Monday, July 8, 2024
SUNDAY, TWILIGHT
photo by JACK BOYCE
NOTEBOOK:
The Shelby County Board of Zoning Appeals tomorrow will hear two petitions. Richard Marlow II is requesting a variance to allow for a 988-square foot detached garage at 6465 N. London Road, Fairland. The garage would sit directly in front of an existing detached garage next to the house. County plan staff is recommending approval of the petition, primarily because two adjacent properties to the north have similar accessory structures. In another petition, Michael Wasson is requesting a variance to allow for a 960-square-foot pole barn at 7187 W 700 N, Fairland. The pole barn will serve as a shelter house adjacent to a swimming pool. Staff is again recommending approval because surrounding properties have similar accessory structures.
HOOSIER NEWS: The 2018 Farm Bill redefined hemp as an agricultural commodity, allowing it to be grown across the nation. After an initial boom of farmers tried their hand at the newly legalized crop, many were left with unsold harvests when the limited number of processing plants were backed up with product. The versatile crop, long revered for its many unique uses, saw a massive decrease in area harvested; in 2021, 210 acres of hemp were harvested in Indiana. In 2022 and 2023, the number of acres harvested didn’t even register on the USDA’s National Hemp Report. Many point to a lack of local processors as the culprit. (Indiana Public Media)
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First Presbyterian Recollections
Editor’s note: In recognition of First Presbyterian Church’s 200th anniversary, The Addison Times has provided a series of articles on the church’s history, culled from church history documents. The following excerpts relay some of the congregation’s anecdotal stories.
The church’s original arrangement and structure of the pews in the sanctuary allowed limited access down a center aisle, which only existed between the last five rows of pews in the center section. In 1947, the pews were temporarily rearranged to furnish center aisle access for Marilyn Wendelboe and Bob Phares’ wedding, but were then moved back. When the wedding of Carolyn Perry and Bill English was being planned for summer 1955, the family wanted Carolyn to be able to walk down a center aisle. That year, the front pews were again restructured to allow an open aisle from the back of the church to the altar for the wedding procession. The configuration was made permanent after modernization was completed in 1959, and remains in that format today.
A three-manual Schantz organ console was purchased in 1957. The pipes are now out sight in chambers behind the chancel.
Lighting for the spire was also installed in the late 1950s. Long-time member Dorothy Trueb once wrote, “Rev. Wolvington and his wife Imogene, me and my husband Jack (the electrical contractor for the remodel and spire lighting) stood outside the church on a dark bitter cold January night huddled together and waiting (anticipating the timer to switch the spire lights on for the first time). Just as Jack had timed it, the lights came on. We all cried and hugged each other. It was so bright and beautiful and high as it pointed heavenward. Jack had done a wonderful job.” Subsequently, the name for a weekly bulletin was, “The Lighted Spire.”
The pews needed refinishing in the late 1950s. On hot summer days, clothing would stick to the back of the pews which were covered in several coats of old varnish. The John Preidt family had just moved to Shelbyville as war-time refugees from Romania. They were sponsored by First Presbyterian Church, and none of the family spoke English. Church member Graham Lemmon employed John in his furniture business. Preidt was thus hired to refinish the cherry pews one at a time. The intricate carvings on the wooden pews made it a tedious job. Each week, John removed one pew to restore and returned a completed one. For an entire year, there was always at least one pew missing each Sunday. “Everyone just hoped it wasn’t ‘theirs,’” the church history notes. “Members kindly welcomed the ‘pew orphans’ into their domain until ‘their’ pew returned.”
In 1963-64, there was a record 11 members from the Shelbyville congregation enrolled at the Presbyterian college Hanover: Jean Gehr, Emily McKeand, Ross Rowland, Liz “Betsy” Thurston, North Thurston, John Tobian, Nancy Wasson, Barbara Wetnight, Becky Whitcomb, Roger Whitcomb and David Young.
