TERRE HAUTE — Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
2000
• A public hearing on the Interstate 69 study was held at Terre Haute North Vigo High School.
• An interview with Timothy McVeigh by Ed Bradley was aired on the television show “Sixty Minutes.” McVeigh was awaiting execution at the federal penitentiary south of Terre Haute which housed the country’s only federal death chamber.
• Ann Chi, Honey Creek Middle School eighth grader, won the 17th annual Tribune-Star Wabash Valley Regional Spelling Bee and would move on to the national competition in Washington, D. C.
• Karen Goeller, Vigo County School Corp. executive director for curriculum and instruction, was promoted to deputy superintendent.
• The annual Celebrate Women’s History Month program at the Vigo County Public Library honored Terre Haute journalist Susan W. Ball in a program presented by Elizabeth Robbins.
• The local Civitas branch banks closed and reopened under their new Fifth Third Bank name.
• The Indiana State University Sycamores’ basketball season ended at the NCAA tournament in Salt Lake City with a 77-61 loss to the University of Texas.
1985
• Several thousand entries had been received for the Terre Haute Area Chamber of Commerce “Vaute for Terre Haute” contest. Earl Rodgers was the Chamber president.
• The West Terre Haute Volunteer Fire Department voted unanimously to restore rescue service in West Terre Haute. Dr. Enrico Garcia, newly-named town physician, assured the department that necessary funds could be raised.
• “On Golden Pond” opened at Community Theatre. Directed by Tom Venable, the production starred Bob Ratcliffe and Sondra Grantham.
• A 35-unit St. Patrick’s Day parade attracted some 400 persons. Local historian Dorothy J. Clark said it was “Terre Haute’s first”” such Irish event. Dick Donham was mayor for the day.
• Wally Graham received an American Bowling Congress ring in recognition of his recent 299 game at Sycamore Bowl. His 792 three-game series rolled the previous day was the highest recorded at the bowling center.
• The Law Auxiliary guest day luncheon at the Country Club of Terre Haute included a style show by Schultz Store and Mr. Corey. Sally Hassler was the luncheon chair.
1960
• Max P. Gabbert was named superintendent of the Terre Haute schools.
• An estimated 100 farmers were expected to attend the farm mechanization meeting at the Chas. Pfizer & Co. research center south of Terre Haute.
• Hillman’s took over the management of Elliott Jewelers in Meadows Shopping Center.
• Mr. and Mrs. Carl Koile were appointed new managers of the Vigo County Infirmary succeeding Jasper Lewis who had served more than 20 years and was retiring because of ill health.
• The Garfield Mothers Club sponsored a style show-bridge to benefit the school athletic association. Mrs. Jame Dodson was club president.
• Dairy Queen, 3201 Wabash Ave. and 1331 N. 13th St., apologized for raising the price of its shakes and malts to 30 cents because of the increasing cost of supplies.
• The long-idle Owens-Illinois Glass Co. plant at Voorhees and Third streets was purchased by Wheaton Glass Co. Parker Bitner was to return to Terre Haute as manager. Owens-Illinois had purchased the plant in the 1930s and had operated it as a manufacturing facility until 1948.
History
LOOKING BACK: 2000: ISU hoops season ends in NCAA tourney
- History
-
-
LOOKING BACK: 1962: Terre Haute Works of Allis-Chalmers closes
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
-
GENEALOGY: BMD website great for tracing England, Wales
If you have ancestors who trace back to England or Wales within the past 175 years, then the Free BMD website at RootsWeb, at freebmd.rootsweb.com/, is the place to visit.
-
HISTORICAL TREASURE: WBOW introduced some fine Valley talent
When it first began broadcasting in 1927, station WRPI (Rose Polytechnic Institute) focused on educational programing.
-
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Inventor John B. Deeds and highwayman William G. Murray
Among the many unsolved local history mysteries is the fate of master machinist and inventor John B. Deeds.
-
BRUCE'S HISTORY LESSON: This little-known compromise may have saved the union
When the Constitution was signed in September of 1787 and sent to the Congress that then existed under the Articles of Confederation, Congress was instructed to send that Constitution to the states to be ratified … or not. The message to the states was clear: Accept the Constitution or reject it, but don’t try to change it.
-
Traveling Civil War exhibit makes history personal
Civil War history will come alive for visitors to the Sullivan County Public Library who experience “Faces of the Civil War,” a traveling exhibition created and managed by the Indiana Historical Society.
