Friday, November 29, 2024
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: STEPHENSON RIFE ATTORNEYS
IT’S CHRISTMAS TIME IN THE CITY
photo by JACK BOYCE
Shelby County History: Joseph Fountain’s Intermission Period
Editor’s Note: The Joseph Fountain in Public Square has served as the city’s holiday centerpiece to generations, but there was an in-between time in which the fountain was out of use. Below is a 1975 Shelbyville High School Courier article describing the history of the fountain. Joseph Fountain was restored in 1980 and repurposed in the more recent downtown redevelopment, in which the fountain continues to play a prominent role in local memories made during the holidays, such as next Friday’s Holiday Parade.
by Barb Cord & Pat Gallagher, April 1975
Very few young people in Shelbyville can actually remember the time when the Joseph Fountain stood in the square, in remembrance of a man who felt he should leave something to the town that had given him much happiness during his lifetime.
We've all heard stories of how the removal of the fountain came about, what it stood for, and why it now is where it is, but let's separate fact from fantasy.
In the years before 1923, Shelbyville's square stood out like a sore thumb among the other social centers in Indiana. It was one of the few towns whose courthouse stood elsewhere besides the town's square. Town squares, or circles as they are now called, are commonly found in most Indiana communities. Instead of the courthouse was a livery stable, hitching posts and water troughs, along with other useful items necessary for a horse stable.
About this time, Julius Joseph moved to Shelbyville from Cincinnati in hopes of opening a furniture factory. Originally he had immigrated from Germany. Mr. Joseph prospered and became one of Shelbyville's most admired citizens. His love for his adopted town prompted him to leave behind in his will $5,000 to the city of Shelbyville with the intentions of building a beautiful fountain in the town square. The city council unanimously voted to erect a fountain in Julius Joseph's name and maintain it with public funds. So, down went the horse stable and up went the beautiful Julius Joseph Memorial Fountain. And beautiful it was ... a globe at the top of the monument contained a small American flag which was listed at night. Water flowed from beneath the feet of three children's figures on top, filling an upper bowl of the fountain and flowing into a larger second bowl.
From on top of the children's heads, embossed on bas relief tablets, flowed water into the principal bowl at the base of the fountain. According to George Honig, the sculptor, the three figures and the bas relief faces which represented the likeness of Mr. Joseph, were attributed to the late Julius Joseph and were symbols of his life.
Dedicated on May 29, 1923, the fountain soon became a showcase of the surrounding countryside. According to the news articles of the day, people from all walks of life came to admire the fountain and enjoy the goldfish that swam in the second bowl.
For many years the Joseph Fountain gave Shelbyville's Public Square an added distinction and set it apart from the usual courthouse centered square.
Why then was the fountain removed? Well, why does the tower of Pisa lean? No one really knows ... some say it was an eyesore, some say it was taking up parking space. Mr. Ralph VanNatta, who was mayor of Shelbyville at the time of the fountain's removal in March 1965, says the water ceased to flow years before and attempts to repair it were futile. The fountain itself was cracked and out of line, mainly due to its use as a Christmas tree stand every December, and was actually becoming a public hazard instead of a public spectacle.
Special interest groups repeatedly tried to have the fountain moved to a different location, the most popular spot being the flowerbed at the corner of Washington and Miller Streets, but there is no sign of any fountain in the flowerbed; lovely flowers, but no fountain.
Where is the fountain in question? Upon its removal, Ralph VanNatta said, "Efforts would be made to find a suitable place for it somewhere in the community where it could be viewed by the public." Unfortunately, Mr. Joseph's lovely fountain is in two pieces. The bowls are sitting out behind the city garage and the figures that once stood at the top are locked up in the garage behind the SCUFFY building. They seem to be a long way away from that “suitable” place.
NOTEBOOK:
The Shelbyville Common Council’s Tax Abatement Committee issued a favorable recommendation on a 10-year tax abatement request from PK USA this week. The abatement is for $15 million in equipment that will help bring some processes in-house. With the Nissan Titan no longer in production, PK sold its plant in Mississippi earlier this year. The company projected $134 million in sales in 2024, but the current expectation is about $125 million, PK Lead Accountant Debbie Brown said. “The Ford Bronco is pretty expensive. Nobody's buying cars right now. There are supplier issues. There are all kinds of other things going on,” Brown said. The local plant laid off about 80 people this year but has called some back. Revenue projections for next year are $113 million, which Brown called “very, very conservative.” The abatement, which will be heard by the council at the Dec. 16 meeting, includes a clawback clause in the event the company should leave the community, the abated taxes would be paid, attorney Peter DePrez, representing PK USA said.
