205. Wartime Randolph County.

RCHS Blog Post Number 205. 

Wartime Randolph County

New Auto Sales Banned.

Journal- Herald newspaper (J-H)

January 6, 1942. 

  Don F. Stiver, superintendent of The Indiana state Police, has transmitted to Winchester Mayor Oran Ross a copy of a letter reaching his department and directed to all mayors, chiefs of police, sheriffs and state police, by Frank Bane, of the Office of Price Administration, relating to the stoppage of sales of automobiles by the Federal Government in connection with the national defense program.

  "A freeze order was issued by the office of production management immediately stopping the sale of all new passenger cars, light and heavy trucks throughout the nation. For the purposes of this order, passenger automobiles, light and heavy trucks, mean 1942 models or any such vehicle which has been used less than 1,000 miles. This order shall take effect immediately."

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WAC Marianna Reed.

J-H, October 21, 1943. 

  WAC (Womens Army Corps) Marianna Reed, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Reed has returned to Fort Devens, Mass. after spending a short furlough with friends and relatives in Winchester. She sported a stripe this trip home and is now a private first class. Miss Reed, former society editor of the Journal Herald has applied for overseas duty.

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Sugar Rationed.

J-H, January 28, 1942.

  Declaring that "I can't stress too strongly that every housewife should begin now to reduce consumption of sugar in her home." Price Administrator Leon Henderson today estimated that sugar rationing may be limited to 3/4 of a pound per week per person.

  Henderson said that sugar consumption for 1942 should average about 52 pounds per person, but he pointed out that the provision must be made for those who eat in hotels, restaurants or institutions as well as at home. In 1941 the average consumption of sugar was 1 1/2 pounds per person per week.

  The sugar rationing system will also make provision to meet "usual demands for home canning during the summer months for the winter holidays."

  "Those who have hoards of sugar should stop buying and start using up their stock since they will not be permitted under the plan to get more sugar until their supplies have been reduced to normal proportions," he continued.

  This is an opportunity for everyone to make a personal contribution to the war. The army and navy need alcohol derived from sugar to make smokeless powder. Saving on sugar means powder for our soldiers and sailors.

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Girl Scouts Gather Scrap.

J-H, February 5, 1942. 

  If a Girl Scout knocks on your door Thursday or Friday evening or after school, she is collecting articles for the melting pot of metal materials so essential to national defense.

  This is not just another solicitation; our government has urged the public to help. These metals are just as essential as the need for aluminum was at the time of that drive when every housewife and merchant contributed liberally.

  Look among your discarded knick-knacks and you will be surprised how much you can give.

  The scouts will begin their house-to-house canvass this evening and you can assist them in this big job by having your collection ready.

  Every resident of Randolph County is urged to participate in the drive for precious metals and anyone having something to give is asked to bring them to headquarters located at the Pierce Studio and Gift Shop in Winchester.

  The drive is being sponsored by the Winchester Business & Professional Woman's club, the proceeds derived from the metals to be turned over to the Red Cross chapter of the county to assist in that humanitarian work so essential to the boys in the service and their families.

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WAC Recruiting.

 J-H, October 28, 1943. 

  Randolph county women will have their first opportunity to enter the branch of service of their own choosing when a group of five officers enlists women for the Women's Army Corps (WAC) at the Red Cross room on the east side of the public square in Winchester.

  Women will be able to enlist for service in the army air forces according to Lieut. F. H. Baumann of Stout Field, Indianapolis

  Each applicant will be questioned by a classification expert and will be recommended for the type work in which she is most interested and best suited.

  "Every WAC who enlists releases one more man for the fighting front," Lieut. Baumann said, "and each enlistment may keep a man from being drafted."

  The air forces are more interested in the quality of women enlisting than in having a large number join, he emphasized.

  Women who are interested in enlisting are urged to discuss the opportunities of the WAC with the review board.

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Tire Rationing.

J-H, January 5, 1942.

  Tire rationing quotas go into effect today. Randolph county's quota being 28 tires and 23 tubes.

  The Randolph county rationing board, is comprised of Rev. Raymond HARRIS, John THOMPSON and Francis SIMPSON and they will meet soon for organization, after which inspectors will be appointed.

