Saturday, April 5, 2025
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Old Local Laws Highlight of Community Treasure Series Program
Donna Dennison, Head of Genealogy and History at the Shelby County Public Library, speaks about the history of local laws at The Strand Theatre on Wednesday. | photo by ANNA TUNGATE
When James Wilson brought his family in 1819 to what would become Shelby County, he and the few scattered settlers in the coming years were only subject to the Northwest Ordinance laws established in 1787. Those included prohibitions against cursing as well as hunting or fishing on Sunday.
“Of course, their nearest neighbor was 10 miles away, so you really are only enforcing those laws within your family,” Donna Dennison, head of genealogy and history at the Shelby County Public Library, said at a Community Treasure Series on Wednesday, hosted at The Strand Theatre.
The following include some of the anecdotes Dennison shared during the “Early Laws of Shelby County and Indiana” presentation.
After Shelbyville was established as the county seat in 1822, the first priority was building a courthouse and jail. Next was building an animal pound to deal with strays. Since settlers’ livelihoods depended on animals for farming and transportation, animal laws were abundant. Goat wagons were common, and women and children often loaded them up with laundry and took them to Blue River, where they visited with others while working. The wet laundry was put back in the goat wagon and taken home to dry.
By 1860, law enforcement and the judicial system were more robust, and some of the same original laws were still on the books. “There was a tramp who tried to force his way into the McFadden home…the police escorted him to the north side of town, gave him a sound beating and made him leave town,” Dennison said.
In the 1880s, four men were arrested for dynamiting fish out of the lake in front of St. Joseph Catholic Church, according to early county historian Judge Alonzo Blair. “He talked a lot about the lakes here in town and how muddy this area was. There was one (lake) in front of the Catholic Church, and there was one in what is now the library parking lot. “(Blair) said that in the summer, the town was taken over by thousands of frogs,” Dennison said.
The father of an 11-year-old boy who was taken to court for his son’s misdeeds was told he could either pay a $5 fine or take the boy to the courthouse basement and “give him a sound whipping in front of the judge.” Dennison added, “He didn’t pay the $5.”
In 1903, 71 people were arrested for intoxication and 26 arrested for working at or visiting a house of ill fame. One man was arrested for riding his horse on the sidewalk. An 80-year-old man was arrested for standing in front of Farmers National Bank with a shotgun and telling everyone that all the money in the bank was his, and everyone going into the bank was trying to steal his money. He was arrested for “going insane.”
Dennison noted the challenge of preparing for the program given multiple fires at city hall and the courthouse and the flood of 1913 that destroyed code books. Dennison relied on newspaper clippings, court records and original court books from the early 1900s. “This was one of the hardest programs I've ever researched," she said.
Several old laws remain on the books, including prohibitions against sleeping on public streets and in outhouses and railroad depots, and a law against profane, obscene or blasphemous language, Dennison said, adding, “I think there are a whole bunch of people who need to be arrested.” Horses still cannot be on the sidewalk, and cellar doors must remain closed. “That one definitely needs to still be on the books,” Dennison said, “because of all the people walking down the street looking at their cell phones.”
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: FULL CANOPY REAL ESTATE
NOTEBOOK:
The City of Shelbyville and Shelby County yesterday issued an evacuation order for low-lying areas and areas prone to flooding due to major flooding expected this weekend. The Shelby County Water Rescue Team is on stand-by and prepared to assist with evacuations and rescues as necessary. Residents in the affected areas are strongly urged to evacuate immediately. Those who refuse to leave may face law enforcement intervention to ensure their safety and to prevent risk to public health and safety, a media release said. The release advised drivers to avoid driving through flooded areas. For assistance, contact Shelby County EMA Director Denis Ratekin, 317-392-6308.
The annual Shelbyville High School Art Show will be in the school rotunda on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, 6 - 8 p.m. Music and refreshments will be available. Also that evening is Poetry Night, a free event sponsored by Three Sisters Books and Gifts and hosted at The Strand Theater at 7 p.m. Details for this year’s poetry contest are listed here.
The Strand Theatre is highlighting the accomplishments of General George Patton next week, an initiative headed up by local group WWII: Shelby County Remembers. On Wednesday, April 9, “Patton”, starring George C. Scott, will on at The Strand, 7 p.m., $7 admission. On Thursday, April 10, An Evening with Patton: Featuring Denny Hair, a free program, will be at The Strand, 7 p.m.
HOOSIER NEWS: Former Vice President Mike Pence will receive the 2025 John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for “putting his life and career on the line” to ensure the peaceful transfer of power in 2021, the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation announced on Thursday. The award Pence is receiving is presented to those “who have made courageous decisions of conscience without regard for the personal or professional consequences,” according to a news release from the foundation. (IndyStar)
INTERNATIONAL NEWS: North Korea has built a sophisticated crypto hacking cell that carries out massive cyberattacks worldwide to raise funds for the country’s nuclear weapons program. The government needs about $6 billion a year, and crypto theft has reliably delivered billions; this year, North Korea scored a massive haul after raiding Bybit, which resulted in a $1.5 billion windfall. (The Wall Street Journal/Numlock)
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SHS Courier Archive Highlights
May 17, 2005
The Courier staff reflected on the year. “Being the younger staff members, we will always miss Rachel (Huber) saying, ‘Let’s be honest…’ before a random comment; Petra (Radakovic’s) great ideas and preference for writing about unique topics; Heather (Bender) singing in the middle of class and her ‘murrr’ days. When we think about Krista (Kelsay), we will always look back on the countless Zip-Loc bags of pretzels and her infamous snorting laugh. With Melanie (Poehner), we will never forget the numerous discussions on Brad Pitt or Johnny Depp and her extensive knowledge on all that is going on in Hollywood at any given time. We will never forget how Abbi (Granados) and Tina (Rogers) are so sweet and how much they pitched in where it was needed. We will always remember our own version of Lucy and Ethel, the infamous partners in crime, Kristin (Reismiller) and Sally (Posz). With Nikki (Hall), we will remember how smart and fun she was in class.”
