When Harry G. Sleight retired in September 1910 after 37 consecutive years of service as the car accountant for the Terre Haute & Indianapolis Railroad (TH&I;), he was honored by his employer and the Association of Transportation and Accounting Officers.
Feted by the accounting organization at their annual dinner in Cape May, N.J., Sleight was introduced as a man “who belongs to that class, far too small, whose influence is felt more by what they do than by what they say.”
He began working for the TH&I; on March 17, 1873. Harry and his wife Harriet, who resided at 526 S. Fifth St. in Terre Haute for many years, moved to Boston in early 1911 to be closer to maiden daughter Hattie, a supervisor of the Boston public schools.
Son Harry H. Sleight also was residing in the East, making a name for himself in New York theater. Referred to on Broadway as H. Hartwell Sleight and H.H. Sleight, Harry was a clerk for the TH & I until early 1901.
Sleight made his New York stage debut Sept. 24, 1901, in “Miranda of the Balcony,” the first show presented by producer -director Harrison Grey Fiske after he leased the Manhattan Theater at 102 West 33rd St. from owners William Brady and Florenz Ziegfield.
Fiske acquired an interest in the playhouse to provide his wife, Minnie Maddern Fiske, with more exposure. The venture was successful. “Mrs. Fiske,” as Harrison’s wife was known, was considered as one of Broadway’s most popular actresses
H. H. Sleight often appeared at the Manhattan Theater, most of the time in a play with Mrs. Fiske in the leading role, including “The Unwelcome Mrs. Hatch” (1901), “Captain Molly,” (1902) and “The Earl of Pawtucket” (1903).
In 1916, Sleight had a major role in “The Co-Respondent,” at the Booth Theater.
III
Sleight was not the only former Terre Haute resident doing well on Broadway.
Beatrix Doane, who grew up with her uncle, Elva Wallace, at 118 S. Fifth St. in Terre Haute, catapulted to stardom after appearing in “Funabashi” at the Casino Theater at 39th and Broadway in early 1908.
“Miss Doane” next was cast in the musical, “The Golden Butterfly,” starring Grace Van Studdiford at the Broadway Theater at 41st Street. It opened Oct. 12, 1908.
On June 22, 1911, Doane (now spelling her name “Beatrice”) debuted at the Globe Theater at 205 W. 46th St., known today as the Lunt-Fontanne Theater, in “The Red Rose,” with Terre Haute actress Valeska Suratt having the marquee role.
Married to Harry Stein, Doane played Tita, the lead chorus girl, in the musical. Suratt not only was the lead actress and vocalist in “The Red Rose,” but also was in charge of scenic and costume design.
Coincidentally, Terre Haute actor Ira Lyndon Law was lead tenor in “The Old Town,” based upon a book by Hoosier author George Ade, when it opened Jan. 10, 1910. It was the first performance in the Charles Dillingham’s Globe Theater.
On July 16, 1911, Suratt presented the New York City Park Commissioners with $5,000 to install a fountain in a small triangular plaza at 46st and Broadway near the Globe Theater.
“Out in San Francisco,” Valeska told a New York Morning Telegraph reporter, “there is a tiny square just like this one and, 30 years ago, the actress Lotta presented the Lotta Fountain to that city. It is still one of the landmarks of San Francisco.
“I hope you will accept this fountain,” Suratt told New York Park Commissioner Stover, “which will in time, perhaps, become known as a landmark of upper Broadway.”
Valeska did not insist that the fountain be named for her but did not object to a suggestion that it be called “The Suratt Fountain of Youth.”
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Anna M. Hoffman-Hancock, the 26-year-old daughter of John W. Hoffman, yeastmaker at the Terre Haute Brewing Co., and his wife Amelia, spent the 1910-11 theatrical season in “Judy Forgot,” a musical starring Marie Cahill, at a vaudeville theater in Brooklyn, N.Y.
In late June 1911, she was engaged to play the principal role in “The Larboard Watch,” a summer musical comedy presented by the Butler Opera Company at the Cort Theater in Chicago, which opened July 8.
Anna’s brother Charles B. Hoffman, manager of the Terre Haute Automobile Co., attended the grand opening, as did Pearl Ellis.
Though Hoffman studied under some of the best-known voice teachers in the world, she considered Ellis, her Terre Haute tutor, better than any of the rest.
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By July 1911, the chain of 25-cent department stores established by the three Rothschild brothers from Terre Haute — Will, Harry and Ed — had grown to 25 units
The first eight stores in the syndicate, formed in 1910, were located in New York and eastern Pennsylvania.
The brothers were sons of Louis Rothschild, a former partner with Samuel Frank in the Terre Haute garment-making business.
The Rothschild boys gained experience in syndicate management by acquiring six “five-and-ten-cent” stores. Later, they expanded the concept by originating the idea of a “25-cent” department store.
The Rothschilds’ “five-and dime” stores were sold in 1910 to Kresges, then a relatively unknown competitor to the Woolworth and Knox chains.
History
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: The summer of 1911 … that was an interesting time for former TH residents
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GENEALOGY: Columnist seeks info on families from Dana
Perhaps someone out there can help me with something I’ve been working on for quite a few years
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Early Terre Haute theater includes Billy Emerson
Traveling theater troupes performed in Terre Haute before the village was incorporated on Jan. 26, 1832.
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HISTORICAL TREASURE: Radiant heating — a hot idea
This week’s Historical Treasure is a bit out of season, but a wood stove will help drive away the morning chill and you can make breakfast on it.
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LOOKING BACK: 1987: Record-breaking temps hit Vigo
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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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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GENEALOGY: Columnist seeks info on families from Dana
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