-
GENEALOGY: Virginia Historical Society takes on ambitious project
Over the past few months, the Virginia Historical Society has launched an ambitious project to scrutinize more than 8 million 17th, 18th, and 19th century documents in order to identify the enslaved population of those times.
-
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: The Legacy of ‘The Old Silkworm House’
In 1837, and for several years thereafter, a gray sandstone obelisk was installed next to a one-story frame residence at the northwest corner of Sixth and Eagle streets.
-
HISTORICAL TREASURE: A blast from valentines past
Valentine’s Day — it brings to mind simple paper valentines and the elaborate, fancy store-bought cards with multiple verses and glittery covers.
-
LOOKING BACK: 1962: Flu outbreak forces Schulte closed
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
-
Original copy of 13th Amendment at Lincoln Library & Museum
A fully signed and recently restored copy of the Congressional resolution for a 13th Amendment to the Constitution, the official act that would abolish slavery in the United States, will be on display in the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum’s Treasures Gallery.
-
BRUCE'S HISTORY LESSON: Freedom of religion — beliefs and actions
Because religious faith is, arguably, the quintessential example of our right to privacy, to say nothing of its prominent place in our First Amendment, throughout our history court cases involving the free exercise of religion have been handled with great trepidation and with particular care. One of the milestone “free exercise” religion cases, Davis v. Beason, was decided by the Supreme Court this week (Feb. 3) in 1890.
-
GENEALOGY: SoCal Genealogical Jamboree coming up in June
The Southern California Genealogical Society announces its 43rd Annual Jamboree, to be staged for three days on June 8-10, at the Los Angeles Marriott Burbank Airport Hotel in Burbank, Calif.
-
LOOKING BACK: 2002: Disco Ernie featured on Maury
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
-
HISTORICAL TREASURE: Flashing the mayor's badge
This mayoral badge was presented to the Vigo County Historical Society by Elizabeth K. Schultz, the granddaughter of Samuel E. Beecher Sr., who served as mayor of Terre Haute from 1936 to 1940.
-
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Deadly tornado devastates York in 1907
John T. Staff loved water and, particularly, the Wabash River.
-
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Notorious Western desperado Ellsworth Wyatt captured in Clay County
In October 1892, Terre Haute police received a circular from the State of Kansas containing a description of Ellsworth Wyatt and offering a $1,200 reward for his capture.
-
LOOKING BACK: 2002: ISU students honor Martin Luther King Jr.
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
-
HISTORICAL TREASURE: News letter filled with wonderful local news
We recently received five bound volumes of copies of the “Terre Haute Onizette,” the Owen-Illinois Glass Company news letter for the Terre Haute Plant.
-
GENEALOGY: Peyton, Downey, Fifer queries and a plea for help from Scotland
This week, we have several queries.
-
Extension plans seminar on land use
The Purdue Extension Land Use Team is hosting a video seminar titled “Welcome to the Plan Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals” from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday.
-
BRUCE'S HISTORY LESSON: Kennedy, Camelot, and other myths
This week (Jan. 20) in 1961, John F. Kennedy was inaugurated as our 35th president, and his tragic death by assassination notwithstanding, his was a mediocre presidency that, undeservedly, became the stuff of legend — in part because of his assassination.
-
Actor to portray Lincoln at dinner for historical society
A special program, “And Lincoln Wrote,” is coming to Harlan Hall in Marshall, Ill., with a featured presentation by Dick Benach as Abraham Lincoln and Chuck Hand as the publisher of the Prairie Beacon.
-
GENEALOGY: Celebrate MLK Day with the Indiana Historical Society
On Monday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Indiana Historical Society will offer free admission to celebrate Martin Luther King Day.
-
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Light Guards savor military and social experiences
Never during the Civil War was there a time when the City of Terre Haute was in danger of hosting an armed conflict involving one or more armies.
-
LOOKING BACK: 1962: 87 high school hoops teams compete in 47th annual Wabash Valley Tournament
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
-
HISTORICAL TREASURE: A bottle of clove oil at the pharmacy
The Historical Treasure for today is a bottle of Clove Oil.
-
LOOKING BACK: 1987: St. Mary’s Parish congregation celebrates 150th anniversary
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
-
HISTORICAL TREASURE: Fire up the jukebox for a great night
The jukebox existed long before Glenn Miller’s “Juke Box Saturday Night” swing version.
-
GENEALOGY: 1752 is one memorable year for genealogists
The year 1752 is one to remember if you have ancestors who lived in areas controlled by Great Britain; and this includes the American colonies.
- More History Headlines
-
LOOKING BACK: 1962: Terre Haute Works of Allis-Chalmers closes








