47. This Is A Teacher

Randolph County Enterprise.

By Mary Jean Wright.




  A teacher is a composite of many things and many professions.
  Through the first three grades a teacher must be a substitute mother, along with a doctor, a banker, a playmate, a zoologist, a biologist, a collaborator of Webster's dictionary and a jack-of-all-trades. She must kiss away little hurts, apply brightly colored bandages, administer cough medicine and vitamin pills, check on temperatures, wipe runny noses and sooth hurt feelings. She must seem genuinely thrilled with a white rat, a slimy toad or a hitherto unknown hairy creature of the insect world as she is with a cuddly kitten or a fuzzy baby bunny. She must console herself with the fact that pile upon pile of brightly colored leaves and odd shaped pebbles must have a place in the schoolroom and not in the wastebasket.
  She must make each little girl feel that her doll is the prettiest and each little boy believe that his gun shoots the straightest. She must keep money straight for school books, cafeteria and morning milk, not to mention giving each child a receipt, the correct change, and seeing that the milk money is not held back for candy treats at recess. She must divide herself equally between some 35 children and make each child feel that he or she is something important and really has top rung on teachers ladder of love, and at the same time instill in each little mind that they must share and give and take delight in others joys. And somewhere in all this she must find time to teach.
  Then at the end of the year she must close her mind and her heart quietly and send these little ones whom she has been so close to for nine months, out of her grade and her life and be content with memories of sincere displays of childish affection and the light of love and appreciation in their small round faces the day when they could march home to tell mother C-A-T spells cat, or they can read a whole story in their new reader without a mistake, or today they learned to multiply by "2's."
  From the fourth grade through junior high, teacher must above all be a "pal." For these are the years of boy friends, girl friends, and best friends, when each child has the most wonderful secrets that can only be shared with a bosom pal. These are also the impressionable years when teachers looks and actions may be more remembered and discussed than her lessons. Her comment on Janie's new dress or Kathy's hairdo, or Johnny's basketball skill can bring about much more scholastical attention than any plea or comment. And a quiet threat of a verbal lashing in front of Patty's boyfriend or Billy's teammate brings much more discipline than a sound paddling in the privacy of the principal's office. Here backwardness must be handled firmly and bulliness dealt with sternly, hidden talent must be recognized and displayed while unfavorable traits are discouraged and undermined, praise and reward must be given freely and yet the feeling instilled that goodness brings its own benefits, and punishment and discipline administered with such tact that the child knows his actions must not be repeated, not for fear of the consequence but because it is wrong to do so.
  And here too, at the end of the year, teacher must dispel the thought of how pleasant it would be to have Mary with her pert pony tail and quiet sincere appreciation with her for another year, or how much fun it had been observing and contesting with Mickie's unquenchable fervor for life and laughter, and send these children with their new found knowledge out of her class and her life into the mysteries of high school.

  The biggest task of all is that of a high school teacher. For in his hands lies the immediate future. He finds himself faced not only with some 200 lively, mischievous, fun loving, mind wandering students, but also with some 400 parents along with the balance of the town's occupants. While he is struggling to carry out his duties and uphold his own ideals along with those of the students and the school, he must contend with all the conflicting ideas of the adults.
  Maybe Jimmy's mother thinks it is alright for him to drive the family car to school and run an errand in his free time, but teacher feels Jimmy should spend his free period boning up for a History test. Or maybe teacher feels it is alright to send Betty to the bank or post office since she has completed her studies but Mrs. Smith thinks it's disgusting to see students "running all over town" during school hours. Every parent wants their boy on the first five of the basketball team and their girl to sing the soprano solo in the chorus.
  To each parent their child is the most wonderful, and each high school teacher must be enough of a psychologist to preserve that feeling in the parents, enough lawyer to present his case so the student will accept and retain it in spite of themselves, and enough doctor to listen to the ills of the town and try to prescribe a remedy that will cure if not all of them, at least the most urgent, and still uphold the codes of his own profession and the welfare of the school.
  And then to the high school teacher comes the trials and tribulations of "young love." Where Barbara just had to set next to Bob last week, this week she simply cannot stand another session next to that bore. David will not share his reference book with Steve because someone told him that someone told them that someone saw Steve's bike in front of his girlfriend's house last night. Sue will not collaborate with Roberta on a term paper because she deliberately set about to vamp her boyfriend. And John cannot play first trumpet in the Band because Alice wants him to set with her at the ballgame.
  To gain the respect of the young generation, a high school teacher must be cool, keen, crazy, solid or the most, depending on the current trend, but never square, boney, a creep, or for the birds. He must accept gangs, clubs and clicks, yet strive to keep them in their right perspective. He must recognize the whims, phases and fashion because they are a constant companion of the very young, and from them struggle to build the ideas and ideals of the young adult.
  And sometimes it must seem pretty useless and frustrating to spend so much of one's self, time and energy for seemingly so little appreciation and results. But when his efforts are climaxed by a row of polished, sincere, intelligent young men and women clad in graduation caps and gowns, attentively and almost reverently filing forward to accept their diplomas and acknowledge the pride and praise of their family and friends, it must, after all, seem pretty worthwhile.
  And then the class fidget who could think of nothing but hotrods, requests his credits be transferred to a fine engineering college, or the shy little girl who lost half a credit because of her reluctance to recite, quietly announces she is entering nursing school, or the one child that you felt you just never quite got through to, proclaims a desire to be a teacher, then the high school teacher reaps his harvest.
  Was there ever a teacher who at some time could not proudly proclaim "I knew them: He was in my class; She was one of my students; I was their teacher.  October, 1957. 61 years ago.

( Being a Morton 1st grader, Class of 1948, I can relate to most of the period she tells about. Anyone else remember Morton Elementary? Regardless of what the rich folks on the south side of the tracks said about us, Morton was the best school on the planet. Bar none!. Why we owned "Morton Hill" didn't we? Even today, after a good snow, that's the place to be. If my memory is correct, I think we even let some of those "prissy" kids from Willard use it. If they were nice.
  We had the "Island," and the baseball diamond at the south end of the school lot by Short St. Pick-up ball games there most days. The bridges over Short St. and 4th St. where we fished for crawdads and shiners with doughballs. We could wade Salt Creek from the Railroad to White River. The "Frog Pond." Who remembers the "Frog Pond" across the street from the Phi Delts building on Residence St. Morton days were good days. Mick.)

46. Ku Klux Klan In Randolph County

The News-Gazette, September, 1976.
From An Article By R. Allen Price.



