Thursday, June 6, 2024
SUMMER STEAM CAMP FUN
Shelbyville Central Schools students participate in STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Arts and Math) camp at Shelbyville Middle School this week. | above photo of drone activity by KRISTIAAN RAWLINGS, lower photos of art projects submitted.
Public Library: Prohibition Palooza Planned
by KELLEY WALKER PERRY
Prepare for Prohibition Palooza! Four events are slated for June as part of “Days Gone Dry,” a 1920s-era extravaganza being planned by Shelby County Public Library’s Genealogy & History Department.
The period was characterized by unprecedented prosperity, social change, and creative possibilities. But perhaps its most culture-altering influence was Prohibition per the Volstead Act, which outlawed liquor manufacture, sale, and transportation and was followed by the subsequent rise of organized crime.
Great Gatsbys and gangsters aside, not everyone fared well financially. Market surpluses caused land and agricultural prices to plummet, triggering prevalent farm foreclosures throughout the decade. Then in 1929, many of the elite class went from riches to rags overnight when the stock market crashed and the U.S. economy tanked, ushering in the Great Depression.
In short, the 1920s was a time of optimistic innovation, discovery, and artistic expression; but it was also a decade of criminal corruption, poverty, and despair. In fact, it was enough to drive a person to drink.
As a nod to the speakeasies and “blind tigers” that were clandestine hangouts for alcohol consumption, Capone’s Downtown Speakeasy is hosting the kickoff party tonight, June 6, from 7-11 p.m. The event will include live jazz music, showcasing the local talent of Garry Lauziere. Ten percent of the night’s proceeds will benefit the library.
“Capone’s is very excited to be a partner with the Shelby County Library during their Prohibition Month! Come out on Thursday, June 6, for our Dine to Donate 1920s Speakeasy Party wearing your best flappers and suspenders,” said owner Karen Smith.
Costumes are encouraged, but not mandatory.
In addition to this initial celebratory event, the library will offer a lineup of three other programs that focus on the Roaring 20s.
Locally, the Prohibition era involved much more than flappers, big-city bootleggers, and all that jazz. On June 11 at 7 p.m., Donna Dennison, Head of the library’s Genealogy & History Department, will present “Shelby County in the Prohibition Era.” This free program will be held in the Indiana Room of the Carnegie East Wing building and is certain to inform and entertain all ages.
By the early 1920s, movies were big business and Hollywood was the world’s film capital. In Shelbyville, the Strand Theatre was a mainstay since 1916; in November 1928, the Vitaphone sound film system was installed for “State Street Sadie” and The Jazz Singer,” its first “talkies.” And just like that, the Strand became the dominant theater in the city.
On June 20 at 7:30 p.m., the Strand will host the 1931 American pre-Code gangster film, “The Public Enemy,” featuring James Cagney and Jean Harlow. Grab some popcorn, sit back in an intimate venue, and enjoy this cautionary tale. The library would like to thank the Strand for hosting “Days Gone Dry” movie night.
On June 25 at 7 p.m., the public is invited to attend a Roaring 20s fashion show in the Main Library. The show will feature library staff and patrons wearing period garments reflecting society’s rapid movement and change. Meanwhile, Dennison will introduce each segment of the show and provide interesting and informative commentary.
During Prohibition, some iconic breweries such as Anheuser-Busch and Yuengling stayed afloat by switching to manufacturing dairy products. Since ice cream parlors became a sweet alternative to saloons, the library’s Roaring 20s fashion show will culminate in an ice cream social, completing the month-long history historical extravaganza. The library would like to thank the Now Wear This consignment shop and the Shelby County Players for their assistance with the fashion show.
“We’re glad to have this opportunity to promote local and Indiana history and work with other community members at the same time,” said Dennison.
The catalyst for Prohibition Palooza! was the arrival of “Hoosiers and Their Hooch: Perspectives on Prohibition,” a traveling exhibit on loan from the Indiana State Historical Society. The exhibit will be featured in the Carnegie East Wing gallery from June 3 through June 30.
