Wednesday, July 3, 2024
NOTEBOOK:
The Shelbyville Board of Public Works and Safety yesterday approved a procedural request from Jennifer Meltzer, city attorney, to continue moving forward an unsafe building order regarding three buildings located on the south side of West Broadway, from its intersection with S. Harrison Street to the alley adjacent to First Baptist Church. A structural engineer has evaluated all three properties, Meltzer said. The buildings have been secured, but structural issues remain a serious concern, especially at the former Adams Glass building, Building Director Chris Hext said, as the city actively works through the process. Responsibility for the structures remains with the property owners, Meltzer said, and the city’s hands are tied until it works through the legal process to remedy the situation.
The Board of Works also approved the installation of a four-way stop at the intersection of 4th Street and South West Street. A personal injury crash recently occurred at the intersection, prompting police review. In addition to the four-way stop, police also recommended painting the curbs yellow to clarify parking restrictions.
The Board of Works unanimously denied a request from a group of residents who wanted to shoot fireworks from Clearwick Park this week. The fireworks show, attended by about 120, a resident said, has been going on there unofficially for a few years. However, fireworks are technically banned from city parks, and Parks Director Trisha Tackett said the general practice of setting off fireworks in city parks has unfortunate side effects, such as neighbors complaining about fireworks landing on their roofs and city mow crews left to deal with debris.
The Board of Works approved closing off two parking spaces on Public Square for Capone’s Downtown Speakeasy to host a John Dillinger-themed fund-raising event on Saturday, July 20. The event will include a car show in the 5/3 Bank parking lot, and the two blocked parking spaces are tentatively planned for Model Ts to be on display.
In other board action, the property owner of 1216 Elm St. received 30 days’ extension to continue cleaning up his property. He has made progress after the City cited the property for junk and debris, but requested more time. Previous property nuisance issues at 504 Van Ave. and 718 Indiana Ave. have been resolved.
NATIONAL NEWS: New York City’s ambulance response times have hit a high not seen since the peak of the pandemic, with emergency medical services averaging 12.81 minutes to respond to life-threatening emergencies and 28.31 minutes to respond to non-life-threatening emergencies. That’s up 69 seconds compared to two years ago, and has steadily ticked up. The reasons are multiple — there are record numbers of cars on the road — but one key reason for this is a shortage of ambulance drivers thanks to the pay. Compensation starts at $39,386, which is below that of an app worker making the new city minimum of $19.56 per hour. (Gothamist/Numlock)
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!
New Building and German Church Marked Presbyterians’ Mid-1800s Era
Editor’s note: On July 7, First Presbyterian Church will celebrate 200 years since its founding. The following is the second of a four-part series to run intermittently over the next few days leading up to the anniversary on the church’s local history. This article was culled from church history documents dating back to the late 1800s. A 200th anniversary celebration is set for Sunday, July 7.
After 13 years in a frame building which sat on property located behind PNC Bank, 102 S. Harrison St., and facing E. Jackson St., the growing congregation at First Presbyterian Church began a building project next door. The selected site, the corner of Presbyterian Square, had been sold, so the church bought back the corner of S. Harrison and E. Jackson for a new, larger Greek Revival-style church.
Several parishioners in 1853 pitched in for the project, with Samuel Hamilton, an Irish immigrant who had become prominent with his furniture factory and by starting Shelby Bank, giving the largest amount.
The church continued to grow, even throughout the Civil War and after, during which time the building was repaired and improved with a furnace put in instead of heating stoves and the installation of a pipe organ.
For several years, the city had a second, or German Presbyterian Church. Organized in 1867, the German Church conducted services for a while in the original First Presbyterian Church’s small sanctuary on Jackson St. In 1872, the German Presbyterian Church erected a brick building at 268 East Washington. As time passed and members learned English, the need for a German-language church diminished, and the two Presbyterian groups merged in 1908. The original building still stands, and now houses the Evangelical Methodist Church. The original German title is still high on the building facade (see photo below).
In 1870, the first manse (a Presbyterian parsonage) was purchased. During this time, a Sabbath School library of over 700 books was acquired, and nearly 100 were added to the membership.
Members of the period were also prominent in the community. Rev. George Sluter, who served as pastor from 1871-1880, is regarded as Shelby County’s first historian. He assisted in the compilation of the first “History of Shelby County,” an unpublished work completed in 1876. It had been commissioned by President U.S. Grant in 1876. In 1880, Rev. Sluter provided the text for a “Shelby County Atlas,” the first published work dealing with local history. This period further cemented the congregation’s place in local history and community service, which continued in the ensuing years.
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.
2014: Addison Jo Stout, 7, daughter of Luke and Jennifer Stout, and Keaton Chase Johnson, 5, son of David and Jennifer Johnson, were named Little Miss and Little Mr., respectively, of the Shelby County Fair.
2004: Sheriff’s deputies investigated an unusual car crash. When they responded, they found a vehicle inverted in Big Sugar Creek underneath a bridge. Both occupants of the vehicle were standing on the bridge drinking coffee. The driver reported a deer had run across the road, causing the crash. Although a deputy smelled alcohol on the man’s breath, the driver denied he had been drinking. But as a wrecker service removed the vehicle from the river, items began to fall out, including several empty beer cans and an empty beer container. The man later admitted there had been no deer and that he had been trying to sober up when deputies arrived.