  In the 1920's, anyone who was a patriotic, native-born, white Protestant American citizen over 18 years of age could join the Ku Klux Klan. All he had to do was pay a $10 initiation fee, and $6.50 for the robe and hood.
  The Indiana Klan was very strong in Evansville, Kokomo and Indianapolis. Locally, the Klan was active in Richmond and Portland. By 1925, there were 500,000 Klansmen across the state.
  There is a man in Winchester who tells of an encounter he had with the Klan. It seems he was interested in finding out about the KKK. He'd heard they were a patriotic, white-Protestant organization. The thought appealed to him, but he was suspicious of the fact that people he was sure were members would not admit to any involvement. Why would that be, he wondered. Finally, after hounding fellows enough about information on the Klan, he was told to go to a hotel in Richmond, that a fellow there could tell him all he wanted to know.
  With his father, the young Winchester man went to Richmond and to the hotel they'd been told of. A man in the lobby told them the man they wanted to see was upstairs, and gave them a room number. Father and son made their way up the steps and toward the designated room.
  Outside the door they were met by a man wearing a sidearm who stopped them and asked their intentions. They told him they were interested in joining the Klan but wanted some information. The guard told them to step inside, that the man in the room could give them all they needed to know.
  As the younger man tells the story, the first thing they saw when they went into the room was a large family Bible, laying open on a table. On the Bible lay a .38 caliber hand gun.
  As the story goes, the Winchester man found the Bible and the gun as symbolic of two things highly different from one another. They also found that the man they'd gone to see would tell them nothing of the organization until they promised to become members and went through the initiation ceremonies. They declined the invitation.
  In 1924, a young Winchester lawyer was seated behind the desk in his office when there came a knock on the door. It was a man named Talbert. The attorney asked him in and offered him a chair.
  "What can I do for you," the lawyer asked.
  I'm here to tell you about an organization I think you'll be interested in," replied Talbert.
  The  organization the man referred to was the Ku Klux Klan. He was in Winchester as an organizer. The lawyer listened intently as the soft spoken Talbert explained to him what the Klan was, and urged him to join. Finally, the young man had heard enough.
  "I don't think I'm interested in joining your organization," said the lawyer.
  "Well, let me tell you this," said Talbert. "If you don't join, your future as a lawyer is very much in doubt."
  Along with the threats, there were also KKK parades in Winchester in the 1920's when the Klan was at peak strength. Wearing white robes and tall, pointed white hats they marched through the streets. Local people who remember those parades have admitted that they were frightening, but perhaps more frightening than the Klan's appearance, was the Klan's anonymity. They were sworn to tell no one of their membership, not neighbors or closest friends. For that reason, there was suspicion and fear aroused by the Klan.
  Another man who has told me of the KKK and their demonstrations in Winchester, however, said the Klan here wasn't really too much of a threat.
  "They used to parade around here," he said, "and they had on those pointed hats and robes clear down to the ground, and they looked strange. But mostly they just wanted to parade around."
  He told me that he remembered hearing talk of prejudice against blacks, Catholics and Jewish people but said there wasn't too much kindling in Randolph County for the Klan's fire because he could only remember there being very few negro, Catholic or Jewish families around. but he added; "Anyone who had a prejudice against anyone could be a member." That man also told me that the Klan in Winchester was defeated by having been ignored as much as anything, and that they were hurt by the fact that people didn't take them seriously.

45. Olive Branch Congregational Christian Church, Randolph County, Indiana

Randolph County Enterprise, October, 1953.

By Mrs. Alva Stephens.

Photograph By Cousins Shannon Hinshaw & Greg Hinshaw.

  The following history of the Olive Branch Congregational Christian Church, located five miles west of Five Points on the Stone Station Road, was written and read at the homecoming service, which was observed August 30, 1953, by Mrs. Alva Stephens, great-granddaughter of two of the charter members.

  The history of the origin of our church has been handed down to us by the records made by those who were battling for God and right some 95 years ago. Some records are written on paper, yellowed with age, some were printed in the Herald of Gospel Liberty, printed years ago and kept as treasures in the home of one of it's faithful members. Thus printed history, and the Rev. John Wetzel and wife who were left with the church longer than other charter members and gave us much news personally.

  In the year 1858 a group of our fore-fathers living in the community where the Olive Branch Christian church is now located, felt a longing in their hearts for a place where they could meet together with their children and their neighbors to worship God.

  There was at this time no church nearer than the Shiloh Christian church, which was then located two miles north of Farmland. The people having no way to travel but by walking, wagons, horseback or bobsled, they felt a great need for a place to worship in their community.

  With this spirit of worshipping God in their hearts, they gathered together a small band who were of the same mind and met and worshipped in a little log schoolhouse where the church now stands.

