Bloomington (Monroe County, Indiana) Daily Herald Telephone, June 24, 1955, p. 1. Note: The item below was abbreviated from the original as shown by the ellipsis. ARMY LEASES NEW RSERVE QUARTERS; PLANS EXPANSION Five-year Agreement Signed for Fell Building; Plan Move to New Facilities after Camp Training Army Reserve Headquarters will move into new and bigger headquarters July 1, it was announced today after a 5-year lease was signed on the Fell Building at 4th and Rogers. The least was signed after several months deliberation by Army authorities, Irvin Fell, owner of the building, and Sarkes-Tarzian officials. Tarzian had been using the building as storage space for broadcasting equipment. Capt. Eugene Bowers said the move of headquarters offices will be made July 1, but the remainder of the training facilities will be left at the old headquarters on South College until the troops return from active summer training duty. The Reserves will occupy only the main and upper floors of the building and Tarzian has retained a lease on the basement. Officials of that company said it will try to sublease that space. Tarzian officials said the building is now being vacated.. (Bowers) reasoned that facilities at the Chamber of Commerce building, where headquarters are presently located, are not sufficient to handle existing units.Local reserve units now consist of nine units with 130 men. Plans for expansion call for nearly 250. Units now set up in Bloomington are companies "C" and "A" of the 329th Infantry Regiment; the 20th CIC Detachment; the 445th and the 480th Strategic Intelligence Detachments; Command General Staff School, Division Level; Judge Advocate General School, Blade Course; 406th Military Government Company and the Medical Units of the 329th Infantry Regiment.

Bloomington (Monroe County, Indiana) Daily Herald Telephone, June 27, 1955, p. 1. NOTE: The item below was abbreviated from the original as shown by the ellipsis. The original was accompanied by one photograph. .The new Monroe County Humane Society today launched a fund drive to construct a modern animal shelter. Curtis B. Hall, county humane officer for the society, said the building, estimated to cost $8,500, will be located at the City Sanitation Department plant under a $1 lease arrangement with the city. When equipped, the 94 by 20 foot, concrete-block building will contain a gas chamber, feed rooms, 12 runways, inside cages, a small office, medical room and separate rooms for cats and dogs.

Bloomington (Monroe County, Indiana) Daily Herald Telephone, June 27, 1955, p. 1. NOTE: The item below was abbreviated from the original as noted by the ellipsis. The original was accompanied by two photographs. STUDENT HOUSING OFFICIALS CHANGED Mrs. Alice Nelson, who for 35 years has managed and operated Indiana University's student housing system, was appointed today to the new post of executive director of residence halls at the University. She will be succeeded as director by George R. Olson, present administrative manager. When Mrs. Nelson, a graduate of the University of Chicago, became the University's residence hall director 35 years ago, the University had one dormitory housing 114 students. Today the system consists of 75 buildings and 250 trailers housing more than 6,000 students and provides approximately 15,000 meals daily.

Bloomington (Monroe County, Indiana) Daily Herald Telephone, June 29, 1955, p. 1. NOTE: The item below was abbreviated from the original as shown by the ellipsis. SCHOOL'S FUTURE IS IN DANGER Smithville Case Adjourns Today; No Salary Fund The Smithville School case took a backward step today as Martin Circuit court attaches reported that the case was expected to adjourn this afternoon, not to reconvene until the November court term at Shoals. Reasons given for the expected adjournment was pressures of other court business.When the probability of adjournment became apparent, speculation began immediately as to the possibility that the school will not be able to open next fall. The State Board of Tax Commissioners this spring withheld funds requested an additional appropriation for the express purpose of reopening the school next fall.

Bloomington (Monroe County, Indiana) Daily Herald Telephone, June 27, 1955, p. 10. Note: The item below was abbreviated from the original as shown by the ellipsis. SCHOOL CASE MAY GO INTO ANOTHER TERM Attorneys involved in the Smithville School case today predicted that the case will not be concluded in this court term. The term ends next Saturday for Martin Circuit Court in Shoals where the case is being heard on a change of venue. Ben Jerrell, present trustee of Clear Creek Township, was on the witness stand all morning verifying residence in the township of persons who signed the petition asking closing of the school and transfer of pupils. Last Saturday, Arthur Burnham, leader of the petitioners, was in Bloomington having photostatic copies made of Clear Creek Township tax records assessed in 1953, payable 1954.

