TERRE HAUTE —
A couple of weeks ago this column provided a list of highlights in Vigo County during 1887. Responses suggest that the format was popular.
Accordingly, here is a summary of local highlights for 1882, 130 years ago:
• Jan. 1 — Memorial services honoring Terre Haute merchant Lucius Ryce, who died Dec. 26, are held at the Congregational Church at southeast corner of Sixth and Cherry.
• Jan. 3 — The residences of travel agent Thomas Walmsley, 613 S. Center St., and clothier Leopold Goodman, Jr., 518 S. Fifth St., are burglarized. George W. Shewmaker, pioneer Terre Haute police chief, commits suicide in Indianapolis.
• Jan. 4 — Nat and Eliza Goodwin appeares at Terre Haute Opera House.
• Jan. 7 — Indiana Gov. Albert G. Porter gives a lecture about Indiana history at Normal Hall.
• Jan. 15 — Prominent merchant miller Ralph L. Thompson suddenly dies.
• Jan. 18 — Leather dealer John H. O’Boyle, age 70, dies.
• Jan. 23 — A $30,000 fire takes place at Havens & Geddes, a wholesale notions store at 506 Wabash. Another fire occurs at Mont Rose School., southwest corner of 16th and Franklin streets.
• Jan. 28 — Louis Faust dies of small pox at the Pest House on N. Third St.
• Feb. 6 — Frank Mordaunt stars in “Old Shipmates” at Terre Haute Opera House.
• Feb. 9 — A gang of tramps tries to take possession of a Vandalia train at the depot.
• Feb. 13 — The Terre Haute Gazette moves into new offices at 25 S. 25th St.
• Feb. 15 — Patrick Shannon’s Bank is the victim of grand larceny. Benjamin H. Simmons and Charles Hunt were arrested.
• Feb. 16 — Bill Hicks is arrested while burglarizing the home of A.Z. Foster.
• Feb. 21 — Edwin Booth stars at the Terre Haute Opera House in “Hamlet.”
• Feb. 24 — A fire occurs at the residence of Asa R. Summers, 1319 Sycamore St.
• March 1 — Sarah, wife of Andrew B. Fouts of Fouts, Hunter & Co, carriage manufacturers, dies at 813 Ohio St.
• March 2 — James McLaughlin dies of small pox.
• March 6 — Fanny Davenport, London-born actress, appears at the Terre Haute Opera House. Maud Hosford of Terre Haute, later a star of stage and screen, becomes a night operator at the Telephone Exchange.
• March 7 — Josephus Collett is named receiver of the Illinois Midland Railroad managed by Robert G. Hervey. Burnett & Watson, a blacksmith partnership at 306 Cherry St. consisting of William K. Burnett and William A. Watson is dissolved. Hauck, Miller & Co., cracker makers located in Dowling Hall, also dissolves its partnership.
• March 10 — Banker Patrick Shannon dismisses his lawsuit for libel against Terre Haute architect Charles Eppinghousen.
• March 17 — Joseph K. Emmet stars in “Fritz in Ireland” at opera house.
• March 21 — Robert S. Cox, 628 Swan St., acquires an interest in the Terre Haute Car & Manufacturing Co. Lotta Crabtree appears at Terre Haute Opera House.
• March 23 — Terre Haute lawyer-newspaper publisher Emory P. Beauchamp, 1214 S. Sixth St., is appointed U.S. Consul to St. Gall, Switzerland.
• March 27 — Susan E. Hayden’s secondhand store at 822 Wabash is robbed.
• April 1 — Frank Mayo appears at opera house in “Davy Crockett.”
• April 20 — Former Civil War prisoners have a reunion at Dowling Hall.
• April 21 — Remains of an unknown person are found in the Terre Haute Soap Co. vat. Articles are adopted to form Oak Bluff Cemetery Association.
• April 24 — George Allen and Harry Thompson acquire the Terre Haute Express from James H. McNeely, effective May 1.
• May 5 — Considerable damage is caused by a tornado.
• May 15 — The Blues defeat the Nationals 18-5 in the first pro baseball game of season.
• May 16 — Charles E. Vandever succeeds Harry Russell as police chief.
• May 31 — Minurita Aydelotte conducts an elocution contest at the Terre Haute Opera House. Judges are Col. R.W. Thompson, Isaac N. Pierce and Rev. Charles Croft.
