Thursday, April 21, 2022
IT’S GONNA BE MAY
Yesterday’s Indianapolis 500 Open Test marked the unofficial opening of The Greatest Spectacle in Racing for a few locals, such as Jim Bullard, pictured above, who attended the event at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Despite the chilly weather, which Bullard hates, he said he enjoyed the experience. “After two years of dealing with the pandemic and not being able to go, it felt good to be there and hear the roar of the engines going around that two-and-a-half mile oval again,” Bullard said. “The only thing missing today was my son, Jeremy, as he loves the Indy 500 and the month of May.” Jeremy plans to take advantage of several other opportunities at the track over the coming weeks.
A past local connection to the 500 is Wilbur Shaw, the last native Hoosier to win the race. Shaw, who was born in Shelbyville, claimed the prize three times: 1937, 1939 and 1940. He is depicted in the E. Washington Street alley in a Greg Potter mural, which was funded by the Blue River Community Foundation last year.
NOTEBOOK:
The Shelbyville Central Schools board last night approved the resignations of Coulston Elementary EL teacher Kayla Gaddie and SHS Social Studies teacher Jacob Zerkel, both effective at the end of the academic year.
Due to new Indiana legislation, the Shelbyville Central Schools board approved a slight revision to the 2022-2023 calendar that changes the planned staff professional development day and student e-learning day on Oct. 24, the Monday following Fall Break, to a regular school day. The three built-in snow days will be preserved. The legislation states that during a virtual school day, schools must must deliver teacher-directed synchronous instruction for at least half of the instructional day, while the other half can be asynchronous learning. Schools may, however, conduct up to three virtual instructional days each school year that don’t meet those requirements. Anything over that may not count toward meeting a total 180-day school year.
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett will be the keynote speaker for the Shelby County Democrats’ annual JJ Dinner, Sept. 20, at the Knights of Columbus. The Shelby County Republicans’ Lincoln Day dinner, featuring Rep. Greg Pence, is tonight at Blessing’s Opera House.
The following couples applied for marriage licenses at the Shelby County Clerk’s office last week: Timothy M. Holzhausen, 24, and Destiny S. Miller, 20; Alexis M. Carpenter, 27, and Gary W. Goin II, 29; Jordan Scott, 34, and Taylor Hornaday, 33; Joshua A. Guffey, 30, and Alyssa R. Jones, 27; and Matthew W. Collett, 52, and Kristi R. Comstock, 51.
HOOSIER NEWS: There won’t be a balloon release at this year’s Indianapolis 500 in May, officials told IndyStar. During the past two years, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway held off on the pre-race balloon release largely due to COVID-19 protocols limiting the amount of staff on site. But this year, according to track officials, the decision has taken into account the environmental and wildlife impacts — issues critics have raised for years.
NATIONAL NEWS: Funeral directors are describing it as the most seismic shift in death in generations: Six decades ago, fewer than 5 percent of deceased were cremated in the United States, which had risen steadily to 27 percent 20 years ago. In 2020, 56 percent of deceased Americans were cremated, and the current projection is that by 2040 that figure will hit something like 80 percent. For the people in the industry that serves the families of the recently deceased, that means that whole models of doing business are upended; will cemeteries need all the land they now have, or should some of that be converted to columbariums? As a result, an industry normally accustomed to handling the inevitable is actually struggling to forecast the unpredictable. (The Washington Post)
Shelby County Tossed Salad, 100 Years Old
by David Craig
When researching for material many interesting items are found that would not support a complete article. I have many such bits and pieces in my files. This would be the ideal time for a spring cleaning of such material.
In 1922, Shelby County celebrated its centennial. The papers were full of historical articles leading up to the big celebration on July 4th. One such article concerned the Sprague House.
This was an old hotel located on North Harrison where the Fifth-Third Bank is today. The granddaughter of one of the early operators, Bayless Coates, came to Shelbyville that centennial summer. She was a bit disappointed that the old building had been replaced in 1903. The granddaughter, Eva Hurt, stated her mother had been born in the hotel in 1842.