  Clarence A. Jackson, state civilian defense director, appealed to the public to refrain "as a patriotic service" from unnecessary calls and requests on county tire rationing boards.

  "If you are not a physician, visiting nurse or veterinarian, you as an individual, will not be able to obtain tires for passenger cars," Jackson said.

  "Individuals who do not fall in the above classifications must not expect or hope to obtain a certificate for the purchase of a new tire or tube.

  "Likewise, not even those individuals in the above classifications may obtain new tires until such time as their present tires are beyond repair or reconditioning by retreading."

  "Those who do come within the above classifications will be required to present a certificate from a tire inspection station, several of which will be designated in each county, showing that their tires cannot be repaired.

  Jackson made it clear that tire rationing boards do not have discretionary powers to grant tire purchase certificates, but can only determine whether or not applicants come within limited classifications of persons to whom new tires can be sold.

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Yarn Arrives.

J-H, January 12, 1942. 

  The Red Cross has received a shipment of yarn to be knitted into sleeveless sweaters for our American Navy. These garments are to be completed within three weeks.

  Any knitters wishing to make these sweaters may get the yarn and instructions from the Red Cross chapter room in the city building. Other yarn, to be knitted into refugee garments, will be here within a week or two.

  Knitters desiring to make these garments may have six to eight weeks in which to complete them. Classes for new knitters will be held once a week in the chapter room, the date for the first one to be announced shortly.

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204. Coach Callan Hung, Maora McCoy, Jackie (Gaylor) Anderson, Lucille Stocksdale Retires,

RCHS Blog Post Number 204. 

Coach Callan Hung, Maora McCoy, Jackie (Gaylor) Anderson, Lucille Stocksdale Retires

Driver High School Basketball 

February 15, 1960.

  Driver high school basketball coach Don Callan was hung in effigy Sunday night.

  A scarecrow type object, with a sign carrying the name "Don Callan," was hanging high in a tree in front of the high school building on East South street when classes began around 8 o'clock Monday morning. A few minutes later the "dummy" was removed by school officials.

  A photograph, under exposed with a Polaroid type camera, was received by Jerry DAVIS, News and Journal-Herald reporter, in Monday's mail. The letter had been postmarked "12:30 a.m. Monday."

  On the back was written:

  "Jerry Davis, please put in paper. Coach Don Callan was hung in effigy."

  Callan, in his second year at the Winchester school, started the current season with an inexperienced and under-sized group of players. He faced the job of molding players from two schools, the merged White River and Winchester systems, into an unprejudiced playing unit.

  The team had a 7-3 record through it's first 10 games, including surprising victories over Yorktown, Portland and Dunkirk. But since the Dunkirk game the team has lost seven consecutive games for a current 7-10 record and tempers have grown increasingly shorter.

  The school concludes its regular basketball schedule at home this Friday night against Decatur.

  Monday afternoon an unidentified person in the high school system reported that the "stunt" of either players, students or adult fans had possibly backfired. It was reported that following the incident there appeared to be an increased wave of sentiment and support for the young varsity basketball coach.  

(Mick asks: Bob, Dale, Ed, where were you Sunday night?)

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Jackie Gaylor

Winchester Journal-Herald newspaper.

January 24, 1952.

  A Winchester lass will appear with the Hines theater-Portland Lions club midnight minstrel show to be presented at the Hines in Portland Friday and Saturday of this week. She is Miss Jackie Sue Gaylor, who, says the Portland Sun, "won the hearts of the audience last year with her smile." Jackie will appear again with several songs.

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McCoy's Grocery

September, 1947

  McCoy's grocery at the corner of Short and Union streets has been a familiar landmark to residents in the northeastern part of the city for the past ten years.

  The store was opened by Mrs. Maora McCoy in November of 1937, making the second time she had been in the grocery business in that same location. She and her husband, Clyde J., operated a store there for several years prior to 1931.

  The store offers its patrons the tops in quality foods and meats, specializing in Stokely canned goods and Kuhner, Armour and Hughes-Curry meats.

  Assisting Mrs. McCoy in the store is her brother Roy "Sonny" McKIBBON, and her mother Mrs. Anna McKibbon.

