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HENRY COUNTY HISTORY FEED

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HENRY COUNTY HISTORY FEED

Blog Post Image: This Week, Vol. 4

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Published February 4, 2025 at 720 × 432 in This Week, Vol. 4

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Copyright 1887-2024 Henry County Historical Society, New Castle, Indiana

Bringing History to Life &
Life to History Since 1887!

Hours of Operation
Please contact us to schedule a tour and/or research during these hours:
Thursdays, Fridays, & Saturdays 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
If no appointment is made, tour and/or research cannot be guaranteed if no volunteers are available.
Open through early March to late December!

Admission Fees: None!

Call us: 765-529-4028
Email us:
HenryCountyMuseum@gmail.com
Mail us:
606 South 14th Street, New Castle, IN 47362

4,783

Henry County Historical Society, Inc

Open early March through late December!
Open Thursdays, Fridays, & Saturdays
11 a.m.-4 p.m. ET
Please call ahead for tours and/or research so that we may schedule volunteers. If no appointment is made, tours and/or research cannot be guaranteed.

Henry County Historical Society, Inc

4 days ago

On this date in Henry County history, June 11, 1920, Henry County Memorial Park opened as a “living memorial” to the veterans of World War I.When Salem Shively first proposed an undeveloped area north of New Castle be used for a park back in 1919, reports are some scoffed and laughed. “Swamp” and “mud bog” were terms labeling the area then.More than one hundred years later, not only have the naysayers been proven wrong, but what became Henry County Memorial Park is now officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places.The photo here shows an early entrance to the park in 1921.For more on the beloved facility, purchase Mark Sean Orr's book entitled Henry County Memorial Park: One Hundred Years of Memories. The book is available for $20 in the Henry County Historical Society gift shop.BASKETBALL LIVES HEREThis Day In Henry County history is brought to you by Destination Henry County Indiana. Discover slam dunk experiences at www.HoopsInHenry.com. Visit the Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/VisitHenryCounty.com.HELP US PRESERVE COMMUNITY HISTORYPlease join the Henry County Historical Society with a $25 annual membership. Visit our website at www.henrycountymuseum.orgCOME SEE US!We're open Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day and ANYTIME by appointment. Call us at 765-529-4028 or 765-524-0530. ... See MoreSee Less

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Henry County Historical Society, Inc