The building had been originally known as the Coates House. It was on the Michigan Road and did a large business before the construction of the Ray House on the square. This was a two-story brick structure with a large porch running the entire length of the building.
Mr. Coates operated the hotel until Jasper Sprague purchased it about 1849. Mr. Sprague was a well-known engineer and had surveyed the Madison to Indianapolis railroad line. Mr. Sprague did not operate the Sprague House. Some of the men that did manage the property were John Wollen and Joshua Cross. Mr. T.M. Mather purchased the building in 1858, and it remained in the Mather family until 1901.
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Every farm in the 1920s had hens. The farm wife usually tended to the chickens and the “egg money” was hers to spend. In the Shelby Republican of May 1922 was a record of egg production in Shelby County.
Mr. Alton Cochran of Jackson Township had a flock of 17 Hamburgs. They were the most productive in the county, averaging 25 eggs during the month per hen. Finishing a close second was Mrs. Arthur Young of Washington Township. Her hens averaged 24 eggs each for the month. The third place spot went to Mrs. Phillip Yarling of Jackson Township. Her hens averaged 23 eggs per hen for the month. The lowest average was that of the Buff Orpingtons owned by Morgan Scott. They averaged only seven eggs a hen for the month of April. Some others listed and the averages were Mrs. A. R. Cortelyou's White Rocks, 16 eggs per hen, and Mrs. Russell Eck’s Barred Rocks coming in at 19 eggs per hen. It appears the Barred Rocks out-laid the Rhode Island Reds and the Brown Leghorns.
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Early on a June morning in 1922 dinner bells echoed throughout Boggstown. Many residents received phone calls requesting aid to fight a fire that threatened to destroy the entire town.
The Walker Feed Mill in the center of Boggstown was a blaze and the flames had spread to a nearby barn. Mr. O. R. Walker had arisen early in the morning and noticed his business on fire. He began spreading the alarm and soon a bucket brigade was formed. The mill was lost but the firefighters stopped the flames from spreading.
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With thousands of acres of Shelby County farm ground planted in soybeans, it is hard to realize a time when there were no soybeans grown in Shelby County. In 1922, county agents embarked on a program to teach farmers about soybeans. One of the major concerns of the farmers was the price paid for the beans. Would soybeans bring at least the same money as the corn the beans were replacing?
It was the expectations of local farmers that the bean price be $1.25 per bushel. The farmers estimated the yield at 20 bushels per acre. The Republican stated that soybeans would be an excellent soil builder and it was expected to be largely grown in Shelby County.
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One last item in the news of 1922 was a complaint about the decline of the city's bird population. Many residents blamed the decline on street oiling. The theory was the young birds would fall from the nest into the fresh oil and die. Also, the parents would get oily feet and return to the nest. The oil would cover the unhatched eggs and prevent their hatching.
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
Mayor Frank Zerr declared “Gary Huffman Day,” and First Presbyterian Church members, where Huffman was pastor, recognized him for 25 years at the local assembly. Huffman’s wife, Margaret Anne, who passed away in 2000, had been an integral part of his ministry for many years. Huffman had been a longtime board member on Habitat for Humanity of Shelby County and had received the 1983 Shelby County Jaycees Distinguished Service Award for Outstanding Minister.
30 YEARS AGO: 1992
The Shelbyville Common Council approved an ordinance raising the minimum lot sizes for new homes to 8,000 square feet from 6,000 square feet. Mayor Bob Williams had originally proposed a minimum 10,000 square feet but lowered the proposed amount following discussions.
40 YEARS AGO: 1982
Knightstown Road area property owners contacted state health officials about alleged violations at a mobile home park in the 300 block of N. Knightstown Road. Neighbors had asked to have the park closed due to junk trailers, trash and the presence of raw sewage. Fire Chief Meredith Mann had unsuccessfully attempted to have the park closed due to electrical wiring problems that posed fire hazards the year before.