  It was here in 1858 that this little band of workers organized a church and called it Olive Branch. The charter members were Thomas Addington, Martha Addington, John Wetzel, Delilah Wetzel, Selathial Dod, Jane Dod, Andrew Martin, Mary Martin, David Louis, Millie Louis, John Knox, Mary Knox, William Doty, Mary Doty, Ester Stanley, Rebecca Stanley, Eliza McKee Williams, Elizabeth Engle.
  Soon after its organization it began to grow and bring forth fruits. God's blessing was upon them and many were added to the church. Ministers heard the Macidonian call and came to preach Christ to the people. We have record of some of them who are as follows: Rev. Larkin Mullen, Rev. Samuel McNees, Rev. N.B. Summerbell, Rev. Joseph Coons, Rev. Able Holloway, Rev. Wesley Ross, Rev. Thomas Puckett.
  The first ordained elders were John Wetzel and Selathial Dod, (deacons). The first ordained deacons were David Louis and Andrew Martin. Later Henry Miller was ordained to take the place of David Louis, who with his wife moved to Iowa. She living to be the oldest charter member and at the age of 88 she wrote a letter of admonition to the "church of her choice," Olive Branch.
  As time went on they caught a vision of a new church building and it was erected in 1872 after worshipping 14 years in the log schoolhouse. The dedication was conducted by Rev. John Burket, better known to the people of that day as "Blind Burket" for he was blind.
  John Wetzel was called to the ministry and was ordained and served the church as pastor. He being a very strong and faithful worker was privileged to spend most of his long and useful life in the community of his church, working willingly, with heart and hand to supply the spiritual need of everyone and by his deeds of mercy his true greatness was made visible.
  Thomas Addington, another charter member, was called to the ministry and served as pastor seventeen years. His son, Alfred Addington, later on was ordained to the ministry and served as pastor. Others who had served were Rev. David Gunkle, Rev. George Johnson, Rev. William Terrel, Rev. Levi Capron and Rev. John Cortner.
  Somewhere near this time in the closing years of the eighteenth century the church's first organ was bought. Miss Lora Brinkley of near Hopewell Church was the organist and John Stanley and W.C. Bosworth were the song leaders.
  In 1898, the church seemed to be very low, and because of being "down in the valley" Rev. John Robbins was permitted to come and fill the pulpit.
  He had no education, but he had salvation. He was a railroad worker but God saved him and called him to preach the gospel. God wonderfully blessed his labor as pastor and during the next four years many found Christ under his pastorate.
  In the year 1902, Rev. N.H. Thornburg was engaged as the pastor, it being one among his first charges. The church continued to flourish and as the inner man is renewed day by day, it became necessary to renew the inside of the church building. In 1903, under the pastorate of Rev. Thornburg, the church was rededicated, Rev. J.F. Burnett of Dayton, Ohio, delivering the dedication sermon.
  During the next few years the following served the church as pastors; Rev. Lonnie Mullen, Rev. Zelma (Johnson) Mills, Rev. Decalb Judy and Rev. H.L. Lott.
  It was during the two years of Rev. Lott's pastorage that we who were in the fight for God and the right, inspired by his leadership, we as a church felt the need to "give of our best to the Master," and in 1912, the same building that our fore-fathers built in 1872, was moved across the road. A basement made and class rooms built because the people had a mind to work, everyone doing what they could. Thus the present building was finished and rededicated in the fall of 1912.
  The Rev. N.H. Thornburg was called as pastor in September 1912 during which time the church enjoyed the greatest revival in it's history with people seeking Christ all over the house, while the alter was filled and many were added to the church.
  In 1923 Rev. Ruby Oren was called again after serving two previous years and this time served six years followed by Rev. Denver Medsker, Rev. Thurman Oren, Rev. Wayne Janney and others.
  Many have served God within the walls of our Olive Branch Church of which we have no record and many are serving yet today of which time will not allow us to make mention in such ways as trustees, Sunday school superintendents, teachers, singers, musicians and laymen. Each have had their part in this great work. Nothing has been unnoticed. God is keeping a record; each will be rewarded.
  From the little vine planted here in 1858, workers have been scattered to the east, west, north and south to carry the gospel and while many are resting from their labors, their works do follow them, and we who are here today do truly say-"Faith Of Our Fathers Living Still," we will be true to thee till death.

44. Saratoga Methodist Church, Randolph County

Winchester News,  May, 1954.
By Flossie Coggeshall.



  Methodism was founded in Indiana in 1802 in Clark's grant. Whitewater circuit was the first, belonging to the Ohio district, old Western conference, extending from the Ohio river as far north as there were settlements.
  Rev. Holman, of Louisville, Ky., preached the first sermon in Randolph county in the Ephriam Bowen cabin near Crete, in 1814, to thirty people. The text was taken from Jeremiah 8:22.
  Rev. William Kennedy, A Methodist itinerant, preached the first sermon in Ward Township in 1820.
  Religious services were first brought to the early settlers by these itinerant preachers, riding horseback with their Bibles and a scant supply of religious literature in their saddlebags. As the news of their arrival spread, the people came together for a service of Bible reading, exhortation, hymn singing, and a period of social exchange. The travelers carried the news from place to place. The home selected for this purpose was indeed favored.
   These gatherings led later to camp meetings, where thousands came and camped for one or two weeks, and in many instances a month for continued religious services.
  Those who attended the religious services were serious, earnest folk, meeting for the purpose of worship and the study of God's Word. The movement was the source of a great spiritual awakening at this period of our local history.
  Some of the places where these meetings were held were: Union Chapel, in West River township, Mt. Zion, at Spartanburg, Union City and at the Winchester fairgrounds, Arba, in Greensfork township, Windsor, in Stoney Creek township, Shiloh, north of Farmland, Chenoweth grove, at Bartonia, the Ritenhour home near Deerfield.

  The first general movement for organized church services of the Methodist adherents was called the Deerfield circuit, in a church built by Mr. Ritenhour, and a cemetery laid  of Samuelat sometime between 1860 and 1870, and several points were included. These were the Ritenhour church, New Pittsburg, John Campbell's church,, at Deerfield, Ridgeville, Prospect, New Pittsburg, John W. Campbell's church, Zoar, Kiser Chapel, Sarffs Bear Creek, Butcher's church and Antioch.
  Later some of these points were dropped, and in 1871 the circuit consisted of four churches. Because of better facilities for a pastor's home, Ridgeville was made head of the circuit, and the building of a parsonage was begun, but because of a depression was finished until 1874. Rev. H.N. Herrick was assigned as pastor to the church which was Ridgeville, Deerfield and Prospect.
  In 1874, Saratoga built a brick church and this replaced the Prospect church, thus the Saratoga Methodist church was formed. Zoar of the Portland circuit was added to the circuit again, and in 1895 New Dayton was included but this adding and dividing ended with the division of the four main churches into two circuits: Ridgeville-New Dayton, and Saratoga-Deerfield.
  As the services of the pastor had to be divided among the various points, class leaders were appointed by the membership to continue services when the pastor was not present. Among the names of these in the early records were Abraham Renbarger, W.L. Bundy, W.A. Davis, Jos. Kemp, and later in our own class, J.W. Owens and Luther Crumb served faithfully many years.
  The Saratoga Methodist church had it's beginning in 1826 in the home of Samuel Helms on a farm north of Saratoga, on what is now highway 28, now owned by the Fraziers. Here a few neighbors met with the Helms and organized for regular religious study and worship, holding the meetings in the different homes in turn. Some of these were Judge Daniel Miller and wife, Riley Marshall and wife, Phillip Hess and wife, Allan Wall and wife.
  Riley Marshall was the grandfather of Ex-Vice President Marshall and his cabin was located on the W.E. Coggeshall farm as of now. He settled here in 1821.
  This method served until the members were able to erect a church, which was 1841, under the direction of Rev. Boyden. It was named Prospect, and a cemetery was laid out near. It was a frame building with two entrances, each opening on a tier of seats divided by a partition about three feet high. The men were seated on one side, the women on the other. All that remains to mark the site is the cemetery where many of those who worshipped there lie buried beneath the sunken and broken stones.
  In 1878 a brick church was erected on the Main street of Saratoga where the I.O.O.F. building now stands. The bell was purchased by my grandmother Ann Warren, and it rang for the first time at her funeral. which was held in the church before it was dedicated.
  This is the same bell that hangs in the belfry of the church on Pearl street. The ground for this church was broken and the cornerstone laid in the spring of 1902, and dedicated June 7, 1903, Rev. Parr, presiding Elder and Rev. Solomon Harter, pastor, officiating. The Board of Trustees at that time were as follows: President C. Allen Sipe, treasurer, W.R. Warren, secretary, J.W. Owens, Joseph Warren, Fletcher Warren and Anthony Almonrode and Ervin Girton served as Sunday School Superintendents for many years.
  My earliest memories of church attendance is sitting in the old brick church as a member of the infant class, in the "Amen Corner." The name was not a nick name, but a definite name of a place, the same as pulpit or choir loft. No one seemed to know how it originated but every church seemed to have one.
  The teacher was Uncle Dave Pogue, who had snow white hair and beard, and gentle blue eyes, and as he was very deaf he spoke quite loudly, and acted out the Bible stories as he told them to the children. Needless to say, none of the other teachers in the one room church received much attention.
  This sketch tells very little of the struggles against great odds to bring to bring to us the heritage we possess today. These old pioneers kindled the flame that still burns. May we, who now have the responsibility of keeping the embers glowing, be as steadfast as they and keep the covenant they made with God of their Fathers over a century ago.
  The early pastors who served the Deerfield circuit in the early days: Thomas Sells 1867-70, M.G. Metts 1871, A.M. Kerwood 1872, H.N. Herrick 1873-74, G.P. Work 1875-76, Milton Wayman 1877, J.W. McDaniels 1878, James Leonard 1879, T.E. Madden 1880, D.S. Harrison 1880-83,  J.W. Lowery 1884-85, J.D. Bills 1886-88, Charles Harvey 1889-90, J.W. Gambel & S.F. Harter 1891, Albert Cone 1892-93, A.C. Gerald 1894, J.W. Bowen 1895-96, Henry Lacy 1897-99, H.H. Compton 1900-01.

