This Week in Shelby County History: June 26 - 30

1917

Shelby County Clerk Cecil B. Collins was warned by Marion County to stop registering women to vote. By the time Collins agreed to comply, he had already approved “a large number of women” that morning, including Mrs. Henrietta Goulding, 78. This was followed by a party at the courthouse, planned by Judge Alonzo Blair and other county officials, celebrating the ladies’ registration. “Several of the officials, armed with torpedoes and fire crackers, stationed themselves at the doors of the registration office. Others, equipped with tin pans and tubs, stood at the top of the stairway. At a given signal, the tubs were started on their downward path and the fire crackers performed their duty in valiant fashion,” the Republican reported. “The women, hearing the wild cries made by the men, mixed with the noise of the tumbling tubs and fireworks, lost their poise for the moment. Some left the office through the doors and several went through the open windows. When they learned that ‘man’ was the cause of the noise, they returned to register.” The state supreme court was to consider the suffrage movement in July.

A special congressional election brought out a 65% turnout in the county.

Ruth Taylor,13, showcased her patriotic poems. “Her teachers and Shelbyville people who have been students of literature predict that some day Ruth Taylor will attain fame and bring honor to Shelbyville through her verses,” the Republican reported. Taylor was the daughter of Mrs. Will Chesser and grandchild of Warren Nail.

The telephone company installed a second line at the fire department, no. 570, in addition to no. 999. There was no charge to call the department.

Rev. S.J. Cross reported that his brother was in the war and two brothers of Mrs. Cross were in the war. Their son, Paul, had joined Battery E at 20 years old.

Battery E enjoyed a three-course “feed” at Hotel Shelby. It followed what was expected to be their last drill practice before being mobilized in the war. Karl DePrez spoke on “Shelbyville, Pioneers of the Field of Honor.”

Several local officials reportedly took off work and headed to Flat Rock, “where they expected to find the fish just aching to be caught,” the Republican reported. “Lunch was taken along with them in case the fish refused to be fooled.”

Mailman Roscoe Isley threw a cannon cracker, which he had found on his route, inside the Post Office back room while his colleagues sorted mail. When no one was looking, he lit and “threw the burning thing under the feet of Elmer Slifer, Elmer J. Slifer, and Mr. Whaley. The men first thought a bomb went off until they saw Isley sorting mail, as if nothing had happened, and they grew suspicious. The Republican described the typical Shelbyville Post Office scene: “For a person to step into the back room of the post office, he is impressed with the hum of work which is continuously going on. About all that is seen is mail being shot in a-toss-like manner into little square shelves of just so-so size. Occasionally someone moves or speaks – but ‘tis rare.” Until, of course, Isley threw a firecracker.

1942

Major T. Jester, owner of a local department store, was thrown from a horse in Walkerville and sustained a broken right hip.

County fair superintendents included C.P. Keaton, Joe Isley, Scott Fair, and Lowell Fix. Fair association officials were L.V. Hauk, Otto Harris, Lowell Fix, Harry Meiks, Walter Hungerford, and Howard Gordon.

Ralph Adams, head of Shelby Publishing Co., announced the birth of his son, Robert Wendell, the second name in honor of the 1940 Republican presidential candidate. Dr. P.R. Tindall was the attending physician.

A fight on the corner of Harrison and Broadway ended with a 19-year-old man stabbing an 18-year-old in the back. Charges were pending.

Hon. Leonard Hackney, former county judge, prosecutor, and attorney, died.

Ensign Wilbur Berauer, Waldron was promoted to rank of Lieutenant.

1967

E.L. Frazier, owner and operater of the Frazier Funeral Home in Morristown, died. Also, F. Dale Myer, owner and operator of Dale’s Sewer Service, passed away at 52.

An Indianapolis man escaped from the Shelby County jail. Sheriff Otha Bishop announced the man was re-captured later in the day.

Approximately 200 people attended a concert and community sing at Morrison Park. Don Sexton was master of ceremonies and led the audience in singing. Special music was provided by the Calvary Baptist Choir. Doug Horton sang a solo and Kay Dougherty, accompanied by Noell Worland, also sang. Singing a duet were DeAnn Lockman and Anita Peck. Suzanne Stahler was general accompanist and the Rev. James Horner served as general chairman of the event. The public address system was furnished by Ed Treon. The next event would be July 9 at the park, sponsored by the Shelby Arts and Humanities Foundation in association with the Shelby County Ministerial Association and city officials.