  Mrs. McCoy is a native of Louisville, Ky., but has been a resident of Winchester for several years, having moved here more than twenty-three years ago. She is very active in the Parent-Teachers association, the Business and Professional Women's club and the Chamber of Commerce.

  Mrs. McCoy and her three children, Rex, 13 years old, Emma Lee, 11, and Elanor, 10, live in a house adjoining the store.

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Mrs. Stocksdale retires

May 19, 1965

By: Anna Marie Gibbons

  "It's about time I retired," Lucille Stocksdale observed recently. "My language is out of date. I tell the children to put something on the victrola, and they say 'Whaaat?' All they know is 'record player.' At Baker school (a new building) I talk about 'blackboard' and they say 'Whaaat?' They're 'chalkboards' now -and at Baker they're green, not black."

  Mrs. Stocksdale was referring, in an offhand manner and with her usual brisk cheerfulness, to the fact that she has decided to retire after 45 years of teaching. Since 1960 she has taught music to Winchester elementary students. The decision to retire, she explains, was made so that she can spend the winters with her husband, Charles Stocksdale, in Florida. The couple plan to buy a house and enjoy the warm climate from December through early spring.

  In her 45 years of teaching, Mrs. Stocksdale has put hundreds of youngsters through an intensive, positive course in music and art. The art part of her assignment she abandoned reluctantly some five years ago when, at the request of Winchester-White River School Superintendent Merritt Beck, she took on the job of teaching the primary students in the three Winchester schools the basics of music, in 1960. Up to then, Mrs. Stocksdale had taught the Winchester 7th graders art and music.

  Because Willard school, the oldest school, except Driver, in the system, was where Lucille Reynard began her teaching career at the age of 18, we chose this building for the background against which to write her story.

  This writer, as well as many, many other persons now parents of grown children, or grandparents of near-school-age children, remember "Miss Lucille" associating her with a variety of topics which may come up in a discussion of schooldays. One World War ll veteran, reminded of his former teacher, looked dreamily out the window and muttered "Distant trees." For initiates, this was a perfectly understandable reference. In her days as an art teacher of the 6th and 7th graders of Winchester, Miss Lucille" was adept at quick water-color landscapes, and easily taught all but the extremely inept the art of painting in lines of "distant trees" as a background for a watercolor. "She taught us to copy," a 20 year old former student recalled recently. "That's one of the basic things you need to learn about art."

  As for music, which has taken up all the teacher's time since 1960, her earlier students remember (with various reactions, depending on their musical aptitude) her music appreciation courses. These included, in the earlier years, listening to Conductor Walter Damrosch's radio broadcasts of classics. They included classical records on that "victrola" and most of us who were seventh graders in those years react instantly to "Turkish March." In The Halls of the Mountain King," Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies" and Danse Macabre."

  Although Mrs. Stocksdale has much less time for music appreciation courses now, she is still teaching her upper-graders to sing parts-an accomplishment that comes to some easily and with pleasure, to others doubtfully and slowly, but that adds that much more to the store of abilities which make life enjoyable.

  The music appreciation has not been entirely dropped, however. When she has time, Mrs. Stocksdale says, she plays a record or two, perhaps a classical composer such as McDowell, or Dance Macabre for Halloween. She also firmly acquaints her students with Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus" for Christmas. "They just have to know that," she comments firmly.

  In general, however, her last five years of teaching have been taken up with instructing the first six grades in sight reading. The fact that she has covered so much territory-three schools- and done it so successfully, with so many grades, is commentary enough on her spirit, intensity, dedication and ability. Until she took over the project, sight reading was not understood by or taught to the lower grade pupils.

  "Miss Lucille" Reynard started teaching at the age of 18 at Willard first grade after only 12 weeks of summer school at Ball State: each summer following she took additional training, and after the first year taught art and music to all the sixth and seventh graders in the Winchester system. In 1932 she requested a year's leave, of the late Oscar Baker, then superintendent of schools, and completed a full year's training at Ball State, then returned to Willard.

  "Miss Lucille" was married in 1945 to Charles Stocksdale, a retired farmer, but continued teaching as usual. However, now, she says she feels she owes it to her husband to join him for his Florida winters. The couple plan to buy a home in Bradenton, and spend a good part of each year there.