43. Joe Casey, An Educator With Style

Winchester News-Gazette, March, 1977.
By Eric Rodenberg.



   He's a small man-you notice there's something of the leprechaun about him-as he stands in front of the room. While talking, he gesticulates wildly with one hand while smoothing down his already rumpled hair with the other.
  He is Joseph Raymond Casey-a study of flamboyance in the classroom. Casey has style. The type of style that most of the graduates of Winchester high school during the past 22 years don't easily forget. Casey describes himself as being an "old-fashioned, traditional teacher," but his air in the classroom is a far cry from the stereotyped schoolmaster. There's an atmosphere of expectation and interest in the room as Casey hammers home his points with an outstretched finger, poking into the air.
  "With the advent of TV, you've got to ham it up a bit," Casey admits. "You have to compete with that box to get the students interested in what you're talking about. You have to bring about a sense of novelty to the classroom-some change of pace or a surprise element-to keep the kids "awareness."
  But this year Mighty Casey will hang up his cleats and lay down his bat after this year. There will be no joy in Muddville, for Casey not only added some pizzazz to the game, he also served as an inspirational force for over a quarter century of students. Casey said he will be leaving WCHS with mixed emotions, but naturally a person can't walk away from a 29-year career without feeling he's leaving a piece of himself behind. He says, though, he plans to catch up on many of his other endeavors he never had time for while teaching. During the summer and fall mornings, he can probably be found out on the golf course. modestly admitting to being a "hacker," he hopes to improve his game.
  Casey received his Bachelors Degree from the University of Cincinnati, where he met his wife. Frances, who has worked as a librarian in the Winchester Community Library for the past 12 years. She recently submitted her resignation at the library.
  "We've lived in a world of books." Casey says. "I think it adds something to one's life. A person can live vicariously out of what they read in books. It can widen your total experience.
  Shortly after their marriage, the couple moved to Idaho where Joe took his first job in teaching. It was also in Idaho that he finished his Masters work and went ahead to start his Doctorate. "At that time I was debating whether to teach college or high school," he said. "I felt that in high school I would have more of a chance to motivate my students. I think now, that I made the right decision-but, of course it's difficult to choose the proper perspective to look back on your life."
 " I first came to Winchester in 1955, but it only seems like yesterday," he continued. "Time is so elusive-it's hard to frame time-to stop it like frames on a motion picture. Over the years, though, I don't think I've become cynical in teaching like many others have. A lot of people, especially the media, play up what's wrong with our country. Why can't we look at what's beautifully right? We're the only nation in the world that attempts to educate everyone that can possibly be educated. We're the only nation in the history of the world that tries to give everyone a chance. That's incredible-what can possibly be wrong with that?"
  During WW II, Casey saw battle in four combat operations in the Pacific. As an infantryman, he won the Bronze Star during the Okinawa campaign. He said that much of the death and desolation he saw during World War II has had an influence on his teaching over the past 29 years, as well as his private life.
  "What I saw over there gave some dimension to my teaching," he said. "The most important thing it did was make me aware there is only an instant breath between life and death. It makes you realize of how fleeting life really is."
  Casey recognizes the value and promise of life and tries to convey those ideas to his students. Even after teaching 29 years, Casey still displays a thirst for more knowledge and a sense of fascination with his environment.

  "It's incredible that I can utter a sound-maybe only a syllable and someone can instantly understand what I said. All it has to do is go over the airwaves and I'm understood," he said. "I occasionally tell my speech class a story. When I was in grad school at the University of Idaho in 1952, I worked with a young boy who had a cleft tongue. I worked six weeks during one summer to try to teach that unfortunate boy one sound-it didn't have to mean anything-just one particular sound. We didn't make it-the boy could only approximate it after I had worked with him. The poor boy did not live very long. He also had some brain damage, other complications, and died shortly afterwards.
  "But I tell these kids here-they are whole-they have talents. In essence they are blessed. A lot of these kids become so self-conscious. They're so introspective, but it's important for them to get outside of themselves and learn to give to others. They are blessed with a whole life. I try to encourage them to walk out of this room and learn to give their talents to others. They have to take the attitude they have something to offer somebody out in the world."
  Casey is a man who believes that a teacher has to experience what he teaches. Assigning themes to his students is easy enough, however, Casey also puts himself through the writing process. During the past few years he has written four or five novels and much of his poetry has appeared in national publications.
  "when I tell the students to write a theme I know they're going through a lot of suffering," he said. "It's often painful to write, but I think I should go through the process myself. It not only shows them that I've suffered too, but it also makes me realize what they're going through. A good teacher has to go through all the pain too. During my 29 years of teaching, I can look back and honestly say that I never walked into a class cold. Most of the time I've been over-prepared."
  "I think that's the greatest respect a teacher can pay a class," he continued. "The kids are expecting something from the class and I feel like I'd be letting them down by not being prepared. You have to be an idealist in this job. There has to be a bit of the Don Quixote to make you go out and slay the windmills in this field. You have to take the positive hope and put eternal hope in teaching. You've got to believe-that's half of the matter."
  Casey has good reason to believe in the job he's done for the past 29 years. He's not only helped a quarter century of students believe in themselves, he's also gained a lot of respect and admiration in the process. And that makes tilting against windmills all that more meaningful.