Bloomington (Monroe County, Indiana, June 17, 1955, Section 1, p. 7. NOTE: The item below was abbreviated from the original as shown by the ellipsis. BURNHAM TAKES STAND IN SMITHVILLE HEARING In Martin Circuit Court this morning, Arthur Burnham, leader of the faction asking that Smithville High School be closed, took the stand briefly in the hearing expected to decide the schools' fate. Burnham testified that he and Robert Fowler, another Clear Creek Township resident, took the six-part petition asking that high school students be transferred out of the township and the high school building converted to elementary use to Mrs. Pearl Deckard, then township trustee.The petition was presented to Mrs. Deckard May 22, 1853, Fowler and Burnham stated. First on the stand this morning was Irl (sic) H. Ingram who carried one of the petition copies for signatures. He testified to those names he actually saw signed. The same testimony was obtained Thursday afternoon from petition carriers Sherman Smoot, Lawrence Hazel, Jr., and Robert Ingram. (Mrs. Deckard) refused action until she had consulted her attorneys. Clarence Stewart, Monroe County superintendent of schools, was the last witness in the morning session. Stewart testified to Smithville High School's enrollment since the controversy arose. He stated that enrollment was 144 in 1952-53, 117 in 1953-54, and 116 in 1954-55. He estimated next year's total enrollment at 165.

Bloomington (Monroe County, Indiana) Daily Herald Telephone, June 15, 1955, p. 1. NOTE: The item below was abbreviated from the original as shown by the ellipsis. AUDITOR, TREASURER FIRST TO TESTIFY IN SCHOOL HEARING The Smithville High School controversy finally reached the ears of a circuit court judge.as the case gets underway in Martin County circuit court at Shoals. The defense has taken the position that the petition that began the fracas has 360 certified taxpaying signers, but that there is no evidence to show these signatures are authentic. The original petition asked that the high school be converted to elementary use and high school students transferred out of the township. That petition was ignored by Mrs. Pearl Deckard, then trustee of Clear Creek Township. The petitioners then filed suit asking a court mandate closing the school, nearly three years ago. This morning, Mrs. Thelma Axsom, Monroe County auditor, was the first witness called. In one hour and 40 minutes of testimony, Mrs. Axsom verified her certification of the petition-signers. The defendants are attempting to show that the term "taxpayers," as used in certification, can mean persons who pay gasoline or alcoholic beverage taxes or store license taxes, in addition to those who pay personal and real property taxes.

Bloomington (Monroe County, Indiana) Daily Herald Telephone, June 30, 1955, p. 1. NOTE: The item below was abbreviated from the original as noted by the ellipsis. The town of Stinesville is being readied for its 3-day centennial celebration July 7 - 9.A writer of that day described some of the early settlers of Monroe County as being the best citizens who came here and made it their abiding place, and those valuable adjuncts of civilization-education and religion-took deep root. It is said that the first school in Bean Blossom Township was taught in 1828 by a Mr. Taylor. By 1836, there were four established schools, all log. Three famous teachers of the 1830s were Eusebius and Ambrose Hinkle, brothers, and sons of a wealth slave-holder of Tennessee. The old history describes them as being "young men of fine manners, finished education and among the most perfect disciplinarians ever in charge of schools in the district." Eusebius, the eldest, was a Lutheran minister and often preached in German to the members of his church who could not understand English very well.These brothers were single men, though the elder married one of the fair daughters of the township. Clinton C. Owens was another pioneer teacher. He is described as being "finely educated and his discipline was the pride of the district." Today Stinesville has a modern stone grade and high school and an adequate teaching staff that serves the township. Church Life Liberty Church at Mt. Tabor is said to be the first church in Bean Blossom Township. John and Nancy Burton with their six children were the first to settle in the community in 1819. "Uncle Johnny," as he was called, was a very religious man. He had prayed for safe journey to their new home and found the Indians friendly. It was he who said, "We have come unto a new land, a new Promised Land," and after quoting from the Bible he said, "We shall call that hill and this place Mt. Tabor." Religious services were held in log cabin homes at first, but on September 23, 1831, "Uncle Johnny" and a group of friends and neighbors met on the site of the church and here, with axes and broad axes, the finest yellow poplars were felled and the church was erected on the ground Burton donated. The church was supposed to be non-denominational, but since most of the congregation learned toward the Methodist faith, it became the Liberty Methodist Church.

