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 30, 1896

Inez Osborne wants to exchange her wheel for one with a cow-catcher attachment.

Hazelwood: Grant Stone has just finished burning a kiln of nearly 100,000 brick.

The North Salem Herald suspended several issue ago. The plant has been sold to S.C. Gilman, of Indianapolis. It is understood that he will revive the paper.

Henry Coates, founder of Coatesville, died at his home in Darlington, Saturday. He moved to Hendricks county in 1844 and laid out the town of Coatesville. Mr. Coates was a Friend. One of his last requests was that his body be taken to the cemetery in a common wagon.

Ed Engleken has moved his cigar factory to the north side of the square in the Lingenfelter block. Mr. Engleken is now giving employment to five people.

Miss Bessie Lee will teach in Kentucky next year. She has just taken an examination in Scott county and received a four years’ license. Her general average was 96 and a fraction.

Lizton: District No. 3 has a new school house in progress. Contractors for the carpentering, Leak & Young, and Dillon, of Pittsboro, the masonry.

Avon: Crews & Co. have the contract to deliver the brick to the new school house near Shiloh at eighty cents per thousand. They are shipped here by the contractor from Hancock county.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO Issue of July 28, 1921

Fire of unknown origin destroyed the canning factory, south of the Big Four tracks, Saturday afternoon about six o’clock. The destruction was complete including the machinery and some 500 gallons of sorghum stored in the building.

Harris F. Weesner, of Clayton, for some time instructor in printing at the Boys’ School at Plainfield, has resigned his position to accept the superintendency of the printing department of the city schools of Mishawaka.

Directors of the Hendricks County Federation of Home Economics Clubs held a business meeting, Monday afternoon, when the signed a contract with Miss Ruth M. Dix, of St. Louis, Mo., as Home Demonstration Agent for Hendricks County.

Why not a swimming pool for Danville in its splendid park? The answer to this question is up to the town board. For weeks, every evening, scores of people have been driving to Big Creek to enjoy a plunge.

Hazelwood: The act presented by Sylvester, the Iron Jaw King, at the Cozy Theater last Saturday was the most unusual entertainment ever given here. He is coming back Saturday night, August 6th with an entire change of program.

Pittsboro: Saturday, two more of our soldier dead arrived here, the remains of Otis E. Pierson and Ora Johnston. Their bodies were at once removed to their respective homes. Sunday funeral services were held, at 2 p.m., at the Christian church here and at Maplewood in the presence of a large gathering of relatives and under the auspices of the American Legion Post. The long corteges following the remains to the Pythian cemetery at Lizton, the funeral rites pronounced by the Legion Post as they laid their comrades to rest were an impressive ceremony.

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO Issue of August 1, 1946

The Cassell C. Tucker Post of the American Legion of Greencastle assisted in the establishment of the American Legion Post of Pittsboro, Monday evening.

Officials of Canterbury College announced this week that the curriculum of the new college is being reorganized in the direction of a liberal arts college.

At a business meeting of the Danville Conservation club last Friday night, it was determined to form the club into a corporation. The move was made in order that the club might attempt to sell the real estate it now holds.

Lawrence Cline, Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Cline of Amo, recently signed a contract with Glen Curtis to play professional basketball with the new league. He attended school at State Normal in Terre Haute and played under Mr. Curtis there before entering the army. He served thirty-two months in the European Theater.

A dissolution of partnership was announced this week by former member of the E.J. Roberts garages, in order to segregate dual franchises into two separate firms. E.J. Robers has assumed complete ownership and control of the garage and agency for Dodge and Plymouth cars and Dodge trucks. Virgil MacCamack will move the agency and service department for Allis Chalmers farm machinery.

An appeal has been voiced by Milford Hadley, park commissioner, for equipment for the boys enjoying supervised play each day under the direction of Danville’s high school coach, Robert Leedy. The boys are learning to play badminton, croquet, soft ball, and hard ball according to rules and sportsmanship of the games.

A contract for the complete redecoration of Hargrave Hall, the library building and the administration building at Canterbury College has been let to Dickey & Dickerson Co. of Lebanon.

FIFTY YEARS AGO Issue of July 29, 1971

No. 17, the last girl in the line up of the 4-H Queen contestants, ended up at the head of the list, Sunday night, as she was crowned “Miss Hendricks County” to reign at the Fair. Miss Janice Kay Sullivan, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Huston Sullivan of Washington Township, was crowned by Miss Betsy Dill, of Plainfield, the 1970 Queen.

Rev. Bernard Burgert is the new pastor of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Danville.

Miss Polly Ratliff of Union Township, modeling her formal, was named overall grand champion of the Hendricks County 4-H Dress Revue.

Edward M. Mertz, formerly of Danville, has been appointed to one of the top-ranking assignments with the engineering department of Chevrolet Motors Division.

Waters Restaurant – 306 W. Main, Lizton – Sunday Menu, Roast Beef, Ham Steak, Pan-Fried Chicken, Baked Potatoes. Homemade pies every day.

Approximately forty descendants of the Gill family enjoyed a picnic at the cabin of Brewer Gill, north of Danville, Sunday.

Miss Inga Larsen was surprised Tuesday evening, when a large number of her ’71 graduating classmates had a farewell party, at the home and pool of Mr. and Mrs. H.J. Martin, Sr.

Glenda Bolton, captain of the Danville A Team of the girls softball team, made a record hit, Friday evening, when she scored a home rum. This is the first home run scored since the girls softball team has been organized.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO Issue of July 25, 1996

Reigning as Queen of the Hendricks County 4-H Fair this week is 19-year-old Kim Butler, daughter of Richard and Jenna Butler of Brownsburg.

Matthew D. Whetstone, age 27, Brownsburg Town Councilman and co-owner with his wife of Whetstone Associates, an interior design firm, was chosen to replace Sam Turpin on the GOP ballot for District 40 State Representative.

Navy Ensign Aaron W. Dimmock, son of Wayne A. Dimmock of Plainfield, recently graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md., and was commissioned to his present rank in the U.S. Navy.

Myrtle Mae Comer Loy (Mrs. Wendell D. Loy) of Avon celebrated her 100th birthday with her congratulating family, on July 19 and 20.

Mrs. Mildred Hoge’s picture was in a daily paper one day last week. She has walked three miles a day, rain or shine, since 1980.

TEN YEARS AGO Issue of July 28, 2011

The Hendricks Regional Health Women’s center, Danville, has been designated a Breast Imagery Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology.

Verlin and Sandi Clark of Greencastle, proudly announce the engagement of their daughter, Chelsea Clark, to Caleb Neier, son of Rick and Lisa Neier of Coatesville.

On Tuesday, August 2nd, all citizens throughout Brownsburg are invited to join forces with thousands of communities nationwide for the 28th Annual National Night Out” crime and drug prevention event.

The Hendricks Symphonic Society will provide a parade of great classical music during its 2011-12 concert schedule.

The Annual Kersey Family Reunion took place on Sunday, July 17, at the Coatesville United Methodist Church.

Jennifer Steward of Clayton was named to the dean’s list at the Savannah College of Design in Georgia.