  Because she is still full of interest and energy, Mrs. Stocksdale also plans to substitute, as a teacher when positions are available, both in Florida and Indiana.

  As for her retirement after such a long, useful and vigorous career first in the Winchester, then White River, then Randolph Central school systems, Mrs. Stocksdale admits it's a little overwhelming. "After all-45 years..." she remarks wistfully. Her former pupils will undoubtedly feel the same-it seems impossible that she won't be back, to instruct their children...But certainly many, many of her former students will always remember her. Those with musical backgrounds may remember her as giving them a needed push and understanding...those with little other source of music information may remember her as giving them something they would otherwise never have known.

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200. A Visit To The Poor Farm.

RCHS Blog Post Number 200. 

A Visit To The Poor Farm 

April 30, 1975 

By Sue HAGEN

   If one took a trip to the Randolph County Home today he would find superintendent and matron Don and Ann DWIGGINS, who have been there 24 years, plus 20 men 18 women residents, some who have stayed in the quarters longer than the Dwiggins.

  The Dwiggins said that there are beds for 62 persons at the home and the present population is 38. "We have had 90, years ago." Don Dwiggins said. Five years ago the population tapered down to 36 and in the last couple of years it varied from 38 to 43.

  Township trustees who function as overseers of the poor decide when a person is indigent and then requests that they be sent to the county home. The application which must be filled out and signed by a doctor needs the final okay from the county commissioners before a person becomes a resident.

  There are also some transfer patients from Richmond and Fort Wayne state hospitals. Dwiggins said that the youngest person that was admitted since he has been supervisor was 22 years old. "We don't take children," he said The eldest there now is a resident who will turn 93 in July.

  Neither will the Dwiggins' accept residents who are totally bedridden. The Dwiggins prefer that they be ambulatory since nursing homes cater to bed confined people. For the past ten years they have specified that the residents should be ambulatory, but a couple are not since they were admitted before the practice was observed.

  A person need not be completely without financial support in order to come to the county home. Dwiggins explained that once the institution was referred to as the "poor farm." Then it was renamed the county infirmary. In 1947 it was declared to be the county home, although the stonework on the front of the building on State Road 27 three miles south of Winchester, still carries the second title.

  People on social security are admitted. "A few more men than women have social security," Ann Dwiggins, L. P. N., said. If a person does not have his own finances for the home, the trustees provide the funds from their county budgeted amount. The cost for staying at the county home is $75 a month. Revenue from boarders does not completely finance the operations of the home, however, Don Dwiggins said. The surrounding 300 acres, 180 of which are tillable, helps provide the difference in costs when farmed.

  Dwiggins said the ratio of patients who have financial means to pay for their room and board and those who do not is presently 1 to 1. One man, he specified has enough financial support to handle his affairs, but his reasoning ability requires that he stay in the county home.

  Part of the operations of the county home include residents working at various maintenance jobs, Dwiggins said, "A few of the men help me around the barn, or in the garden." Others are responsible for mopping and waxing floors, making beds, cooking, doing laundry or providing music on occasions when they gather for a church service or party.

  Most of their waking hours, however, are filled with television. Because their eyesight is waning they read very little. Some of the ladies sew or embroidery in their spare hours. Groups will get together to play cards. One man has a fetish for painting furniture.

  Parties are occasionally sponsored for the residents by sororities and other civic organizations. On Sundays, various ministers and religious leaders rotate coming in to lead a church service. Dr. Howard KOCH, who is the county doctor responsible for care of the county home residents, is a weekly visitor who checks up on their health.

  The average age of the residents is 64 for both men and women at present. Dwiggins said that some of  the residents have been at the home for 30 years. How long depends on their temperament: whether they can get along with others., and on their health. If they get seriously ill they leave. If their financial status changes, there's a possibility of them leaving, but this has not happened, Dwiggins said, in his term as superintendent of the county home.

  One woman said she marked the 30th anniversary at the home last week. She appeared to be in her 50's. Her daily duties, she said, included working in the laundry and washing dishes during noon and dinner hours. She complained slightly of working too hard. What she likes to do, she said, was "fancy work" such as crocheting or embroidering.

