187. Winchester Short Notes

1945, 75 years ago.  The Randolph county courthouse stands barren and desolate today stripped of the little iron fence which surrounded the cupola atop its "dome." The attractive iron work added little to the overall value of the courthouse but contributed a great deal to the drab beauty of the building.
  The God of lightening struck with all His fury, amid the crash of thunder and downpour of rain, and tore the fence from its very foundation. A part of the fence had been destroyed at a previous time. Now all that remains is a heap of mangled iron atop the courthouse dome.
  Offices in the courthouse were closed at the time but the janitor, Ora BROWN, stated that the fuses were burned out.
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1968, 52 years ago.  Construction is scheduled to begin on a new, 65 bed nursing home for Randolph county.
  The new facility, to be called Randolph Nursing Home, Inc., should be completed by sometime in March, 1969.
  The building will be located at the southeast edge of Winchester, on Oak street, extended, and the seven-acre tract will be annexed so that city sewer and water lines can be available. The entire cost of the project, including land, architect, construction, equipment and supplies will be around $500,000.
  The circumstances which ultimately resulted in the plan for the new nursing home began when the PUTERBAUGH rest home, at 300 South Meridian street in Winchester closed its doors, leaving virtually no private facilities of this type in Randolph county.
  The considerable financial undertaking is being underwritten by a group of Winchester men who became interested in the area's need for a nursing home, and were willing to back the project both as a gesture of community cooperation and as a long-term risk investment.
  Stockholders are Russell BROWN, Carlos; Jim LAWRENCE, Parker; Walter PAYNE, Max GORDON, Dr. W.S. DININGER, Dr. H.W. KOCH, Dr. C.R..SLICK and Dr. Lowell W. PAINTER, from Winchester.
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1945, 75 years ago.  Word of the development of an entirely automatic clothes dryer that will eliminate "blue Mondays" in the post war laundry through a tumbling or "fluffing" process that literally brings the warmth of the sun and the gentle breezes indoors was received in Winchester today by Walter PAYNE of the Payne Hardware store at 123 South Main street.
  This new Westinghouse dryer, which makes it unnecessary to iron some pieces, will eliminate clotheslines and pins from the postwar laundry and will make even the stormiest day good drying weather.
  At the discretion of the homemaker, the dryer can be stopped manually so that articles that would ordinarily have to be sprinkled may be removed when damp for ironing, thereby dispensing with dampening separately. Otherwise the dryer can be left on the automatic setting until the clothes are dry.
  The continuous tumbling or fluffing process that takes place while the clothes are being dried offers an improvement over clothesline drying in that many pieces so treated need no ironing. Clothes hung on a line or clothes rack dry with wrinkles in them.
  In addition, use of a clothes dryer will improve the appearance of strictly residential communities by eliminating the often unsightly clothesline. But even more important, it will do away with the housewife's weekly washday weight-lifting routine.
  Few people realize that lifting a weight above the waist, as one must do when hanging clothes on a line, is one of the most fatiguing of motions. Wet laundry weighs almost twice as much as does dry laundry, and with a clothes dryer the housewife can eliminate this overhead weight lifting and save the effort of carrying clothes to the yard and taking them down.
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1950, 70 years ago.  The new Metal Trim company which is located in Winchester is installing equipment and receiving materials. Located in the former skating rink on North Main street, the company expects to begin operations about Dec. 1.
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1968, 52 years ago.  Winchester Family Opens Sears Catalog Business.   "Jane and Dick's Sears Catalog Sales Merchant," a new Winchester enterprise, will open at a North East street location, in the Kel-Air building just north of the railroad. The new business, with Dick and Jane LONEY of Winchester as proprietors, will hold an open house, complete with a drawing for prizes of appliances. Store hours will be from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m., but 24-hour service will also be offered by telephone.
  The Loneys intend to operate the business as a family project, with their three children, Roger, 18, Chris, 16, and Chip, 14, planning to work on Weekends and during summers.
  In addition, Mrs. Tom (Nevajean) Helms, will assist at the catalog center during the day for the time being.
  "If you want to order something, obey that impulse!" might be the Loneys' motto, since orders can be placed either in person or by telephone at about any time of day (within reason, of course) that the whim strikes a customer.
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1961, 59 years ago. Driver High School baseball roster; Kenny AUSTIN, Rod WEBB, Bill TUCKER, Ronnie RECTOR, Marc DURBIN, Don BRYANT, Roy BOWERS, Duane MOORE, Mark PEACOCK, Alan KOLP, Maurice NORTHAM, Coy LAWSON, Bob ADDINGTON and Larry WINKLE. Head coach was Bob SPENCER, Assistant coach, Max SHOWALTER, Gary DRILL, Steve SUMWALT, Andy CLOUSE and Gary BENSON. Keith HINSHAW was team manager.
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1972, 48 years ago.  The Randolph County Timing Association Will Sponsor A Car Wash At Smith's Laundromat (Formerly Helm's), Pearl and North East, Sat. Sept. 30. Price $2.50. Cars Will Be Cleaned Inside And Out.
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1968, 52 years ago.  Monks Home News.  Dear Friends-  We all hope warm weather will soon be here so we can get our windows open, and we want to get outdoors more. Since our last letter, we haven't done much visiting away from home but have had many callers.
  Current "Ladies of the Monks Home":  Mrs. May HUPP, Mrs. Aota GIRTON, Mrs. Bee FRIESNER, Mrs. Mary BLIZZARD, Edith KABLE, Mrs. Tabitha WISE, Mrs. Anna PAINTER, Mrs. Ethel PITTINGER, Miss Evelyn CLARK, Mrs. Ella FIELDER, Mrs. Eva DIGGS, Mrs. Elizabeth BRAUN, Bessie DAVIS, Mrs. Verda JONES, Mrs. Flora FRAZIER, Miss Bessie DAVISSON, Lala SMITH, Mrs. Helen OWENS., A beautiful flowering plant was sent to us in memory of Mrs. Alice HARLAN, who would have been 92 on March 4. Mrs. Fae GEMMILL visited her sister, Manilla FRAZE, in the Masonic Home recently.
  Best wishes to all from the Ladies of the Monks Home.
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MISC.
1968.  Grand Opening March 31, BEACHLER FLORIST, 102 North Main St. next to Reed's Drugstore.

