TERRE HAUTE —
It’s likely that grieving widows of Civil War casualties were given flowers grown and sold by the Heinl family of Terre Haute. In later decades, Heinl flowers likely adorned the weddings or funerals of those who would fight in World War I and later in World War II, Vietnam, Korea, the Middle East and Afghanistan.
In short, Heinl’s has been around a while.
Heinl’s Flower Shop “is one of the oldest flower shops in the Midwest,” said Pastor Larry Reck, who emceed Friday’s 150th anniversary celebration of Heinl’s, which has stood at Seventh and Walnut streets for more than 100 of those years.
Just a handful of Terre Haute businesses have operated as long as Heinl’s, which has had five different owners since founder John G. Heinl died in 1920 at age 76.
A German immigrant, Heinl opened the flower business with his son, Fredrick, in 1863.
On Friday, current owner, Vonda Monts, hosted a celebration of the business and two much newer businesses that occupy adjacent space – Vonda’s Garden Studio and Event Space and Annalee’s Beauty Salon & Shop.
“It’s going excellent,” said Annalee Monts, who operates the hair salon, which opened in 2011 next to the event space that was once a greenhouse.
The sort of business diversification that has taken place at Heinl’s is an important part of survival in the competitive retail flower business, said DeWayne Harper, who owned Heinl’s with his wife, Linda, from 1989 to 2001. They bought the business from Tony Divincenzo, DeWayne’s father, and still recall the former, longtime-owner’s reluctance to move away from selling just flowers.
“He just fought it tooth and nail,” DeWayne recalled of Divincenzo’s resistance to the selling of balloons, stuffed toys and other gifts in the shop. “He was old school.”
There were more than 20,000 retail flower shops in the U.S. in 2009, but the number of shops has been on a 12-year skid as flower sales have drifted to mass-market and direct-ship retailers, according to Florists’ Review, an industry publication.
On Friday, gathered in the spacious event room, guests enjoyed locally-produced art, food and drinks and learned about the rich history John G. Heinl, one of the city’s most accomplished citizens. Guests also heard how the Heinl family is linked to the city’s most famous folk tale: The legend of Stiffy Green.
In fact, the flower shop has its own replica of the famous green-eyed dog, whose spirit – according to legend – roams Highland Lawn Cemetery with departed owner, John Heinl. For decades, the concrete dog, who came to be called “Stiffy Green,” sat inside the Heinl Family mausoleum. It was moved to the Vigo County Historical Society Museum in the 1980s due to vandalism.
Spooky legends aside, for Vonda Monts, owning a flower shop is a way to spread happiness, she said during Friday’s celebration, which also featured work from local artists Debbie Goodin, Becky Hochhalter and Todd Stokes. “Making people smile,” Monts said, “that’s what I really like about it.”
Reporter Arthur Foulkes can be reached at 812-231-4232 or arthur.foulkes@tribstar.com
News
Related Photos
-
Sidewalk lined with flowers: Mayor Duke Bennett walks with two other attendees of Heinl's 150-year celebration under the store's sign Friday at the florist. (Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza)
-
Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza Celebrating 150: Heinl's Flower Shop owner, Vonda Monts, center, claps after a ribbon cutting to celebrate 150 years of business Friday.
Discussion
150 & Counting: When the Heinl family started selling flowers, the Civil War was under way
Shop has stood at Seventh and Walnut for more than 100 years
- News
-
-
Relic from another age: Massive find
A mastodon that lived in the Wabash Valley thousands of years ago is making big news today.
-
Game Over: Financial tightening causes VCSC to drop St. Patrick’s from athletic schedule
St. Patrick’s School athletic teams will not have an opportunity to compete against their Vigo County School Corp. middle school counterparts next year.
-
Katelyn Newell finally at home
After nearly five months, 8-year-old Katelyn Newell finally returned home Thursday evening — with a new heart.
-
Indiana State U. Police officer honored with Artz Award
Thursday was a special day for Indiana State University Police Officer Christopher Heleine in multiple ways.
-
City Council considering three for consultant
Three different tax professionals vied Thursday for a chance to become a “financial consultant” to the Terre Haute City Council.
-
Clay County sheriff warns of bank card scam
The Clay County Sheriff’s Department has received information regarding a scam targeting residents, according to a news release from the sheriff’s department.
-
State Police seek help with Sullivan County homicide
Indiana State Police detectives from the Putnamville Post are seeking help from the public with the nearly six-month investigation into the death of 85-year-old Lowell R. Badger, a rural Sullivan County farmer.
-
Man who attacked Vigo deputy arrested
A Terre Haute man accused of attacking a Vigo County sheriff’s deputy earlier this week is facing felony charges in the Vigo County jail.
-
INDOT to bid final 641 phase
The final construction phase of the 641 bypass is scheduled to let for bids on Dec. 11, according to the Indiana Department of Transportation.
-
District office moves north
The Southwest District office of the Purdue Extension service has been moved north from Vincennes to Terre Haute.
-
Day is done…
The sun sets Thursday evening as seen from south of Terre Haute.
-
Banks of the Wabash Festival is more than just yearly entertainment
Pioneers think counterintuitively. Where others see widespread apathy, they focus on the possibility for progress. In a way, the 2013 Year of the River celebration began in the 1970s.
