Sunday, November 10, 2024
Local Merrill Circle Legacy Continues
Merrill Circle members pose for a photo outside Shoshanna Everhart’s home on Friday. Front (L to R): Judy Stolmeier, Susie Claxton, Betty Ardery, Debbie Ewing and Shoshanna Everhart; (Middle) Rose McNeely, Judy Pettit, Angela Gill and Vickie Horner; (top) Carrie Pumphrey, Wendy Stephenson and Audra Caldwell. Members Lee Marks and Sally Vaught were not in attendance. | photo by KRISTIAAN RAWLINGS
by KRISTIAAN RAWLINGS
Wearing my Addison Times editor hat, I spoke with the Catharine Merrill Circle on Friday at Bruce and Shoshanna Everhart’s beautiful rural Waldron home. The group’s namesake (1824-1900) was an educator, writer and Civil War nurse from Indiana who became the second female university professor in the country, teaching at what is now Butler University. Merrill established a literary and learning group in Indianapolis in the 1880s, and a Shelby County chapter was established in 1891.
The group has endured and flourished through the decades, “perpetual secretary” Rose McNeely said. The local Circle’s 100th anniversary was celebrated with a lavish affair at the home of Janet Plymate.
Today, the Shelby County chapter includes 14 active and two honorary members. There are 62 deceased members. It meets seven times each year for lunch and a program, sometimes in members’ homes, other times in restaurants. The programs vary from book reports, to presentations by local not-for-profit organizations (such as The Addison Times), to poetry readings, to flower arranging. The cash treasury is kept in a vintage cigar box, and at the end of each year, a donation is made to a worthy local not-for-profit.
The future looks bright for Merrill Circle in Shelby County.
“Meetings are always lively events where members renew friendships and enjoy socializing for the sake of socializing,” McNeely said. “If Catharine Merrill were to come back and attend a meeting, she might not approve of the focus on fun, but she would surely approve of the gratitude to her for creating Catharine Merrill Circle so many years ago.”
NOTEBOOK:
Tomorrow, Nov. 11, is Veterans Day. Local schools will hold a variety of programs to commemorate the occasion.
NATIONAL NEWS: “Moana 2” comes out on November 27, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, and is currently projected to make between $125 million and $135 million over the five-day weekend, which would be a record. That’s also the week after “Wicked” and “Gladiator 2” come out, meaning the box office ought to be humming by the end of the month after being dead since the flop of “Joker 2.” The current record for biggest Thanksgiving weekend gross is $93.6 million, held by “Frozen,” so if the tracking is even close to right you’re looking at a new record. The movie was originally set to be a television show but was reworked into a movie. (The Hollywood Reporter/Numlock)
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SHS Courier Archive Highlights:
September 12, 1969
The previous year’s Student Council had purchased a hold-out rope and post for the school emblem. The ropes were gold velvet with silver posts and stands. “The main purpose of this guard is to keep visitors from unknowingly walking across the emblem.”
The SHS Majorettes, sponsored by Mrs. Becky Truman, had been busy over the summer. They had attended band camp at Flat Rock and were prepared for an upcoming parade in Columbus and participation in Band Day at Indiana University.
Robin Richards, Connie Williams and Terry Metz had been elected French Club officers. “Mrs. Swigert warned that anyone not paying their dues within a reasonable amount of time will not have their pictures taken with the club for Squib. It was agreed that anyone missing two consecutive meetings would be dropped from the club.”
Mr. James Richard, class of 1965, had returned as a ceramics teacher. He taught at SHS two periods and taught art at Loper Elementary the rest of the day. Miss Ramone Ann Summers, from Salem, Ind., was teaching home economics courses.
Diana Shops advertised the availability of student charge accounts. “Just say ‘Charge it’ for that Friday game, for that Saturday date, for that Sunday social. Parents must approve account, but responsibility is yours.”
The Rec opened for its 25th year. Ray Harris was the manager. Debbie Wells, Betsy Warrick and Nancy Owens were counter help. The Rec had a new color TV; jukebox; pool, ping-pong and snooker tables; and a wide selection of magazines. “Limited free money for the jukebox is given each night.”
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: Indiana Grand and Casino had been the largest attraction in the Indianapolis area in 2013, The Indianapolis Business Journal reported. The local casino had been visited by 3.5 million people.
The Evangelical United Church of Christ celebrated 50 years in its current building with a special service and a potluck. After an arsonist burned down the original building at Franklin and Pike St. on April 18, 1962, EUCC was rebuilt at South Miller St.
2004: Bunge, which employed 78 people at its 180-acre site in Morristown, announced plans to expand. An oil refinery had been added in 2002. The local plant had been acquired that year from Central Soya.
1994: Republicans swept local races, with Mike Herndon winning the Sheriff’s seat.