42. The "Hoosier" Automobile, Built In Winchester By Glenn Davis

The Randolph County Enterprise, April, 1951.
By Paul Deming.

  Except to some of the oldtimers in this day and age of massed produced automobiles and engineering complexity, it's hard to realize that the automobile pictured, an early 1900's version of the "Hoosier," was manufactured in Winchester.
  Sitting proudly in the driver's seat of the "Hoosier" is Glenn Davis of Winchester, who now operates the Hoosier Auto Company garage at 234 Carl street.
  Glenn says the "Hoosier" and a number of like automobiles were built by himself, his father, Oliver E. Davis, now deceased, Rufus (Snort) Hanscom, pictured left and formerly of Losantville, and Jack Hanscom, who recently died at Indianapolis. The other gentleman in the picture, seated beside him Glenn says, is Harry Pierce, noted Winchester photographer who died about a year ago.
  Manufacture of the early autos in Winchester, built in a smaller building located where the Chevrolet garage now stands on South Main street, was financed, according to Glenn, by his father at the son's instigation.
  Glenn says he had an early inclination to the "new fangled machines" and even at the time of the picture, which he estimated to have been taken in 1905, "anyway at the time they were laying the first bricks on Main street," Glenn was only about 15 or 16 years old.
  He said his first interest in automobiles came very early when as a child he used to follow behind an old steam-powered vehicle, owned by "Enos Hiatt of Winchester and a jeweler in Farmland by the name of Davison," and wait for the chance to "pour some more water into the rumbling contraption."
  Later, when gasoline model automobiles were introduced, Glenn said that his fondness for the new revolutionary means of transportation was so great he often missed days and days of school to be around them and to tinker with them and that finally he persuaded his father to make his auto manufacturing investment.
  From then, Glenn stated, he and his co-workers got together and began filling special orders for motor vehicles. He said they would take four-cycle air-cooled motors ordered from a Reeve's Pulley and Manufacturing Company at Columbus, Indiana (the present Cummins Diesel Company) add them to rear-axel built transmissions ordered out of Indianapolis, "the kind that had pins instead of the now conventional gear teeth," throw on wheels and tires from Richmond and then build a body of their own around those parts.
  Their special production continued, Glenn reminisced, until centrally located mass produced auto companys made it impossible to continue to build special order cars and that, consequently, they changed over to auto repair and new car sales.
  About that time, automan Davis said, the racing bug was hitting the country and, that naturally, his automobile fervor carried him along with it. By 1909, he stated, he was the youngest regular race driver in the world with AAA sanctions although he had to lie about his age for the distinction.
  In 1910 his greatest triumph came at the just started Indianapolis speedway at a "Harvest Home" meet. Glenn said it was the first paved surface race ever held and consisted of a series of 20, 50 and 100 mile heats. His triumph came when he made second place in the 100 mile event.
  From the Capitol speedway Glenn said he went south and raced in Savannah, Georgia until his father's concern ordered him to "come home."
  After that, back in Winchester, Glenn both raced in the vicinity and built race cars. One of the most outstanding racers which he built, described by him as "a souped-up Essex," was piloted by Wilbur Shaw in his first money-winning race held at the Decatur county annual fair in "about 1925."
  But it's been years now, Glenn added, since he's been active in racing and his only comment on "then and now" is that there are different types of drivers today and somewhat different kinds of cars and races.
  Glenn's automotive inclinations are now almost totally turned to the operation of his very successful garage and automotive repair shop on Carl street. And, just as a special plug for his utmost friendly cooperation in telling his story, it would be fair to say that the Hoosier Auto Company in Winchester is still a leader in automobile mechanics where any car will receive bumper to bumper, horn to brake service with a guaranteed assurance of perfection.

41. County Civil War Soldiers Drown On Steamer "Acacia."

Winchester Journal, Aug. 15, 1862.




  The steamer Acacia, with 150 passengers on board, six of whom were ladies, and a cargo of sutler's goods, ran into a snag sixty miles below Memphis on the Mississippi River, on the 10th instant, and sunk in a few minutes. Seventy-five of those on board were lost.
  Lieut. Jesse Way, of the 8th Indiana Volunteers, who left Winchester two weeks ago with recruits for that regiment, was on board the Acacia and lost two of his men, John Lewis Neff, son of Lewis Neff. Senior. who lives two miles south-east of town on the Winchester and Richmond road, and George Sharp, a married man who has lived in this place about  of being attacked by the guerrillas, so we run about 15 miles when we saw a boat going up the two years. The loss of these brave men who had volunteered in the service of their country will be deeply felt by their many relatives and friends.

  By permission of William W. Smith, Esq., of the Aker House, we copy the following from a letter received from his son who was on board the Acacia at the time she wrecked:  Helena, Arkansas, Aug, 1862.  Dear Mother,-- I arrived here safely on last evening, but had bad luck on the way, night before last. We left Memphis Tenn. for Helena at 8 o'clock P.M. and about half past midnight the boat struck a snag, and sunk in a few moments. I happened to be outside on the parlor deck asleep when she struck. It awakened me and I jumped up and ran for the bow of the boat, when she upset. Two barrels rushed against me and raised me five or six feet in the air and pitched me into the river. I kept hold of one of the barrels for a few seconds, then I crawled on the wreck of the boat. She commenced sinking again, and after pulling off my coat and boots, jumped overboard. I sank twice and as I came up the _______  Lieut. Way pushed me a barrel and he got hold of a box and we started for the shore. Two Dutchmen got hold of the Lieut's box but they both sank and drowned. I followed the Lieut. to the shore, but the bank was so steep that I could not crawl up, so I concluded to go back to the wreck and see what I could do for the other boys. When I got near the boat I heard Let White halloaing. I called Bill Ashville and he answered me. I was determined to stick to the boys to the death. I was soon on the boat again, but had not been there more than half an hour until she broke into pieces. About seventy-five of us got on the bottom of the boat, the pilot house and hulk of the boat broke off and floated away. Bill Ashville, Ike Sharp, Let White and myself staid on the main body of the boat: there were also two women on the same piece, and a lot of Irishmen, who were drunk. About 6 o'clock A.M., as we were passing a plantation we called for help and two slaves came to us with a skiff. We first sent ashore the women and then the men that could not swim. Our boys were the last to leave the wreck, except the Irish, who would not get off at all. We had floated about 40 miles. Having reached the shore, we started for Helena a-foot. We were barefooted, and the sand was so hot that it blistered our feet. We were afraid of being attacked by the guerrillas, so we run about 15 miles when we saw a boat going up the river that was a mile or so ahead of us. She stopped for wood, and we caught up with her. We went aboard and they gave us supper. We soon met a boat going down with Lieut. Way and Frank Puckett on board. We changed boats and came on to this place. John Lewis and George Sharp drowned.  Your aff't son,   John R. Smith,   Co. G., 8th Indiana Volunteers.

