69. Old News-WHS Bell, Milers Club, Shedville, Circle X History

1973. WHS Bell.

Now that the old Winchester high school is being demolished, the school bell is receiving special attention. The bell is being removed from the tower and will be preserved as a historic memento at the new high school.
  The 1920 "Melting Pot", the Winchester high school annual for that year, contains a history of the bell which indicates that even then, over 50 years ago, students had begun regarding it as something of a memorable antique, which was reasonable enough for young people as the bell was already 35 years old.
  The unsigned essay, entitled "The Old School Bell" begins with a review of the bell situation in general, stresses the importance of bells to a community, and quotes three fragments of poetry to substantiate that claim.
  It then explains the history of the Winchester high school bell: "The present bell, hanging in the tower of our high school building, was purchased November 12, 1885, of the Buckeye Bell Foundry of Cincinnati, Ohio, by C.E. Magee, president of the Winchester school board at that time. The old warranty given by the company says that the bell is of genuine bell material and of good tone and will not break while being rung or tolled in the proper manner for two years.
  The account continues: "It has been ringing for thirty-five years and the tone is not impaired, neither does it show any signs of breaking. The purchase price of the bell was one hundred and forty dollars."
  The writer notes that when the old Central school building was torn down the bell was removed to the tower of the high school "by Mr. Peacock in 1915."
  The essay concludes: "The school bell has a permanent place in the heart of this community: it's sweet sonorous dong dong-'come, come' has been the daily music of the sons and daughters of Winchester, their children and their grandchildren. It is to be hoped that future generations will feel the same affection for this time-honored friend and will continue to treasure our old school bell."
  The school bell has not rung for quite awhile now, but it is, as the writer hoped, still treasured as a part of the schools history. It will be placed at some suitable spot in the vicinity of the new high school and quite possibly its voice will be heard again when Winchester Community high school students have occasion to celebrate some athletic victory or other triumph.

Sept. 1942, Swimmers form Milers Club.

  The Milers Club, an organization of members of Goodrich park swimming classes who have been able to swim one mile, held their initial meeting Saturday at the home of Mrs. Paul Baker.
  Anne Jaqua was elected president, Marilyn Simpson was chosen vice-president and Joanna Mack was named secretary. Bobby Painter and Marilyn Simpson form the membership committee.
  Charter members present were Anne Jaqua, Marilyn Simpson, Judy Baker, Jean Ralls, Barbara Renegar, Sara Ludy, Joanna Mack, Bobby Painter, Richard Baker, Alice Little, Charles Ludy, Susan Watters, Katherine Montana of Union City and Elizabeth Buckingham of Indianapolis.

August 1942, Shedville Homecoming.

  The Randolph county homecoming, scheduled to close has been held over three days at the grounds at Shedville, five miles north of Farmland.
  Rides and concessions will be held over and the Cotton Club revue and the Townsend-Wells free act troupe will also remain. More than 20 concessions and exhibits are included in the 1942 homecoming.
  An all-day trap shoot will be a feature today and a sulky race at 10 a.m. and a pet parade at 1:30 p.m. are added attractions.
  A pony pulling contest on Monday, and a green team contest on Tuesday will be the main attractions of the last two days of the homecoming. A picnic is included on a Sunday program.
  In the medium weight pulling contest held Friday an entry bi Burley Moyer won first place with 6,500 pounds pulled 22 feet 9 inches. Second place went to the entry of Kenneth (Red) Wolfe with 6,500 pounds pulled 19 feet, 8 inches. A 6,000 pound pull of 18 feet, 9 inches brought third place money to the entry of Dewey Hinshaw.
  In the heavyweight contest, the following were winners:
  Ralph McCormick, 7,500 pounds, 24 feet 11 inches, first; Moyer and Son, 7,500 pounds, 17 feet 10 inches, second; Doc Michael, Albany, 7,500 pounds, 16 feet 6 inches, third.

June 1942, Circle X Riders Have Home.

  The famed Circle X Riders are back again--the war can't keep the intrepid men and women down.
  They will hold an informal opening today and Sunday at their new ranch home one and one-half miles north and three-fourths of a mile west of Winchester.
  There will be a parade in Winchester at 7 o'clock tonight and a dance at the ranch house beginning at 9 o'clock. On Sunday there will be a rodeo beginning at 2 p.m. The public is invited to everything. The phenomenal success of the Circle X is due to the unselfish and hearty cooperation of all its members, according to E. Reed Abel of Winchester, who apparently at the moment is the organization's press agent. Mr. Abel, in detailing the club's history, says:
  "This club, known as the Circle X Riders, Inc., is the outgrowth of one man's enthusiasm, namely Dana Rowe. Rowe wanting to ride all his life, purchased a saddle mare. He couldn't ride her but undaunted he purchased others, and talked horse. He found other people who liked to ride and gradually more and more people became interested in riding. They bought horses, saddles and equipment until about ten or twelve were riding.
  "These boys rode at the Ridgeville Centennial, Portland Fall Celebration, Cosmos, Ohio Fair. At the Cosmos fair they were invited not to return, thank you."
  "They went to Glen Karn, Ohio, and assisted Colonel Gatewood with his rodeo. There, their fame began to spread as Wildhorse Harry Mincer put the town in darkness with his trusty six gun due to his shooting one of the light wires off the pole.
  "Colonel Dick Lenox wishing to assist the fair board of his own town, Shedville, Indiana, decided to put on a rodeo. He gathered in the drug store cowhands and gave a truly good performance.
  "On the 4th of November, 1939, sixteen of the boys met and organized as a club, continued to meet at their various homes and places of business until in January 1940, they decided to incorporate. The charter was granted in February. Officers and a board of directors were then elected and by-laws adopted.
  "The Circle X is a non-profit organization, has a president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer and board of directors who manage the business; their home club was at Shady Nook (Shady Nook was east of Winchester on SR32 and is now, 2018, known as Shaded Acres, a housing development. When the Circle X was there in the 40's there was a filling station, a rest park with 4 overnight cabins, a dance hall and rodeo arena, All gone now.)  for the years 1940-1941. In January of 1942 they began discussing larger quarters, finally deciding to rent on a long time lease the 62 acres of rolling timber land owned by Thomas H. Moorman.
  "They have built a ranch house 40' by 30' with a lean-to kitchen 10' by 30', have cleared space in the woods, removing nineteen trees, grubbing out the underbrush, grading and fencing an arena, in fact have constructed a rather large place in which to play and entertain their members families and guests.
  "The Circle X has lost for awhile two of it's members, Dick Lenox, who was president for 1940 and 1941, and Warren "Butch" Thornburg, these boys having been called to defend our country."
  The Circle X Riders is the largest club of its kind in the state of Indiana, having 151 members. There are 42 clubs in the state.
  The club has rodeod at Shedville twice, Holloway's Riding Academy, Muncie, twice, Glen Karn, Ohio, Gas City, Indianapolis and have had seven shows at their home club.
  The members have taken trophies in nearly all horse events held in the state in the last two years. You will find Circle X boys and girls in any western event. They participated in the fall state round-up at the Indiana State fair grounds both in 1940 and 1941, winning the long distance trophy and five other trophies each year.