1972. Gaslight Inn, 203 West Franklin, Open Daily At 11:00 A.M. Wed. and Fri. Nites, Claude and Tim WRIGHT. Saturday Nite, Carl SIMPSON.

1972. Karla (ERTEL) WILSON (formerly of Paula's Beauty Shop) is now at Shair's House of Beaut'e. Phone 25481 for an appointment.

1972. Shoe Shop Closes.  The Robert ROBINSON family has called a halt to one of Winchester's most valuable service businesses, simply because it has become an increasing burden to maintain. This was the shoe repair shop at 206 South Main street which the Robinsons have operated for the past 19 years and which was operated by the Lykins family for many years before that. Mrs. Robinson has done the major part of the repair work for the past 7 years and all the Robinson children, Marty, Kista and Cathy, have also helped out from time to time. Another employee was Shane Martzell. The business is up for sale if a buter can be found.

1961.  FREEMAN'S Brown Street Market,  CITY CAB Under New Management Francis Freeman, Located At The Bus Station..

1961.  Opening Soon -  Elizabeth Jane's Party House -  Catering Service,  313 South Main St.  Hostesses: Ruth CLOUSE and Roberta SIMMONS.

1961. NOTICE!  Irish's West End Grocery Will Discontinue the Sale of Beer At The Close of Business Saturday, Feb. 11th.

1961.  GRAND OPENING APRIL 14 - FREE Root Beer  We Are Now Open For The New Season  B & K Root Beer Stand, East on Highway 32.

1961.  RE-OPENING  Mary Bigelow's KURLETTE BEAUTY SHOP  Cody SANZO, Our Operator-15 Years Experience.

1961.  MOVING To 208 South Main St. (Next to Beachler Flower Shop) - BUSICK NEWS AGENCY - Bus Station - Railway Express.

1946, 74 years ago.  When this boy Jack HOWELL went over the goal line for Winchester's first touchdown in 50 years (no football here for five decades) no opponent could possibly have gotten to him. He was surrounded by ten team mates, and they all went over the line with him. The touchdowns by him and LEONARD couldn't have come to a more opportune time, as Coach TYLER's boys know now that they can score and maybe we can expect some fireworks against Connersville "B" next Wednesday.

1961, 59 years ago. Not Winchester, but I think more than a few of the older residents will remember this one from an ad in the Winchester Journal-Herald;  "JOHN'S TRIANGLE INN" - Featuring Genuine Pizza Pie Along With Their Tasty American Foods - Dance To The Music of "BIG JAY BUSH AND THE HOUSE ROCKERS"  (If I remember right, they played a pretty good rendition of "Shout") - Located 1 1/4 Miles West of Greenville on Route 502.
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1961. Elementary Basketball Champs. Willard's basketball team won the 1960-61 Winchester-White River elementary league title with a perfect record. Members of that team were Charles HAVIZA, Larry JOHNSTON, Ken SHOCKLEY, Terry HUNSUCKER, Ronnie JENKINS and Eurby GRUBBS. Their coach was principal Wayne HINCHMAN.
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1972, 48 years ago.  Flower Shop Sold.  Robert BEACHLER, Winchester businessman, has announced that he has sold his flower shop, Beachler Florist at 102 North Main, to Dick CARTER of Muncie. Carter will take over as owner of the store October 1.
  In making the announcement, Beachler said he had been thinking about selling for "quite some time," but had just recently found a buyer he felt would be able to carry on the tradition he had established.
  "Twenty-five years in the flower business is a long time whichever way you look at it," Beachler said. "And with my other properties and projects, I've got plenty to do without running the store."
  One major reason for agreeing to the sale, Beachler continued, was that it would give him more time to pursue his other interests.
  The new owner, Dick Carter, is enthusiastic about the new business venture. Carter, who is twenty-nine years old and married, is a 1963 graduate of the American Floral Art Institute, has taught elementary art at Rushville and has been working at the Normandy Flotist in Muncie.
  "Owning my own business is something I've always wanted to do," Carter said. "And ofcourse, I've always had my sights set on a flower shop."
  Carter said he plans to offer the same quality service that Beavhler offered to the community and added, "It may be a little difficult getting used to the rigid schedule at first, but everything will be running smoothly before long. I like flowers and I like to design. Owning a flower shop is a natural decision to make."
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1972. Wick's Pie Truck Overturns.  Much excitement was generated at around 10:05 Monday when a van load of pies upset on Ind. 32 four and a half miles west of Winchester. The truck caught fire and the White River fire truck was called to the scene. However, the fire was out by the time firemen arrived. Also at the site were personnel from Winchester, Randolph county and state law enforcement units.
  The Randolph sheriff's department reported that Michael D. WICKERSHAM, 19, Winchester, was westbound when, he said, his truck started weaving, he lost control and the vehicle overturned. Wickersham obtained a minor elbow injury. Part of the load of pies was lost and damage to the Wick's Pies truck was estimated at $500.
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This post is getting a little long but I thought I would add this one about Maora McCoy as many of us seem to have some extra time on our hands.