The Shelbyville Central Schools board approved moving the system’s athletic and academic teams to the Hoosier Heritage Conference from the South Central Conference, ending a 60-year affiliation with the SCC, a conference the school helped found in 1936. Many of the SCC schools’ enrollments had started to dwarf Shelbyville’s.
1984: Rick McQueary, 22, was named St. Paul marshal. He appointed Carson Trent and Hubert Bishop as reserve deputies.
Laura Stieneker, 20, joined the Shelby County Jaycees, the first woman to be a member. (Stieneker had also been the first Bears of Blue River Festival queen.) Sherman Parks had sponsored her membership.
1974: A burglar had robbed the Liquor Cabinet, 1520 S. Harrison St., by entering through a vent in an air conditioner, located about 12 feet above street level on the east side of the building.
1964: Dale Kesterman (team co-captain) was named recipient of the Kiwanis Football Medal at Shelbyville High School. Coach Bob Zimny also recognized Mike Chafee, co-captain; Denny Fox and Richard Miller, who received all-conference honorable mention; and Bob Phillips, the team’s most valuable player and all-SCC pick.
The new Shelby Farm Supply Co. elevators and buildings located on Old Franklin Road opened. The grain and feed facility was owned by Emmett Sorrell and Bill Compton.
1954: Members of the Fairland Hornets team were recognized at school for claiming the Shelby County Victory Bell. Team members were Maurice Branson, Bob Hund, Donnel Dean, Bob Larkey, Danny Judge, David Wells, Dick Larkey, Carl Bowers, Carl Nickel, Junior Cherry and Cecil Miller. Ed Harter was the coach, and Gary Larkey was student manager. Cheerleaders were Sue Christian, Nancy Rowe and Linda Branson.
1944: Shelbyville High School students set a goal to buy enough bonds for the military to purchase a “Flying Jeep,” a small Army plane used for the evacuation of wounded troops. The students reached the $8,000 goal within days.
James Emmert, Shelbyville Republican, was re-elected as attorney general of Indiana.
1934: The Shelbyville High School “S” Club announced “Golden Bears” would be the new team nickname. Ernest Mozingo, former SHS basketball star and member of the class of 1927, had suggested the winning name for the team in a city-wide contest. The name was a nod to the basic school color (gold) and to “The Bears of Blue River,” written by Shelbyville native Charles Major.
Shelbyville’s Broadway Service defeated a team from Franklin, 8-0, in a basketball game at the National Guard Armory. Broadway players were Gene Junken, Charles Schott, Fred Sandefur, Louis Copple and Harry Schott.
1924: Major Hospital turned a profit on paper in its first quarterly report, hospital officials informed City Council. However, several people had not yet paid their bills, creating a deficit of just a few dollars. City officials had been expecting a $10,000 loss the first year.
1914: The Forest Hill Cemetery Association voted to purchase the land extending to the banks of Little Blue River, making Forest Hill nearly 75 acres.
OBITUARIES
Mildred “Helen” Burton, 87, of Morristown, passed away, Friday, November 8, 2024, at MHP Medical Center in Shelbyville. She was born August 27, 1937, in Columbia, Kentucky, the daughter of James Frank and Iva Mae (Derman) Stone. On July 16, 1957, she married Sammie “Sam” Burton, and he preceded her in death on October 20, 2023.
Helen is survived by her sons, Darrell Burton and wife, Pam, of Freeport, and Gary Burton and wife, Karen, of Shelbyville; brother, Jimmy Stone and wife, Phyllis, of Columbia; grandchildren, Jennifer Burton, Samuel Burton and wife, Caroline, Angel Pattison and husband, Ian, Emily Taylor and husband, John, Kyle Burton and fiance’, Samantha Brotherton, Amber Ward and husband, Jon; great-grandchildren, Alyssa, Cameron, Lucas, Millie, Noah, Mina, Jalen and Meredith; great-great-grandchildren, Elliana and Elijah; and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to Sam, Helen was preceded in death by her parents; twin daughters, Mildred Mae and Sandra Faye Burton; brothers, Jack Stone, Bob Stone and Ronnie Stone; sisters, Mabel McClister, Betty Goff and Louise Pelly; and grandson, Luke Burton.
In 1957, Helen graduated from Adair County High School in Columbia. She was a member of the Morristown Christian Church. Helen retired from Freudenberg NOK, with over 25 years of service. She enjoyed working in her flower gardens. Helen loved taking care of and spending time with her friends and family.
Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m., Monday, November 11, 2024 at Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, Frazier Chapel, 124 E. North St. in Morristown. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m., Tuesday, November 12, 2024, at the funeral home, with Pastor Fred Hickman officiating, assisted by Greg Willard. Interment will be at Asbury Cemetery in Morristown. Memorial contributions may be made to the Morristown Christian Church, 209 S. Washington St., Morristown, Indiana, 46161. Online condolences may be shared with Helen’s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.