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 November 5, 1896

Clayton: One of the best Republican rallies in the county was held here last Friday. The crowd was variously estimated from 5000 to 8000 people. The parade at ten o’clock was one of the finest in the campaign.

Charles Hogate and Morton Pike came down from Lafayette over Sunday on a tandem.

The Republican is indebted to Mrs. Phoebe Newman and James D. Smith for generous quantities of persimmons.

Sheriff Bell and Deputy Taylor were called to Pittsboro yesterday by wire to quell a riot. They returned last night without any prisoners.

Ed Pearson, son of Silas Pearson, came the farthest to vote of any man who voted in Danville. He came from Newport, Rhode Island, where he has a position as a telegrapher.

New Winchester: “Bake” Harper and Edgar Williams are each the possessor of a sprained back trying to lift a spiked gate Hallowe’en night.

Avon: The ladies of the neighborhood conducted an unusually tidy refreshment stand at the election, Tuesday, proceeds of which go to furnish the parsonage some needed fixtures.

Frank Downard’s barn west of town burned yesterday morning about one o’clock. It is supposed it was set on fire. It was one of the largest barns in the county, three stories high, cost $3,300 Mr. Downard says.

The “best judgment” of the Brownsburg Record is that there were 3,500 people present at the recent Republican rally.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO Issue of November 3, 1921

Many methods of Christian Science practitioners, Chiropractors and Osteopaths were denounced strongly at the meeting of the Hendricks County Medical Society, Friday afternoon, at the Royal Theater.

Grain is asked from the farmers of Hendricks county for the relief of the starving Armenians. Charles E. Kurtz, of Marion township, is the chairman of the drive.

Seemingly all the parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts, big brothers and sisters of the school children came to the Mattie A. Keeney building to enjoy the Hallowe’en festivities. There more different costumes on exhibit than a Paris dressmaker could design in a lifetime.

Amo: A two-pound Irish potato, almost in the exact shape of a mud turtle, is on exhibit at Owens’ store. It was grown by Charles Summers.

Professor Rigdon’s new book, “The English Sentence, a Grammar Text Book for Colleges and Normal Schools,” has recently been issued by the Indiana Publishing Company.

The Hallowe’en dance given by the Phi Delta Kappa fraternity of Clayton was one of the most brilliant social events of the year in Danville. The hall was decorated with fodder and pumpkins. About twenty-five guests were present in addition to the membership of the fraternity. Ned Clay’s six-piece band furnished the music.

One of the notable occasions of the week was the open meeting last evening as planned by the library board. The high school orchestra furnished an excellent prelude to the program. Miss Lou Robinson’s talk on “The Library and Its Progress was brim-full of interest and the speaker was at her best in the presentation of the subject.

Dr. J.L. Sharp has purchased the ground at the intersection of South Tennessee and South Washington streets, the site of the Figg house which burned, where he proposes to erect a splendid hospital that he may better care for his increasing number of patients in Chiropractics.

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO Issue of November 7, 1946

Mrs. Rosemary Frazier, dean of women, Canterbury College, will attend the conference on student guidance at Purdue university.

Miss Ina Shaw, formerly of Danville, has been appointed head librarian at Canterbury College.

Gross receipts from the annual Hallowe’en party at the Danville schools was $934.22.

Crawford Parker, formerly of Danville, was the successful candidate for county clerk in Henry County in Tuesday’s election. Wilber E. Newlin, a Hendricks county stockman, will be among the Indiana exhibitors at the International Live Stock Exposition and Horse Show, in Chicago, November 30 – December 7. He will enter Duroc-Jersey swine.

As far as township trustees go, the Grand Old Party slipped a little in Hendricks County Tuesday. At present ten of the twelve trustees are Republican; at the beginning of next year, Franklin township will join with Brown and Union in the Democrat column.

Mrs. Emma Wills at Clayton received painful injuries, Monday, when her fingers were caught in a wringer of an electric washing machine.

FIFTY YEARS AGO Issue of November 4, 1971

The smoking at school policy adopted on an experimental basis at Brownsburg High School expired October 15 and the policy has been rescinded.

New Winchester Veterans of Foreign Wars is the top post in the state with 100 percent membership.

James L. Lowry has joined the law firm of Kendall, Stevenson & Howard, Danville.

Miss Susan McBride, Danville Community High School senior, has been chosen as the DAR Good Citizen.

Scott Schillen, 24-year-old native of Nevada, will be the piano soloist when the Indianapolis Philharmonic Orchestra comes to Danville, Sunday, at 4 p.m. This concert is a community project by the Delta Kappa Chapter of Tri Kappa.

Mrs. Claude Walls, executive secretary of the Hendricks County Tuberculosis Association, reports Christmas Seal letters were mailed this week.

Mrs. Leslie Sandefur, Danville Welcome Wagon Hostess, reports new Danville residents include Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Gardner from Defiance, Ohio. They have two children, Lora, age 2, and Scott, age 4.

Brownsburg saw a vote against a swimming pool referendum, 568 to 376.

David L. Richardson, cashier-personnel officer of the First National Bank of Danville, completed the fifth annual seminar for younger bank officers.

November 12-13, the Hendricks County Hospital will present its annual Food & Gift Fair at the National Guard Armory, US 36, across from the hospital.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO Issue of October 31, 1996

A total of 51,487 Hendricks County residents are registered to vote in Tuesday’s General Election. This is an increase of 3,844 more than for the 1996 primary.

The Abstract & Title Guaranty Co., south side of the square in Danville, was turned into a full-blown birthday party buffet of their boss, Lee T. Comer, Friday, on his half-century mark.

The Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Hendricks County recently completed purchase of the First Presbyterian Church of Danville at 95 North Jefferson St. Beginning Sunday, November 3, the worship service will be each Sunday at 9:30 a.m.

The wind and rain didn’t dampen the spirits of 35 dedicated Senior Golfers on October 23, at their Halloween mixed scramble at the Hendricks County Golf Course.

Julie Wallace, of Amo, was the winner of the $25 worth of groceries at the Open House at the Amo General Store.

TEN YEARS AGO Issue of November 3, 2011

Local playwright Ron Schnitzius gives voice to the elderly in Hendricks Civic Theater’s production of Schnitzius’ comedy, “The Wrinkled Rebellion,” starting November 4, at Long Street Playhouse.

The Town of Brownsburg’s annexation of 140 parcels contiguous to its east boundary became effective October 27, increasing the town’s size by about one-third.

For the first time since it opened in the 1950’s, Danville Dairy Queen will stay open year round.

On Friday, November 11, the Plainfield Elks will be opening their doors to all community veterans for a dinner, free of charge.

Clint Stoutenour, son of Clint and Tina Stoutenour, recently received a $500 scholarship from the Association of Indiana County Sheriffs.

Mill Creek West Elementary School in Amo has eight new fitness stations installed it the outdoor science lab. The fitness trail signs were funded by a $2,500 American Farmers Grow Communities donation from the Brock family.