TERRE HAUTE —
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
2003
• Local residents woke up to find “snow rollers” on the snow-covered landscape. Indiana State University faculty member Greg Bierly explained that high winds must blow into a shallow layer of wet snow on top of a crustier layer to create these jellyroll formations. No one seemed to remember seeing them before.
• Attorney General John Ashcroft named Harley Lappin, warden of the U.S. Penitentiary-Terre Haute from 1998 to 2001, to the position of director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
• Rep. John Hostettler (8th District) was moving his Terre Haute office from the Federal Building to the Fuson Building, 901 Wabash Ave.
• Rachel Lukens, senior at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and 1999 graduate of Terre Haute South Vigo High School, was named by USA Today as one of 20 students on its All-USA College Academic Second Team. She was the only Indiana resident to make the list.
• The “Devil’s Cadillac,” a motorcycle handcrafted by Terre Haute firefighter Matt Burris, took Best of Show at the Easyriders National Invitational Bike Show in Columbus, Ohio.
1988
• Some Terre Haute City Council members questioned the practice of giving out property tax breaks everywhere in the city instead of establishing districts to encourage clustered development.
• The Vigo County Teachers Association, headed by John Bitzegaio, declared an impasse in contract negotiations with the Vigo County School Corp.
• The Brian Dorsett Baseball Clinic was offered for boys, age 8 to 13 years, at the Terre Haute Boys Club. Dorsett, a member of the Cleveland Indians, was one of the professional players who taught the fundamentals of the game.
• The official name of the Swope Art Gallery, 25 S. Seventh St., was changed to the Sheldon Swope Art Museum. Too many people had assumed it was a commercial art gallery instead of a place to conserve and display art. Edward R. Quick was the director.
• Honey Creek Junior High School’s girls won their fourth straight ninth grade girls basketball championship and the boys team followed with its own title in the tournament games at Chauncey Rose Junior High School.
1963
• The State Fire Marshal was in Terre Haute to begin the investigation of the city’s gas mains after an explosion injured 18 persons. The Swap Shop, 1600 Lafayette Ave., the You-Are-Next Barber Shop next door, and three homes had been demolished. The causes of three explosions, beginning with the Home Packing Co. during the first 37 days of 1963, remained “official mysteries.”
• The Vigo County School Corp. schools reopened after a two-day closing for inspection of gas lines. Thirty-five buildings in the system had gas service and 14 had gas heating plants.
• The Home Packing Co. Employees’ Relief Fund had reached more than $52,000 and was being distributed “on a needs basis.” The explosion had killed 16, injured 32, and put some 250 employees out of work.
• Indiana State College launched on-campus, closed circuit television instruction. Dr. William H. Hopp and Dr. Tom C. Venable were the two professors teaching this “revolutionary method.” Co-axial cables linking all campus buildings to the Radio TV Center had been installed in the underground tunneling of the campus.
History
LOOKING BACK: 1988: Official name of the Swope changed
- History
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Looking back: In 1988, the drought caused water shortages in Parke and Vermillion counties
The drought caused water shortages in Parke and Vermillion counties. Both Montezuma and Cayuga were selling record amounts of water to farmers and residents of neighboring towns.
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Federation of Genealogical Societies conference in August
The Federation of Genealogical Societies will stage its 2013 conference Aug. 21-24 at the Grand Wayne Convention Center in Fort Wayne.
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Historical perspective: Engraver Fahnestock among local headlines in 1856
While perusing antique Terre Haute newspapers, the following story by editor-publisher Robert N. Hudson in the April 2, 1856 issue of the “Terre Haute Daily Express” attracted attention:
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Terre Haute fortunate to have a fine symphony orchestra
We are fortunate in Terre Haute to have a fine symphony orchestra as one of our entertainment venues.
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Looking back: In 1988, the Children’s Science and Technology Museum of Terre Haute opens in Central Christian Church
Eighty persons attended the opening of the Children’s Science and Technology Museum of Terre Haute, housed in the lower level of Central Christian Church, 720 Larry Bird Ave.
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Genealogy: Any community can take advantage of cultural tourism
Cultural tourism is a subset of the tourism industry that focuses on a region’s cultural heritage, lifestyle, history, geography, art and architecture. We may think of it as something elaborate and grand, like traveling to Europe or Africa to experience the culture of our ancestors, but it can take place in almost any community.
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Historic treasure: Fold-up map fit in glove box of Model T
My maternal grandparents used to love to tell the story of how they decided on the driver/navigator orientation on their road trips after their retirement.
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Histori9cal perspective: Mace and Hyde included among significant educators
Since this column was launched in January 1995, it has emphasized notable accomplishments of past and present Wabash Valley residents.
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Historical perspective: The death of newspaper publisher George M. Allen
The name of George Murdoch Allen, editor and publisher of the Terre Haute Express for 16 years, is rarely mentioned today.
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Genalogy: Gen Gathering site a great opportunity to volunteer
Gen Gathering is a website that aims to match volunteers who have access to resources and are willing to do someone a favor, with researchers who need help.
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Looking back: In 2003, Terre Haute Police Department resumes bicycle patrols downtown
In 2003, members of the Terre Haute Police Department resumed bicycle patrols in the downtown area.
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Historical treasures: Horses, buggies and the Fouts and Hunter Carriage and Manufacturing Company
In her history of the Fouts and Hunter Carriage and Manufacturing Company, Mae Hunter Weinstein wrote that her father, William Robert Hunter, always had a song in his heart. Maybe that joyful spirit helped Hunter and his son keep the company going from the Civil War through World War I.
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GENEALOGY: Info sought on people buried in Clay County
This week, we have several queries.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: O.C. Simonds’ ideas launched Fairbanks Park
Among the first serious efforts to beautify the landscape near the Wabash River in Terre Haute occurred early in the 20th Century.
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LOOKING BACK: 1988: The Waffle House closes after 21 years
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: Davis Gardens: Once one of the largest greenhouses in world
Another rainy spring day kept me out of the garden so I decided to research some gardening history at the Vigo County Historical Museum.
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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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