SERVING HENDRICKS COUNTY SINCE 1847
Page A-2
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: As the 1896 presidential election drew nigh in September, Coatesville, Clayton, New Winchester, Union Township, and other county Republican strongholds organized McKinley clubs. Plainfield’s club already claimed 226 members. North Salem’s roster reached 175. Brownsburg had organized 100. William McKinley, “the popular Representative from Ohio,” had visited Danville during the first week of August 1889. No reason was given for his visit. He had been “quietly resting in the mountains of Pennsylvania for some weeks.” Perhaps he forgot to get off the train in Ohio. Republican students organized the McKinley League of Central Normal College in March 1896. They resolved to “promote the nomination and election of the apostle of protection.” McKinley was big on tariffs and protectionism. The Republicans promised a return to prosperity following the Panic of 1893, a major economic depression. In April that year, the league obtained McKinley badges, “and they are to be seen on almost every student. The club boasted 400 members – 500 when “the ladies are enrolled as members.” The League convened “a rousing meeting” at the Courthouse in July. “The Republican boys of the college are ready for the fray.” Merchant C.F. Hall had already raised the first McKinley pole. “It proudly floats a McKinley banner to the breeze.” In September, “the free silverites of Cartersburg were surprised and panic-stricken” by an enormous gathering of 1,000 McKinley supporters. Free silverites supported Democrat William Jennings Bryan. In brief, Bryan wanted to drop the gold standard in favor of silver. Lawyer Lucius Burrie Swift exhorted the “largest and most eager audience” the town had seen, eliciting numerous “That’s right. That’s sound.” responses. Many initially on the fence left convinced the silver policy “would be destructive to every interest in the country save only the mine owners and speculators.” Then “all hands took the rope” to raise a 137-foot pole in support of the former Ohio governor and his running mate Garret Hobart. The crowd, headed by the Clayton band, marched around the pole singing the Civil War tune, “Tramp, tramp, tramp, the boys are marching.” W. Smith Gibbs, for whom today’s W.S. Gibbs Memorial Park is named, climbed the pole and let loose the raising ropes. That month, the paper reported “the McKinley wave rolls on in mighty force.” Rumors that Eel River Township Democrat Ben Rynerson planned to vote for McKinley led North Salem “sound money” Democrats W.H. Fleece and Thomas Moore to investigate. Ben informed them he shot straight when hunting squirrels. He believed Bryan, “the mouthpiece of the free silver sentiment, ought to be killed.” He was voting for McKinley. In September, Lizton hosted “not less than 1,000” in support of McKinley. Danville’s band furnished music. The newly organized McKinley Club “will do good work to reduce the Popocratic vote in Union Township.” Popocratic was a disparaging reference to Democrats supporting populist policies at the end of the 19th century. McKinley remained immensely popular in the county. His re-election bid was welcomed in late October 1900 by a four-mile-long Main Street Danville parade numbering in the thousands, according to The Republican. The crowd was estimated at between 12,000-15,000. “The Famous Danville band” led the column, which included five bands and drum corps. The “mighty demonstration . . . was a homage paid to prosperity, to good times, to an honest dollar and a chance to earn it.” Dynamite explosions opened the day’s boisterousness. Numerous troops dressed as Rough Riders. “There were scores upon scores of pretty girls in wagons.” “It was the greatest day in the history of Hendricks County Republicanism.” McKinley was assassinated by an anarchist in September 1901. Vice President Theodore Roosevelt succeeded him. Danville town board soon after resolved, “Whereas, the murderous bullet of a cowardly assassin has taken from our country our much beloved President . . . a wise, fearless and patriotic leader, a gallant hero and a noble citizen . . . “Whereas, humanity of all classes has lost one of its staunchest friends . . . “Resolved . . . between the hours of 12 noon and 3 p.m. (September 19) all business places be closed and suitable services be held in memory of our martyred hero.” A memorial service convened at the college chapel with speeches and songs. Local Grand Army of the Republic members marched to the chapel. Every citizen was expected to attend. Paul Miner Lizton ______________________________________________________________________
