TERRE HAUTE — Terre Haute’s historic 12 Points was alive and well Saturday as community members came together to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Tilford Variety Store on Lafayette Avenue.
Cecil Tilford, 83, first opened the store with his late wife Doris in 1968 down the street from its current location. When smoke and water damage from an electrical fire in 2002 were too much to repair, he re-opened in a commercial space of the old 12 Points Hotel.
A postal sub-station is also operated from the Tilford Variety Store. Tilford has been in the area for so long, many have come to know him as “the Mayor of 12 Points.”
Dozens of people walked up and down Lafayette Avenue listening to the self-playing piano from the Old Piano Shop, eating ice cream or just chatting and catching up outside Tilford’s store.
“You don’t see that too much in 12 Points,” Tilford said about the crowd filling the street.
Among those who stopped by to congratulate Tilford on his 40 years were Terre Haute Police Chief John Plasse and Terre Haute Mayor Duke Bennett.
Plasse remembered stopping at Tilford’s to buy candy with his friends after delivering newspapers sometime in the mid to late 1970s, he said.
“It was good for us kids, who couldn’t drive,” he said about the store. “It’s more personalized [than chain stores] because he knew us by name, and he still remembered me.”
Though Plasse doesn’t make it to Tilford’s as much as he used to, he was glad to be able to make it back Saturday joining in the others to honor him.
“Back then, all these places were full,” he said as he looked up and down the street, but competing with shopping center, malls and discount chain stores have since put them out of business. “It’s not going away, that’s the main thing. It just may be a little smaller.”
Ray Kemp, 77, of Terre Haute echoed Plasse’s accounts.
Kemp, who was a police officer from 1955 to 1979, used to “walk the beat” in 12 Points when it was full of life, he said. People need to realize they need more “mom and pop businesses,” he said.
“A variety store, you can go in there and buy things you wouldn’t find anywhere else,” Kemp said.
Neither Kemp or Plasse were surprised by the turnout of people to visit Tilford and celebrate his accomplishments because he’s been around for so long.
Even growing up on Terre Haute’s east side, Bennett said he always heard about Tilford’s.
“People have grown up with Tilford’s,” he said. “It’s a generational thing.”
Bennett publicly thanked Tilford for his “willingness to stay the course.”
“Cecil, you’ve done an excellent job, and you really are the honorary mayor of 12 Points,” Bennett said.
Following Bennett’s remarks, Rich Curtis, president of the 12 Points Greater Northside Association, presented Tilford with a plaque honoring his 40 years of business. Then, one by one, community members took the mic to share Tilford stories.
One woman spoke about moving to the area during the blizzard of 1978 with two 11-year-old boys, who weren’t happy about the move until they discovered Tilford’s. A man said northside’s baseball wouldn’t be what it is today without Tilford, who sponsored many teams over the years.
It wasn’t all memories of the good old days, though as 8-year-old Mary Katherine Bedwell took the mic to talk about how much she loves buying candy at Tilford’s.
“I love Mr. Tilford like he’s my grandpa …,” she said. “I love shopping at his store and buying all his candy.”
Curtis said having a celebration like this one is important because it could help revitalize 12 Points, which is the goal of the nonprofit 12 Points Greater Northside Association.
He’s known Tilford for seven years and said his work ethic is what makes him stand out and despite having severely injuring his hip in a car accident in 1954 causing him to be in pain every day, but still going to work.
“I’ve never seen anybody with a work ethic like Cecil,” Curtis said. “He’s always willing to lend a hand. He’s part of the community.”
Even as the celebration was taking place, Tilford often had to be dragged from behind the counter in the store to be recognized.
It’s that work ethic Tilford has attributed his success to, as his advice for other small business owners was: “Don’t give up and don’t get discouraged.”
For more information about the 12 Points Greater Northside Association, call (812) 232-7170.
Crystal Garcia can be reached at (812) 231-4271 or crystal.garcia@tribstar.com.
Local & Bistate
Community celebrates 40th anniversary of the Tilford Variety Store
‘People have grown up with Tilford’s,’ Mayor Bennett says
- Local & Bistate
-
-
Packing the hall
If you didn’t come early, the seats were hard to find.
-
Alternative-fuel project has Rose, ISU students all charged up
The future of Earth’s auto industry is intertwined with the career prospects of local university students, and a world-class team shined with green energy Sunday.
-
Montford Point Marine
In 1943, 19-year-old Ezell Odom was on the sandy beach of a tiny South Pacific island about 7,000 miles from his parent’s home in Terre Haute.
-
K-9 officer Shadow honored as a hero
A Terre Haute K-9 officer injured in the line of duty has been honored as a hero by the Indiana Veterinary Medical Association.
-
Freezin’ for a Reason
Hundreds lined up outside Hulman Center amid frigid air to participate in a warm-hearted cause.
-
Even as law, right-to-work dominates crackerbarrel
The flames of the right-to-work debate were gone, but the coals still seemed to smolder.
-
Vigo School Board to give OK on bonds for DeVaney project
The Vigo County School Board will meet at 6 p.m. Monday in the administration building, 686 Wabash Ave.
-
Bridging the gap to ‘forever’
They can be taken from their homes by strangers for reasons they may not understand, with no possessions other than the clothes they are wearing.
-
Students showcase keen problem-solving skills at Rose-Hulman
For the 16th straight year, Honey Creek Middle School students came out on top in the Wabash Valley MATHCOUNTS competition at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.
-
Ivy Tech to celebrate Black History Month
Ivy Tech Community College will celebrate Black History Month with a series of events at its campuses statewide.
