On May 25, 2011, a large white oak tree — one of the 2,000 or so numbered trees on 324 platted lots in “Edgewood Grove Beautiful” subdivision — fell on our residence. The subdivision plat was recorded on April 12, 1911. Nature apparently has a way of celebrating centennial anniversaries.
Our home was nearly destroyed. We were dispossessed for four months and, despite extraordinary efforts of our insurance company and several contractors, some of our treasured archives were lost, damaged or misplaced.
Moreover, the commitment of time to matters related to that abrupt expulsion prevented this columnist from devoting as much time as usual to historical research.
As a result, we did not complete a self-imposed commitment to recognize the 100th anniversary of the relocation of the Frank Prox Co. from 202-301 N. Ninth St. to a 10-acre site at 1201 S. First St.
The old plant was closed and the five-acre structure which Prox Co. still maintains opened on Nov. 19, 1911, powered by a De La Vergne oil engine. At the time of the move, the firm employed 70 men.
A native of Papenburg, Hanover, Germany, Frank P.H. Prox settled in Terre Haute in 1869, where he was engaged to manage Alexander McGregor’s Distillery, then owned by Herman Hulman.
An accomplished mechanic, coppersmith and plumber, Prox left the distillery in 1875 to join gasfitter David W. Watson in business. Two years later, he embarked on his own and, in 1890, joined John F. Brinkman and William Riley McKeen to acquire Phoenix Foundry & Machine Co., which occupied an entire block on North Ninth Street.
The new company — called Prox & Brinkman Manufacturing Co. — manufactured smokeless steam and hot water boilers, considered the industry’s best.
Prox purchased McKeen’s interest in 1902. Brinkman retired in 1905.
Herman Prox, Frank’s oldest son, joined the business soon after Brinkman’s retirement. Now an important custom machine manufacturer, Prox descendants continue to manage the same facility.
“All of the employees are tickled to death with the new place,” Edward Schoemehl, company treasurer told the Terre Haute Tribune on Nov. 25, 1911. “The new plant is an ideal location. It is altogether different in every way than the old one; it is so much more conveniently and concisely arranged.”
1911 also marked the 100th anniversary of Temple Israel, 540 S. Sixth St.
On Dec. 1 and 2, 1911, Temple Israel was dedicated by Dr. Louis Grossman, rabbi of Cincinnati's Plum Street Temple, recognized as the center of the American Jewish movement, and Rabbi Emil W. Leipziger, founder of Temple Israel.
A native of Stockholm, Sweden, Rabbi Leipziger — later the head of the Touro synagogue in New Orleans — became nationally known for his work in social service and philanthropy.
Temple Israel was designed by noted Jewish architect Simeon B. Eisendrath (1868-1935) and built for the Hebrew Congregation and Burial Association, Terre Haute’s Reform congregation.
At the time, an Orthodox congregation occupied the building now used as the Wabash Senior Citizens Center.
A native of Chicago, Eisendrath became commissioner of buildings in that city and designed the Plymouth Building on Dearborn Street, among other notable structures. He later relocated to New York.
The death of Johnny Benna at age 94 on Nov. 30, 2011, was a historical milestone in a different way.
Benna is one of the last eminent pre-World War II boxers from Terre Haute and the only local pugilist to capture a national Golden Gloves title in Chicago.
Johnny, who advanced to the Chicago finals three consecutive years, won the Golden Gloves lightweight (135-pounds) title in 1938. His older brother Joe also reached the Chicago finals and later coached boxing at Purdue.
The Benna brothers were all-around athletes at Garfield High School.
Local Golden Gloves competition, sponsored for many years by the Tribune-Star Publishing Co., remained popular through the Fifties. Tribune sportswriters Ralph H. White and Bob Nesbit were well known in boxing circles nationwide.
Johnny Benna declined offers to turn professional. Vic Hutton from Farmersburg and Indiana State Teachers College was the 1940 National Amateur Athletic Union light heavyweight champion.
He later became a professional under the name, “Bobby Charles.”
During the pre-war era, Terre Haute hosted pro boxing cards two or three times a month and sometimes produced a professional headliner.
Only bantamweight champion Bud Taylor, light heavyweight contender Tiger Jack Fox and middleweight challenger Sammy “Kid” Slaughter fought for a world title during that era but several other local men, including Greek Jimmy Ryan, Bud Perrill, Eddie Dyer, Jimmy McDermott, Frankie Hughes, Farmer Joe Cooper, Johnny Nasser, Jackie Barnhardt, Andy Kellett, Ward Sparks, Harold Farris, Dick Brokaw and Donald Fagg, competed at elite or near elite levels.
History
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Some events not given adequate attention
- History
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BRUCE’S HISTORY LESSON: Emperor Constantine changes the world
The Emperor Constantine, the first Christian ruler of the Roman Empire and the man who ended that empire’s persecution of Christianity, died this week (May 22) in 337 AD, having lived a life that would change the world.
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GENEALOGY: Library archives contain tons of information
Inside the archives room of the Vigo County Public Library, row after row of fragile documents, rare out-of-print books, and historic photographs are kept on shelves in a humidity and temperature-controlled room.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Historic efforts to open Center Street from Cherry to Swan
Efforts to open Center Street, from Cherry to Swan, spanned a half century or more.