Over the river and through the woods! A long route will represent the Flat Rock Santa Parade on Sunday, Dec. 8. The parade starts at 6 p.m. at the Flat Rock fire station and heads south on Main St., then right on Pope St. St. to Washington St., turns on Bartholomew to Shelby St., turns back north on Main St. to 252 and north on S 250 W. At 6:15 p.m., the parade heads east on W 850 S towards Lewis Creek, takes the Lewis Creek lane loop and travels back west towards Mt. Auburn: W 850 S to S 375 W, and S 375 W to W 900 S. At 6:30 p.m., the parade turns on Mulberry St. in Mt. Auburn, then 4th St., and then heads south on S 600 W, turning again on W 900 S to Poplar St. and turning on S 600 W towards Marietta. At 6:45 p.m., the parade enters Marietta and takes the first turn on Railroad back through town. Then, on Smithland Road to S 425 W, and S 425 W to W 600 S. The parade reaches Southwestern schools at 7 p.m. Those not on the route who want to see Santa should park at the elementary school where the parade and Santa will drive in front of the school.
Tuesday, Dec. 3, is GivingTuesday, a day to encourage constituents to give back to the local community. So many of our readers have given toward keeping The Addison Times sustainable in 2025 and beyond. Thank you! This past year, we’ve covered city and county meetings, our students, local business, primary and general elections, commercial and residential development, and, of course, daily local history. This GivingTuesday or before, please consider a one-time or monthly donation to The Addison Times, either online or via a check to The Addison Times, 54 W. Broadway, #13, Shelbyville, Ind., 46176. We will once again provide a quarterly publication with extra news and photos in 2025 as a gift for your support of $100 or more. Any amount raised above the goal will be placed in a rainy day fund for 2026 operations and beyond. Thank you for your continued support of daily local news and history. I appreciate each of you. - Kristiaan Rawlings, Editor
NATIONAL NEWS: The Panama Canal is coming off a rough year, when drought forced the canal to reduce the number of daily transits. Typically, 36 to 38 ships pass through the canal every day, but at the worst of the drought only 22 ships were permitted to transit per day, a level that almost went down to 18 ships per day, which was incredibly challenging for the global shipping industry. Now the canal authorities are floating some new ideas to increase throughput, one of which would be a land bridge, essentially a $1.2 billion to $1.4 billion overland corridor where ships would offload cargo, move it by road or rail across the isthmus, and then load it onto a ship on the other side, a somewhat contentious proposal that only Maersk has been especially interested in. That’s in addition to the proposed $1.6 billion new reservoir and dam that would supplement water into Gatun Lake and facilitate another 12 to 13 transits per day. (The Loadstar/Numlock)
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SHS Courier Archive Highlights:
Nov. 12, 1953, Part II
Former SHS athletes were teaching nationwide. John Page (junior high history), Ray Hinshaw (SHS history), Arthur Barnett (biology and health), Herb Day (Colescott), Gene Sexton (principal at Shelby Township) and Ray Lackey (former PE teacher who was refereeing basketball and football games) were all local. In other parts of Indiana were Wally Page (Greenwood), Bill Breck (Selma), Harold Peck (Kewanna), Willard Kehrt (Terre Haute), Kenneth Gunning (Connersville), Earl Snyder (Yorktown) and Powell Moorhead (Tech) were all in state. Francis Ray, George Means and Eugene McNew were all teaching in New Mexico. Former SHS athletes coaching in different parts of the country were Jack McComas (Atlantic Christian College), Donald Page (Ohio), Paul Ash (Maryland), Dick Kendall (Georgia) and Hank Hemingway (Kansas).
New members of S-Club were Bill Amos, Rich Applas, Ronnie Arehart, Ronnie Biddle, Tom oyle, Phil Brown, Jim Deupree, Wayland Fowl, Mick Hinshaw, John Kehoe, Bill Kremer, Jim Law, Bill Latshaw, Keith McLeod, Richard Moorhead, Bob Mullen, Hal O’Dell, Sandy Sirkus, Jim Spindler, Tom Taylor, Bryan Toll and Dick Trueb.