50 YEARS AGO: 1972
The Shelbyville Sanitation Department experimented with having residents separate trash into “burnables and non-burnables” before trash pick-up. Mayor Jerry Higgins, Street Commissioner Ray Evans, sanitation workers Richard Clark and Thomas Sleeth and Wastewater Treatment Plant Superintendent John Thomas all reported early success with the program.
A Custom Farm Services truck struggled navigating the circle, causing several bags of fertilizer to spill in front of Becom’s, The Browse About and G.C. Murphy’s.
60 YEARS AGO: 1962
Brick was added to the new Triton High School building, although the gymnasium on the north side of the building remained only a “skeleton” of steel and girders.
70 YEARS AGO: 1952
Four Shelbyville Police Officers - Don Fancher, Roy Anderson, James Sleeth and Robert Nolley - returned from basic police training school, conducted at and by Purdue University. Ezra Dagley began a three-week traffic school at Northwestern University.
80 YEARS AGO: 1942
With bicycle use up substantially due to the war effort, Police Chief Maurice Moberly asked for “courteous treatment” of those on bicycles by motorists. Moberly also warned that any dog, whether licensed or not, would be “disposed of” if caught tearing up a garden. “Fido’s going to have to quit making trouble for war gardeners,” The Republican newspaper warned.
90 YEARS AGO: 1932
A woman fainted in County Clerk Claude Cherry’s office after her husband presented a petition for annulment. The husband said they had wedded under “the misapprehension” that the woman was about to become a mother. “What a lie!” she said before losing consciousness. Dr. J. Willard Parrish examined the woman to be sure she wasn’t injured during the fall.
100 YEARS AGO: 1922
William Robertson of Shelbyville began construction work on Paul Cross gymnasium, to be built to the south of Shelbyville High School.
Public health nurse Ami Clark reported that she had made 204 calls in March. Of those, 122 were related to “social service” issues.
INCIDENTS
A structure fire occurred at 3933 E PR 1050 S, Flat Rock.
Thefts were reported in the 1800 block of N. Riley Hwy. and at 2nd St. and Morrison Park Dr., Shelbyville.
JAIL BOOK-INS: Jarod A. Gruenholz, hold or Putnam County, unknown hearing; Cory L. Long, neglect of a dependent, operating a vehicle while intoxicated; Willie B. Ozier Jr., hold for Marion Co., failure to appear; Robert A. Tarter Jr., unknown hearing, probation violation; Michael E. Roberts, intimidation.
OBITUARIES
Benjamin (Benji) Kauffman, 34, of Shelbyville passed away Tuesday, April 19, 2022 at IU Methodist Hospital. Services are pending at Murphy Parks Funeral Service, 703 S. Harrison Street, Shelbyville, IN. 46176.
Cheri Ann (Monroe) Barrett, 69, of Shelbyville, passed away on April 19, 2022, at St. Francis Hospital, after a brief illness. She was born on April 2, 1953, in Shelbyville, the daughter of Ruth Ann (Weimar) and O. Dale Monroe. She had one brother, Douglas Monroe of Bloomington. On October 18, 1980, Cheri married Raymond Barrett, they shared a wonderful 42 years of marriage, and he survives. Cheri was preceded in death by her father; and sister-in-law, Linda (Sink) Monroe. Left to cherish Cheri’s memory are her mother; brother; sister-in-law, Kathy Barrett; brother-in-law, Michael Barrett and wife, Linda; along with nieces, Melissa Weaver and Emily England; and nephew, Matthew Monroe. Eight great-nieces and nephews are also left behind who will miss her very much.
Cheri graduated from Shelbyville High School in 1971 and attended Indiana State University. She was a lab optician for 50 years. Cheri retired several times before finally ending her career. Cheri was a member of Crossroad Community Church. Those of us who loved Cheri will remember her good nature and her ready smile. Cheri loved her family was a loyal friend. She and Ray went on many happy vacations with Cheri’s mom and dad. Cheri and Ray enjoyed special events and holidays with their nieces and nephews. One of her greatest joys was her beloved dog, “Rusty Barrett.”
