The Shelbyville High School Squib and Courier staff gather for a group photo yesterday, the first day of class. The Courier will provide coverage on the SHS Instagram page. Front row: Ava Muckerheide, Brooklynn Crouch, Jhoselyn Ramirez, Fatima Novoa, Sydney Haehl, Yelena Rolon, Trinity Burchett and Kincade Dorsey. Second row: Samaria Aguilar, Emily Tellez, Sydney Brown, Shayden Schiloski, Kadence Beat, Sophia Asher, Wendy Castro and Addy Marshall. Top row: Sonora O’Connor, Molly Johnson, Kimberly Garcia-Dimas, Diego Hernandez, Layne Pogue, Jacob Wiksten, Ethan Carmony, Anna Bozeman, Wyatt Armstrong, Reese Fortune, Arica Crose, Alivia Lee, Hannah Baker, Nina Arrieta, Giselle Vargas-Garcia, Lyla Wilson and Kira Swazay. Not pictured: Mackennah Miller and Sarai Rawlings. | photo by KRISTIAAN RAWLINGS
There could hardly be two days as juxtaposed as the last day of summer and the first day of school. Several students made the best of Tuesday, their final opportunity to relax and enjoy a measure of freedom before 3:30 p.m.
Shelbyville High School senior Trinity Burchett spent time in Indianapolis, where she picked up a “cute” bracelet, she said. Addy Marshall, a sophom*ore, said the most memorable moment of Tuesday was having dinner with her parents.
“I got to go to the movies with my boyfriend,” Kadence Beat, a junior, said.
Others savored the small victories of summer. When asked for her most memorable moment of Tuesday, Brooklynn Crouch simply said, “Sleeping in.”
That habit ended abruptly yesterday with the return to school.
Despite construction traffic concerns, SHS was a model of efficiency on the first day back. The student car line was clear by 8:26 a.m., buses were on time and despite the infusion of nearly 300 freshmen and new students, hallways were cleared within a few minutes of the 8:30 a.m. bell. Amy Dawson, principal, thanked the staff in an email for following the plan. “For the first day.....WOW!” she wrote.
NATIONAL NEWS: For the first several events, the swimming pool at this Olympic Games was considered to be a potentially slower one, given the fewer records set within it. That was initially blamed on the pool, which is 2.15 meters deep, shallower than the 3 meters recommended by World Aquatics. Those concerns may have been raised a bit soon, as the 21 world and Olympic records set within the pool are a bit lower than usual but still well in range of years like 2016 (25 records broken) and 2012 (23 records broken). If anything, it just looks like a down year compared to 2008, but that’s when Speedo first introduced the LZR swimsuit, which led to the smashing of 25 world and 65 Olympic records. (Sportico/Numlock)
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Editor’s Note: The following is the next installment in a serialized version of “580 West Taylor Street,” by Joseph E. “Joed” Landwerlen.
by JOSEPH E. LANDWERLEN
Thomas A. Hendricks School
I don't remember much about my first day at Thomas A. Hendricks school. On September 5, 1944, I had just turned six the day before, and my mom told me that she, George, and Jim went with me to the end of Taylor Street. There, they turned me over to my Aunt Shirley, who made sure that I got to my correct classroom. I had already been there to see where I was supposed to go and to meet my new first grade teacher, Mrs. Haugh.
The building was huge: the hallways and staircases were marble and in the classrooms were real hardwood floors. The three-story brick building held nine classrooms, an office, and on the bottom floor was a boiler room, which was inhabited by Mr. McDaniel. He watched over the boilers that in cold weather filled the radiators with steam for heat. Also on this floor was a kitchen and a gymnasium with a basketball court and a stage.
Surrounding the west and south sides of the building was an asphalt playground. It had two basketball courts with painted lines and goal posts with backboards and netted goals. It had painted patterns for hopscotch and four squares, among other games. There was a seesaw and a maypole.
There was a softball diamond with painted bases and a chain-link backstop. The whole playground was surrounded by a chain-link fence. Bicycle racks were located around the south side of the playground.