To learn more about local history in the 1920s, visit the library’s Genealogy & History Department in Carnegie East Wing. The library also has an extensive collection of related materials, including historical fiction and nonfiction books and movies, allowing patrons the ability to explore this fascinating bygone era.
For further information about these programs, call (317) 398-8144 or check out our social media pages.
NOTEBOOK:
NATIONAL NEWS: More than 60 World War II veterans flew to Paris last weekend to take part in what organizers believe could be the final major WWII commemoration involving living veterans. American veterans will be joined by President Joe Biden and other heads of state in Normandy on June 6. (Morning Brew)
The Addison Times publishes essential news and historical content to build our Shelby County community, and is free thanks to the generosity of supporters. Those who donate a minimum of $5 a month (or $45 one-time) receive the three remaining quarterly Addison Times magazines for 2024 as an appreciation gift.
Want the daily edition read to you? Struggling with your email provider filtering out your local news? The Addison Times Substack app will solve those challenges!
This Day in Shelby County History
2014: Mainstreet Shelbyville announced funding for four façade grants: 29-41 Public Square, including significant work above Tour of Italy, Allstate Insurance, Cancer Association Thrift Store and the Department of Motor Vehicles; replacement of three windows in the East Carnegie Wing of the library; a new awning and paint for Sharp Trophies by Mack; and a new awning, storefront window repair and painting at 1 Public Square.
2004: The Shelbyville High School baseball team won the sectional championship. Leadoff hitter Adam Blackburn ripped a solo home run to start the game. Two batters later, Tyler Stieneker hit a solo home run. Brett Claxton also hit a solo home run in the second inning. Prior to their sectional semifinal win, the Bears got turned around trying to find the site of the sectional and circled a nearby church. Coach Scott Hughes had the bus take another trip around the church prior to the sectional championship game for good luck.
1994: The federal government passed a rule that all school bus driver must be drug-tested. There was no funding provided, however, leaving each local district with an extra expense of a few thousand dollars.
1984: Only six of 25 former Shelby County high school valedictorians surveyed were living in Shelbyville, The Shelbyville News reported. All but two had college degrees. County statistics showed only 8.5 percent of Shelby County residents over 25 years old had taken four or more years of college. Harlan “Pix” Hendrick, the 1977 SHS valedictorian, said he would love to come back, but his engineering career field had taken him to Dow Chemical in Michigan. Brian Callahan (Morristown, 1979) and Karen (Gravely) Tungate (Southwestern, 1976) were the two remaining in Shelby County, and cited family ties as their reasoning.
1974: Randy Worland, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Worland, was named winner of the Shelbyville Lions Club Rec Good Citizenship Award. Tom Gould, golf and assistant basketball coach at SHS, presented the award. Ron Ault, Dave Garrett and Carl McNeely were also on hand to congratulate Worland.
1964: Larry Phares, 26, a Waldron assistant coach for the previous two seasons, was promoted to varsity basketball coach. He succeeded Robert Masterson. Phares also coached baseball and track and taught driver’s education, mathematics and health.
Waldron area twin brothers, who had graduated from eighth grade at Noble Township School three weeks’ prior, were separated by the tragic hunting death of Paul Kenneth Chappelow, 13. Eva Chappelow, the boy’s mother, found the body of her son in a woods on the Garnett Jones farm and stayed beside the body until help arrived. John, twin brother of Kenneth, and several other kids had joined Eva in searching the woods. Sheriff deputies said Kenneth had been killed by a .22 caliber rifle bullet. It was believed Kenneth was chasing a fox with the gun cocked when the trigger discharged.
1954: Remodeling began on the Alhambra building at Broadway and Harrison. A group of nine local businessmen had recently purchased the building from the Switow Brothers of Kentucky. Work began with tearing down the theater marquee. Six residential apartments above the former theater would remain, but the downstairs portion would be renovated for retail. The stairway on the sidewalk on the Broadway side of the building would be closed. A large glass display window would be installed. The Alhambra building had been constructed 40 years’ prior by Frank Rembusch. It had been the scene of many vaudeville acts, stage plays and films.
1944: Mr. and Mrs. Robert Porter received word their son, Sgt. Marion “Bud” Porter, was a prisoner of war in Germany. He had previously been listed as missing in action.
