TERRE HAUTE —
This week’s Historical Treasure highlights both an artifact and a larger exhibit currently on display at the Vigo County Historical Museum. The exhibit features Eastern Express Inc., a business founded in 1946 by Wilson M. House, and headquartered here in Terre Haute. From the humble beginnings of a $50,000 investment, the business quickly grew to become a nationally recognized multi-million dollar company with an extensive transport network stretching from the Eastern Seaboard to the Midwest.
Welby M. Frantz, who was hired as executive vice president under Wilson House at the company’s founding, was instrumental in Eastern Express’ success. Franz served as the executive vice president until 1962, when he was elected president of the company. In 1970, he became vice chairman of the board.
The historical artifact of focus for this article is a telegram dated Aug. 10, 1964, inviting Frantz to have lunch at the White House at 1 p.m. with President Lyndon B. Johnson. Frantz and approximately 150 other guests attended the lunch and shook President Johnson’s hand.
This was not the first time that Frantz had met a president. Frantz went to the White House in 1961 and met President John F. Kennedy. At that time Frantz was serving as chairman of the board for the American Trucking Association. Newspaper clippings with photos and details of these presidential meetings are in the museum’s archives.
The final presidential connection is a letter from Ronald Reagan, while he was the governor of California, welcoming members of the National Defense Transportation Association, of which Frantz was a member, to their Annual Transportation and Logistics Forum.
All of these interesting connections between a Terre Haute businessman and presidents of the United States are taken from primary and secondary documents stored in the archives of the Vigo County Historical Museum. Come see the exhibit and explore the archives. You never know what interesting things you will find.
Museums
Historical Treasure: Eastern Express and the presidential connection
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Back home again: Items from vaudeville stage and Terre Haute native sent to Historical Society
The staff at the Vigo County Historical Museum are excited about the arrival of priceless items used by Terre Haute-native Rose Fehrenbach and her husband, Edward Pierce, to promote their Vaudeville acts in the early 20th century.
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Terre Haute Children’s Museum celebrates dads June 16
The Terre Haute Children’s Museum is celebrating dads by giving them free admission to the museum on Father’s Day, which is Sunday, June 16.
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Fire and Police Museum now open Saturdays
The Historical Fire Station No. 9, Fire and Police Museum at 1728 S. Eighth St., has reopened for the summer.
- Museums listings: June 13, 2013
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Special Olympians: Win museum admission for yourself, friends
Bridges of Indiana and Child Adult Resource Services are teaming up with the Terre Haute Children’s Museum to sponsor a unique opportunity for the athletes of the 2013 Special Olympics Indiana Summer Games.
- MUSEUMS/EXHIBITIONS: June 6, 2013
- MUSEUMS/EXHIBITIONS: May 30, 2013
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Still time to register for Terre Haute Children's Museum Summer Camps
Does your child get excited about conducting wacky science experiments? Maybe he or she is interested in space exploration? Or, perhaps your child is adventurous and loves exploring or solving mysteries? If so, be sure to check out the schedule of summer camp programs at the Terre Haute Children's Museum.
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Vonnegut Library offering admission to military
The Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library is helping to announce the launch of Blue Star Museums for 2013, a collaboration of the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and more than 1,800 museums across America to offer free admission to all active duty military personnel and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day 2013.
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Indiana State Museum to host out-of-this-world exhibition
It’s the last weekend in May, and Indianapolis is playing host to the immensely popular, vividly imagined blockbuster exhibition highlighting life in “a galaxy far, far away.” Beginning Saturday, the Indiana State Museum will host Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination.
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Eastern Illinois University’s Tarble Arts Center offers summer children’s classes
Summer children’s art classes at the Tarble Arts Center, Eastern Illinois University, begin June 10. All courses are open to both Tarble Arts Center members and non-members, with Tarble members receiving a 20 percent discount on course fees.
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Museum listings: May 23, 2013
ART SPACES INC., 669 Ohio St., info@wabashvalleyartspaces.com
May 23 — Art and River Chatter, “What Does Art Have to do With Rivers? Part II”, presenters Mark Minster and Tom Roznowski, 5:15 p.m., Logan’s Rib-Eye Restaurant, 100 S. Fruitridge Ave.
Call 812-235-2801. -
Lincoln’s library honors Illinois fallen soldiers
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is hosting an exhibit of drawings of fallen Illinois soldiers.
- MUSEUMS/EXHIBITIONS: May 16, 2013
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IHS announces lineup for Concerts on the Canal, reprise of 'Museum Nights on the Canal'
INDIANAPOLIS —There are plenty of ways to enjoy downtown Indianapolis in the summer, and the Indiana Historical Society is offering two — both time-honored favorite Concerts on the Canal and its Museum Nights on the Canal program.
- MUSEUMS/EXHIBITIONS: May 9, 2013
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Indiana Artisan works on display at Clabber Girl
Combining the strength of their individual artwork into exhibitions of exceptional depth, 29 Indiana Artisans have partnered on Indiana Artisan: Paintings and Drawings.
Ten Indiana Artisans have continued the statewide series as the Clabber Girl Gallery opened the exhibit on Tuesday. It will continue through May 30. - MUSEUMS/EXHIBITIONS: May 2, 2013
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‘Sweet Sensations: Country Jam’ fundraiser hopes to round up support for Vigo County Historical Society
Community members are encouraged to pull on their western boots, don their cowboy hats and mosey on over to the Ohio Building on May 4 for “Sweet Sensations: Country Jam,” a fundraiser for the Vigo County Historical Society, and a program of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Indiana State University.
- MUSEUMS/EXHIBITIONS: April 25, 2013
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Scenes from Robin Hood adaptation, “The Untold Story of Little John” April 21 at Children’s Museum
We all know the story of Robin Hood, the man who robbed from the rich and gave to the poor and defeated the evil Sheriff of Nottingham, freeing his people from the tyrannical reign of Prince John. We also know how this could not have been accomplished without Little John, Robin Hood’s loyal side-kick who stayed by him through thick and thin. But do we know what happened next?
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Exhibit opens April 20 for River City Art Association
River City Art Association members are scheduled to exhibit their work Saturday through May 11 in Gaslight Art Colony’s gallery at 516 Archer Ave., in Marshall, Ill. An artists’ reception is set for 6 to 9 p.m. CDT Saturday.
- MUSEUMS/EXHIBITIONS: April 18, 2013
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Halcyon exhibition features USI art faculty’s work
Throughout April, Halcyon Art Gallery is presenting an invitational exhibition featuring the work of art faculty from the University of Southern Indiana, Evansville.
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Terre Haute photographer’s ‘Filmstrips’ on exhibit at Palestine Art Center
The Palestine Art Center will feature the work of Terre Haute photographer Sean Hoisington in the exhibition “Filmstrips” throughout April in the main gallery.
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Fairy tales just might come true at Children’s Museum event on April 20
The Terre Haute Children’s Museum is hosting its second annual Fairy Tale Ball from 6 to 9 p.m. on April 20.
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Crawford County historical museum featuring replica of Lincoln’s coffin until April 22
A replica of Abraham Lincoln’s coffin is on display through April 22 at the Crawford County Historical Society museum on South Cross Street in Robinson, Ill.
- MUSEUMS/EXHIBITIONS: April 11, 2013
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Series of events feature photographer’s essays on Colombia’s indigenous peoples
Photo essays by Alexandra McNichols-Torroledo depicting the plight of the indigenous peoples of Colombia are scheduled to be on display until April 13 at the Landini Center for Performing and Fine Arts at Indiana State University.
- MUSEUMS/EXHIBITIONS: April 4, 2013
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