Sunday, September 18, 2022
HAPPY HOMECOMING
Shelbyville High School student Tyler Ogden laughs while dancing with Makinah Noel at last night’s homecoming dance. School officials said over 400 students attended the event, which featured a lively dance floor in the cafeteria, a photo backdrop in the hallway and tables in the courtyard for those wanting a break from the action. | photo by KRISTIAAN RAWLINGS
Reader Greeters
Shelbyville High School football players Luke Jackson, Eli Chappelow and Alex Macharia greet Coulston Elementary students on Friday as they prepare to read in an initiative to share the love of reading on Homecoming game day. | photo by ANNA TUNGATE
New Kid on Mechanic Street
ABOVE: Eric Dickmann has restored the historic ARLENE'S STYLE-ETTE located on W. Mechanic Street.
Dear readers,
This week, I will settle a bet and make a few Mechanic Street observations. I’ll get to those things in a minute, but first a shout-out to loyal reader Carolyn Moheban.
Last week, when I was on my way to Farm Fest, I stopped at Walmart to pick up some snacks. I was incognito in my old-timey farmer giddy up. I know it isn’t required to dress in a costume to attend Farm Fest, but like a millennial attending Comic-Con, it does enhance the experience.
Anyway, I walked past several people I knew without being recognized. Just when I thought I had become invisible, I heard someone call my name. My old-timey farmer costume hadn’t fooled Carolyn Moheban.
Now let’s open the mail. This week’s letter today is from a reader also with a keen eye.
Dear Kris,
On the front page of Thursday’s edition of The Shelbyville News was a photo of an old man looking kind of lost, hands in his pockets, standing in the old City Cemetery. My wife said, “Look, that’s Kris Meltzer.” I said, “I’ll bet it’s not.” The Shelbyville News wouldn’t put The Addison Times columnist’s photo on the front page. Kris must have a doppelganger, besides, the old guy in the photo isn’t wearing a bow-tie. Tell my wife she’s wrong again.
Dear happily married reader,
I can’t help you win this bet. It was me in the photo. I was enjoying the tour of the old City Cemetery, led by Donna Dennison from the library’s genealogy department. Your wife was right, but that might be for the best. Cousin Tom always says, “Remember, when married, you can be right, or you can be happy.”
Your description of me was accurate. When I saw the photo, I also thought I looked old and somewhat lost. I suppose I should look old, since I am officially a senior citizen, but I have no excuse for looking lost.
The tour of the cemetery was very interesting. Sandy and I live near the cemetery. I have spent many hours in that cemetery playing hide and seek, first with my children and now with my grandchildren. I did contribute to the tour by pointing out a name on one of the tombstones that the kids always thought was funny. It is a woman named Fanny Bone.
We have lived on W. Mechanic Street for 42 years. When I was a young boy, one of my best friends was Kevin Zerr. Kevin had four brothers, Mark, Dave, Bob and Frank. I always enjoyed playing at the Zerr’s house. Those fond memories probably had some influence on my decision, years later, to buy the house we live in now.
There are no Zerrs remaining on the street. However, several of the other kids who grew up on Mechanic Street are still here or have returned. My next-door neighbor, Jerry Beatty, is living in the family home where he grew up. Stephanie Banawitz returned several years ago.
Brothers Brad and Eric Dickmann have returned. They have both been busy renovating historic W. Mechanic Street homes. ARLENE’S STYLE-ETTE was a popular hair styling salon for men and women for many years. Arlene Porter is retired, but Eric Dickmann has the salon looking like new. Brad Dickmann, with some help from Eric, is busy renovating the house next door to where they grew up. Keeping historic Shelbyville homes in good shape runs in the Dickmann family. Their brother Rod and his son Joe Dickmann each live in homes on W. Broadway Street once owned by the Chambers family famous for Chambers stoves.
After 42 years, I still feel like the new kid on the block.
BELOW: Brad Dickmann is renovating his W. Mechanic Street home. With the new nameplate above the entry it looks as sharp as any featured on HGTV.
NOTEBOOK:
The Shelbyville High School girls soccer team extended their win streak to six yesterday with a 3-0 win over Whiteland. Ava Wilson scored two goals and Hailey Pogue scored one. The Golden Bears have outscored their opponents 28-3 over the last six games.
The Shelby County Recycling District’s Clean-up/Shred event is set for Saturday, Sept. 24, 8 a.m. to noon, at the Shelby County Fairgrounds.
