Sunday, January 14, 2024
Blowin’ in the Wind
Twenty mile-per hour winds and gusts up to 35 mph yesterday afternoon kept the downtown flags waving in the breeze. | photo by JACK BOYCE
NOTEBOOK:
Shelby County Republican Party Chair Rob Nolley will be spending a day in Washington D.C. this week shadowing Rep. Greg Pence (IN-6th District), who has announced he is not running for re-election to Congress. Nolley confirmed to The Addison Times yesterday that he has been encouraged to run, and is considering entering the Republican primary to succeed Pence.
Children’s author and illustrator Troy Cummings will be at the Shelbyville Central Schools board room, 1121 East State Road 44, on Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2:30 - 4 p.m. for a book signing and meet and greet, with a presentation at 3 p.m. Three Sisters Books & Gifts will have copies of Cummings’ books available for purchase before and after the appearance.
STATE NEWS: An Indiana law that gives on-duty police a 25-foot buffer that bystanders cannot cross does not violate the U.S. Constitution — that’s according to a federal judge’s ruling Friday. The ACLU of Indiana filed a lawsuit last year challenging the law on behalf of Donald Nicodemus. Nicodemus runs a YouTube channel called “Freedom 2 Film,” on which he posts videos of what he calls “newsworthy activities” in and around South Bend, where he lives. The ACLU argued the 2023 law, HEA 1186, violated the First Amendment by giving police “unchecked authority” to stop people from getting close enough to observe their actions, even if those people aren’t interfering with law enforcement. But Judge Damon Leichty said police have a right to do their duties unimpeded. (Indiana Public Media)
NATIONAL NEWS: Fully remote workers were promoted 31% less frequently than their in-person peers last year, according to Live Data Technologies. However, surveys have found fully remote workers are a lot happier and more likely to stick with their jobs. Half of fully in-person employees said they’d be job hunting in the next year, compared to a third of employees who work from home, according to a 2023 Resume Builder survey. (Morning Brew)
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National, Local Rationale for Shelbyville Street Names
from the files of David Craig, edited by Kristiaan Rawlings
Every day we drive the Shelbyville streets giving little thought to their namesakes. Who was Mr. Pike or Mr. Tompkins? What did they do to have a city street named after them?
The original plat of Shelbyville had six streets. Three streets ran north and south. The other three ran east and west. Many of these streets were named for statesmen or war heroes.
The main north to south street was Harrison Street. This street took its name from William Henry Harrison, governor of the Indiana Territory who resided at Vincennes, the seat of government. In 1811, Harrison led the army that defeated Tecumseh at the Battle of Tippecanoe. Then, in 1813, at the Battle of Thames, Harrison led his army to victory over the Indian warriors. This in effect ended Indian resistance to pioneer settlement in Indiana.
The street on the western boundary of Shelbyville in 1822 was Tompkins Street. Again, this was the name of a war hero and popular politician. Daniel D. Tompkins was born in New York in 1774. He attended Columbia College and was admitted to the New York bar in 1797. In 1804, Tompkins was elected to Congress and later joined the New York Supreme Court, then was the state’s governor. His nickname during the campaign was “the farmer’s boy.” He served three terms. Tompkins supported better treatment for Native Americans and was a supporter of education and prison reform. During his administration, slavery was abolished in New York. Tompkins was elected vice president, serving under James Monroe from 1817 to 1825.
The third north to south street was named for a famous explorer of the early 1800s. Pike Street was named to honor Zebulon Montgomery Pike. “Zeb” Pike was a native of New Jersey. In 1805, as a 2nd lieutenant, Pike led an expedition to discover the source of the Mississippi River. In 1806, Zeb led another expedition through the Louisiana Purchase, taking a route through Colorado. It was in Colorado that he first saw “Pike’s Peak” which still bears his name. Pike was killed leading the assault on Toronto during the War of 1812.
The northernmost east to west street, Franklin St., was named after founding father Benjamin Franklin. The main east to west street was named to honor George Washington. What respectful town does not have a Washington Street? The southernmost east to west street was Jackson Street, named, of course, to honor General Andrew Jackson, who led an American army to victory at New Orleans during the War of 1812.
Since the 1820s, additions have been annexed into Shelbyville. Many times a street was named for the family that developed the addition.
Murdock Street on the east side of Shelbyville (off East Franklin Street near the Kennedy Park footbridge) was named for McGavin Murdock, a native of Scotland. He came to America in 1840 and eventually learned the machinist’s trade. In 1855, Murdock settled in Shelbyville and began a sawmill operation on Shelbyville’s east side. The lumber business grew into one of the largest in the area. He is buried in City Cemetery.
On Shelbyville’s west side is Montgomery Street, named after the family of John and Mary Montgomery. John was a businessman and had been elected to the Indiana Legislature in 1866. He died in 1871 after only a few days’ illness. “John L. Montgomery is dead,” The Republican reported. “It seems strange to record this truth. But a few days ago we saw him on our streets, full of his usual wit and quick retort.”
On Shelbyville’s southeast side is Blanchard Street, recognizing Frank Blanchard, a native of New York. During the Civil War, Blanchard served in the Union Navy. He came to Shelbyville from Marion, Ind., in 1886 and operated furniture factories.