Bloomington (Monroe County, Indiana, June 24, 1955, p. 1. NOTE: The item below was abbreviated from the original as shown by the ellipsis. HISTORIC FOUNDATION OF STONE THEM FOR CENTENNIAL FETE .In yesteryears Stinesville was known as a hustling, progressive business center boosted by the great Indiana limestone industry that had its beginning in this picturesque location. The town of Stinesville owes its beginning to the Monon Railway that made possible the connecting link with the markets for this great building stone and also brought to its borders many of the skilled workers who became leaders in this Hoosier community. The name of Stinesville is known throughout Indiana and the United States because Indiana limestone from the quarries of this community has gone into (many buildings) through the country. A (centennial) pageant has been written and is being directed by Mrs. Mary Grubb Childers, a native of Bean Blossom Township and a retired school teacher. Mrs. Childers is the wife of Lovel Childers, co-chairman of the centennial.

Bloomington (Monroe County, Indiana) Star Courier, June 6, 1953, p. 1A. NOTE: The item below was abbreviated from the original as shown by the ellipsis. One photograph accompanied the original. One of the most disastrous fires in Bloomington history swept through the Fell Iron & Metal Company plant at 503 N. Rogers Street, Thursday, leaving the sprawling building in a mass of crumpled steel and stone. Mrs. Irvin Fell estimated the loss at $65,000. She said that there was only $3,000 insurance coverage. The fire broke out in stacks of stored paper at the rear of the building, and despite the efforts of 25 men employed at the plant, the flames quickly spread to the roof.The employees had used every available fire extinguisher in an attempt to fight the fire before the arrival of the fire department, but the heat soon forced them to leave the building. The fire broke out shortly before 11 AM and by noon the structure was a total loss. The building was purchased by the Fells two years ago after they leased their former plant at Fourth and Rogers to Sarkes Tarzian, Inc.The building first housed the old Central Oolitic Stone Co. that was started by the Adams and Mahan families about 75 years ago. Their interests were sold out about 25 years ago to the Shawnee Stone Corp., whose principal stockholders lived in Detroit. The late J. L. Torphy was the last active manager. About five years ago, since the Detroit interests could not devote the necessary time to operation of the firm, it went into friendly receivership with the building later being sold at auction to I. Fell and Co., and the quarry to the Ingle Stone Co.The mill building was one of the largest in the Bedford-Bloomington stone district and housed more machinery than any other. The building was constructed of steel, glass and stone. This was the first fire in the history of the building that spread over almost an entire city block.

Bloomington (Monroe County, Indiana) Star Courier, May 29, 1953, p. 5B. NOTE: The item below was abbreviated from the original as shown by the ellipsis. One photograph accompanied the original. TENT MEETING ON SUNSET HILL BEGINNING OF WESLEYAN CHURCH A tent meeting on Sunset Hill early in the 1920s was the beginning of the present Wesleyan Methodist Church at 14th and Dunn. >From this meeting, conducted by the Rev. Cown, a congregation was formed that decided to purchase a lot on West Howe Street a block west of the Nazarene Church. The Rev. Cown preached there for a time and then the Rev. Faris conducted a revival at Grimes Lane and the Monon Railroad. From this latter tent meeting, the worshippers decided to build a new church. The property at 11th and Dunn was donated by one of the Showers brothers. Among the charter members were: Mrs. Anna Henshaw, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Tittle, Mrs. Hettie Baluth, Mr. and Mrs. A. F. Bezzy, Sr. and Mr. and Mrs. George Gillispie. Present average attendance of the church is about 25, and membership is being stimulated by a revival now in progress.Among the present members who have been active the longest in the church are: Mr. and Mrs. Alva Page, Mr. and Mrs. Carson Aynes, Mrs. Joe Bennett, Mrs. George Rayl, Mrs. Ferbia Shields, Mrs. Ray and Mr. and Mrs. Claude Hawkins.

While newspaper are informative, they often contain errors and should always be corroborated with other information whenever possible. Thanks for clearing up these errors about Wallace Sumner, Connie. Randi Richardson -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Connie L. Kitchen via Sent: Saturday, August 08, 2015 11:34 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [INMONROE] Re Wallace Summer...Sumner The clipping noted below is in error on a couple of points. First of all, Wallace's surname is Sumner rather than Summer. Here is complete information - tombstone lies in Rose Hill Cemetery with his parents George and Josephine Day Sumner. Wallace W Sumner born 10 Feb 1898 in Owen Co, Indiana died 8 Dec 1918 in Colorado - I think Akhon, Colorado should be corrected to Akron, Colorado - there being no Akhon. Thanks for this post - I never knew where or why he died at such a young age. Connie Young Kitchen On Aug 8, 2015, at 4:27 PM, [email protected] wrote: > BODY OF WALLACE SUMMER HOME FOR BURIAL > > > > Mr. and Mrs. George Summer arrived yesterday afternoon with the body > of their son, Wallace, from Akhon, Col., having reached his bedside > too late to see him alive. Death was within a few days from the plural pneumonia. > Funeral from the home just northeast of the city Saturday at two > o'clock in charge of Rev. Morgan. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