Marine Pvt. Norman Thurston, former editor of The Shelbyville Democrat, received an honor badge on base in San Diego. Thurston was working in public relations for the Marines.
1934: Mayor L.E. Webb accepted the appointment as honorary chairman of the local Flower Shut-in Day, organized locally by Cossairt Company. The intention was for locals to purchase flowers and deliver them to every “shut-in” person in the city. Mayor Webb encouraged locals to bring in names and addresses of those shut-in.
1924: The Shelbyville Republican published an article promoting the hereditary theory regarding right or left-handedness, which seemed to be winning out. Some believed most people were right handed because the educational system promoted it.
1914: The federal government reiterated its hope to place a new post office in the center of Public Square. Congress had allocated $80,000 for the construction, provided the Shelbyville Common Council approved the site. The government’s plan was to vacate Harrison and Washington streets running through the square. The interurban tracks through the square would need to be re-routed. If the space was refused, government officials warned Shelbyville might not receive a new post office for several years. “The government would probably feel that the people here were not interested in the erection of a Federal building here,” The Republican said.
OBITUARIES
Sandra Sue Smith, 85, of St. Paul, passed away Saturday, June 1, 2024 at Waldron Health Care. Born June 16, 1938 in Clarksburg (Decatur Co.), she was the daughter of William Springmeier and Catherine (Sumpter) Springmeier. She married Joe Smith on December 3, 1954 and he preceded her on December 2, 1998. Survivors include a brother, Butch Springmeier (Pam) of Shelbyville. She was preceded in death by her parents; her spouse; a son, Leslie Smith; and a brother, Sonny Springmeier.
Mrs. Smith had lived most of her lifetime in this area and attended St. Paul High School. She was a home maker.
Private graveside services will be held at Paul Hill Cemetery, at a later date, with Pastor Daniel McDonald officiating. Memorial contributions can be mad to OUR Hospice of South Central Indiana, in care of the funeral home. Online condolences may be shared at glennegeorgeandson.com.
Beverly Jane Bass, 79, of Shelbyville, passed away Tuesday, June 4, 2024, at Franciscan Health in Indianapolis. She was born November 13, 1944, in Shelbyville, the daughter of Carl and Dorothy (Conger) Scott. Beverly married Norman Keith Latimer, and he preceded her in death on December 8, 1974. She married John S. Bass in Clarksville, Tennessee on June 24, 1983, and he preceded her in death on February 20, 2017. Beverly is survived by her sons, Scott Jeffrey Latimer and Norman Keith Latimer Jr., both of Shelbyville; step-sons, Todd, Brad and Mike Bass; grandchildren, Tyler, Katie, Nickolas and wife, Britta, Derek and wife, Lynsey, Nathan and Jessica and husband, Austin; great-grandchildren, Ziggy, Raydon, Bryson, Charlotte, Braxton, Delaney and Brooklyn; nieces, Jill Nolley and husband, Rob, and Megan Brewer and husband, Matt; son-in-law, Melvin Pierce; several step-grandchildren; and numerous cousins including Linda Amos. She was preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Cynthia Diane Pierce; sister, Barbara Ann “Barb” Eiler; and daughter-in-law, Tracie Latimer.
While attending Shelbyville High School, Beverly was the Shelby County Women’s Tennis Champion. Beverly was a member of the West Street United Methodist Church. In the early 1970s, she worked at Williams Industries. Later she worked in retail at Heilig Meyers and Cracker Barrel. Beverly was formerly a member of the Moose Lodge.
She enjoyed going camping and golfing, playing bingo and watching auto races. Beverly loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to noon, Monday, June 10, 2024, at Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, Carmony-Ewing Chapel, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville. Funeral services will follow at noon on Monday at the funeral home, with Rev. Bill Horner officiating. Interment will be at Forest Hill Cemetery in Shelbyville. Memorial contributions may be made to the Shelbyville-Shelby County Animal Shelter, 705 Hale Road, Shelbyville, Indiana 46176. Online condolences may be shared with Beverly’s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.