-
Planning session aims to better Terre Haute
It’s not yet clear what will come of it, but dozens of community leaders spent the whole day Wednesday trying to develop a plan – or collection of plans – to make Terre Haute “a better community.”
-
Education funding boost won’t benefit all schools
In the budget bill passed by the General Assembly last month, there is more money allocated for K-12 education over the next two years, but that doesn’t mean every school will get more dollars.
- Day of Action job options open
-
Park Board renames land around Memorial Stadium
Land surrounding Indiana State University’s Memorial Stadium on Terre Haute’s east side has been designated as Veterans Memorial Park, following a unanimous vote Wednesday from the Terre Haute Park Board.
-
Deputy suffers minor injury during incident
A Vigo County Sheriff’s deputy received a minor injury to his hand Tuesday night while subduing a drunken driving suspect who fled behind a North Terre Haute business.
-
Man accused of child neglect gets new trial date
An Oct. 15 trial date has been set for a Terre Haute man arrested in November for child neglect after he and his wife allegedly tied up and confined their adopted children in the family home.
-
Police find meth labs, arrest Pierson Township man
Police uncovered two active methamphetamine labs in southeastern Vigo County on Monday, leading to the arrest of a Pierson Township man.
-
New date set for attempted murder trial
A new trial date has been set for a Terre Haute woman charged with attempted murder.
-
Rose-Hulman professor researching ways to make homes storm safe
Tornadoes produce greater uplift forces than hurricanes, which can flatten homes such as in Moore Okla., south of Oklahoma City.
-
Group wants to connect downtown Terre Haute with the Wabash River
Fairbanks Park is underutilized.
The Wabash River is peaceful and inviting, but there is some concern about its cleanliness as well as pollution levels. Also, people can’t get on the river unless they have a boat. -
New conservancy district appoints first directors
Members of the first board of directors of a new lake conservancy district were appointed Tuesday by the Vigo County Board of Commissioners.
-
Vigo law enforcement signs Triad charter to protect seniors
Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller joined Vigo County law enforcement and community activists Tuesday to sign the county’s first Triad charter, becoming the 22nd Triad in Indiana.
-
Wabash Valley Red Cross wraps up Save the Day Campaign
The American Red Cross Wabash Valley Chapter’s 2013 annual meeting concluded the 17th annual Save the Day Campaign, and the results lifted the spirits of all who were involved.
-
Some Vigo roads washed out
Spring storms resulted in $250,000 in damages to roads in southern Vigo County, with costs including sand and labor to save homes near river bottoms, said county highway Assistant Superintendent Dan Bennett.
-
County Council votes $78K toward rail spur
County officials voted Tuesday night to make good on a 2011 promise to help improve a railroad spur just north of Terre Haute for Menard Inc.
-
Spring flooding damages future CSO holding lagoon
Flood waters from the Wabash River have done costly damage to one of the city-owned “lagoons” on former International Paper property.
-
Vigo tops state average for IREAD-3 scores
The Vigo County School Corp. exceeded the state average in the percentage of students passing the state’s mandatory Grade 3 reading test, IREAD-3.
-
Storms cause minor damage in Valley
Tuesday morning storms in the Wabash Valley caused thousands of Duke Energy customers to lose power.
- More News Headlines
-
Raw Video: Washington State Bridge Collapse
Sheriff: No Sign Killing of 2 Kids Was Planned
Raw: Utah Teen Arrested in Death of His Brothers
Raw: Jurors Deadlock on Jodi Arias Penalty
Boy Scouts Decision "First Step" Say Activists
Boy Scouts Approve Plan to Accept Gay Boys
Obama Defends Drone Strikes, With Limits
Officials: Truck Hit Bridge Before Collapse
Closer Look at Okla. School Where Children Died
Boy Scouts Mom Supports Gay Inclusiveness
First Person: Mom Discusses Famous Tornado Photo
Two Suspects in Murder Known to London Police
Raw: Heckler Interrupts Obama on Guantanamo
Raw: Scuffles in London After Hacking Death
Obama Renews Call to Close Gitmo
Britain Attack Believed Linked to Radical Islam
Chain-Reaction School Bus Crash Injures About 50
Obama Offers Drone Strike Defense
Johnson: Don't Blame Islam or UK Policy
Today in History May 23
AK-47-wielding thug may be the most bumbling crook ever
Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage
Trout's cycle a boost for Angels
Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado
Kim Kardashian Flaunts Pregnant Bikini Body in Greece
NBA star pledges $1M to help tornado recovery
Shakira's Shocking Talent
Morgan Freeman falls asleep on air
GRAPHIC: Blood-Soaked Machete Killer Caught on Tape
Elin Nordegren Furious With Lindsey Vonn For Parading Kids in Public
Camera Captures Climber As He Loses Grip And Falls
Helen Mirren Meets with Dying Boy in Queen Elizabeth's Place
Crowd Chants '¡Si, Se Puede!' After Passage of Immigration Bill
DWTS Crowns a Winner
Police Ram House to End Hostage Standoff
Demi Moore a Rocks Bikini at Harry Morton's Family House
Anthony Weiner: I'm running for New York City mayor
Kate Middleton's Dress Flies Up
VIRAL: Baby makes epic soccer goal
The Hangover Baby All Grown Up