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LOOKING BACK: 2002 — Valley drenched in wettest spring in 107 years
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star. -
HISTORICAL TREASURE: Some history wreathed in hair
From the unfortunate occurrence of Prince Albert’s death in 1861 came the social mores of proper mourning practices and accoutrements witnessed and endorsed by the admirers of Queen Victoria in her reign-long state of grieving.
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LOOKING BACK: 1987: League of Women Voters reorganizes
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 TREASURE: Here comes the bride
The newest major exhibit at the Historical Museum, which opens Tuesday, showcases wedding gowns worn by Vigo County residents.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Downtown changes featured in early 1927
During March and April of 1927 – about 85 years ago – the owners of interests in four major downtown Terre Haute theaters were negotiating to transfer their interests to representatives of Paramount Studios.
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GENEALOGY: Genealogy isn’t for the easily embarrassed
The saying goes, if you’re easily embarrassed or afraid of what you’ll find, don’t start doing genealogy.
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BRUCE’S HISTORY LESSONS: The long, lost, last — the 27th —Amendment
Our very last constitutional amendment — the 27th Amendment — was ratified this week (May 7) in 1992 when Michigan became the 38th state to approve it.
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BRUCE’S HISTORY LESSONS: The Haymarket Square Massacre
One unhappy byproduct of the Industrial Age was the growing discontent of its industrial workers, who constantly agitated for better pay and more humane working conditions.
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LOOKING BACK: 1962: Stands packed as Wiley takes county track title
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and the Tribune-Star.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Death of Terre Haute jeweler gains national headlines
Terre Haute sought national publicity in 1910 through “Boosterism,” lauding the city’s significant advancements during the decade ending Dec. 31, 1909.
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GENEALOGY: Cemetery Committee to conduct restoration workshop
The Wabash Valley Genealogy Society’s Cemetery Committee will conduct an all-day cemetery restoration workshop on Saturday at the Smith Cemetery near Youngstown, Honey Creek Township, Vigo County, Ind.
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HISTORICAL TREASURE: Harmonious history
In 1923, a group of singers calling themselves the Harmony Four entertained regularly over the radio and at civic and various club events.
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BRUCE’S HISTORY LESSONS: Cleveland observes Lincoln’s funeral
The death of America’s greatest president, Abraham Lincoln, resulted in an outpouring of national mourning, the apex of which came in late April of 1865 when a specially outfitted train carried his body on a thirteen-day, 1,700-mile, eleven-city funeral procession from Washington, D.C., to his home and final resting place in Springfield, Ill.
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GENEALOGY: Many people can trace ancestry to Titanic
This month marks the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, which occurred on April 14-15, 1912.
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LOOKING BACK: 1987: ISU bowling team at nationals again
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: Sullivan County mine explosion kills 8 in 1878
Shortly after 4 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 21, 1878, an enormous explosion rocked the Handford Brothers mine about one-half mile north of the Evansville & Terre Haute Railroad depot in Sullivan County.
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HISTORICAL TREASURE: A common feature, but memorable
As an absolute architecture nerd, I tend to look at buildings noticing the odd ball things such as door hinges and door locks in addition to admiring the overall building.
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BRUCE'S HISTORY LESSONS: MLK’s letter written from a jail cell in Birmingham
This week (April 16) in 1963 Martin Luther King Jr. sat in a jail cell in Birmingham, Ala., having been arrested for violating a trumped-up court order that prohibited him and his followers from conducting various protest activities, most of which you can read about in the First Amendment.
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LOOKING BACK: 1962: Swope celebrates 20th anniversary
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: 1955 Babe Ruth League championship team to be feted
Currently in his 25th year as a college baseball coach, Rick Heller is in the midst of his third winning season at Indiana State and has embraced the university and the community.
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GENEALOGY: Long-awaited 1940 census is now available for the public
The long-awaited release of the 1940 census took place on April 2.
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HISTORICAL TREASURE: Memories baked from scratch
On my Historical Treasure hunt, I was drawn to a pasteboard barrel 28 inches high and 18.5 inches across with the words “Calumet Baking Powder Bakes Best, Received Highest Award” on one side and “Calumet Baking Powder Always Pleases, Try It” on the other.
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BRUCE'S HISTORY LESSON: Thomas Jefferson's flights of fancy
Thomas Jefferson, born this week (April 13) in 1743, is — deservedly so — in the pantheon of American heroes.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: J.K. Emmet’s first appearance at the Terre Haute Opera House
The first season of the magnificent Terre Haute Opera House, which featured many of the world’s premier celebrities, was a resounding success.
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GENEALOGY: Black Death had a monumental effect on world
One event in the past had a monumental effect on our ancestors, indeed determining who they would be. This was the advent and spread of bubonic plague, the Black Death. The plague originated in China in 1333. It was caused by a bacterium in fleas, which were carried by rats. The plague spread out of China via trading routes with the West (the Silk Road) and especially on ships, which carried flea-infested rats and provided a closed environment for people to infect each other.
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LOOKING BACK: 1987: 'Banana king' opens Farmer's Market
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 TREASURE: Hunting for sugary Easter treats
Among the many varieties of the Easter egg, none is more charming than the panoramic Sugar Egg. Three were recently given to the Vigo County Historical Museum by Judy Lowe and are shown in an Easter-themed display case in the entry hall.
- More History Headlines
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BRUCE’S HISTORY LESSON: Emperor Constantine changes the world
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