1972.  Maora Retires.   Some people become so identified with a certain location and occupation that it is difficult to imagine things running along without them. That is the case with Maora McCOY, who has been in the grocery business in Winchester for four decades and made friends not only with the majority of the Winchester community but with many people from all parts of Randolph county.
  Maora will retire officially from McCoy's Grocery on Wednesday, August 2 having observed her 66th birthday on Sunday, July 30. The retirement came largely, she says, because her health has not been too good recently and "I think when you can't hold up your end of the job,it"s time to quit." This unsentimental, practical and straightforward attitude is typical of Maora McCoy, who has made her own way with great independence since her husband, Clyde Joseph McCoy died in 1935.
  Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Mrs. McCoy came to Winchester at the age of 18. Her husband first worked at the old Woodbury Class factory, later at Anchor Hocking. Maora herself worked for two years for Ezra and Carrie HAWLEY in a small grocery two blocks east of Union on Short street in Winchester. Then she and her husband started a grocery at the corner of Short and Unio and the business remained there until 12 years ago, when it moved farther west on Short street and a small flower shop, also operated by Maora, was opened at the old grocery location.
  Since her husband's death, Mrs. McCoy's brother Roy (Sonny) McKIBBEN, has worked with her in the grocery and she is turning the entire operation over to him now.
  She will continue to live in the small house between the grocery and flower shop where she has made her home "since I started housekeeping." "I don't think I could be happy anyplace else," she comments. She will also continue to operate the flower shop which is less demanding work than the grocery but something to keep her occupied.
  When Mrs. McCoy was widowed at the age of 29, she was left with three small children, a four year old son and two daughters, age two and six months. With the same energy and determination she uses in approaching any challenge, Maora raised the three children and saw to it that they received her help in getting the education they wanted. :|"My husband and I agreed that the children should have an education" she explains.
  Rex, the oldest, now a Union City attorney and himself the father of four children, graduated from Wabash college attending on an athletic scholarship, started a career as a coach and then entered the armed forces. After he was discharged from service (during which time he married) he attended Indiana University law school and already had two children by the time he received his law degree.
  Emma, next in line,received her teaching degree from Ball State, taught four years at Morton elementary and is now teaching in Florida.
  Mrs. McCoy says that the necessity of supporting and helping educate three children by herself has kept her too busy to feel lonely without her husband: "Having to work was a good thing for me." She says she has always loved Winchester and has a very close feeling about the community. "The people of Winchester have been very kind to me," she explains. Because of this feeling she has never been overly interested in travel, and has taken few vacations, those mostly involved with family visits.
  When her husband died, Maora says, she thought she might get into social work, but after a visit to Indianapolis to check into this, she found it was much more practical to remain in Winchester. "I'd have been away from the kids too much," she explains, "and it would have cost too much to live in a city."
  In her years as the proprietor of McCoy's Grocery, Maora has built up a large trade of loyal customers. Now expanded from a tiny neighborhood store to a much larger enterprise, the store still has the neighborhood quality and Maora seems to know every customer, no matter what age. She says she is sure she will have no problem staying away from the grocery and turning over the whole operation to her brother, but it may be more difficult than she imagines to let go after so many years. Asked about her unusual name, Maora explains that she was named for a well-known race horse which was being freighted through Louisville where horse racing had always been a very important topic at the time she was born.
  Considering the skill and determination she has put into her career as businesswoman and mother for so many years, it seems that her mother named her well. "I always felt you should do the best with what you have," she comments thoughtfully. Everyone who knows Maora would agree that she has lived according to that motto.   A.M. Gibbons, News-Gazette & Journal-Herald.


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