Rev. Gary Huffman was pastor for a church-record 30 years, 1977-2007. Members of the committee who originally nominated Huffman to be pastor were John Humont, Ron McDaniel, George Hobbs, Larry Sandman, Lorraine Ewick and Nancy Stamm.
One summer, neighboring First Baptist Church experienced a serious fire and needed a place to worship while repairs were in process. The Presbyterian Church offered their sanctuary. Worship services were scheduled back-to-back on Sunday mornings with a “passing” period between the two worship times. Since most of the members of both churches knew each other, it was a flurry of social interaction between services. Rev. Huffman found it difficult to get the Presbyterian service started because of the animated conversations between the members of both congregations.
A group of church members headed South following Hurricane Katrina in 2005 to help with recovery efforts. Adult members of the team were Roger Palmer, Emily McKeand Campbell, Hugh Garner, Ron Kramer, Judy Wasson Mitchell, Will Mitchell, Jon Orem, Sharon Orem and Marilyn O’Tain. Youth participants were Vanessa Endahl, Andrea Faulconer, Susan Hankins, Chris Jones, Josh Orem, Tyler Orem, Jordan Schmitt and Ben Wickizer.
Rev. Mark Morningstar was appointed pastor in November 2008, and he and his wife, Cynthia, have been involved in numerous community endeavors.
Jane Runshe is in her 50th year serving as church secretary/office administrator.
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 from the Shelby County Public Library Genealogy Department.
2014: A Blue River Community Foundation grant helped kickstart a new theater program at Shelbyville Middle School and Shelbyville High School. The grant paid for royalties for play scripts and costumes and staging. BRCF Program Administrator Lynne Ensminger and Arts Advisory Committee Chairman John DePrez Jr. presented the check at the SCS board meeting. BRCF had also recently given money for local elementary schools to purchase the rights for theater productions.
2004: To help pay for fireworks at Morristown’s Derby Days festival, Town Council member Dave Benefiel organized a Wiffle Ball Tournament. Teams consisted of five members. No running was involved. Batters stood at a point of a triangle. If a batter hit the ball past the first line and the opposing team didn’t catch it, it was a single. Additional lines were set up for doubles, triples and home runs.
1994: A severe lightning storm and torrential downpour caused more than 2,000 power outages and several small fires across Shelby County. High temperatures and high humidity added to the storm’s impact. Bengal received the worst of the storm with 4.5 inches of rain and 500 homes in the area without power. Lightning also forced SBC Cable Co. off the air within city limits and around the county.
1984: Shelbyville Mayor Dan Theobald was appointed to the advisory committee of the Indiana Bond Bank. The bank had been formed by the recent act of the Indiana General Assembly to help reduce the costs of bonds issued by public agencies.
Julie Sturgill, a rising senior at Shelbyville High School, was named Shelby County Fair Queen. First runner-up was Edna Settles, Waldron. Michele Bush, a student at Purdue University and an Indianapolis Colts cheerleader, was second runner-up. Miss Congeniality honors went to Tina McCracken, a graduate of Triton Central High School.
1974: The Morristown baseball team clinched the Big Blue River Conference championship, defeating Knightstown and finishing 11-1. Members of the team were Greg Beaver, Doug Carlton, Greg Wheelden, Ken Lee, Frank Mefford, Gary Fahnestock, Kyle Wood, Jeff Carlton, David Blackford, Marc Hart, Greg Willard, Rick Taylor, Tim Skillman, Bryon Ross, Dana Caldwell, Vic West, Kevin Willard, Rick Ritter and Kerry Kilgore. Tim Crouch and Bob Browder were managers, and George Phares was coach.
Groundbreaking was held on the southeast corner of Public Square for the new First Federal Savings & Loan Association building. Participants included Nick Cord, contractor; John Wetnight Sr., First Federal vice president; Omer Cord, president of Cord Bros.; Lloyd Stevens, First Federal president; Jim Skinner, vice president; Bernard Sleeth, board chairman; Bob Hayes, treasurer; and Maurice Hart, vice president.