5 days ago

On this day in Henry County history, June 10, 1841, John Grubb founded the Indiana Courier, forerunner to the New Castle Courier-Times, now the eighth-oldest daily newspaper in the state.The photo, courtesy the late Mike Bertram, shows a unique side of the original newspaper office at 1408 Broad Street -- displaying a running score of a World Series baseball game in 1929 between the Philadelphia Athletics and Chicago Cubs.Here is a portion of a story about the newspaper's history written by Henry County Historian Darrel Radford.The Courier-Times has a long, eventful history.John Tyler was president of a nation which, at that time, had just 26 states. Indiana was a mere 25 years old. Meanwhile in Knightstown, a wholesale grocer named John Grubbs purchased a newspaper called the Indiana Sun, a publication he moved to New Castle and renamed the Indiana Courier.Now known as The Courier-Times, its faithful readers may not realize that this newspaper is the eighth oldest in Indiana. Its headlines have heralded the triumph of Charles Lindbergh's transatlantic flight in 1927 as well as the tragedy of Sept. 11, 2001. Two World Wars and three presidential assassinations have been recorded in its pages. Locally, the arrival of the largest automobile factory and the disappearance of a nine-year-old girl both made national as well as local headlines.Names that would follow Grubbs in the newspaper's history included David Nation, future husband of temperance leader Carrie Nation who would attack saloons with a hatchet and call bartenders "destroyers of men's souls;" George Hazzard, the grandson of first New Castle settler Ashael Woodward and a noted early historian; as well as Joseph Greenstreet, the local educator for whom the former Greenstreet Elementary School was named.But arguably the most important name of all in the newspaper's long history was Chambers.Capt. David Chambers was a brave Civil War veteran, among the first to arms at the outbreak of the Southern rebellion. He fought in major battles at Chickamauga and Pittsburg Landing. Among his children was Walter Scott Chambers, who would grow up to be editor of a local newspaper here for 55 years.Walter Scott Chambers began his newspaper career by working at The New Castle Democrat for $3 a week. An archived article describes how Chambers used to ride his bicycle out around the county to not only get news but sell advertising as well.Chambers bought the New Castle Democrat at the age of 25. The purchase, made possible by 27 prominent Democrats signing his $2,500 promissory note, happened on Aug. 6, 1895. From that date forward, for the next 90 years, the ownership of the newspaper remained in the hands of the Chambers family.In 1909, the New Castle Democrat took over a local paper called The Daily Tribune and changed its name to the Daily Times.As editor of The Times, Walter S. Chambers "waged a relentless war against the Ku Klux Klan as an enemy of tolerance and hence of all freedom and democracy.""Feelings ran high in the community on this subject but nothing abated the prosecution of an editorial crusade and so long as the Klan had life left in it," an archived article read, "The Times periodically gave it an editorial flogging."Interestingly, Chambers, editor of The Times, had served as chairman of the Democrat state committee while George A. Elliott, editor of The Courier, had served as chairman of the Republican party"Readers of New Castle's two daily newspapers in that decade were served two of the hottest political editorial columns in Indiana. It was a daily performance that made good reading, no matter what a person's politics might be," an archived article said.When business slowed in 1929 and 1930, New Castle merchants insisted that the two papers combine so they could reach their prospective customers in a single publication. Elliott died in the late 1920s and his heirs wanted to sell the paper. So on July 1, 1930, Walter S. Chambers consolidated the two daily papers into a single publication that we know today as The Courier-Times.Chambers would help shape the news as the years went by. He served more than 18 years in the Indiana Senate, where he was floor leader for many years.When Chambers died on March 13, 1951, his eldest son, Scott Chambers, took over as editor.While the names changed often up through 1930, the location of this paper has remained fairly constant. The Courier-Times or its antecedents have occupied all four corners of the 200 block of South 14th Street in the past century.From 1907 to 1915, The Daily Times was located at the southeast corner of Race and 14th streets. It then moved to the northeast corner of Central Avenue and 14th Street in 1915. In 1930, The Courier and The Times were consolidated and the address continued to be 218 S. 14th St. until 1962.On May 19, 1962, the newspaper officially moved into its 201 S. 14th Street location, where it's been now for more than 60 years.Many will remember days gone by when customers could stand and look through a glass portion of the building and watch the press as it churned out copies of the daily paper.More than just headlines have changed here over the years. How those headlines are printed is nothing today like it was the early years. The newspaper has gone from the hot metal of Linotype (the method used from 1900 through 1976) to the wax and paste-up method (from 1976 through the early 1990s) to the computerized versions of today.Then in 1997, The Courier-Times launched itself into cyberspace as it went online for the very first time on what was known as the World Wide Web.The Chambers family sold the business to Nixon Newspapers in 1985. The newspaper is now owned by Paxton Media Group, a family-owned company based in Paducah, Ky.The newspaper industry has changed greatly in recent years. The Courier-Times began having the newspaper printed elsewhere in late 2009. Gone are the newspaper carriers so familiar in neighborhoods for years. The newspaper began mail delivery in 2020. But the newspaper's official address hasn't changed for more than 60 years. It's still at 201 S. 14th St., although the building was sold in 2021 to Duke Hamm and Kyle York. It now is home not only to newspaper staff members, but a variety of other shops and restaurants. Another thing hasn't changed -- the need to know, especially the events that happen in, to and for a community. Even though it is published just two days per week now, The Courier-Times is a luxury for a community our size, one that many no longer have.BASKETBALL LIVES HEREThis Day In Henry County history is brought to you by Destination Henry County Indiana. Discover slam dunk experiences at www.HoopsInHenry.com. Visit the Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/VisitHenryCounty.com.HELP US PRESERVE COMMUNITY HISTORYPlease join the Henry County Historical Society with a $25 annual membership. Visit our website at www.henrycountymuseum.orgCOME SEE US!We're open Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day and ANYTIME by appointment. Call us at 765-529-4028 or 765-524-0530. ... See MoreSee Less

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Henry County Historical Society, Inc

6 days ago

On June 9, 1961, Lewisville celebrated its basketball hero, “the Henry County Hurricane” known as Marion Pierce, with a parade and ceremony retiring his No. 52 jersey. For nearly three decades, Pierce was Indiana’s all-time career scoring leader. Today, he still ranks number two, behind only Bedford North Lawrence’s Damon Bailey. Pierce scored 3,019 points in his stellar career — and he didn’t have the luxury of the 3-point shot. or the 1-and-bonus free throw,. Those who remember watching him play say he definitely hit some shots from 3-point range.Henry County Historian Darrel Radford is working on a book about Marion Pierce. Watch this Facebook page and The Courier-Times for more details in the near future. Did you ever see Marion Pierce play basketball? Share your memories with us.BASKETBALL LIVES HEREThis Day In Henry County history is brought to you by Destination Henry County Indiana. Discover slam dunk experiences at www.HoopsInHenry.com. Visit the Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/VisitHenryCounty.com.HELP US PRESERVE COMMUNITY HISTORYPlease join the Henry County Historical Society with a $25 annual membership. Visit our website at www.henrycountymuseum.orgCOME SEE US!We're open Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day and ANYTIME by appointment. Call us at 765-529-4028 or 765-524-0530. ... See MoreSee Less