-
Whitney Houston, superstar of records, films, dies
Whitney Houston, who ruled as pop music's queen until her majestic voice and regal image were ravaged by drug use, erratic behavior and a tumultuous marriage to singer Bobby Brown, has died. She was 48.
-
Giant welcome home for Steve
Terre Haute was suddenly home to thousands of cheering New York Giants fans Friday as residents welcomed Super Bowl champion Steve Weatherford back home for a parade.
-
‘One for Terre Haute,’ Steve tells crowd at North
“This one was for Terre Haute,” native son Steve Weatherford proclaimed Friday as he shared his Super Bowl victory with the community that helped send him on the path to a world championship.
-
Hometown support vital to success, Weatherford says
Steve Weatherford said Friday he wouldn’t be celebrating a Giants’ Super Bowl victory if not for the support he’s received from his hometown, his parents and mentors in his life.
-
Craning for a rare glimpse
A visitor from the Far East has naturalists flying to Linton, hoping some good comes from one bird’s bad directions.
-
Vigo’s primary election filings complete
The slate is set for the May 8 primary election, with the race for three at-large seats on the Vigo County Council drawing the largest pool of candidates at the county level.
-
Documentary on electric vehicles plays Sunday at Rose
The rising popularity of electric vehicles and their impact on the world eco-system is the focus of a documentary, “Revenge of the Electric Car,” being presented at 3 p.m. Sunday in Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology’s Hatfield Hall Theater.
-
Man gets 10-year sentence in battery case
A West Terre Haute man received a 10-year prison sentence Friday after pleading guilty to aggravated battery for beating a friend caught in bed with the man’s wife.
-
Asian hooded crane lands in Greene County wildlife area
Bird watchers are flocking to a southwestern Indiana wildlife area to try to catch a glimpse of a crane usually spotted only in Asia.
-
Slow drips: It’s maple syrup season in Indiana
More seasonal, colder temperatures will hit the Wabash Valley this weekend, which is ideal weather for maple syrup production, said Keith Ruble, superintendent of the Vigo County Parks and Recreation Department.
However, Ruble voices concern that this year’s maple syrup season may be short.
-
Downtown restaurant celebrates expansion
The streets of Terre Haute were chilly Thursday night, but for the glow of hot pasta inside Louise’s Pizzeria and Cafe.
-
Contract signed for new Y
Papers are signed and the ink is in place for a new YMCA to operate in Terre Haute.
-
City to impose $30 release fee on towed vehicles
The Terre Haute City Council voted without opposition Thursday to impose a new $30 release fee on vehicles towed and impounded by the police as part of a criminal investigation.
-
Valley educators cautious on Indiana’s ‘No Child’ waiver
Indiana is one of 10 states to receive a waiver from federal No Child Left Behind requirements.
-
Driver dies after Illinois school bus crash
“Brace yourself. Brace yourself,” Fay Pickering shouted to her students just before the school bus she was driving crossed U.S. 40 and landed in a ditch Thursday morning.
-
Trial date set for former WTH police chief
A July 23 trial date has been set for a former police chief of West Terre Haute accused of theft.
-
Motorcycle gang member pleads guilty in federal court
A member of an Indianapolis motorcycle gang who delivered methamphetamine to a Terre Haute dealer has pleaded guilty to drug charges in federal court.
-
July trial date set for mother charged with child neglect
A July 30 trial date has been set for a Terre Haute mother charged with neglecting and battering her toddler.
-
Business hosting SPPRAK fundraiser
Java Haute is hosting the latest fundraiser sponsored by SPPRAK — Special People Performing Random Acts of Kindness.
-
Valley high school cooking competition under way today
Clabber Girl Corp. and Gordon Food Services will host the fourth-annual High School Chef Competition, beginning today through Saturday, and again Feb. 18, in the Culinary Classroom at Clabber Girl.
- More Local & Bistate Headlines
-
Raw Video: Greek Rioting Ahead of Austerity Vote
Pop Music Superstar Whitney Houston Dies at 48
Greece Passes New Austerity Deal Amid Rioting
Coroner: Houston Autopsy Results Weeks Away
Raw Video: Whitney Houston's Last Performance
Reaction to Houston's Death at Clive Davis Party
Whitney Houston's Church Mourns Her Passing
Raw Video: Child Rescued After Kosovo Avalanche
Police: Houston Found Dead in Her Hotel Room
Severe Cold Wreaks Havoc in China
Fans 'Speechless' Over Houston's Death
Fuel Removal Under Way on Capsized Italian Ship
79 Turtles Seized at Shanghai Airport
Snow Strands Italian Towns
Video of M.I.A's Obscene Halftime Gesture
Paul Suffers Narrow Loss to Romney in Maine
Palin Brings Anti-Washington Message to CPAC
Stocks Fall Sharply As Greek Deal Is Held Up
Recording Superstar Whitney Houston Dead at 48
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
'Rumor Has It' Adele's Rolling in the Grammys
Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson after the Pebble Beach Pro Am-2/12
Exclusive Video: Bobbi Kristina Leaving Hospital
2012 Grammys: Rihanna
Raw Video: Aurora Borealis As Seen From Space
2012 Grammys: Taylor Swift
Exclusive Video - Whitney's Bodybag
FUEL TV: Punk Payback Gym tips
Whitney's Final Days - EXCLUSIVE
Romney Tops Santorum in CPAC Straw Poll
First glimpse of Blue Ivy Carter
Angry Dad Shoots Teens Laptop
Peek inside Barbie's closet
Absolute Lin-sanity
Madonna's Daughter Shaves Head
5 Killed in Wrong-way Crash on I-10 in La.
Test on Comforter in Powell Unit Shows Blood
Hero Driver Saves Kids From Burning Bus