• June 9 — Ray Jenckes and Elijah M. Mering acquires R.L. Thompson’s flour mill.
• June 10 — Ambrose B. Carlton is appointed to the Utah Commission by President Chester Arthur.
• June 16 — Thirty students graduate from Indiana State Normal School.
• June 22-23 — High school commencement is at the Terre Haute Opera House.
• June 28 -- 41st annual commencement takes place at St. Mary of the Woods.
• July 4 — Independence Day celebrations take place at the County fairgrounds and Early Grove.
• Aug. 15 — Harrison Bros. Carriage Co., 321 Cherry St., is destroyed by fire.
• Aug. 16 — Isaac Kendrick is sentenced to life imprisonment for murder of his wife on March 11.
• Aug. 31 — A new county jail is opened at northeast corner of Water and Ohio streets.
• Sept. 10-14 — The ninth annual convention of Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen is held in Terre Haute, the smallest city to host the event.
• Sept. 18 — Eliza Warren, age 81, dies.
• Sept. 19-22 — The city hosts a reunion of Indiana veterans of Mexican and Civil War.
• Sept. 25-29 — The city hosts its eighth annual convention of the Tri-State Medical Society.
• Oct. 6 — U.S. Sen. Benjamin Harrison speaks at the Terre Haute Opera House.
• Oct. 12 — Terre Haute Turn-verein hosts the 10th biennial Indiana Turnfest.
• Oct. 16 — An explosion occurs at Gilman & Reynolds stave factory, 805 N. Second St.
• Oct. 18 — Thatcher, Primrose & West appears at the Terre Haute Opera House.
• Oct. 30 — William “Buffalo Bill” Cody appears at the Terre Haute Opera House for the eighth time since 1873.
• Nov. 2 — The opening night of St. Joseph’s Church Fair takes place at Dowling Hall.
• Nov. 15 — Edwin Seldomridge publishes the first issue of the Terre Haute Democrat.
• Nov. 20 — The residence of former mayor Grafton F. Cookerly, 223 N. 12th St., is damaged by a fire.
• Dec. 6 — A day after being suspended as fire chief, William K. Burnett assaults Lawrence Kretz, his successor.
• Dec. 19 — John O. Hardesty sells the Saturday Courier to Dick Thompson Morgan.
• Dec. 25 — Thomas W. Harper tries to shoot Spencer F. Ball, co-publisher of the Terre Haute Gazette.
History
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Summary of local highlights 130 years ago
- History
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Historical Treasure: The 1947 Terre Haute Phillies and the history of baseball in America’s Crossroads
As another spring blossoms, it is time for another season of baseball to descend upon the city of Terre Haute.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: George Lance dominates intercity golf rivalry in 1927
What was expected to be a close match between two Terre Haute golfers for the 1927 Indiana Amateur Golf championship turned out to be a cakewalk.
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GENEALOGY: Follow ‘Tips on Caring for Documents and Photographs’
I recently read an article called “Tips on Caring for Documents and Photographs,” by Tamara Hemmerlein, Hoosier Heritage Alliance Coordinator for the Indiana Historical Society
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LOOKING BACK: 1988: Teachers issued rubber gloves to use in management of blood, other body fluids
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
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Historical Perspective: Wabash Valley is home to prominent comedy opera stars
Comic opera, a genre consisting of light hearted musicals, was introduced in Europe during the 17th century.
In the 19th century, several female vocalists from the Wabash Valley, earned national celebrity by using that art form to excel. -
Looking back: In 2003, Storm rips off half of Honey Creek Fire Department’s roof
A Saturday morning storm ripped off half of the Honey Creek Fire Department’s roof and caused heavy damage in Allendale. Wind gusts topping 60 miles an hour brought down power lines and trees throughout the county. Hail almost an inch thick and 1.5 inches of rain fell in less than an hour.
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Abundance of shoe stores existed downtown
Spring to me means putting away heavy winter sweaters and bringing out fun lighter sundresses. It also means the possibility of shopping for a new dress or even new shoes.
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Genalogy: Handwriting in 1700s-1800s Copperplate or English Round Hand
The primary style of old handwriting in the mid 1700s through the 1800s is sometimes called Copperplate or English Round Hand. This style of writing is much more recognizable and readable than the older Secretary Hand style discussed last week, and it is much less ornate as well.