  Another lady who said she was 23 years old when she entered the home has been a resident since the beginning of the second world war. She is one of the cooks. She said on occasion some of the other residents are "aggravating."

  A very vocal lady lady who has been a resident for two years said she did her work in the morning which consisted of washing and dusting, so she can watch "the dramas on television in the afternoon." She played the piano on special occasions and liked to sing.

  Another lady who couldn't remember how long she had lived in the county home said she watched a lot of television. But her favorite activity was playing the harmonica during Sunday services or sharing her Sunday radio programs with the others.

  One man who sat smoking a cigarette in the men's television room said he did all kinds of work at the home which included mopping or mowing the yard, tending the laundry, and making beds. He said in his seven years at the home he had found most of the residents friendly. Another man wandered into the television room and said he was only finished with his work. He said he started work at 8 a.m. and finished at 2:30 p.m. He was responsible for mopping the upstairs and down, he said proudly, and for making beds and baths for other residents for 13 years.

  One man in a wheelchair who didn't know when he came to the home said he was wheeling himself down the hall "just to exercise  his arms." He had no duties, "I just sit and look out the window," he said.

  He also talks to visitors: "I can't do anything else," he said. "Some of them (the residents) are kinda cross sometimes, kinda crabby." His mother and cousin come once a week to visit him.

  Although relatives are welcome, one resident said, and the sign on the door tells the visiting hours, some residents have no relatives.

  Such is the case of one man who came to the county home four years ago from Fort Wayne. His mother was sick at the time, but he couldn't take care of her. Later she was admitted to the county home, but soon died of a series of strokes. His brother later passed away. "I'm staying here by myself and that's all I got to do," he said. He liked to watch television but "got tired of sitting there all day." He also liked working around the barn.

  Before Christmas he lost his vision in one eye and had it removed. "It got so bad I just couldn't stand it," he said. The day I visited the man he was celebrating his birthday and said that the township trustee came to see him.

  Looking into one of the dormitory rooms with half a dozen beds, one lady was leafing through a magazine. Another has just returned from the hospital where she had an operation and was resting in bed.

  The layout of the county home consists of a corridor and living quarters for the men and one for the women on each floor. Two floors house residents.

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203. The Loney Family, Retiring Teacher Mary Wall and Dr. D. C. Lind.

RCHS Blog Post Number 203.  

The Loney Family, Retiring Teacher Mary Wall and Dr. D. C. Lind. 

Winchester Family Opens Sears Catalog Business. March 14, 1968.

  "Jane and Dick's Sears Catalog Sales Merchant", a new Winchester enterprise, will open March 28 at a North East street location, in the Kel-Air building just north of the railroad.

The new business, with Dick Loney and Jane Loney of Winchester as proprietors, will hold an open house March 28, 29 30 and April 1, 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 Loney's 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 the 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 Loney's motto,since orders can be placed either in person or by telephone at about any time of day or night (within reason, of course) that the whim strikes a customer.  

Mrs. Mary Wall Retires.  June 1, 1968.

  As Mary Wall prepared to close her teaching career last week, she was surprised by a visit from a former student who presented her with the standard "red apple for the teacher".  The former pupil was James CLOUSE, who had been a fourth grader 26 years ago when Mrs. Wall temporarily taught that grade at the former Central school. At the same time another apple was presented the teacher by Jim's son, Rory, now a third grader in Mrs. Wall's class at Willard. Although the two-generation span is considerable, it represents only part of the length of Mrs. Wall's teaching experience, which began in 1927. After graduating from Ball State, she taught two years at the former McKinley school, starting in 1927, then two at Lincoln in White River township. There, after an eight year leave of absence, she returned to her vocation in 1939 with three and a half years at McKinley. Except for part years spent as a replacement in various area schools, Mrs. Wall did no further teaching until she accepted the position of third grade teacher at Willard in 1950, a position she has held through 1968. Her actual teaching time totals 26 years.

Mrs. Wall, who is married to Jim Wall, Randolph County Democrat chairman and supervisor of this district of the state highway department, has three married daughters-Nancy, Judy and Susan-and five grandchildren.

 Now there will be plenty of opportunity for visits and enjoying her family, but for the time being, Mrs. Wall says she'd just like to "hunt up three other bridge players and stay home."  

