of women of Central Normal College has been announced.

A number of pieces of equipment, including two air compressors, steel bins, vices and cabinets have been added to the shop department of the Danville high school.

Periods of supervised play for children at Danville during summer vacation will begin at the Danville park Monday, under the direction of Robert Leedy, Danville high school coach.

Forty-three tots of the community are attending summer school, being taught by Miss Eleanor McClain.

Mr. and Mrs. A.M. Goodwin have announced the engagement of their daughter, Gwen, to Frank Edgar Guthrie II. The date of the wedding is set for Sunday afternoon, August 4, at 4:30 in the Danville Christian Church.

FIFTY YEARS AGO Issue of June 10, 1971

Four major events are planned for the first day of activities (July 3) at the Danville Jaycee’s Third Annual July 4 Festival. 1) Tractor Pull Contest, 3:30 p.m. 2) First heat of Turtle Derby. 3) Professional Barbershop Quartet and Jim Shelton’s Pick-A- Pocket, 7:30 p.m. 4) Bicycle Race at Park.

An estimated 1,200 people dipped into the Danville swimming pool, Sunday. The present pool is designed to accommodate slightly over 600 swimmers.

Max Lee Morgan of Stilesville will be among the 31 professional truck drivers competing, tomorrow and Saturday, in the 1971 annual Indiana State Truck Roadeo in Indianapolis.

A Teen Evening Summer Program, sponsored by the Danville Ministerial Association, will be kicked off this Saturday. Organized league of slow-pitch softball teams and volleyball teams will be formed.

Last Wednesday marked another major milestone in the life of Evelyn Miller, Clayton housewife and mother of three. For the first time, she “ran” on an artificial kidney machine in her own home!

No appointment necessary – 2 Barbers to serve you – Fred Dickey, Lyle Springer. Fred’s Barber Shop, West Edge of Danville on US 36.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO Issue of June 6, 1996

Katrina Lin Grubb is the 1996 recipient of the Kimberly M. Pugh Memorial Scholarship from Danville Community High School. She plans to attend Indiana University this fall with her intended major of Physical Therapy.

It was the unanimous decision of the Danville Town Council, Monday night, that the Danville Chamber of Commerce should seek a new location for their office, separate from the Danville Town Hall.

The Hendricks County Fair is sponsoring the family-owned and operated Alain Zerbini Circus on the 4-H Fairgrounds, Danville, June 26. Showtimes are 5:30 and 8 p.m.

The Danville Community Methodist Church Preschool, known to its graduates as “Snoopy School” has completed its 20th year.

Kyle Falconbury, a 1992 graduate of Danville Community High School, graduated from Wabash College on May 12.

Walter Boller of North Salem gathered some 8 lbs. of mushrooms from a trip to the woods. He has been named the Great Mushroom Dude of the year.

Brandy Jo Fultz, a 1996 graduate of Danville Community High School, has been awarded the $7,500 DePauw Academic Scholarship.

TEN YEARS AGO Issue of June 9, 2011

A country kick-off will start the Downtown Danville Partnership’s Summer Sounds on the Square music series on Saturday, June 18, with the return of Hoosier duo, Cook & Belle.

Enjoy a walk with your dog and help the Hendricks County Humane Society at the inaugural Rover Run 5K Run/Walk and 1 Mile Dog Walk on Saturday, June 18, at Ellis Park.

American Legion Post 118 presented its Citizenship Awards as part of the Danville Community Middle School Awards Program on May 26. Devon Hartsall and Chance Clark tied for the boys’ award. Kaycee Marchall received the girls’ Citizenship award.

Pilot Charles Long of Pittsboro has now given more than 200 young people a free demonstration airplane ride as part of the Experimental Aircraft Association’s Young Eagles Program.

Team entries are still available for the Park 2 Park Relay Race, which encompasses 60 miles from McCloud Nature Park at North Salem to the new Sodalis Park just south of Plainfield.