East Coast Report by Jerry Vornholt [The Republican’s publisher shares observations and reflects on his recent trip to his home state of Delaware.] The Boardwalk, A Lesson in 3 Acts: Part II, Shoutout to the Rehoboth Beach Patrol In the summer of 2018, I was one of 568 souls saved from drowning by the Rehoboth Beach Patrol lifeguards. Caught in a rip current, I did everything you’re not supposed to do. I tried to swim back to shore, and I panicked. Within minutes it hit me; this may be the day I die. My legs felt like rubber bands, my eyes were burning from the salt water, I was too exhausted to yell, and even if they see my flailing arms there’s no way to stay up long enough for the lifeguard to reach me. Yet, somehow, he saw me, and he did get to me, and I got to live another day. Over the course of one hundred years the Rehoboth Beach Patrol has saved tens of thousands of lives. And in those 100 years, only one life has been lost. This was my first time back to Rehoboth Beach since 2018. I needed to stop in to the RBP headquarters to let them know how grateful I was. Knocking on the worn screen door of their boardwalk shack, Chief Rich came to greet me. “This is my first time back to Rehoboth since one of your lifeguards saved my life,” I blurted out, “and it’s my intention to say thanks and donate to the RBP every time I come back,” and handed him a $100 bill. Chief Rich stared at me for a few seconds then turned away, went into another room, and came out a minute later with a piece of paper and a shirt. “Here’s what we are going to do,” he said. “We are going to put this into the Dave Reynolds Scholarship Fund. Dave was a life6 East Main Street ~ P.O. Box 149 guard that lost his life and Danville, IN 46122 left behind a wife and two Phone: 317-745-2777 / Fax: 317-647-4341 E-mail: therepublican@sbcglobal.net young children.” BETTY JO BARTLEY “Perfect,” I replied. Editor “We don’t usually get SUBSCRIPTION RATE $40 PER YEAR people thanking us,” he SINGLE COPY 50¢ said. I was shocked at that PUBLISHED WEEKLY statement. So, here’s a grateful PRINTED ON RECYCLED shoutout to the Rehoboth MEMBER SINCE 1933 PAPER WITH SOY INK Beach Patrol. If not for that The Republican Hendricks County, LLC lifeguard doing the job he Gerald W. Vornholt, President was trained to do on that Periodicals Postage Paid Danville, Indiana 46122 summer day in 2018… (USPS PERMIT NUMBER 462200) POSTMASTER SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO (Part III next week) P.O. BOX 149, DANVILLE, IN 46122 __________
Thursday, October 14, 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 September 17, 1896 Amo: A “snap-shot”artist, of Indianapolis, made and sold eighty-eight pictures of residences, shops, etc., last week. Cartersburg: Grant Martin smiles over the arrival of a new ten pound voter at his house. Brownsburg: The canning factory is turning out about 18,000 cans of tomatoes a day, working full time. Henry Harrison is improving his property on East South street with new verandas. Mat Gregg has a pear that grew on a tree at his home that takes the ribbon for size. It looks like a green squash and measures fourteen inches in circumference and weighs one pound the and one-half ounces. The discovery of oil at Broad Ripple has revived the talk of sinking a few more wells in this county. Who knows that Hendricks county may become a great oil field. The tent revival at Quebec is largely attended and much interest is being manifested. Sunday night there were about 1,400 present, 900 under the tent and fully 500 outside. Mrs. Louise Pollock, colored, of Friendswood, is dead. She was the largest woman in the county and weighted 380 pounds. Plainfield: Gibbs and Hagee have started a meat route to Cartersburg and the adjoining country. Oak Ridge: Editor Hogate and wife were in this vicinity the first of the week. Call again, Mr. Editor. New Winchester: Will Ridpath, Ira Dooley and Harry Osborne, with their lady friends, drove to Stilesville to Alf. Cosner’s last Sunday and were royally entertained by Mr. and Mrs. Cosner on musk and water melons, etc. _____ ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO Issue of September 15, 1921 Nearly ten years ago, John I. Alberton launched into the telephone business at Hazelwood, starting with one hundred and twenty-six subscribers. Now there are two hundred and thirty subscribers. Miss Herringlake, of Plainfield, in a Ford coupe, turned the corner at Main and Washington streets with such enthusiasm, Saturday morning, that her machine climbed the curb and one fender struck a stone column at the First National Bank and then broke a large plate glass window in the Schwartz Department Store. Yesterday, patrons, school board and church trustees agreed to use the church gym another year. Danville is to have an immense gymnasium with a seating capacity of from 1,200 to 1,500 if tentative plans by the school board are carried out. An attraction quite worth while is being exhibited at the home of T.B. Adams – his granddaughter, Doris Jane Adams of New York City. Ed Caldwell, who built the Royal theater n Danville and ran it for some time, died in Lafayette yesterday. Coatesville: Schools opened Monday with the following teachers – Maurice Sutherlin, Catherine West, Delia Phillips, and Olive Baugham. Hadley: John Shelton has purchased a new Ford. Miss Kate DePew has been chosen supervisor of the English Department in the East Chicago