Seniors shared their memorable moments. Cherri Anderson “ran the wrong freakin’ way during Powderpuff freshman year.” Kristin Terrell recalled that she, Brandon Mahan, and a cousin from Texas were ordered into the Greenfield Steak-N-Shake walk-in freezer during a tornado warning. “It was so scary but we got free milkshakes out of it,” she said. Ryan Browning had received a three-page love letter from a girl he barely knew. “We had Dustin Dowell and Josh Macklin write her back. It was not school appropriate.” Prank calling teachers in class also made the list.
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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.
2005: Plans were announced to open a Roly Poly Sandwich shop that served Starbucks coffee in the Intelliplex.
Demolition was nearly complete on buildings at 47 E. Washington St.
1995: Libbey-Owens-Ford announced plans to add on nearly 75,000 square feet. The company produced automotive glass products for General Motors. The addition of 30 jobs would increase the company’s local labor force to more than 500.
1985: Thies Knauf donated a snowmobile to the Sheriff’s Department for use in winter emergencies.
Despite persistent rumors that Mitsubishi was building a plant in the U.S., and Shelbyville was a leading candidate, Chrysler officials refused to confirm or deny the rumors to local media. Mayor Dan Theobald said Shelbyville remained one of six sites still in the running for the plant.
1975: Unemployment jumped to 8.7 percent. President Ford had predicted there would be “discouraging news” for the economy. The jobless rate for blue collar workers was 12.5 percent and was 18.1 percent for construction workers.
1965: Three local young men, ages 17 to 20, were jailed for making obscene phone calls and bomb threats. The men also admitted burglarizing two churches and the offices of Dr. R.F. Whitcomb.
Approximately 350 children in grades one through eight enjoyed a skating party at Shelby Skateland. The party was sponsored by the local Optimist Club in observance of National Youth Appreciation Week.
1955: The more than 3,000 students in the county educational system joined the 2,000 Shelbyville students in a two-day spring vacation for the first time. County schools had not previously taken Spring Break. The school year for the county was scheduled to end May 13.
1945: Local realtor Bertie Anderson was found unconscious in his Public Square office and was taken to Major Hospital. He had apparently suffered a stroke and had not regained consciousness within a day.
Mr. and Mr. Frank Martin, Moral Township, received word that their son, Ensign LaRue Martin, was missing in action following a mission from an aircraft carrier in the Phillippine Islands area. Martin, 23, an aerial photographer and pilot of a Navy “Hell Cat” fighter plane, had recently participated in raids over Japan.
Addison Township Relief officials leased 10 acres from Andrew Duffy near the intersection of No. 29 with the Boggstown Road for a community garden project. The crop, which would only include tomatoes, would be given to families, with extras sold to canning companies.
1935: Harry Cunningham, a lineman who had previously fallen from a utility pole and injured his spine, was able to walk again following surgery. He had not walked in two years.
Excavation began for the foundation of a new warehouse in Waldron for the Waldron Canning Company, owned by E.G. Reece.
1925: Shelbyville High School received re-accreditation from the North Central Association. This meant SHS graduates would not need to take an additional examination to enter college.
1915: An oil well being drilled on the Bowman farm south of Fountaintown was said to be the producer in Shelby County. Specific details were being kept under wraps. “There is much secrecy thrown about what’s being done,” The Republican said. “No one seems to know anything and they are not telling that.”
ADDISON TIMES MAJOR SPONSOR: Freeman Family Funeral Homes & Crematory
OBITUARIES
David L. Hauk, 90, of Arlington, passed away on Thursday, April 3, 2025, at Morristown Manor in Morristown. He was born October 12, 1934, in Morristown, the son of Marlin and Alma “Kitty” (McMurray) Hauk.
David is survived by his son, Dean Hauk and wife, Teresa, of Rush County; daughters, Debbie Shepherdson and husband, Tim, of Morristown, and Kathy Mann and husband, Scott, of Arlington; sister, Marlene Cole of Florida; grandchildren, Tricia Myers and husband, Aaron, Linsey Giant and husband, Nik, Anthony Shepherdson and wife, Denise, Zoe Mann, Emily Nutterfield and husband, Aaron; Josey Hauk and wife, Kinsey, Vanessa Hauk, Megan Lanning and husband, Darrell, Carrie Davis and husband, Todd, and Sarah Dowell and husband, Scott; and several great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; son, David W. Hauk; granddaughter, Ashley Hauk; and mother of his children, Doris (Wicker) Hauk.
In 1952, he graduated from Morristown High School. While in high school, he received the Rouse Wortman Award in basketball. David retired in 1996, from James H. Drew Corporation. He was also a retired farmer. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, American Legion, Eagles Lodge and Moose Lodge.
Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, Frazier Chapel, 124 E. North St., in Morristown. Funeral services will follow at 1 p.m., Tuesday, with Nik Giant officiating. Interment will be at Asbury Cemetery in Morristown. Memorial contributions Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Indiana Chapter, 50 E 91st, Suite 100, Indianapolis, Indiana 46240. Online condolences may be shared with David’s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.