1994: It was a bad driving day for two local men. Charles Jones, 84, and Philip Scudder, 62, collided at Washington and Tompkins streets. The men realized their cars were blocking the intersection, so Scudder pulled up to the curb on the east side of Tompkins St. When Jones pulled up behind him, he hit Scudder’s car - again.
As crews cleaned up rubble from the former jail, Commissioners David Mohr, Bruce Knecht and Bob Wade collected several bricks for council members and employees to use as paper weights and doorstops. Councilman Herb McClain, carrying several bricks, told The Shelbyville News, “Now people can’t say I’m a few bricks short of a load.”
1984: Roger McGriff was elected president of the Southwestern Consolidated School Board. Other new officers included John R. Scott, Louie Hamner Jr. and Joat Pile. Bob Adams was retained as board attorney. In other business, the board hired Billie Tatlock as a first grade teacher and Jill Wetnight as elementary media specialist.
1974: The Indiana American Legion named Shelbyville police Maj. Robert Phares winner of its 1974 Lewis-Schmidt “Law Officer of the Year” award. Phares, 44, joined the police force 20 years prior, and was planning to retire in early 1975. Shelbyville Police Chief Robert Williams and several others had nominated Phares for the award. Phares and his wife, Phyllis (Stephens), had five children, Judith Ann Laird, Teresa Gay Phares, Marsha Gail Heuer, Douglas Heur and Vicke Heuer. Their grandchildren were Stephanie Laird and Natalie Laird.
1964: American Legion officials asked all county churches and anyone else with bells to ring their bells at 1 p.m., July 4, for four minutes to coincide with rites at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. The national event was an initiative to reflect upon the significance of Independence Day.
1954: The value of Shelby County real estate transfers was up 17 percent compared to the prior year.
1944: Dillard McCarty retired from his assistant postmaster job after almost 33 years of service at the Shelbyville Post Office. McCarty had applied for work at the post office, but had not heard back. One day, in 1911, while he was in Lawrenceburg, he received a “wire” from his wife notifying him the post office had called and offered him a job - if he could report by 6 p.m. that night. “If a train arriving here from Lawrenceburg some 33 years ago had been 20 minutes late, the following story might not have been written,” The Republican said. The train arrived at 5:40 p.m. and McCarty ran to the post office to accept his appointment from then-postmaster Elisha Sexton. He served as assistant postmaster for Sexton, Al Green, George Young, Ann Flaitz and Gordon Thurston.
1934: Palms Cafe opened in the spot formerly occupied by Club Cafe. Pearl Sumpter was supervisor and Edna Nelmeyer and Grace Herring were in charge of the kitchen. Mildred Senger and Helen Pumphrey were waitresses and Charles Shepple was in charge of the night business.
Kaufman’s Marketeers clung to their lead in the Strand softball circuit by defeating the Miller Street Filling Station crew at Kennedy Park, 5-1. Willard Kehrt was the batting star of the game. In other action, Broadway Service lost to the Walkerville Garage team, 4-1.
1924: The low temperature for the day was 48 degrees. “Extra bed clothing was the order in the majority of homes,” The Republican said.
1914: Judge Blair announced he would hear no cases on July the Fourth. “The attorneys and jurors would murder me if I did,” he explained to The Republican.
OBITUARIES
John Edward Fischer, of Waldron, IN., passed away Saturday June 29, 2024, at Franciscan Health. He was born May 16, 1944, in Shelbyville, IN to Paul Fischer and Valerie (Harris) McNew. John loved to play Texas Hold-em, and his family was everything to him. He loved them dearly.
He married Martha (Rouse) Fischer and she survives. John is also survived by his daughters, Melissa (companion, JR) Fischer, Sheri (husband, Craig) Alvis; his son, Justin Fischer; eight grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Funeral Directors Greg Parks, Sheila Parks, Stuart Parks, and Darin Schutt are honored to serve John’s family. Online condolences may be shared at www.murphyparks.com.
Michaela Deanne Krammes, 57, of Shelbyville, passed away Sunday June 30, 2024. She was born March 12, 1967 in Rushville, Ind., to Jerry Hileman and Vickey (Maden) Doll.
Michaela loved working with her friends at Hendricks Elementary and Meridian Park Family Aquatic Center. She enjoyed watching NASCAR and doing word searches. Most of all, she loved spending time with her family. Her children and grandchildren were her pride and joy.
She is survived by her father, Jerry Hileman; her mother, Vickey (husband, Henry) Doll; her son, Drew (wife, Karly) Crain; her daughter, Makenzie (husband, Taylor) Meredith; her grandchildren, Rhett Crain and Jovie June Meredith; her step-sisters, Sheila (Steve) Severs, Janet (Donny) Hodge; her step-brothers, Rodger (wife, Andrea) Stotsenberg, Bob (wife, Amy) Huff, Ron Doll and Mike Doll. She was preceded in death by her step-mom, Gail Hileman.
Visitation will be Saturday July 6, 2024 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Murphy-Parks Funeral Service, 703 S. Harrison Street, Shelbyville, IN 46176. Funeral services will follow at 1 p.m. at the funeral home. Funeral Directors Greg Parks, Sheila Parks, Stuart Parks, and Darin Schutt are honored to serve Michaela’s family. Online condolences may be shared at www.murphyparks.com.