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Henry County Historical Society, Inc

1 week ago

On June 8, 1983, the Big Blue River Conservancy District unanimously reaffirmed its decision to keep a still under development Summit Lake closed to the public. The lake had been overrun with eager fishermen defying the closed status of the facility.The photo, taken by Jeff Mastin for The Henry County News Republican, shows BBRCD Board President Lee Atkinson urging patience from a big crowd of frustrated fishermen at a public meeting. Seated beside Atkinson at the left was BBRCD board member Bob Couden. This area's hunger for a great place to fish became ever-so-evident on Memorial Day weekend, 1983, when it was reported as many as 2,600 people bombarded the still-unfinished Big Blue River Conservancy District project."They're biting so well out there," Bill Ballenger was quoted as saying in the June 16, 1983, edition of The Henry County News Republican. Here is more of that 1983 article, written by then News Republican publisher Darrel RadfordFrancis Davis told BBRCD board members one group reported catching 57 Redear fish and keeping them. He said there were reports another group caught as many as 100 six-inch bass in a single day.But Terry Harvey, Henry County's attorney at the time, warned people had to obey the closed signs while construction activity continued. He said anyone found trespassing in the lake area would be prosecuted.The BBRCD's early June 1983 decision to keep the lake closed did not sit well with some at the crowded public meeting."There's no recreation area in Henry County, you have to drive 100 miles to find a good one," rural New Castle resident Paul Rust said. "There shouldn't be any problem with local people fishing on the north side. The residents of Henry County deserve some place to fish."Complicating matters that summer was the fact that Westwood Park, which usually helped satisfy area fishermen, was closed for repairs.BBRCD Contracting Officer Jan Crider explained that premature opening of Summit Lake would create many problems, including erosion, an unnecessary burden on contractors trying to finish the project and liability issues for the county."You'd be asking for consequences I can't even forsee," Harvey said. "If somebody slips in the mud and breaks their arm, it's our responsibility, because we let them in."Crider said the project, in the planning stages for more than 20 years, was slated to open in mid-1985. He pleaded for patience, pointing out many state agencies would have to conduct inspections before the facility could officially open to the public.BBRCD Board President Lee Atkinson stressed to the fishermen he and others understood their eagerness. But he, too, urged patience."We desperately need fishing," Atkinson said. "We needed it in 1950. I've dedicated my help to a first-class facility. We think we're on the right track."The lake did open in 1985 and, on Jan. 9, 1988, the facility officially became Indiana's 19th state park.Today, nearly 40 years later, Atkinson has been proved right. Summit Lake State Park draws more than 200,000 visitors annually.BASKETBALL LIVES HEREThis Day In Henry County history is brought to you by Destination Henry County Indiana. Discover slam dunk experiences at www.HoopsInHenry.com. Visit the Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/VisitHenryCounty.com.HELP US PRESERVE COMMUNITY HISTORYPlease join the Henry County Historical Society with a $25 annual membership. Visit our website at www.henrycountymuseum.orgCOME SEE US!We're open Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day and ANYTIME by appointment. Call us at 765-529-4028 or 765-524-0530. ... See MoreSee Less

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Henry County Historical Society, Inc

1 week ago

FLASHBACK: Twenty-seven years ago this month, New Castle's Jeff Pass signed his Major League Baseball contract. It was June 2,1998 after Jeff was chosen in the 7th round. and there were 50 rounds that year. He went straight from NC Trojan baseball to the Arizona Diamondbacks rookie league team in Tucson. He ended the season pitching in Midwest League pitching for Arizona's team the South Bend Silver Hawks. Jeff was a left-handed pitcher and outfielder. He was all NCC; first team Indiana All State; and an Indiana North-South All-Star. He set school records with 17 strikeouts in a 7-inning game against Muncie Central following a record-tying 16 against Lafayette Jeff in back-to-back conference games. He had a season record of 113 strikeouts in only 56 innings his senior year (two per innings pitched). Jeff Pass, thanks for the great baseball memories!BASKETBALL LIVES HEREThis Day In Henry County history is brought to you by Destination Henry County Indiana. Discover slam dunk experiences at www.HoopsInHenry.com. Visit the Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/VisitHenryCounty.com.HELP US PRESERVE COMMUNITY HISTORYPlease join the Henry County Historical Society with a $25 annual membership. Visit our website at www.henrycountymuseum.orgCOME SEE US!We're open Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day and ANYTIME by appointment. Call us at 765-529-4028 or 765-524-0530. ... See MoreSee Less

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