138. Randolph County Misc.

1975. Saratoga, Spitler House.

  Many of the homes in Saratoga were built in the 1880's and early 1900's and still display the intricate craftsmanship that was the pride of the age. One of the most notable and impressive of these turn-of-the-century houses is the stately Doc Spitler house, which is currently owned by David and Karen Lowe, located immediately west of town.
  The Spitler house, as it is still called by many of the Saratoga residents, was built in 1905 on a tract of land that was originally bought by James T. Evans in 1836 from the United States Government. In 1896 the land was divided in seven parts, the portion where the house was eventually to be built going to Amos Evans. Evans deeded the land for construction of the house to Edward H. Bailey in 1905 for $300.
  Ed Curtner, one of Saratoga's nonagenarians who has lived in the community for most of his life, remembered Bailey beginning construction on the house.
  "He was a young man at the time," Curtner said. "I expect he was not much older than me, probably in his early 20's.
  As the story goes, Bailey had intended to marry Pearl Fletcher, but the young girl would only consent to the marriage if Bailey would build her one of the most impressive houses in the area. Curtner prefaced this story by indicating that Pearl had told Bailey she wanted to live in the same manner she had been accustomed to since childhood. Since her father, Warren Fletcher was one of the wealthiest men in the area, it would certainly cost Bailey a large sum of money to fulfill her wishes.
  Bailey immediately began to build the house establishing a mortgage of $1,900 on the house and property, a huge sum of money for the early part of the century. Soon Bailey found it difficult to make mortgage payments and still continue work on the house. Curtner related a story about how Bailey attempted to borrow money from another resident of Saratoga.any more money."
  "Ed Bailey was a sly duck. He found he couldn't continue building the house, so he borrowed some money from this old man, it was only a couple hundred dollars (to establish credit). For some reason, and I couldn't really tell you why, the old man had marked the bills."
  "Ed brought back the money he owed in a couple of weeks," Curtner continued, "and the old man noticed they were the same bills, because Bailey had just kept the money to ask for more. So when Ed came back about a week later asking for a bigger loan the old man wouldn't give him any more money."
  According to Curtner, Bailey worked in a dry goods store in Ridgeville as a salesman. He was apparently one of the best salesmen in the area, but the owner of the store began to notice he was losing money and Bailey was spending much more than he was making as a salesman. Bailey was consequently accused of stealing from the store and fired.
  In 1906 the mortgage was foreclosed and the property and part of the house that had been built went to the county. To complete the classic tragedy, Pearl not only broke off the marriage, but Bailey lost all of his savings, the house and had to move away from Saratoga in disgrace.
  In 1907, at a sheriff's sale, Greer Wilkinson Lumber Company of Winchester, bought the house for $1,852.64. Two years later the lumber company sold the house and property to Squire J. Hinkle for $2,500. Hinkle finished construction of the house and lived in it for the next 11 years.
One of the more interesting features of Hinkle's work is a turntable in the garage. Apparently Hinkle had never mastered the art of backing his car out of the garage, understandable since the automobile was still something of a novelty. So he built a turntable to drive his car onto and then would get out and turn the table around so the car was headed out of the garage.
  Although many Saratoga residents differ on whether the contraption was installed by Hinkle or was added when Dr. Charles Spitler bought the house in 1934, Roger Hinkle and Charles Rickert remember using the 12-foot turntable as a merry-go-round when they were children.
  Even though the turntable is inoperable today, the 12-foot base would be too short for today's large cars. However, the turntable was still used by Dr. Spitler after 1934 for his new Whippet, an auto that was manufactured in New Castle.
  The table is hinged in four different places to permit oiling the gears which are located under the center of the table. Metal rollers under the turntable operated the pivoting table on a metal edged wooden track.
  The estate passed on to Pearl Shierling in 1920 who later passed the house and the property on to Clara Cain for one dollar and exchange of properties in 1932. The following year Mrs. Cain sold the property to Charles Van Ausdal who turned it over to Dr. Spitler in 1934.
  Dr. Spitler lived and established his practice in the west side of the house until his death in 1941. His wife, Anna Lollard Spitler, continued residence in the house until her death in 1958. Their tombstone in the adjoining town cemetery sits on a knob overlooking the house.
  Robert Romack bought the property in a public auction in 1959 and sold it to the present owners, Mr. and Mrs. David Lowe in 1970.
  The interior of the house is elaborately decorated with inlaid wood and intricately patterned wood filigree work around the doorways. The Lowes try ro furnish the house with mostly antiques to maintain a consistent atmosphere with the large comfortable rooms throughout the house.
  Although the stately structure was only built about 75 years ago, it still reflects the rich history and independent pride of the Saratoga pioneers 100 years ago.   Winchester News-Gazette, August, 1975.



