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 July 16, 1896

Brownsburg: The prospects for a good canning season are very bright. The factory will be working to its fullest capacity this year and that means employment to nearly 200 people for two months.

Hadley: Mrs. Matilda Hastings has woven 300 yards of carpet this summer.

Oak Ridge: Abram Hoadley had 800 bushels of wheat, every bushel grading No. 2. This was the best on the ridge.

The Town Board met in regular session Friday evening in the new council room in the Fair building with all members present.

Wild goose plums, ten cents per gallon at J.A. Little’s one mile west of Cartersburg.

Mrs. Dr. Records is learning the mysteries of a bicycle with Prof. Stone as instructor.

There were twenty-two baptized at the meeting on Big Creek Sunday – thirteen by sprinkling and nine by immersion.

A grand musical and literary entertainment will be given on the colored camp meeting grounds at Evergreen park Saturday night next. Admission ten cents.

B.B. Demarcus, of Spencer, has opened on the south side a restaurant fully abreast with the times.

Hadley: The Indianapolis photographer will be out here again next Friday. Anyone wishing pictures taken can leave orders with George Walters.

Perry West has returned from his Chicago trip and is busily engaged trying to convince the natives that Chicago is larger than New Winchester.

A young lady cyclist came in contact with a herd of cows lying down in the road and she could not stop nor turn aside by landed on the back of an astonished cow who arose with the lady on her back. She gave a kick at the wheel and deposited her rider in the dust and “lit out.”

John L. Bacon and wife of the city spent Monday with the latter’s cousin, J.M. Barlow. They were “chums” on the Atlanta campaign and the war was fought over again.

The McKinley League will have a rousing meeting in the court house Monday evening at 7 p.m. Good speakers will discuss the issues in an eloquent and logical way. The public is invited to hear the truth.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO Issue of July 14, 1921

Bundle day is Thursday, July 21. Bundle day is the time for you to bring your old, clean clothes for the relief of the Armenians.

Some 6,000 fleeces were sold in Danville, Wednesday and Thursday of last week. Undoubtedly this was the most wool ever delivered to any town in the county any two days.

Dr. A.G. Barrett and family are on their annual vacation and are motoring out of Indianapolis to various points.

Clayton: Beginning next Saturday there will be an ice cream, soda and lunch stand at Camp Short for the benefit of all comers. Come out and enjoy your selves to the fullest.

Avon: The family of John H. and Dr. Earl Ferree motored all the say to Decatur county Friday night for blackberries. They reached home at evening with 22 gallons.

There is a discussion on these hot days in Danville of why the people do not have the pleasure of enjoying a bathing beach. The general answer is that through a term on years, there has been a splendid job of passing the buck.

The ball game between the Coatesville Bluze and the Danville team, at the local park last Sunday, was a slug-fest and a nip and tuck affair until it went into extra innings. In the 12th inning, the Danville pitcher weakened and the visitors made eight runs, winning the game by a score of 21 to 13.

Dr. Amos Carter, formerly of Plainfield, was last week re-elected superintendent of the Tuberculosis Sanitarium at Rockville.

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO Issue of July 18, 1946

Melvin Sturgeon officially became Superintendent of Hendricks County schools, Tuesday.

Vincent H. Crane, former principal of the Clayton high school, has been named assistant professor of political science at Canterbury College.

Clyde Goodwin, Danville, has been named county service officer by Hendricks county commissioners at a special meeting, Monday night, in the court house.

Trustee Marion H. Shearer is in a quandary. It seems the lumber shortage will prevent basketball games at New Winchester this week, if hard maple flooring cannot be found.

The Avon community club picnicked at Merritt’s park, Sunday. A fried chicken supper was served, followed by an ice cream social and game hour.

The North Salem Eastern Star chapter will have a sack and rag party in the hall, August 14. The sack will contain the owner’s lunch, the rag is to dust and clean windows. Thus, the ladies will enjoy the day and at the same time have an immaculate hall for the annual inspection, August 23.

Four great-grandchildren of William and Anna Walter were participants at the 4-H round-up at Purdue last week. They are Miss Betty Henry, Pittsboro; Marilyn Walter of Danville and James and Robert Walton, North Salem.

FIFTY YEARS AGO Issue of July 15, 1971

Walter E. DeLong, age 26, Brownsburg, is a new patrolman on the Brownsburg Police Department.

The new horse barn is ready for its first annual Open Horse Show, July 31 – Aug. 1.

The Norman Gulley family enjoyed the holiday weekend camping at Lane’s Camping Retreat, near Spencer.

Mrs. Don Pierson entertained with a family get-together and cook-out, Friday evening, celebrating the 11th birthday of her daughter, Donna.

Brown Township is Hendricks County’s fastest growing township according to the 1970 census figures. It has increased 91 percent from 1960 to its present population of 2, 113.

Phillip Cole, southwest of Pittsboro, had predicted he would have ripe tomatoes by July 1; however, he picked his first ripe one on June 22.

Paul Wingler, son of Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Wingler of Coatesville, is attending the Indiana University Performers’ Clinic on the Bloomington campus through July 18.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO Issue of July 11, 1996

Baker Funeral Home, Danville, announces the retirement of Maxine Alexander. She began her employment in August of 1978.

The music of Andrew Lloyd Weber will resound throughout the White Lick Amphitheater in Ellis Park, Danville, Friday, July 12, as the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra for the 11th season of Symphony in the Park.

“It’s my hope that your family will join ours by donating to the Danville Flag Fund,” says Roy Walter. Collection points will be at Huntington Bank, Union Federal Bank, National City Bank, North Salem State Bank, Super Clean Coin-Op and The Republican.

Mr. and Mrs. Rex Wilson of Danville announce the engagement of their daughter, Wendy Sue Wilson, to Boyce E. Ruegsegger. The wedding is set for August 17, at the First Baptist Church of Danville.

Twin Bridges Toastmaster, Hendricks County’s newest Toastmaster Club, received its official Charter, June 3, from Toastmaster’s District 11 Governor, Melody Deal, during a special Charter Presentation meeting.

Hendricks County Senior Services is sponsoring a four-day Branson Christmas trip with Ron Weisheit of I-V Coaches.

TEN YEARS AGO Issue of July 14, 2011

The 2010 4-H Supreme Showman became the 2011 4-H Fair Queen as 18-yearold Kelsey Grace Covey was awarded the crown before a packed audience at the Hendricks County 4-H Fairgrounds.

Jessica Kirkham, junior athletic training manager at Harding University in Arkansas, is among 23 athletes and students that traveled to Italy as part of the Bison Athletes in Training. Jessica is a 2009 graduate of Danville Community High School and daughter of Jesse and Loria Kirkham.

The Hendricks County 4-H Fairgrounds and Conference Complex hosted the National Powwow for the first time, July 6-9.

Happy birthday to Master Logan Huntsman, who is nearly a handful. He celebrated his 4th birthday on Friday, July 14.

The title of 2011 Little Miss Hendricks County went to 7-year-old Ashlynn Marie Moodie Brownsburg. Bennett Schirmer, 6-year-old son of Mark and Melissa Schirmer of Lizton was chosen as the 2011 Little Mister Hendricks County.