Dr. D. C. Lind Opens Dental Office In Winchester.

  Dr. D. C. Lind has opened new dental offices on Ind. 32 at Ind. 27 at the east edge of Winchester.

    Dr. Lind received his BS degree in 1960 from Indiana University and was graduated in June, 1963, From the Indiana University School of Dentistry. Since that time, he has practiced dentistry in Bloomfield, Indiana.

  Mrs. Lind, the former Jane Marie Thompson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Thompson of 608 W. South St., Winchester, will be employed until the end of January in the Home Economics department of Indiana University, a position she has held for four years. The Linds were married in 1964.

  The couple has now purchased the former Zaltsberg home at 605 W. Franklin St., Winchester.

  Dr. Lind is a member of Xi Psi Phi professional fraternity, a member of the Indiana State Dental Association in which he serves on several state committees; of the American Dental Association and as 1968 alternate delegate to the convention of this organization. He is past president of the Green County Dental Association and a member of the Bloomfield Rotary club.

  He was admitted to the American Academy of Dental Medicine at Indiana University in 1963 and named alumnus of the year in 1964 by Xi Psi Phi.

  Dr. Lind is a native of Indianapolis and son of Mr. and Mrs. C. T. Lind of Sandborn.  Dec. 1967.

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202. P. E. Goodrich Talks About Schools.

RCHS Blog Post Number 202.  

P. E. Goodrich Talks About Schools.

 From a Winchester Journal-Herald article dated July 2, 1946.

    P. E. GOODRICH thinks we should have a Randolph County Historical Society and that it come into being. Phillip KABEL, well known historian of Winchester, would be an ideal director. To both we agree. Joe HAMILTON, publisher of the Lynn Herald, told us the other day about the Greensfork Society and what it has done to create interest and keep a true record of historical events in that township and suggested a county-wide organization. Maybe, as Mr. Goodrich says, someone will take the lead and get this program going. In a letter to the Journal-Herald he says: Read with a great deal of pleasure the account of the annual meeting of the alumni this year and note that Phillip Kabel was on the program. Philip is our Randolph county historian and is a good one. I hope some rich person with some money they don't need and with a property they can't take with them, would contribute a home for the Randolph County Historical Society, and when it is organized, I hope Philip Kabel will be alive, and can be the first custodian. There are few men that know as much about Indiana's early history as he does.

   Being so much older than Philip I can remember more about the Winchester schools than he seems to. The first log school house undoubtedly was on the corner where the Brenner Clinic is. (NW corner of East St. and E. Washington St.) That is farther back than I can remember so it must have been there, but the Central school was not the second school by some distance. The old seminary at the west end of Washington street was a school that must have been established before 1850. I can remember it when I was just a child that my Aunt Sara MACY, Judge Macy's mother, took me to school with her, which was a common thing at that time and long afterwards. It was in the big brick building that was called the Winchester Seminary, which finally became the home of the Winchester Wagon Works.

      My great uncle, Calvin Goodrich, who died in Minneapolis, was one of it's teachers. The last president of the seminary so far as I know was John COOPER. Who the other teachers were I am not certain, but I think one of his daughters was one and Mary LAMB another. Seward WATSON told me a good many years ago there was a school on North Main street in the first block across First street. (Third street today, 2021.) A little brick building on the west side of the street which now stands there is occupied as a home. I can't remember back when it was a school but I can remember when Dr. HIATT live in it. (Terry and Nikki ALFREY live there today, 2021.)

     I think he was a bachelor, anyhow, so far as I can remember, he didn't have a wife and Densin COPELAND and his wife kept house for him as long as he lived. I think both Densin and his wife lived there until they died. The Copelands, former slaves in the South, were the parents of Ben Copeland, one of our fine citizens and a good man.

     Central building was the building that Philip talks about and that was where I went my first day to school. Uncle Jimmy FERRIS, the father of Charley Ferris, who worked for years in the Randolph County Bank, was superintendent of the school. John Ferris, editor and general manager of the Muncie Star, was the son of Charley. The teacher that I went to, I think, was Mary Lamb, there were two Lamb girls in the school at that time. James Ferris, the superintendent, was a good educator and he sure didn't spare the rod. Uncle Jimmy was quite a character, when he punished a kid he got him across his knees, then smacked him and made the kid repeat, "the way of the transgressor is hard" every time he smacked him until he commenced to cry, then he quit punishment, and the kids soon knew that, and didn't get hurt very badly if they hollered enough quick.

