Friday, December 27, 2013 Museum houses wonder-inspiring relics HISTORICALLY SPEAKING By DARREL RADFORD For the Courier-Times Friday, December 27, 2013 The year was 1870. Less than 100 years after America won its independence. Just 54 years after Indiana became a state. Only 48 years after a place called New Castle and formation of a county…
By DARREL RADFORD Historically Speaking In the spirit of counting blessings, this week’s Historically Speaking is written with the theme of “if this county could talk, what would it say?” My name is Henry County. I was born almost 200 years ago and have become so much more than just a place on a map.…
A Christmas tree nearly touches the tall ceiling in the Gen. William Grose home. There are old-fashioned, homemade decorations galore on its branches, but not a single light. Perhaps the glow back then came from the appreciative eyes of family and friends, celebrating together in a simpler time. Sunday, weather permitting, the Henry County Historical…
Historically Speaking: A Lincoln log Historical Society presenter chronicles Abe’s early life, recites Gettysburg address By Darrel Radford For the Courier-Times Those attending Sunday’s Henry County Historical Society program on Abraham Lincoln rode an inspiring, yet uncomfortable time machine. Wilbur Tague, the Brownsburg photographer who looks remarkably similar to the 16th president, donned his top…
Remembering JFK’s last day Historically Speaking By DARREL RADFORD From the sudden silence at a local grocery store to the sound of taps on a CB radio, the events in Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963, created a lasting impact on Henry County citizens.Virtually everybody remembers where they were and what they were doing when hearing…
A salute to veterans, past and present HISTORICALLY SPEAKING Henry County’s first class of recruits for World War I, on the steps of the courthouse in downtown New Castle. By DARREL RADFORD ‘It has always been the Soldier’ It is the Soldier, not the Reporter Who has given us Freedom of the Press It is…
Friday, November 1, 2013 Historically Speaking – Coliseum explosion Indianapolis tragedy 50 years ago killed N.C. people By DARREL RADFORD Friday, November 1, 2013 H. Ray Edwards, a well-known New Castle jeweler, decided he didn’t like his seat during a Holiday On Ice performance at the Indiana State Fairgrounds Coliseum. So he and his wife…
Joann Shell, Henry County Historical Society employee, and Darrel Radford, author of the new book: “Images of America: New Castle” enjoy looking at Darrel’s book where Joann discovered a photograph of her own mother. Joann’s mother, Ruth Pate Birsinger, is pictured on page 95 of Darrel’s book. Ruth was an employee of Kroger grocery store.…
Most everyone has fond childhood memories of learning to ride a bicycle for the first time. As a native of Henry County some of my fondest memories involve taking long bike rides with my family through the county’s beautiful country side or cruising the small towns of…
Civil War left many grieving parents By DARREL RADFORD Last month, we shared the story of Simon Powell’s search for his fallen son’s body after the Civil War battle of Chickamauga. As the late Paul Harvey would say, here is “the rest of the story.”This columnist had the opportunity to read a letter by Simon…