HOOSIER NEWS: Indiana's housing market has been red-hot the last few years but it is now slowing down. Home sales still picked up by 4% month-over-month in the Hoosier State in August, according to the Indiana Association of Realtors. Closings were down 8% as compared to the previous August, as compared to a 10% year-over-year decline in July. “Despite inflation and economic uncertainty, August sales were only modestly off the scorching — perhaps overheated — pace of 2021,” noted Indiana Association of Realtors CEO Mark Fisher. “We saw some buyers returning to a more balanced market with more favorable pricing.” Median prices fell from $246,000 in July to $240,000 in August. New listings were down 13% year-over-year and 9% as compared to July. Every region of the state suffered a year-over-year decline. Prices are up more than 10% as compared to last year despite a less competitive buying climate. The Indiana Association of Realtors reported the supply weakened with fewer buyers entering the market while demand stabilized despite the high inflation and mortgage rates over 5% for the first time in years. (Munster Times of Northwest Indiana)
NATIONAL NEWS: As of 2021, self-checkout was used in 30 percent of all grocery store transactions in the United States, up from 18 percent of transactions in 2018. All told, according to a Food Industry Association report that surveyed 38,000 stores, 96 percent of the retail stores are equipped with them. Grocery has a high rate of employee turnover — 48 percent in 2021 — and with a tight labor force the automation has made the self-checkout systems more appealing to grocers, as they require just one employee for every five to 10 machines. (Wall Street Journal)
This Week in Shelby County" works by George L. Stubbs Sr. are owned by the Shelby County Historical Society (Grover Center) and used with permission.
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.
20 YEARS AGO: 2002
During a budget crunch, the county finalized saving $200,000 by privatizing trash disposal. Caldwell Gravel Sales won the bid to take over the transfer station. The cost to dispose trash at the station was expected to increase from 75 cents per bag to $1 per bag.
30 YEARS AGO: 1992
Former U.S. Senator Birch Bayh delighted the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner crowd in a warm St. Joseph’s Hall. “Some of you might want to know what it’s like to be a has-been, a used-to-be U.S. senator,” Bayh said. “I had a lady walk up to me on the circle on Meridian Street a few years ago and ask: Didn’t you used to be Birch Bayh?” Bayh encouraged the crowd to support local Democratic candidates, including “that guy at the top of the ticket:” his son, Evan. The elder Bayh, who had been defeated in 1980 by Republican Dan Quayle, said he had refused to say anything negative about Quayle, even when recently asked during an interview on CNN. “The interviewer asked me what I thought Quayle had accomplished in the Senate.” Long pause. “I asked what the next question was,” Bayh said. “I still hadn’t said anything negative about Quayle.”
The fleet sales division of Sandman Bros., managed by Kay Koenig, had ranked first in sales in Buick’s region 51 for the year through the end of August.
40 YEARS AGO: 1982
The estate of St. Clair “Dutch” and Irene Humphries, who had died within six months of each other in 1981, was finalized in Circuit Court. They had been married 54 years, and their wills were identical, bequeathing their entire estate to the Shelbyville Lions Club’s heart and cancer funds and to the Shrine Crippled Children’s Hospitals. Attorney James Matchett was executor of the wills. Ralph Leppert, president of the Lions Club, called Humphries a “dedicated member of the service club who was dedicated to serving the community as well.” The Humphries had lived at 1505 S. Harrison Street for many years. Both had been long-time employees of Public Service Indiana. Mr. Humphries was named Shelby County Civil Defense director in November 1965 by then-mayor Ralph VanNatta.
50 YEARS AGO: 1972
Four lost female canoeists had all been found. Mrs. Barnard of Indianapolis, her daughter, Elizabeth Fleming and Jenny Aikman had decided to accompany Congressman William Bray and his entourage as they made an ecology trip to inspect Big Blue River. After launch, the men’s three canoes were soon out of sight, which did not concern the female group. Plans had been to meet up just south of the W. State Road 44 bridge. The men, some of them wet due to an overturned canoe, reached the rendezvous point and were told the women were about an hour behind, so the men took off. Three hours later, the women hadn’t been spotted. Several searched the area. Sheriff Norman Murnan was then called to help, as were the National Guard Armory, who went by helicopter to look for the canoe and its occupants. The women were sighted in the river pulling the canoe back upstream, far from the State Road 44 bridge and not very far from Marietta. The women had not recognized the debarking point and had continued paddling down river until they reached an impasse in the form of logs fallen across the stream with no way for portage with high banks on either side of the water, so they decided to turn back - not an easy task against the current. The National Guardsmen set the helicopter down in a field and the women climbed aboard. One of the Guardsmen teased Laura and Jenny, “What some people won’t do to get a ride in a helicopter!”
60 YEARS AGO: 1962
A peanut dispensing machine was stolen and broken open on the track outside Beck’s Elevator on E. Jackson St. It was believed about $1.50 in pennies were taken.
A new shipment of Billy the Kid jeans arrived - regular, slims and huskys - at Bob Ewing’s Store for Men.
The City and the New York Central Railroad signed an agreement stipulating the railroad would move storage buildings north of the crossing at E. Hendricks St. to allow a clear view of the tracks.