     Then John Cooper, a wonderful educator, followed Mr. Ferris as superintendent. How long he was here I don't know, but he was here in 1870. I remember how scared I was when he came to our house on my father's birthday and had dinner with us. I made myself pretty scarce around where he was. Of course, he had never punished me or even scolded me but he did look austere and he surely was, and the boys and girls were sure afraid of him. He was followed by Lee AULT. I think Philip can remember all of them after Lee Ault's time.

______________________

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201. Killing The Ku Klux Klan In Indiana.

RCHS Blog Post Number 201. 

Killing The Ku Klux Klan In Indiana.

     The Ku Klux Klan was attempting a comeback during World War ll, especially in the east central Indiana counties, including Wayne, Delaware and Randolph. Governor Ralph F. Gates wrote this article for the International News Service announcing his plan to have the Klan outlawed in Indiana and it was released in Indianapolis November 20, 1946.

     In an article written especially for the International News Service Governor Ralph F. Gates of Indiana tells of his plan to ask for legislation outlawing the organization in his state.

     It was in Indiana, more than 20 years ago, that the Klan rode roughshod over opposition until it was finally driven out of power.

     Indianapolis, Nov. 20, 1946.  We are going to smash the Ku Klux Klan in Indiana.

     I shall ask the Indiana general assembly, which meets in January, to enact legislation outlawing the Klan, Columbians, Inc., (Google search "The Columbians Indiana" and click on "Deja Vu Tuesday" to learn more) and all other organizations which live only on religious and racial hatreds.

  This action would conform to the high principles of our state constitution and I believe that the legislature will support my recommendations.

     Also, the attorney general is conducting an investigation which probably will result in the filing of court action likewise to oust the Klan. He has wisely consulted the authorities of Kentucky and Georgia, who have taken courageous steps to fight bigotry.

     We know that the hate breeding organization is attempting to revive itself from oblivion, because its new Indiana King Kleagle has had the effrontery to boast of its revival and to brag that organization work is in progress in sixty of the ninety two counties of Indiana.

  There are indications that this man is exaggerating, but we can't take any chances. We are advised that many Klan organizers are capitalizing on the normal anti-Communistic principals of Hoosiers in the recruiting campaign, while concealing the commercialized bigotry which is the real objective of the hooded organization.

     We have had our fingers burned in Indiana and we have learned our lesson the hard way.

     Apparently the Klan today is substantially the same as it was in the twenties. I believe that it still stands for un-American racial and religious intolerance, strong-arm methods and brute force.

     Indiana knows the Klan better than most states of the Union. A quarter of a century ago we saw the Klan in ruthless, destructive action in our state.

     This nefarious, cowardly organization deceived hundreds of thousands of our citizens because the mercenary organizers, collecting ten dollars a head from the joiners, said that the Klan would foster patriotism, religion and tolerance.

     On the strength of a huge membership, the Klan leaders grew to enormous political, social and business power.

     How did the Grand Dragon, Kleagles and other arrogant chiefs use this terrific power?

     In the field of politics, the Klan elected hundreds of grafting, unprincipled public officials who brought shame to our state. Nearly fifty of these officeholders, high and low, were indicted or convicted for various offenses. These persons either were Klansmen or were elected to office with Klan support.

     We in Indiana remember how these masked and hooded thugs took posts at road intersections, directed traffic brazenly and moved out motorists about to facilitate attendance at the Sunday Klan rallies. We know that these gun-toting ruffians rode the roads at night, terrorizing honest Catholic, Jewish and negro citizens and committing other illegal actions.

     Many of us have in mind the politicalization of churches and clubs, the ruination of non-Klan small business men, attorneys, physicians, dentists and others who would not bow to the hooded order, and similar crimes of intolerance.

     Yes, we killed the Klan in Indiana a score of years ago and we do not propose to permit it to be revived.

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