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The death of Irish Kate Preston
The lifeless body of Catherine Preston, commonly referred to as “Irish Kate,” was found Saturday morning, Oct. 5, 1895, on a sandbar at the western edge of the Wabash River wagon bridge.
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Looking back: 2003: Sherertz sets nine-hole school record
Terre Haute North Vigo High School’s nine-hole record at Hulman Links was broken by golf team member Matt Sherertz who shot a 4-under-par 32 in a team-record win over Northview.
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Historical perspectives: Railroads were models of innovation and growth in Haute
Railroads have played an important part in the building of our nation and in the history of Terre Haute. It is no small wonder that these amazing machines were turned into children’s toys, as well as models for the more mature train enthusiast.
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‘Foreign’ letters to confuse a genealogist
Any serious family researcher will at some time or another encounter old documents in an older handwriting style that need to be read and deciphered.
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1988: 700 teachers unite in protest
At least 700 teachers were absent from their Vigo County School Corp. schools as part of a job action to protest lack of progress in contract negotiations.
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Genealogy: Vigo County Gold Star Honor Roll
FamilySearch International recently announced “the release of significant new enhancements to its web services that allow visitors to collaboratively build their family tree online, preserve and share precious family photos and stories, and receive personal research assistance–all for free.”
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‘Far-sound’ rings in a new era
This week’s Historic Treasure is an invention that changed life, as we know it in a great way, the telephone.
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Historical perspective: Venard: soldier in the War of 1812
His name was Stephen Venard. For more than 50 years he resided in Terre Haute, without fanfare, with his wife and a daughter. Much of that time was spent in the 400 block on N. First St.
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Looking Back: 2003: Mark Cook brings blues home
Mark Cook returned to Terre Haute to play with fellow musicians in the Cook-N-Blues group at Brazil and Terre Haute.
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Historical perspective: Attempted carriage-jacking thwarted
Nineteenth century newspapers covered several topics that might astonish current readers. For example, the front page of the Terre Haute Weekly Gazette on Nov. 16, 1878 – 135 years ago – reported on the bold attempt by four “villains” to rob two women riding in a carriage immediately west of the fairgrounds at Brown and Wabash avenues:
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Genealogy: Dutchman seeks family of missing soldier
Query: I live in the Netherlands and recently I have adopted the name of American PFC Joseph P. Nelson at the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten. He was killed in action on Dec. 5, 1944, and his name is on the Walls of the Missing.
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Sewing Society keeps hospital in linen, supplies
When Tracy Pruitt came across a small box of old ledgers and receipt books recently, his first impulse was to throw it away. But he decided to sit down and examine its contents. In doing so, he discovered a story.
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Looking Back: 1963: Officials prepare for disaster
City officials were studying survival plans in case of a natural disaster or attack by an enemy source. Gilbert Leonard was the director of Vigo County Defense.
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Genealogy: Gold Star Honor Roll: Vigo County
This week continues with the Gold Star Honor Roll (those who died in WW I) from the Wabash Valley. The Vigo County list is long and will be run in three parts.
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River boat models capture glory of former culture
In the River portion of the latest exhibit at the Vigo County Historical Society museum are two models of river paddle boats created by Alfred F. Nehf.
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Historical perspective: Babe Holland: advocate for equality
Wherever Terre Haute native William Sylvester Holland roamed, he made an impact.
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Historical Perspective: Terre Haute’s architectural heritage
Much more than is commonly recognized, Terre Haute has a rich and diverse legacy of landscapes designed by some of the nation’s most talented architects.
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Genealogy: A search for names from broken stones
This week there is a query about an old cemetery in Parke County, that is believed to have been destroyed:
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Hidden treasures: Laborers phased out by machines
Today’s historical treasure will intone to many people an early experience of practical labor. For others, this artifact might lack a contextual notion.
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Looking back: 2003: Two men rob Terre Haute First National Bank
Two men robbed Terre Haute First National Bank’s banking center at Southland Plaza, South Seventh Street and Margaret Avenue. It was the first bank robbery in Terre Haute since November 2000.
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Interurban makes city Crossroads of America
Electric transportation is not a new technology. With the arrival of the electric car we are reminded that electric technology has a long history in Terre Haute.
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The tale of the Wabash River
On March 14, 1913, the Indiana General Assembly adopted “On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away,” by Terre Haute native Paul Dresser, as Indiana’s state song.
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