40. Buena Vista Friends, Then Christian Church, Randolph County

Winchester News, April, 1954.

Photograph By Cousins, Shannon & Greg Hinshaw.

  The first church built at the present location of the Buena Vista church was erected in 1870 by a united effort of all classes of people. Previous to this, religious services had been held at various locations in the community including a "meeting house," as it was called, erected probably 1842 to 1850, and located on land owned at the time by Robert Starbuck, this being south and west of the home of Mr. and Mrs. Herman Slack.

  After the church was completed in 1870, it was given into the charge of the Poplar Run Friends, meeting and ministers of that denomination came by appointment to conduct services for the community.

  On June 16, 1925 the Poplar Run Friends meeting transferred the deed for the property to the trustees of the Buena Vista Christian church.

  In March of 1885, Rev. I.V.D.R. Johnson (known as the alphabet preacher), organized a Christian church there. There were 100 charter members, and by a rising vote the name of Buena Vista Christian church was adopted for the new organization. This church became a member of the annual conference of the denomination this same year. Rev. Johnson, who organized the church, was chosen first pastor.
  In December a committee was appointed to solicit money for the purchase of carpeting. The names of the contributors are still on record. Contributions varying from one cent to one dollar amounted to $12.75. Twenty-eight yards of carpet were purchased at a cost of $12.60, leaving 15 cents in the hands of the committee.
  From that time until 1906 the church was served by the following pastors: Rev. I.V.D.R. Johnson, Rev. J.R. Cortner, Rev. N.W. Gray, Rev. George Johnson, Rev. Harvey Thornburg and Rev. Christopher Brown.
  In 1906, during the ministry of Rev. Brown, the church being badly in need of repair, committees were appointed, laborers and material obtained and the west wing of the church was built. This doubled the seating capacity thus making it adequate for funerals and large congregations. Much labor was donated and contributions were generous, so that on January 20, 1907 this new church was dedicated by Revs. Ora Harris and Harvey Thornburg.
  Since that time the following have served the church as its pastors: Rev. Harvey Thornburg, Rev. Zelma Mills, Rev. Bertha Driver Helbig, Rev. John A. Johnson, Rev. Lou Keener, Rev. N.E. Grile, Rev. Earnest Pursley, Rev. A.E. Gilmore, Rev. George Vanderburg, Rev. Morris James, Rev. Joseph H. Thornburg. Rev. Ruby Oren and the present pastor, Rev. A.B. Thornburg.
  In the spring of 1947 it was found that the church was again in need of repair, this time being caused by termites, to the extent that it was declared unsafe for public services. A meeting of the church and community was held soon after this ti discuss the matter and decide what should be done. A committee consisting of Park Pegg, J.A. Holaday, Herman Slack, Estel Hutchison and Walker Reed was appointed to solicit and investigate.
  The community again responded generously by donating labor, material and finance and the work was begun early in May of last year, the church being closed from the first of May until the first of December. A basement was made under the entire building, a new heating plant installed, newly decorated inside and out, new outside doors and other repairs at a cost of $8,784.04.
  The rededicating services were held on the beautiful Sabbath day of July25, 1948.

39. Winchester Trivia. 9/5

1982. All-Stars Softball Team.

  Win number 17 was awfully sweet for the Winchester Girls All-Star Softball team. It was a narrow 9-8 decision last weekend over a Dublin girls' team which resulted in a semi-state victory for the local squad. The semi-state was held Saturday and Sunday at Lynn and consisted of 11 teams. The Winchester girls went undefeated throughout the double-elimination event.
  Winchester opened up its tourney play with an easy 9-1 triumph over Lynn and then edged R&B Builders of Cambridge City 5-4. Dublin was the next Winchester victim, 9-4 and then lost again to Winchester in the final game.
 Catcher Michelle Clouse stroked four home runs for the tournament while first baseman Angie Keys slammed a pair. Third baseman Amy Passmore, shortstop Dawn Bergman and leftfielder Tammy Keys had one roundtripper each. Rounding out the Winchester lineup are pitcher Penny Pierce, second baseman Tammy Terrell, short fielder Cindy Pierce, centerfielder Jill Symons and rightfielder Joyce Jarrett. Substitutes include Tina Roberts, Lisa Moore and Tisha Moland. The team is coached by Don Bergmann, Steve Clouse and Kirk Comer and is currently 17-3 on the season.
  The Winchester softballers are slated to travel to Shelbyville July 9-11 for the 25-team State Championship Tournament.

Boston Store

  The Boston Store is offering an added attraction to the three day Dollar Day event by staging a near county-wide contest for the kids.
  Thousands of phony dollar bills will be dropped from the air Thursday, providing it doesn't rain, and may be redeemed at the Boston Store anytime before 9 p.m. Saturday.
  Prizes: 200 bills gets you a scooter, 100 bills a construction set, 50 bills a paint set, 25 bills a choice of toy assortment and 24 or less a balloon. Builders of Cambridge City
  The bogus bills will be dropped from an Everett Cox plane over Winchester, Farmland, Lynn, Saratoga, Ridgeville and Modoc.
  Aug. 8, Some of the local winners; John Kelly, paint set, Joan and Paulette Cline, garden set, Mary Jo Younger, paint set, Jerry Washler, holster set, Johnny Thompson, paint set, Sue Owens, boat set, Mary Alice Stults, paint set, Lloyd Ertle, toy, Tiny Smith, paint set, Eleanor McCoy, ring toss and Sandra and Beverly Barnhart, paint set.

1940, Sept.

  The first fall roller skating party, under the direction of the city recreation department, will be held tonight on High Street, which will be blocked from all traffic between East South and Carl Street.
  Children under 12 years of age will start skating at 6:30 o'clock and those over 12 will skate at 7:30 o'clock. Everyone is invited to attend these skating parties which will be held each week as long as the weather permits.

1969.