1964: Mayor Ralph VanNatta and Police Chief Robert Nolley completed the FBI’s police shooting course.
Police Captain Robert Phares said he had received numerous complaints about “hot-rodders.” He said if people reported license plates numbers to him, he would contact the parents of the teenagers allegedly responsible for “hot-rodding.”
1954: Cecil George discovered the gigantic jawbone of a prehistoric mastodon while working with Kenneth Neeb and Joe Owens on Arie Phares farm in Moral Township. The jawbone was found 17 feet below the surface in a gravel pit on Sugar Creek. The jawbone, which measured 21 inches side to side, was displayed in The Shelbyville News’ building window.
1944: First Lt. Carl Bohman, of Shelbyville, was awarded a second Oak Leaf Cluster for “meritous achievement” in battle in the Southwest Pacific Area. Bohman, part of a fighter squadron of the Fifth Air Force, had been fighting with General MacArthur’s troops.
1934: Lillie Sindlinger said she would continue the C.P. Sindlinger Meat Market following the recent death of her husband. She said “with a few exceptions,” most of the employees would remain.
Nearly 300 local men were currently employed through federal relief projects, mostly in local park improvements.
Eleven were arrested over the weekend, including five men charged with public intoxication (one man was arrested twice over the same weekend), one man charged by his wife with profanity (he couldn’t pay the fine, so he went to jail for a week and a half) and two couples caught “in an act of immoral relationship on the south bank of Little Blue River, opposite the fairgrounds,” The Republican reported.
1924: The Shelbyville School Board announced plans to convert a property on Elm St., located just south of Colescott School, to a playground by demolishing a house on the lot.
The City gave notice that if local property owners didn’t cut their weeds, the city would do so and charge the property owner.
1914: The county clerk hadn’t issued a marriage license in 10 days. “Where is Cupid?” the newspaper headline asked. “Even interest in love affairs is at a low ebb while Old Sol is beating down upon us with all his vigor,” the paper said.
A cat, which lived in an unnamed local canning factory with its kittens, ran through the plant with a snake in its mouth. “What the mother and little ones did to the garter snake would not do to print here as it might call for action by the SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals),” The Republican reported.
OBITUARIES
Richard Joseph Plymate Sr., 86, of Shelbyville, passed away Sunday, July 7, 2024, at Franciscan Hospice House in Indianapolis. He was born August 27, 1937, in Fairland, the son of Walter and Roberta (Marshall) Plymate. In December of 1957, he married Evelyn “Jo” Griffin, and she preceded him in death on February 1, 1985. He married Andrea J. Corpe in February of 1993, and she survives.
In addition to Andrea, Richard is survived by his daughter, Pamela R. Williamson of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; son, Richard Plymate, Jr. of Shelbyville; step-daughter, Lisa McDonald of Fortville; step-sons, Timothy Sweet of Shelbyville, Christopher Sweet and wife, Brenda, of New Palestine, and Kenneth Sweet and wife, Jing WA, of Taiwan; sisters, Mary DePrez, Patricia Martin, Linda Wilson and Sharon Russell; brothers, Robert Plymate and Charles Plymate; grandchildren, Daniel Williamson and wife, Ashley, and Derrick Williamson and wife, Vanessa; step-grandchildren, Jennifer Batton and husband, Mark, Ani Smith and husband, Andrew, Cynthia McDonald, Thomas McDonald and wife, Brittany, Austin Sweet and wife, Natalie, and Duncan Sweet; great-grandchildren, Grace, Charlotte and Lucas; step-great-grandchildren, Virginia, Dorothy, Abigail, Parker and Hudson; and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to Jo, Richard was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Carolyn Randolph, Betty Plymate and Nancy Plymate; and brothers, James Plymate and Walter F. “Shorty” Plymate.