Every day, morning and afternoon, we were allowed, weather permitting, to go out on the playground for recess. All six grades went at the same time. All of the gaming areas were in use and a softball game was played by the older boys in the fifth and sixth grade. If a ball was hit into the crowd of kids, you just hit the deck. It was not unusual for kids to get “in the way” of batted balls. At the end of recess, the bell would ring and all classes lined up according to their grades and entered the school, first grade first and sixth grade last.
As I mentioned, in the first grade my teacher was Mrs. Haugh. In her classroom were five rows of wooden desks. Each desktop had a two-inch hole in the upper right corner that was there to hold a glass bottle of black ink. Ink was rarely used and most of the time the ink bottles were not in their little holes. I believe that with the little boys sitting behind the little blonde-haired, pig-tailed girls, the temptation was just too great to dip the ends of the hair in the ink. A rubber stopper was placed on top of each to help keep the ink from spilling. Everything we did was with pencil and crayons.
On one side of the room were windows; beneath the windows were the steam-fired radiators that kept us warm in winter. It was nice coming in from the cold to stand in front of those radiators to get warm. There was no air conditioning for spring and fall. If it was hot, we would merely raise the window and hope for a breeze. Behind Mrs.s Haugh’s desk was a horizontal blackboard with horizontal lines that filled the wall. Just below the blackboard ran a small shelf, used to hold the chalk and erasers. On another wall was another identical blackboard. Above both of these blackboards was the alphabet. It was written in cursive, about one foot high in both upper and lowercase letters. In the back of the room was a cloak room; it held our coats, hats, and boots. In various places around the room hung posters, urging you to buy war bonds, save scrap, and bring your pennies to school on Fridays to contribute to the war effort.
To us kids, the war was a far off thing that all grownups talked about. They read about the war in the many newspapers that were being printed at the time. We only had the radio and newspapers. There was no television, no handheld phones, no video games. Just kids going to school and trying to understand the world we were thrust into. Every morning class began by placing your right hand over your heart and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. We then sang "My Country, “Tis of Thee.” In my mind, I can still hear the sound of the different classrooms singing, each class trying to be louder than the others.
About midway through the third grade, we were invaded by an infection called “ringworm.” All the children had their heads shaved and were forced to wear stocking caps. These caps were made from the top part of women’s nylons, then tied in a knot. This cap had to be worn at all times while at school. We all had large paper bags with our name on them, into which we placed our outdoor hats along with mittens and gloves. To add to the embarrassment of wearing nylons on our head, twice a week we were marched to a room in the basem*nt. Our mothers, armed with tweezers, sat us under a black light, which made the ringworm glow greenish yellow, and they would pluck all the infected hair from our scalps. They probably enjoyed every minute of this, getting back at us boys for all the tricks and times we did them wrong. Then they would apply a lotion of some sort. I don't remember how long this went on.
Sometime during the first or second year, we were marched to the administration building on Broadway Street, across from the library, where we received some shots; but don't ask me what they were for. I don't remember a lot about my time at Thomas A. Hendricks, except that it was enjoyable. I think all of the teachers there really had the students’ best interest in mind. They worked very hard to pound that information into our heads. They did a good job on all of us. I wish there was a way I could thank all of them for their efforts for what they did for us.
April 25, 1962 (Part I)
Elections of junior and sophom*ore class officers for the next academic year would be held soon. Seniors Mary Ann Fisher and Alan Koehler were in charge of the election. Members of the eligibility committee were Mr. McKeand, Mrs. Simpson, Mary Beth Abel, Mark Comstock and Richard Balting. Pat McComas and Roseann Reuter, seniors, were in charge of the sophom*ore election. Members of the eligibility committee were Mr. Kuhn, Miss McDonald, Barbara Mann, Steve Lackey and Marilyn Dover.
Seniors newly elected to the National Honor Society were invited to an upcoming initiation dinner at St. Joseph’s Parish Hall. Rev. George Stahl of St. Joseph’s Church would pronounce the Invocation. Pat (Rafferty) Wood would welcome new members. George Glass would give the charge and Morris DePrez would present a tribute to former school superintendent William F. Loper. Mr. J.M. Sharp would present Honor Society pins to the new members. Dr. James Tower Jr. was the principal speaker. Officers of the organization were Lou Anne (Denny) Hagan, Martin Cherry, Louis Bower and Robert and Carol (Snyder) Marshall.