The clipping noted below is in error on a couple of points. First of all, Wallace’s surname is Sumner rather than Summer. Here is complete information — tombstone lies in Rose Hill Cemetery with his parents George and Josephine Day Sumner. Wallace W Sumner born 10 Feb 1898 in Owen Co, Indiana died 8 Dec 1918 in Colorado — I think Akhon, Colorado should be corrected to Akron, Colorado — there being no Akhon. Thanks for this post — I never knew where or why he died at such a young age. Connie Young Kitchen On Aug 8, 2015, at 4:27 PM, [email protected] wrote: > BODY OF WALLACE SUMMER HOME FOR BURIAL > > > > Mr. and Mrs. George Summer arrived yesterday afternoon with the body of > their son, Wallace, from Akhon, Col., having reached his bedside too late to > see him alive. Death was within a few days from the plural pneumonia. > Funeral from the home just northeast of the city Saturday at two o'clock in > charge of Rev. Morgan.

"Flashback on Start of Clubs Stirs Memories," Bloomington (Monroe County, Indiana) Saturday Courier, May 8, 1953, p. 3C. NOTE: The item below was abstracted from the original by Randi Richardson. NOTE: The Home Ec club members of the 1920s and Homemakers of the 1950s are now known as Extension Homemakers. In 1928, Mrs. Harry Stevenson organized the Homemakers, the first of the home ec clubs in Monroe County. There were seven members. The club was active in securing a full-time home demonstration agent by carrying petition to the various townships to obtain the necessary signatures. Five additional home ec clubs were organized in Monroe County that year. The Energetic Club (which is still in existence) was the outgrowth of two clubs from Washington Township that met during World War I. Lessons topics centered on war-time shortages and how to overcome them. At the end of the war the clubs ceased to exist but were re-organized as the Energetic when Walter Rogers became the county agent aided by the efforts of Mrs. G. K. Robinson and Mrs. T. L. Brown. The Pleasant Hour Club stems from the Industrial Economic Club also organized during World War 1 by a group of women meeting at the home of Mrs. Claude Rankin on Maple Grove Road to help the Red Cross. In 1928 it affiliated with the Home Economics organization, changed its name to the Pleasant Hours Club and took in a wider area of membership. In 1926, Mrs. L. A. Winslow and Mrs. Harold Voliva conceived of a club while waiting in a harness shop for their husbands following a shopping trip. It was called Our Day Off Club and offered an occasional day off for learning from the monotony of farm life during that period. It is now known as the ODO Club and has grown in membership from five to nineteen. These clubs and the remaining two others celebrated their silver anniversary this year during Home Demonstration Week.

"Stinesville Church Grows Rapidly from Start in 1924; Looks forward to New Stone Building," Bloomington (Monroe County, Indiana) Saturday Courier, May 8, 1953, p. 53. NOTE: The item below was abbreviated by Randi Richardson from the original as shown by the ellipsis. The Stinesville Church of the Nazarene, which is now planning a new house of worship to meet its growing congregation, dates back to 1924. It was organized out of a revival that began in January 1924 and continued for eight weeks. Contributing much to the revival was the Paul and Maude Sherman family in whose home the meetings were held. They opened their home to the ministers throughout the eight-week period, and meetings were held there until use of the Methodist Church was offered for the last four weeks of the revival. The revival was successful from the start, and in February 1924 the church was organized by the Rev. J. M. Wines.Among the charter members was Mrs. Grace Bailiff who had moved with her family from Virginia a short time before through what was said to be an act of the Lord. She became the first pastor of the church. Another charter member was Mrs. Albert Molnar whose husband carved the statues on (the) courthouse square. She and Mr. Molnar contributed a lot on which to build the church. Other charter members among the first 13 were Mr. and Mrs. Paul Sherman, Elsie Wampler, Lucille Williams, Marguerite Stines Miller, Ophelia Clarke Ellett, Cordelia Clarke, Met (sic) Easton and Mr. and Mrs. George Swafford. The members first worshiped in the old building that was a hotel with the Shermans, then with Sister Easton, and later in the home of Sister Bailiff. After the donation of a plot of ground by the Molnars in June 1925, the basement church was dedicated with the Rev. Short giving the message. The first church had a sawdust floors, Virgil Rogers was elected to supervise the building of the basement church.The first parsonage was bought in the fall of 1926 for $300 during the ministry of Rev. Gatecliff. During the ministry of the Rev. R. C. Brooks, the church building was dedicated April 27, 1930.Another parsonage was bought in April 1939.Through the years classrooms have been added and other minor changes and repairs made. >From the start of 13 members, the church has grown to 91 at the close of the church year. Average attendance in 144. A month ago the church purchased a seven-room, modern parsonage with three adjoining lots in a good location at Stinesville to build a much-needed new church building.