 Ground breaking for the new Randolph Nursing Home will begin at the site on Oak Street, which has been extended three blocks south of the Randolph County Hospital, east of the Baker Elementary School. Even though the price for the facility will be $600,000, officials say that the cost of care in the home is expected to be only $15.00 per patient, per day, as all efforts will be made to keep the costs to the residents in the home at a minimum.   [ What does $15 buy today in a nursing home?]

1952.

  The new gymnasium at the High School is nearing completion and the contractor promises to be done by Feb. 10. All overhead work-wiring, painting of rafters and the north brick wall, hooking up heaters and ducts will be completed by Jan. 18. The floor, which runs north and south, will be 5 feet longer than originally planned, 80 instead of 75, making an overall footage of 80' by 50'. The color scheme is "Yellow Jacket" blue and gold. Reserved seating capacity is 2788. If the gym is finished by Feb. 10, Winchester will get the Sectional games. If not, they go to Farmland.

1874.

KEARNEY'S Fluid Extract BUCHU! Available at REED'S DRUG STORE in Winchester: The only known remedy for BRIGHT'S DISEASE and a positive remedy for Gout, Gravel Strictures, Diabetes, Dyspepsia, Nervous Debility, Dropsy. Non-retention or Incontinence of Urine, Irritation, Inflamation  or Ulceration of the BLADDER AND KIDNEYS, Spermatorrhoea, Leucorrhie or White's Diseases of the Prostrate Gland, Stone in the Bladder, Colculus Gravel or Brickdust De Mucus or Milky Discharge. Permanently Cures all Diseases of the Bladder, Kidneys and Dropsical Swelling Existing in Men, Women and Children, No Matter What The Age. A Physician in attendance to answer correspondence and give advice gratis.

1961.

  The U.S. 27 bypass at the east edge of Winchester will be officially opened to traffic Friday morning. There will be no dedication services of the 2.3 mile bypass, but all detour signs will be taken down by the state highway department tonight. Work to be completed includes sodding and seeding, grading the roadside in several places, finishing the limited access section and line painting.   [Before they opened it, it was a great place for midnight drag racing. Straight and not a car in sight. You did have to watch for a dump truck or a bulldozer they may have left in the road at quitting time. Anybody remember the car clubs in that era. The Kingsmen, the High Gears and later the Randolph County Timing Assn. or R.C.T.A.]


1948.

Official Opening!  Burd & Miller Portable Roller Skating Rink. Friday, May 14, 1948.
     Let's Skate1    Come Out!   Skate Sessions Every Night  7:  To  10:    Sat. & Sun.  Afternoons  2:  To  4:    Located Just East Of Winchester On St. Rd. 32 Across From Funk's Speedway.

1934.

  Overmyer Mould Company had 11 men working in 1922 when quantity production started. By 1934 there were 225 employees working 2 and 3 shifts per 5 1/2 day weeks. The weekly payroll was $7500. This includes office workers, engineers and the various classes of labor required in the many operations.   [The average wage then was $33.33 per 44 hour week or .76 per hour. It was a steady job during the Depression though, something most folks only dreamed of.]

1967.

  Who remembers: The High School Prom, it's Queen, Debbie Durbin and her court, Nancy Raisor and Nancy Norris. The "Falcon" Golf Team wins it's first Invitational at Beeson with Coach Sanford Brueckheimer, Charlie Haviza, Joe Casey, Steve Harrell, Monte Krahulec and Steve Howell. Some of the local businesses were the Sports Center, Bob Jackson and Johnnie Clear, the Boston Store, Shepherd's Men's Wear, Ted Bunsolds grocery, Keener's Sports Store, Troy and Gene, Randolph Tractor Sales on N. Main, Armstrong Mould, Henizer & Shoopman grocers, Sanitary Meat Market, "Teet', Max and Dave Helms, I don't remember Mike working there. Ralph Fisher's Hardware Store, formerly Charlie Magee Hardware, Haflich & Morrissey Shoes, Shopwell Clothing on the north side of the square, Holthouse/By-Lo Furniture, Tommy Graft's 5 and 10, Dean Hartley Jewelry, Reed Pharmacy, Bob's Men's Wear, Wilkinson Lumber, Del Nor Lanes, Harvey Caupp Auto Sales, Clairene's Fashions, west side of sq., Durbin's Appliances, Bader Pursley's Electric, Bill Geyer Chevrolet-Oldsmobile.



 

38. Remembering Winchester While I Still Can-Glen Coffman

I found this in a box of 'stuff' at the museum. There is no date, but possibly Mr. Coffman wrote this in the 1980's? Does anyone have information on him? We would like to hear from you.


A Few Things I Remember While I Still Can.