Mayor Ralph VanNatta asked the townships to increase their contributions to the fire department for their services. Addison, Shelby and Marion townships paid a total of $11,250 for the department’s services in 1967, but would need to pay a total of $19,600 in 1968 in order to cover costs. Township officials said the costs were too high and were considering fire protection contracts with rural volunteer fire departments.

Nine Optimists were given perfect attendance pins: Merle Platt, James Buckley, Harold McKee, Harley Brown, Richard Simpson, William Clark, Gary Coers, Raymond Vaughan, and Earl Howell were recipients.

Sheriff Otha Bishop said the city and county needed to collaboratively build a new jail. Bishop said that “if Shelby County doesn’t prepare itself adequately in the area of crime prevention, the people can expect some real problems in the future.” He added that “we need a new city-county building to be built preferably near the present jail and undertaken as a city-county venture.”

The fire department responded to Ray Mings’ refrigerator, which caught fire, and Bill Berry’s car, which had backfired in the Belaire Shopping Center parking lot.

Four Shelby County men left for Selective Service induction: Gary Wayne Dawson, Bruce Dee Bottorff, Stephen John Carwein, and Robert Paul Kieninger.

Francis “Franny” Ray, 49, a star on one of Shelbyville’s greatest basketball teams in 1935, died from what later became known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. He was a coach, teacher, and principal in New Mexico for over 25 years. The 1935 team had went to the final four of the state tournament.

Rev. Vernard McClanahan was appointed pastor of Fairland Baptist Church.

Ronnie Walters, 18, was thrown 30 feet off his motorcycle after a collision at W. Locust and Dunn Ave. Fortunately, he sustained only minor injuries.

Several newspaper and mailboxes were stolen on Morristown and Knightstown Roads.

Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Hogue observed their 60th wedding anniversary. They lived at 137 Second St. They were the parents of Walter and Charles Hogue.

1977

Kenneth and Kathryn (Winkler) Anspaugh marked their 40th wedding anniversary. Their children were Carolyn Thomas, and Bob, Fred, and Ray Anspaugh.

Mr. and Mrs. Samuel McVey celebrated their 57th anniversary. They had three children, Doris, Howard, and Don.

Michael Ward, Sam Braunagel, and Marvin Ward painted a brown border and green letters which spelled “Sunset Park” on the front wall of the shelter house at the park.

A parking ban was instituted on W. Franklin St. to stop delivery trucks and cars from blocking the official emergency route to Major Hospital.

Grover Arnold, Jr., Rolling Ridge, was named winner of the Ryder Truck Rental’s 1976 “Driver of the Year” award. A driver for Edison-McGraw for 35 years, Arnold won the award over 100 other drivers.

The building of a private hospital turned from rumor into possibility when a group of area citizens formed a new corporation. Attorney Charles Bate, representing the new firm, was joined by Dr. James Tower, Jr., Dr. James Kent, Dr. Lamberto Abeleda, Dr. Arthur Roberts, Ralph VanNatta, William Kramer, Daniel Erhardt, Dr. William Green, and Ronald Barrett. The group hoped to build on the outskirts of town and Dr. Tower, the then-chief of staff at the hospital, hoped to influence the Major Hospital board to change its location.

Pvt. Ronald Markely headed to Korea after completing basic training in Fort Knox, Ky.

1992

Harold (Shorty) Miller received the Million Mile Club award from the National Safety Council. Miller had been a semi driver for 34 years.

The Homemaker’s Social Study Club installed new officers Alta Lang, Evelyn Crim, Vada Rim, Annabelle Haehl, and Charlene John. Lucille Theobald, the only charter member, celebrated her birthday during the meeting. Ruth John, assisted by Mary Kay Pitts and Evelyn Crim, served as hostess.

Shelbyville’s Charity Purcell and Waldron’s Jared Lux participated in the high school All-Star activities at Market Square Arena. Purcell was in the 3-point contest and Lux in the slam dunk competition.

Eight people were scheduled to participate in the Shelby County Fair Senior King and Queen Pageant. Queen candidates were Mary Barker, Waldron; Betty Cuellar, Flat Rock; Laura “Rusty” Kettler, Shelbyville; Ellen Young, Shelbyville; Alma Trees, Shelbyville; Betty Meltzer, Shelbyville; and Gladys Swinford, Shelbyville. The king candidate was Robert Trees. The reigning senior queen and king were Doris Hinkle and Paul Stafford.

Christy Meyer, the only female coach in the Shelbyville Babe Ruth Jr. Bambino baseball league, moved up to the Jr. Bambino level after a successful season coaching a Rookie league team in 1991. Her father, Dwain Laird, and brothers Kent and Don Laird, were players and coaches, as well.