70 YEARS AGO: 1952
Bob Good resigned as city judge, citing his private business responsibilities as the reason. Good, a member of the Pell & Good firm, began his legal practice in July 1947. He was first appointed as city judge by Mayor Harold Pickett, Jan. 1, 1949. Mayor Philip Banawitz had re-appointed him. After his resignation, Good left for Europe on a business trip, where he would remain for three weeks. There was speculation Banawitz would appoint Raymond Knoll, another member of the Pell & Good firm, as judge pro tem.
The Palms Soda Shop, 209 S. Harrison St., was bought by Howard and Betty (Magee) Cox, 263 W. Locust Street, from Ruth Glasco, 316 W. Franklin St.
The first electric scoreboard was installed at the Shelbyville High School athletic field. It was a gift from the classes of 1949 and 1952. The modern board cost $1,350 (approximately $15,000 in today’s money) and was placed at the east end of the field (see below).
80 YEARS AGO: 1942
Evelyn Keppel, 24, a graduate of Waldron High School, became Shelby County’s first Woman’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) member. Not to be outdone by her three brothers who were in the armed services, Evelyn reported to Fort Des Moines, Iowa for duty. Her brother Glen was stationed with the Army in Massachusetts. Her brother Edward was at Great Lakes Naval Training. Earl Keppel was with the Coast Artillery in Virginia.
A temporary run-around bridge over Clifty Creek, on State Road 9, south of Hope, was being planned to replace the old iron structure which had collapsed while a large truck was crossing it. The new bridge would be of wooden construction. The condition of William Shaw, of Twelve Mile, who suffered a broken back as his truck plunged through the old bridge, was reported as “fairly good.”
90 YEARS AGO: 1932
Luther J. Hord, 63, proprietor of the Hord Sanitarium for 27 years, died from suicide in an upstairs bedroom at his home, 716 West Franklin Street. His body was found by his wife a few minutes later. Mrs. Hord and friends were shocked, saying he had never indicated to anyone that he planned to take his own life. His action was attributed to ill health. He had failed to recover from a serious operation months before. Mr. Hord, a pharmacist, was born in Shelbyville in 1869, the son of Judge K.M. and Emily McFarland Hord. His father was associated with him in the operation of the sanitarium, which specialized in the treatment of addiction to drugs. Luther had married Ellen Bailey in 1892. One son, Dr. Jewett Hord, of Oxford, Ind., survived.
100 YEARS AGO: 1922
Residents of the Rayville section of Shelbyville met at City Hall to discuss installing sewers and a drainage system. Rayville property owners would cover the cost of the improvements.
OBITUARIES
Philip D. Herthel, 57, passed away Wednesday afternoon, September 14, 2022. He was a lifelong resident of Shelbyville. He was born August 16, 1965 in Shelbyville to Dale E. and Miriam Ann (Eberhart) Herthel. Survivors include three cousins, Sean Eberhart, David (Michelle) Eberhart, and Debra Eberhart; aunt, Donna Eberhart; a nephew, Ty Eberhart; and his cat, Baldur. He was preceded in death by his parents; uncles, John C. Eberhart and Charles B. Eberhart; and aunt, Claudine Eberhart.
Phil was a 1983 graduate of Shelbyville High School, where he as an active member of the band playing the trombone. He was a 1987 graduate of Purdue University, participating in the marching band, pep band, and jazz band. Since he was a youth, Phil was active in the Masonic fraternity. He was active in DeMolay, joining the Hacker Chapter in 1980. He received his Order of Chevalier in 1985, and the Legion of Honor award in 2002. He was a member of Englewood Masonic Lodge #715 F. & A.M., Morristown Masonic Lodge #193, and Century Lodge #764 F. & A.M. He was a Past Master at Morristown and Century Lodges. Phil was and active member of the York Rite. He was a member of the Shelby County York Rite; High Priest of Shelby Chapter; Illustrious Master, Steffey Council; Eminent Commander, Baldwin Commandry; and served as Most Excellent Grand High Priest for the Indiana in 2010-2011. He received the Grand Knight York Cross of Honor in 2012. He was very passionate member of the Indianapolis Valley of the Scottish Rite since 1986. He received his Meritorious Service Award (MSA) in 2000, and became the Commander-In-Chief of the Indiana Consistory in 2015. He received the Honorary Thirty-Third Degree in 2017 as a member of the Supreme Council. Phil was a member of the Murat Shrine, and is a Past President of the DeMolay and NexGen Units. He served in several other appendant bodies, including the Order of the Eastern Star, Sahara Grotto, Allied Masonic Degrees, Royal Order of Scotland, York Rite College, and Council of Knights York Cross of Honor.
Calling will take place from 6 - 7 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 20, at the Scottish Rite Cathedral, 650 N. Meridian Street, Indianapolis, with services to follow at 7 p.m. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Scottish Rite Cathedral Foundation, 650 N. Meridian Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204, Compass Park Masonic Home, 690 State Street, Franklin, IN 46131, or to the Purdue University College of Agriculture, 615 W. State Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907.