1887.  Wear a nutmeg around your neck will keep you from getting malaria, so the ladies say but the young men think that if they have a man with a white apron serve it over a beer, it will have the same effect.



1946. Coroner's Report.

Coroner's Report To The Clerk of the Randolph County Circuit Court, Winchester, Indiana.

Cause: Death of Jan Way Diggs, September 25, 1946.

Cause of Death: Asphyxiation caused when two railroad ties rolled down onto his head and chest while he was playing on a pile of ties.

Place of Death: At his house about one mile southwest of  Winchester.

Description of Person: A white male of the age of 4 years, light brown hair, brown eyes, medium complexion, approximate weight 40 lbs.

Statement of Witness: I, Lloyd Diggs, being duly sworn this 25th day of September, 1946, upon my oath expose and say that I live about a mile from the city limits of Winchester, southwest of town. At about 4:00 P.M. on Sept. 25, 1946 we got together and found Jan was missing. We started to look for him all over the farm, woods and gravel pit. At about 6:00 P.M. my wife found Jan behind the dairy barn under 2 railroad ties, about 2 ties high the weight of the ties had him bent backward. One tie was across his face and one across his chest. He was about in the middle of the ties. She screamed and Forrest Dwiggins, who had just arrived came up to the pile of ties and he lifted them off the boy. He seemed to be warm and his legs and arms and face were cold. I met my wife and Forrest carrying him to the house.
  I had last seen Jan about 1 P.M. when I went to town. I returned about 2:00 P.M. but didn't see him. My wife hadn't seen the boy after noon either. My hired hand didn't see him either after noon and he helped look for him.

Verdict: Accidental Death.
Lowell W. Painter, Coroner



1863.  There are 121 schools in Randolph County with 7,035 children of suitable age to attend. A little over one-third of these attend no school.



1950. County Merchant Advertising.

Ridgeville - Limbert Farm Service, Frigidaire Appliances, Marion C. Limbert, Prop.   The Limbert Farm Store is well known to the people of Ridgeville and surrounding territory. It has kept abreast of the times by carrying a complete line of hardware, paints, farm supply items and the popular line of Frigidaire Appliances.  Obviously it is to your advantage to trade with firms with a reputation for dependable merchandise and fair dealing such as you receive at Limbert's Farm Service.

Saratoga - Wm. Moyer Chevrolet Sales & Service.   Just as the manufacturers of Chevrolet cars and trucks have been first in many features of automobile progress, so has the Wm. Moyer Chevrolet Sales & Service been first in service to the people of Saratoga and surrounding territory.
  At this concern one will find equipment for service, repairs and parts, having skilled workmen for any repair, body, fender or paint jobs.
  Chevrolet cars for many years have proven their worth by satisfactory use. That the new 1950 Chevrolet models are recognized as a great value in motor cars today is the opinion of experts as well as the casual buyer.
  Mr. Moyer and the employees of this concern are familiar with the details necessary to maintain efficient service to the car owning public, and we feel that they should be commended upon their modern and progressive methods.

Carlos - Swindell's General Store.   For every week in the year, every family in any community is dependent upon some store for its supply of groceries, meats and other general merchandise.
  In Carlos, the Swindell General Store has been furnishing the various needs of its patrons in a most satisfactory way. Their stock is kept up-to-the-minute in every respect with special care taken to see that all merchandise is of the highest quality.
  Mr. Swindell is als engaged extensively in the buying of poultry, eggs and beef hides covering Randolph County and surrounding territory. His method of operation enables him to offer the highest market prices for these products.
  Pay a visit to the Swindell General Store and learn for yourself the advantages of trading here.