His handle factory later became the Campbell Furniture Company. “The timber fit for making handles being in time about all consumed, Mr. Blanchard sold the plant,” The Democrat reported. The final year of his life, he started Blanchard Novelty Works. “Mr. Blanchard always commanded the confidence of his employees, he was ever kind to them, and they were his warmest friends,” the paper said. It was noted that he “never mettled with the business of others.” He died in 1901 at his home on West Washington St.
Teal Street derives its name from one of the pioneer families of Shelby County. Dr. Nathan Teal married Ann Walker, daughter of John Walker, one of the three men to donate land for the city’s establishment. Walker Street bears the name of that family.
William Teal was the son of Dr. Teal. William married Elizabeth Hill, and they lived in the Walker home on N. Harrison Street on the lot that later housed the Coca-Cola plant and is now being redeveloped.
What we now know as West Street was first labeled New York Street. There was also a street north of Pennsylvania Street named Grave Street, which no longer exists.
Ever since 1822, developers have honored people by naming streets after them. The tradition continues today.
This Day in Shelby County History
2014: Judge David Riggins filed to run for Superior Court II judge after serving four years on the bench. Riggins had been appointed to the bench in 2010 by Governor Mitch Daniels. He had also previously been a judicial law clerk under Federal Judge Allen Sharp.
2004: The Shelbyville Central Schools board accepted the retirement submissions of Sheila Palmer, Coulston Elementary teacher, and William Murphy, math teacher at Shelbyville High School.
1994: Shelbyville Police Department Patrolman Jim Stephens was awarded the department’s Combat Cross Award for an incident that had occurred in 1980. Stephens had been involved in responding to a shootout on W. Franklin St. The suspect was killed. Detective Cap’t. Bob Williams had nominated Stephens for the award at the time, but a committee never got around to it. Stephens had found a copy of Williams’ nomination when cleaning out his locker, and Police Chief Kehrt Etherton and Mayor Williams issued the award.
1984: A Boys Club state basketball tournament was underway at the local club. A South Bend team had spent the night in the basement of the club before competing in the 15-16 year old bracket.
Susan Fancher returned from a California trip, which she had won through a Hardee’s contest. She participated in a Hollywood screen test by Columbia Pictures Television on the set of “Jennifer Slept Here” and stayed at the Bel Air Sands Hotel on the expenses-paid trip.
1974: Waldron High School’s Chris Gay was named the Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Player, an award presented by his coach, Dave Omer, after the Shelby County Tourney.
1964: Local recording artist Bob Hoban, Flat Rock, purchased the new Roberts 1057 tape recorder at Spurlin’s Radio and TV, 28 W. Polk St., from “Honest Em” Spurlin.
New weight equipment arrived at the Shelbyville Boys Club. A photo showed Dan Lee, Mike Platt and Eric Dickman trying out the weights.
Triton Central won the Shelby County Tournament. Players were Jim Gay, Bob Crafton, Mike Wells, Mike Bowers, Jim Alexander, Ron Drake, Norm Laney, Bob Rowe, Tom Moore, George Shaw and Ken Dickman. Cheerleaders were Pam Eck, Sheri Sinclair, Nancy Buehling and Marijo Pfendler. Marvin Tudor was coach and Don Mendenhall was assistant coach. Carl Mohr and Larry Harrell were student managers. Mike Wells was named Most Valuable Player.
1954: Over 500 farmers attended the Needlers’ John Deere lunch at the local National Guard Armory. Company officials said they had more than 300 pounds of ham, 60 dozen doughnuts and “a lot of coffee” for the event. Feature films “What’s New in Farming” and “Oddities in Farming” were shown.
A Camp Atterbury soldier crashed his 1952 Nash sedan one mile west of Lewis Creek on a gravel road near Roy Muldoon’s residence. The soldier said he lost control while trying to avoid a rabbit in the road. Both the vehicle and Muldoon’s fence were damaged.
1944: Maurice Lux was named Indiana Corn King. He was the 33-year-old son of Peter Lux, a four-time world corn king champion. John Isley, 19, Washington Township, was named Indiana Corn Prince.
1934: Dr. L.O. Richmond concluded a nine-year tenure as pastor of First Presbyterian Church. He had been pastor here from 1907 to 1910 as well.
Several local airfield owners met with City Council members to discuss the upcoming local airport project. The land selected was north of the city, along the side of a road running west from State Road 29 at Campbell’s hill.
1924: A search for a man who did not show up for jury duty showed he had been dead 16 years. Judge Harry Morrison instructed the clerk to name a replacement.
The price of gasoline rose to 20 cents ($3.55 in today’s money).
1914: The city opera house in City Hall was ordered closed by a state fire inspector who deemed it a “veritable fire escape.” He ordered the installation of two fire escapes, one on the west side of the building, where the city did not own the land. Planned events were moved to Blessing’s Opera House, which was deemed safe in case of fire “if the people would not become frightened and stampede,” the inspector said. Mayor Schoelch suggested that city council close the city opera house gallery, because the applicable fire statute was only for three story buildings. Without the gallery, City Hall was only two stories.
OBITUARIES
None today