"Home Ec Clubs Mark Silver Anniversary, Bloomington (Monroe County, Indiana) Saturday Courier, May 1, 1953, p. 1C. NOTE: The item below was abstracted by Randi Richardson from the original that was accompanied by a photo of Helen Hollingsworth. The Home Economic Clubs, also known as Home Demonstration Clubs, are now known as Extension Homemakers Clubs with 14 existing clubs in Monroe County. Of the six original clubs, the Energetic Club still is in existence. Other records indicate the ODO Club was aka Our Day Off Club. Home Demonstration clubs were initiated in Monroe County in 1928 with the establishment of six clubs: Homemakers, Vernal, Pleasant Hour, Energetic, Dixie and ODO. During the observance of National Home Demonstration Week from May 4 to 10, 1953, Monroe County plans to celebrate their silver anniversary with a tea at the Fairview Methodist Church. Helen Hollingsworth, a member of customer relations with the L. S. Ayres Co., of Indianapolis, will be a featured speaker. >From the start of six clubs in 1928, the local home demonstration organization has grown to 34 clubs with a membership of approximately 630. Mrs. Joretta Morrison is the home agent now working with the clubs.

Rachel Bunn, "Historic Designation for Showers Buildings Moves Forward," Bloomington (Monroe County, Indiana) Herald-Times, February 27, 2015, pp. A1+. NOTE: The item below was abstracted by Randi Richardson from the original that was accompanied by three photographs/illustrations. Several buildings, once part of the Showers Brothers Furniture Company factory complex, yet survive. Members of the Bloomington Historic Preservation Commission hope to preserve them by giving them a historic designation. They are already listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the West Side Historic District.

Indiana Historical Society, "Indiana's Early Black Settlements Now Documented Online," Bloomington (Monroe County, Indiana) Herald-Times, February 27, 2015, p. D7. NOTE: The item below was abstracted from the original by Randi Richardson. In 2014, the Indiana Historical Society initiated a program to identify rural African-American settlements throughout Indiana prior to the Civil War. The findings from that program are now available online at www.indianahistory.org/EBS. According to information provided by Dona Stokes-Lucas and available through the website, the surnames of early black families in Monroe County include Baker, Cornet, Ferguson, Goins, Roberts, Stewart and Woodfork.

Bloomington (Monroe County, Indiana) Herald-Times, March 3, 2015, p. A2. NOTE: The item below was abstracted from the original by Randi Richardson. Ruth Arlene (Hyde) Denny, age 98, died on March 1, 2015. She was born January 31, 1917, in Bloomington, Indiana, to Luther and Blanche (Adams) Hyde. She married Edwin Denny on December 8, 1939; he died in the late 1980s. She was a member of the Walk-A-Lot Extension Homemaker Club and frequently displayed her quilts at the Monroe County fair. Survivors include her sisters, Georgia Waterford and Norma Jean Headley, both of Bloomington. In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by a son, Edwin B. Denny.

Darrell Ann Stone, "January Fire on Kirkwood Repeats History," Bloomington (Monroe County, Indiana) Herald-Times, March 2, 2015, p. A9. NOTE: The item below was abstracted from the original by Randi Richardson. In January 2015, the Village Deli, a popular restaurant on East Kirkwood, was damaged by fire. Thirty-seven years ago, in February 1978, there was another fire on Kirkwood in near location. Businesses damaged and destroyed in the earlier fire included the Vienna Dog House, eventually known as the Village Deli, The Place shoe store, the Earth Kitchen eatery and the Greek restaurant, Zeus, now known as the Trojan Horse.