 I'm almost 74 years old and writing about the time I was growing up in Winchester till I was 19 and I married Betty Jean and moved to Union City.
  My mom had a beauty shop in the front room of our house with Mary Burkhardt also a beautician helping her. Four doors west of us, Art Jackson had a shoe repair shop.
  Pardon some of the spelling of some peoples names; The Best family had a grocery store on the North side of the square with wood floors and wrapped meat in wax paper and tied it with a string. Their son John, an only child, was a WW II casualty, one of several from the Winchester area.
  There was a bowling alley above a hardware store on the North side of the square downtown. Going up a wide stairway at the top, the alleys were on the left and the Masonic Hall was on the right till it caught fire and destroyed it.
  Roy Durbin had a taxi business, later sold to Mrs. Foust on the NW corner of N Main & W North streets which was a DX service station. Opposite corner was Paul Ables Buick garage later sold to Gene Moyer from Union City and across the street from it was A.D. Hinshaw's grocery. The Chevrolet garage was next door to the Jail across the alley.
  South of Hinshaw's grocer was the Cozy theatre, then Carpenters auto parts supply, next at the alley was a Shell gas station operated by Fred James, he and another fellow used the grease gun and greased a kid's behind. They were fired and later the station was torn down and Jim Bowman built his loan office there. Still South across the alley was Cox's photograph place, next to it was Gutherys leather tanning store that also made anything you needed made of leather. When the bank next to it on the corner of W. Washington street and North Main was robbed, Mr. Wagner, a truck driver that lived in Winchester, was a main character that helped stop the robbers North of town, from getting away.
  Mr. Pat Davis, having only one arm, had a popcorn stand in front of the Lyric theatre. His sons, Bob and John and daughter Mary Alice helped run it. Beside it was a drinking fountain. It was one of four drinking fountains that was around the square, one in the center of each block. The overflow ran into a round bowl near the bottom of the pedestal where pets could also get a drink.
  Family Dr. Moroney had his practice in the front room of his house across the alley behind Engles music store on East Franklin street and Mrs. Moroney had a women's hat and apparel shop on the west side of the square. Across the street from Dr. Moroney's home was Lykin's printing shop, west was the telephone office and the operators were upstairs using the old fashioned plug the wires into the switchboard to your home and any other telephone number. Most people were on party lines, and you had certain short and long rings to let you know they were ringing your number, but you could pick up the receiver and listen in on other conversations, knowing good and well other people were going to listen in on yours also. Calling California sometimes took almost an hour. Dr. Painter had his office in the front of his home across the street from the restaurant on east Franklin. Dr. Robison and his nurse, Mrs. Wilson, was above the Lyric theatre.
  The Amen tabernacle was on the East edge of town. They raised the sides of the building for ventilation and inside it had wooden benches from one end to the other. Always large crowds attended.
  Lucky Teeter and his Hell Drivers came to Funk's speedway each year. Carnivals and side shows were held in the field west of Bunsold's market. Mrs. McCammish had a black electric car that looked like a pumpkin with glass windows all around it. Forward or reverse was determined by which way you faced and which way you pushed the stick you drove it by.
  The newspaper office was on the north end of the By-Lo furniture store building next to the alley. The offices were upstairs and the presses downstairs. North across the alley was the Youth Center managed by Howard White and his family. Howard also managed the outdoors portable skating rink across the road west of Funk's speedway in the summer time.
  The Dixie fruit store was on the south west corner of the square on Meridian street. A Gambles hardware store next to it. Puckett's meat market next to it that sold their famous salt cured hams and other pork products that was done on their farm in the barn.
  The fire station on West Franklin street, a Mr. Mills was the Chief for many years. Across the alley from it was a barn like building that bought fur pelts of many different kinds of animals from trappers.
  The kindergarten was beneath the city library and was taught by Mrs. Simmons for many years. The McCammish glove factory where Wick's pies is now, also made clothes for the dead.
  The hospital was a 4 story building with 15 steps up to the front door on the north side. A small Shell station west of it was also a small grocery in behind the two hand pumped gasolene pumps with their tall glass bowls on top that fed gas to your car by gravity. A Mr. Hinshaw owned and operated it. He had to be in his 80's then.
  West of the Overmyer foundry was the city dump at the north end of town where I could go and sort through it for maybe something I could make something out of it. Or just to shoot rats. East of the foundry across North Main street was a Crosley car dealer, later selling Nash's. There was lover lanes around the waters edges of the gravel pits N.W. of town. There was an ice house on the east end of  the Goodrich elevator at the railroad tracks on N. Main street. They made blocks of ice there. You could buy it there, or have it delivered to your house by Mr. Byrum with his horse and wagon.
  A coal yard at 300 W. North street was also ran by Mr. Byrum. He sold it by the ton and if you couldn't haul it yourself, he brought it to your house and shoveled it into your coal bin by hand, a scoop at a time.
  Used oil was sprayed on gravel streets and driveways to hold down the dust. Augsburger had a cycle shop out on Beeson Drive. He sold Harley Davidson motor cycles, Schwinn bicycles and Evenrude outboard motors. Patterson had a recycling scrap yard on Beeson drive that bought paper and metals during the war effort. Caddies at the golf course carried the bags before carts you pulled were used and then the electric and gasoline golf carts came into style.
  Mr. Gillum, a piano teacher, drove a light yellow Buick that had 2 chrome notes on his front fenders behind the wheel wells. And of course, the three old maids that taught at the Willard school. Cornelius, Ford and Reynard, who later married a farmer from Ohio after she retired.
  Roy Beachler had a bicycle repair shop east of the Rainbow restaurant where there is now a pizza place. Next door to it next to the Friends Church was Dr. Davis who had a dentist office in the front of his house. Across the street Spradling brothers had a Pure oil gas station with a Phillips gas station next door ran by Paul Jones and Lyle Overmyer. Esther Baker, a relative of Mrs. Engle, drove from Muncie three days a week to give swimming lessons at the round Goodrich swimming pool next to the park with first it having a water moat around the outer parameter for little swimmers and eventually they filled it with play sand for several years till kids kept throwing the sand into the water and the sand was removed. Red and blue colored lights surrounded the pools edge for effect when swimming at night till ten. Round windows in the center isle, under the water level so life guards could check for swimmers in the deep end that might need help, or beyond help. That never happened though.
  The roquet court in the park was where elderly gentlemen played with short handled roquet mallets that had soft rubber on one end and a hard surface on the other end. The court was very smooth with a light sandy surface and cement walls around the edge for bank shots. The balls were smaller than regular croquet balls and were made of hard rubber. The wickets were laid out same as a regular croquet court but with smaller openings. The game had the same rules as croquet. Lights were strung across it one end to the other for night playing. The walls are still there, but the court itself has been filled somewhat and grass is growing in it now. It was always busy. A pipe that ran cool artesian well water 24 hours a day was at the bottom of the hill next to the tennis court.
  When there was no north and south bypass around town, all traffic came through downtown. The inner urban line that ran straight through town down the center of Washington street from Muncie to Union City. It ran farther than that both ways, but that was the main concern of the Winchester riders  Some rode it all the way to Indianapolis.
  Mac McGlothlin had a Sunoco gas station on the east edge of Washington street, later made into Brouse Brothers Oliver tractor sales and it is now a NAPA auto parts dealer is there. Orville and Cecil Brouse sold Plymouth and DeSotos on the east edge of town. Roy Durbin got the first DeSoto convertible after the war. Al Comer had a Sinclair station on the west end of Washington street with a big dinosaur sign at the side of it.
  The Winchester cemetery no doubt has twice the residence now than it did when I was growing up.
  Everett Cox had a small airport east on Greenville pike. Took passengers and also gave lessons. He had a Waco double winger and a couple of Taylor Crafts. His wife managed the books. When there was an air show, there would be an airplane idling on the runway and Everett would emerge from the office in a woman's dress and bonnet, crawl into the plane while the announcer was howlering for her to stay away from the plane, but of course he got in and did a couple of spin arounds and then all of a sudden he was airborne doing crazy things.
  I know there was a lot more things going on back in those days, but this was a quick note of things I could recollect right now.
  Thank you for your time reading this and hope you can also remember some of these places. I know I got more around town than most people because I had several paper and magazine routes. Plus I liked exploring new areas. After I got my drivers license, it was exploring new cities. The poor ole 41 tan DeSoto of the folks sure took a beating. It was a whole story in itself, nothing to brag about, just telling you the way it was.  Thanks for listening,  Glen Coffman
[Just the way he wrote this, spelling and all.]