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 22, 2022, at Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, Carmony-Ewing Chapel, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 23, 2022, at the funeral home. Interment will be at Forest Hill Cemetery in Shelbyville. Online condolences may be shared with Cheri’s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.
Dr. Michael Z. Silbert, 83, husband of Donna K. Silbert, of Zionsville, passed away at Witham Hospital in Lebanon on Saturday evening, April 16, 2022. Michael was born in Chicago in 1939. After his brother was born, the family moved to Shelbyville, IN. After graduating from Shelbyville High School, Michael earned a BA in biology from Wabash College in 1960. He earned his MD from the Indiana University School of Medicine in 1967 and served in the U.S. Army at the Surgeon General's Office.
Michael practiced general surgery and emergency medicine throughout the midwest, including Chicago, Detroit and in multiple cities throughout Indiana, including Bloomington, Kokomo and New Castle. He worked as a medical consultant for Golden Rule Insurance for over 20 years, and, still drawn to medicine during retirement, finished his career as the on-site/on-call physician for over 12 Indiana county jails.
He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Donna K. Silbert; his brother Robert (Denise); children Josh (Jaq Nigg) Silbert and Noah (Rejoyce Enright) Silbert; stepchildren Carol (Kent) Shaffer, Bill (Maggie) Procter and Ed (Jeanie) Procter; 13 grandchildren, Emmit Silbert, Jasper Silbert, Zoe Enright, Solomon Silbert, Silas Silbert, Kristen (Aaron) Hale, Derek Shaffer, Lauren Procter, Caroline Welbaum, Emma Welbaum, Rachel Procter, Melanie Procter and Hunter Procter; two great-grandchildren, Adriana Hale and Liam Hale; and his beloved dogs Sasha and Emmy. Michael was preceded in death by his parents, David and Sylvia Silbert, and three cherished dogs Iago, Leo and Plato.
Services for Dr. Silbert will be held at Simplicity Funeral and Cremation Care, 125 W. Sycamore St., Zionsville, IN 46077. Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Thursday, April 21 from 4 - 7 p.m. The funeral will be on Friday, April 22 at 11 a.m. with burial and military honors to follow at Salem Cemetery in Zionsville. Memorial contributions can be made in memory of Dr. Michael Silbert to the JCC (jccindy.org) or to IndyHumane (indyhumane.org). You are invited to visit our website, simplicityfuneralandcremationcare.com, to view the obituary, share a memory, send condolences or to order flowers for the family.
Robert "Bob" C. Carey, Jr., 84, passed away April 18, 2022 at his home. He was born March 14, 1938 in Indianapolis, Indiana and was a former Morristown resident. He was a Pendleton area resident since 1990. Bob retired from Kroger as a programmer and systems analyst in 1998 following 38 years of service. He was a member of Pendleton First United Methodist Church. Bob was an avid golfer and enjoyed gardening and fishing. He was a 1956 graduate of Morristown High School.
Survivors include his sons, Roger (Jane) Carey of Tipton, Douglas (Marian) Carey of Indianapolis and Ryan (Amy) Carey of St. Charles, Illinois; grandchildren, Miranda (Robert) Ake, Christina (Michael) Stuglik, Jason Carey, Caitlyn Carey and Dylan Carey; great grandson, Lucas Carey; sister, Pamela Graham; several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Cecilia (Kluger) Carey; sister, Barbara Kuhn; and parents, Robert C. and Ethyl (Paugh) Carey, Sr.
Services will be held at 12 noon, Saturday, April 23, 2022 at Wilson St. Pierre Funeral Service and Crematory, Lahm Chapel, 211 E. State St., Pendleton with Pastor John Groves officiating. Graveside services will follow at 2:30 p.m. at Asbury Cemetery in Morristown. Visitation from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, Saturday at Lahm Chapel, Pendleton. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the donor's favorite charity. Online condolences available at www.stpierrefamilyfuneral.com.