TERRE HAUTE —
2002
• George Azar was elected to a second term as president of the Terre Haute City Council.
• According to Indiana State Police records, Vigo County led the state in methamphetamine lab busts for the second consecutive year. Of the 681 lab busts, 104 or about 15 percent were in the county. Lt. Mark Hartman, Indiana State Police Terre Haute Post commander, said the number indicated “good law enforcement.”
• The organ in the new White Chapel on the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology campus was dedicated with a concert by world-class organist Thomas Hazleton.
• Chris Barrett left the West Vigo High School football program to become the head coach at Terre Haute North Vigo, replacing Wayne Stahley who had resigned.
• Deborah Hickman, retired West Vigo Middle School art teacher, was chosen as “Artist of the Month” by the Wabash Valley Art Guild.
• Retired Col. David Eberly returned to his hometown of Brazil to promote his book, "”Faith Beyond Belief.” He had been the highest-ranking prisoner of war during Operation Desert Storm.
1987
• The basic design of Jim Trimble of Trimble Sign Co. was chosen for the new Indiana license plate.
• “Back Home in Indiana” replaced “Wander Indiana.”
• Robert Baesler, owner of Baesler’s Super Valu at 1101 S. 25th St., opened his new B-Quick 24-hour convenience store and gas station at South Seventh Street and Springhill Road with Doug Samuels as manager. Baesler also owned the B-Quick at 408 S. Seventh St.
• The congregation of St. Mary’s Parish at St. Mary-of-the-Woods Village celebrated its 150th anniversary. Mass was first said at the parish in a log cabin on Jan. 6, 1837.
• The operation of license branch offices by county chairmen of the same political party as the governor ended by action of the General Assembly. In Terre Haute, the branch office was moved from The Meadows to 1318 Ohio St. The branch at Southland was not affected by this pilot program.
• Ray Reedy was doing business at his Reedy’s Auto & Truck Repair at 1315 Wabash Ave. after moving from 497 Margaret Ave.
1962
• The South Branch of the Vigo County Public Library was now open at 3600 S. Seventh St. Branches at the Meadows Shopping Center and West Terre Haute were also in operation.
• The new Indiana State College book store, a split-level building on the southeast corner of Sixth and Chestnut streets, opened. Doris Staggs was the manager.
• Terre Haute Mutual Savings Association, 669 Ohio St., celebrated “an uninterrupted record of safety and dividend payments on savings accounts for over 75 years.” Warren D. Miller was president.
• The 1962 New March of Dimes staged an Air Lift at Hulman Field with 18 airplanes taking passengers on plane rides over the city at a cost of $2 per person. The Garfield High School Choir, directed by Gene Esperson, performed at the event, which was chaired by Edgar Brosman.
• The Miller-Parrott Baking Co. at Seelyville erected seven 38-foot tall silos for its new bulk storage system as part of the plant expansion project. Each silo was to hold 110,000 pounds of flour or 150,000 pounds of sugar.
History
LOOKING BACK: 1987: St. Mary’s Parish congregation celebrates 150th anniversary
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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.
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BRUCE’S HISTORY LESSON: Emperor Constantine changes the world