1948. Grumpy Old Man.  NOTICE! - Enough is enough! All people living on Maple street keep your dogs at home and quiet. Also see that all your children are in by 10 p.m. as I will file charges! Signed - Jim Newcomb.   Winchester classifieds.



1952. Remembering Football At Lynn.

  I wonder how many of the citizens of Lynn remember when their fair city had a football team. I am afraid not too many, as the year was 1903. In that year an Illinois State graduate by the name of Art Hedrick decided to form a team to play two ball games. One was to be with the Alpha Chi Club and the other with Winchester.
  The practice continued for several weeks before the big day as the boys of Lynn were very football-minded and wanted to show the town that they were good. Practice would sometimes last until late evening and the boys parents were put out at the idea of their sons playing instead of working. David Hodgin, the teams quarterback, informed me that he dug potatoes by lantern light one night before his father would let him play.
  The day of the first game finally arrived and the boys were on the field early to warm up.
  Winchester arrived soon after and what a bunch of players they had! Several boys would top 170 pounds and one player was over the 200 pound mark. They also had several reserves.
  The Lynn squad on the other hand, consisted of no one over 160 pounds and their team totaled only eleven men, just enough to play with none in reserve.
  There was a large crowd on hand as the game got ready to start. The vacant lot north of the depot had been marked off and it was a fine location for the game.
  The Lynn team consisted of David Hodgin, at quarterback; Walter Johnson, wingback; Cy Johnson, tailback; and Orville Engle at halfback position. In the line they had Leslie Knight at right end; Harry Johnson, and Oren Schissler at tackle; Fred Johnson and Harry Johnston at guard and Clinton Stanley at the center post. The boys used a single wing formation.
  The first game was a rough and tumble affair with all the Lynn boys escaping without injury.
  However, the 200 pound tailback of the Winchester team met up with Walter Johnson's head in the second quarter and they carried him out of the game knocked out cold. Walter was not hurt.
   Finally, with the score tied and only three minutes left to play, the Winchester drop kick specialist put one between the uprights and Lynn was defeated.
  It was quite a day for the Lynn boys, however, and they eagerly looked forward to their meeting with the Alpha Chi Club. This game ended in a tie after as hard fought a game as anyone could ever play.
  There is also a sidelight on these two games that I think you will enjoy. It seems that Amos Higdon, David's father and Ira Johnson, Cy's dad were both much opposed to their sons playing the rough and tumble game of football. However, after much persuasion and extra duty around their homes, the boys were allowed to participate.
  The day of the game the two fathers got together and stood far back from the field as if they were not interested.
  But when things got hot and the boys were ripping off gains and making tackles the two "uninterested" dads suddenly got into the spirit of the game and began running up and down the field hand in hand following up the play as closely as possible and shouting encouragement to their embattled sons! From all reports, when the game was over, the two dads were far more exhausted from directing than their sons were from playing.   Oct. 25, 1952, Winchester Journal-Herald reprint from the Randolph County Herald-Citizen at Lynn.



1948. GRAND OPENING-AIRLINE AUTO THEATRE. 71 years ago.

 Be First to-"Park 'Neath the Stars in the Comfort of Your Cars."  Friday, August 13--8 P.M. at the Airline Auto Theatre, 3 miles East of Winchester on Route 32 Just Across From COXY'S Airport.
  Families Especially Like "Baby-Sitter Problem and Expense Eliminated, The Whole Family Sits Together, Extra Clean Restrooms, No Need to Dress Kiddies in "Sunday Best," Deputized Personnel On Patrol All Performances, We Even Furnish Baby Bottle Warmers, You Can Smoke If You Like! Right In Your Car.
Admissions- Adults  .50 Cents,  Children  .20 cents. Two Shows Nightly, Beginning at 8 p.m.--Midnight Shows on Saturdays.



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