schools, having seven teachers under her leadership. Vernon Nichols has the contract for a four-room addition in the dormitory conducted by Mrs. Breeding. This addition will be used as a cafeteria where students may obtain lunch at any hour. Band concerts will be given every Wednesday evening until the weather is too cold for them. Raoul Ayers has been the director and had remarkably well. ______ SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO Issue of September 19, 1946 Among the ten Flying Farmers of Prairie Land at the Indiana State Fair was John Stubblefield, Coatesville. It was decided by the Hendricks Count Post No. 118 not to purchase the North Center school house for permanent quarters. Charming in all its appointments was the artists’ tea given Wednesday at the home of Mrs. Thomas R. Barker with Mrs. Paul K. Thiery of Indianapolis as co-hostess, honoring their cousin, Mrs. Nellie Scearce Haller of Los Angeles, formerly of Danville. Apples - a good crop of Jonathans, also Red Delicious, King David, and York Imperial. Oak Ridge Orchard, 5 miles southwest of Plainfield, near Joppa. The first rehearsal of the Hendricks Symphony Orchestra occurred at Chapel
Hall of Canterbury College, Sunday afternoon, under the direction of Thomas Wilson. Hey, Skinny! The carnival is in town! The Hendricks County Post No. 118 of the American Legion wants to buy a home for permanent headquarters and in order to raise money they sponsored a carnival. The Misses Lucy and Betsy Blanton have gone to Indianapolis to attend Tudor Hall. Mrs. Orville Applegate was the hostess for a stork shower honoring Mrs. Harsel Wilhite, Tuesday evening. Games furnished the entertainment for the thirty guests present. ______ FIFTY YEARS AGO Issue of September 16, 1971 Sunday, the Danville Conservation Club will inaugurate a new program for the benefit of youth in the Danville area. The object is to teach young boys and girls to shoot a .22 rifle under closely supervised conditions. Vandals hit the men’s room in the new concession stand at Brownsburg’s Roark Stadium last Friday night. The Hendricks County Hospital has a new service - a Surgical Hostess Program, a communication link between the family of the surgery patient and the recovery room nurse. Ray Fisher of Pittsboro, owner-operator of the Fisher Elevator in Maplewood, announces the leasing of the business to Hassil Wing of Brownsburg after 48years of continuous business. Members of the Hendricks County Council sharpened pencils last week when they scrutinized budget requests of the county officials and decided they could operate on $1,088,753 instead of the $149,549 they requested. Nellie Mae Moran has resigned as director of the Opportunity Cottage in Danville. She is being replaced by Mrs. Harry (Freda) Norman, Danville. Gary French of Brownsburg and Mark Hauser of Plainfield, are among members of the 1971 Marching Hundred Band, Indiana University’s marching musicians of football half-time fame. _____ TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO Issue of September 12, 1996 Another Danville tradition has bit the dust - Swap & Shop Days. Last week, William Bair, Danville Chamber of Commerce executive director, said the Chamber Board voted to let Swap & Show, such as it is, end and a new change in format promised that would be introduced in 1997. Lance Simon, lead singer with the Southern Draw Band, entertained at the Labor Day festivities at Old Fashion Days at North Salem. Danville Community High School Principal Dave Marcotte asked the school board approval for investigation into student substance abuse testing in the high school. Last week, Danville’s Flag Man, Roy Walter, ordered 103 flags from Senator Richard Lugar’s office. The third annual Jon Mitchell Walk, Jog, Run is set for Saturday, September 21, 9 a.m., at Clayton. AccuBanc Mortgage Corporation has announced that Jack Segner has joined the Indianapolis office as a Senior Loan Official to serve the west suburban market. North Salem: C.R. (Bob) Fleece was honored on his 60th birthday with a family pitch-in, Sunday evening. _____ TEN YEARS AGO Issue of September 15, 2011 Saturday, September 17, 2011 will mark the kick-off of Danville Community Network. The DCN is a public-private partnership providing tele-communication services in the greater Danville area. Hendricks County Sheriff Dave Galloway recently announced the winner of the 2011 Harley Davidson Road King motorcycle that was raffled of the Indiana Sheriff’s Association. The winner was April Franklin of Plainfield. Local musician Landon Keller will open for Jennie DeVoe at the final concert for the 2011 Summer Sounds series. Nearly 600 students at Avon White Oak and Maple elementary schools got a close-up, hands-on lesson in modern farming techniques, in the school parking lot. The event was sponsored by the Hendricks County Farm Bureau. Danville Fire Department honored the 343 firefighters who died in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, with a display of American flags at Station 91. _________