Richard graduated from Fairland High School, and he enjoyed attending the alumni banquets. He retired in 1991 from Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant with 34 years of service. After retirement, he worked in security for Hillenbrand Industries at Jawacdah Farms for 20 years. Richard enjoyed watching NASCAR and sporting events, reading the newspaper and traveling.
A Gathering of Friends and Family will be from 5 to 7 p.m., Monday, July 15, 2024, at Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, Carmony-Ewing Chapel, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville. A Celebration of Richard’s life will be at 10 a.m., Tuesday, July 16, 2024, at the funeral home. Inurnment will be at Forest Hill Cemetery in Shelbyville. Memorial contributions may be made to the donor’s choice of charity.
Online condolences may be shared with Richard’s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.
Bruce E. Harrell, 67, of Shelbyville, passed away peacefully, Sunday, July 7, 2024, at Homeview in Franklin. He was born January 24, 1957, in Shelbyville, the son of Donald E. and Janice S. (Richardson) Harrell.
Bruce is survived by his mother of Shelbyville; daughters, Ashley Brook Harrell, Dana Kristine Harrell and Jamie Machelle Caldwell, all of Pendleton; sisters, Pamela R. Harrell and Kathy J. (Harrell) Skaggs, both of Shelbyville; brother, Bryan R. Harrell of Shelbyville; grandchildren, Jace Emerson Washington, Jaylee Ryan Caldwell, Kellen Brooks Caldwell, Quinlee Luv Austin and Halle Renee Austin; and several nieces and nephews. He is also survived by the mother of his girls, Robin (Williams) Esslinger and husband, Larry, of Pendleton. He was preceded in death by his father on October 29, 2017; paternal grandparents, Chester R. and Rosamond Harrell; and maternal grandparents, Guy and Gladys Strickler.
Bruce was blessed with three daughters he loved and treasured with great pride. I don’t think I ever heard him say, “I was hoping for a boy,” as each girl was born.
In 1975, Bruce graduated from Shelbyville High School. Those who knew him in high school fondly nicknamed him “Squirrel.” He loved to play pranks, joke and laugh. He had many friends during those years. Many stayed in his life for numerous years. Life gets busy, and some drift away. Some even have passed away, like Bruce, all too soon.
Bruce enjoyed the old cars he’d buy with his own money, that he made working for his dad during his junior high and high school days. He was especially fond of his Monte Carlo and GTO. Bonded Oil was the “pit stop” back in the good ole days; he could be found there.
He had a great love for music and old time tuners, amps, receivers and speakers that could be turned up so loud, you could feel the bass in your chest. He appreciated all music, but especially rock and roll music from the 70s. His appreciation of country music came strictly from being the first of four children sitting in the back seat of the car driven by his loving Mother. His Dad had no interest in the “wanging and whining” sounds of country music. His Dad taught him about installing stereo systems in cars. If you had magnetic 6 x 9 speakers by the weight of the magnet. More bass while cruising the country roads and small town streets of Shelbyville.
He would help anyone if he could. He never bragged about what he did for others. He gave those in need a hand up. If they did him wrong, he wasn’t angry and bitter, but he’d never help most of them again… unless you were family.
Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Thursday, July 11, 2024, at Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, Carmony-Ewing Chapel, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville. Funeral services will follow at 1 p.m., Thursday, at the funeral home, with Pastor Bruce Banister officiating. Interment will be at Forest Hill Cemetery in Shelbyville. The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks and gratitude to the caring compassionate staff at Homeview and Our Hospice. Everyone went above and beyond. Memorial contributions may be made to Our Hospice of South Central Indiana, 2626 17th St., Columbus, IN 47201 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, PO Box 90, Memphis, Tennessee 38101-9929. Online condolences may be shared with Bruce’s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.
Shelby County needs hemp. It is working well down here in western Kentucky. (Murray)