SHS Teachers and Where They Graduated: Do you ever wonder where teacher graduated from high school or maybe better yet is how he graduated? A survey shows where the faculty graduated, but no one seemed eager to release his class standing — modesty probably didn't permit. Several of the teachers are Shelbyville High School graduates: Mr. Barnett, Mr. Chesser, Mr. Hinshaw, Miss Keith, Miss Kinsley, Mr. Kuhn, Miss McDonald, Mr. Page, Miss Rhodes, and Mrs. Simpson. Other Indiana schools claiming the rest of our faculty are: Columbus, Mr. Brown and Mrs. Gross; Pittsboro, Miss Ashby; Morristown, Mr. Bass and Miss Moore; Roachdale, Mr. Barnes; Central High, near Madison, Miss Bodem; Switz City, Mr. Breck; Morton of Richmond, Miss Chenoweth; Waldron, Mr. Clay; Bloomingdale, Mr. Davies; Bedford, Miss Durrenberger; Madison, Mr. McKeand; Terre Haute, Miss Mc-Naught; Sharpsville, Mrs. Norman; Muncie, Mr. Sipe; Hymera, Mr. Strawn; Logansport, Mr. Stuart; Stockwell, Miss Swanson; Danville, Mr. Thompson; Haubstadt, Mr. Trible; Kirklin, Miss Wiley; Medaryville, Miss Williams; Boggstown, Mr. Day; Batesville, Mr. Lane; Earlham College, Miss Quigg; Fairland, Mr. Ray; and Fortville, Mr. Shull. Out-of-state graduates are: Mr. Schulz, Oak Park, Illinois; and Mrs. Moore, Double Springs, Alabama.
This Day in Shelby County History
News around Shelbyville and the surrounding area as reported on or about this date in history. Selections are curated by The Addison Times from Shelby County Public Library Genealogy Department materials.
2014: Shelby County Players moved into their new home on Miller Ave., SCP Offstage. The organization had been using the facility for some time, but had recently signed a long-term lease and moved everything over. SCP still performed at The Strand Theatre.
2004: Indiana Wesleyan University announced plans for a grand opening celebration at their new Intelliplex location.
1994: Mayor Bob Williams unveiled a proposed plan for a second automotive bridge to connect the city with Walkerville. The bridge would cross the Little Blue River at McLane Street and connect to Minster Drive. Williams was concerned about access to the area in the event of a disaster. However, the county was responsible for all bridges, and said they had other priorities for at least five years.
1984: Robert Jones, 23, an SHS graduate, completed training at the Indiana State Police Academy in Plainfield. His father, Lt. Richard Jones, was a retired ISP officer. Robert’s great-grandfather, Warren Nail, had been a Shelbyville police officer in the late 19th century.
1974: Construction work progressed on the new K-Mart store near the SR 44-421 intersection. Work had been slightly hindered by picketing at the road entrances to the premises. Picketers represented electrical union personnel who were protesting the use of non-union workers at the site.
1964: Wallace Linville of Marion Township was the county’s 1964 Corn King and winner of an all-expense four-day trip to Chicago, courtesy of the Chamber of Commerce. Dick Conger and Rusty Gordon handed off the tickets.
Charles Major students put on a Thanksgiving play. Pilgrims were Denise Parks, Rhonda Pickett and Rodney Meyerholtz. Indians were Bob Degelow, Melanie DeLaurentis, Sheila Brinson and Kathy Simmonds. The Dutch children were Hassel DeWitt and Larry Biehl. Sara Schneider played a piano solo. David Browning sang a solo, and fifth graders gave a choral reading.
1954: Local police arrested 13 truck drivers on charges of carrying too much weight. The drivers were arraigned in the court of Justice of Peace John Banawitz and fine $25.
1944: Shelby County residents had invested $216,747 in war bonds, but that was only 27 percent of its quota, Carl Meloy, chairman of the county War Finance Committee, said. The Furnas Ice Cream Company had donated $10,000; Woolworth’s, $3,000; and Kroger, $1,000.
1934: Shelbyville Junior High School classes sponsored a yodeler from WHAS, Louisville radio.
1924: David Robins, 15, 117 East South St., had built a radio that reportedly picked up a signal from Paris. The radio was a three-tube device.
1914: William Thayer, 65, traveling blacksmith from Norristown, froze to death beneath a large tree in a woods owned by Otto Coyle south of the city. It was believed he had started to walk back to Norristown while intoxicated.
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