An article encouraged student leaders to stay involved, despite criticism. “Students who take active parts in school affairs or community projects are often ‘cut up’ by those who stand on the sidelines,” The Courier said. “Yet if no one assumed positions of leadership, what kind of school or community would result?” The article added, “Don’t let criticism get you down. The greatest destructive critics in the world are those who have not tried themselves, or who have failed and resent your success.”
Officers for the next year’ Home Economics Club would be Ginger Higgins, Janet Hatfield and Janet Weddle.
News around Shelbyville and the surrounding area as reported on or about this date in history. Selections are curated from the Shelby County Public Library Genealogy Department.
2014: Shelbyville High School officials announced plans to purchase new wooden bleachers in Garrett Gymnasium, retiring the original seats after 47 years of use. The volleyball team would be moved to the auxiliary gym to allow the installation process to move forward.
2004: The local Fraternal Order of Eagles, Shelbyville Aerie No. 766, announced plans for an open house to celebrate a century at 20 E. Franklin St.
1994: Knauf Fiber Glass and Major Hospital agreed on a preferred provider network agreement to allow employees of both organizations to have reduced costs. The agreement was part of a growing trend nationwide, company officials said.
1984: Four days before the beginning of the Bambino World Series in Shelbyville, organizers were scrambling to recoup $20,000 to avoid losing money. “Shelby Countians can expect at least one more wave of door-knockers as tourney officials try to give a last-minute boost to disappointing ticket sales,” The Shelbyville News said. Tickets had been on sale at both Hardee’s restaurants.
1974: The Blue Bird Restaurant in Morristown featured Larry Horton and his Hammond Organ. The concert and all-you-can-eat buffet was $2.50.
Alan Shepard, a retired astronaut, came into County Recorder Vivian Reeves’s office along with an associate to filed paperwork for a new K-Mart store in town. “I just couldn’t believe it. I actually touched him,” Reeves told The Shelbyville News. “Just imagine, he’s been on the moon.” Shepard had been on the first U.S. manned space flight. Ten years later, he was part of a crew that collected moon rocks.
1964: Paul Sink, 47, 35 Mildred St., lost four fingers on his left hand in an accident at Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co.
1954: Members of the Shelby County Young Republican Club were unhappy after laboring several hours to secure sufficient sawdust to cover the dirt floor of the Young Republican booth at the county fair. Borrowing two big trucks, they chugged out to the Indiana Cash Drawer plant and labored at the dusty job. But then they arrived back at their booth, they found someone had already done the job for them. The young men decided to donate the sawdust to a church organization who was building a booth. “You can bet, of course, that they didn’t offer the sawdust for use to the Democrat booth,” the paper said.
McKay Road was opened to the public after being blacktopped.
1944: A local election committee was appointed to reach out to the 2,600 Shelby County men and women serving in the military to obtain their vote in the upcoming election. The non-partisan committee was composed of John Lemmon, Russell Morris, Russell Parker, Marion T. Ayers, Walter Hungerford and D. Wray DePrez.
A Bob Ewing’s Store for Men ad read, “Folks…it’s easier to buy war bonds than to learn to speak German or Japanese.”
1934: Charles Ustler, 11, was injured when he was hit by an ice truck at an alley on Washington St., between Pike and Noble streets. Charles was being pushed in a wagon by a friend when the accident occurred.
1924: Monday, Oct. 8, was set for voter registration day. Registration places were open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., and all voters in the fall election who had moved since the last election had to register to be eligible. Those who had turned 21 since the previous election also needed to register on that day.
1914: “Father and Son Marry Sisters,” The Republican headline read. Willis Drake, 20, married Ruth Billheimer, 21, at the bride’s home in Lewis Creek. The groom was the son of W.E. Drake, who lived a mile north of Lewis Creek and was married to Ruth’s sister. “Therefore, young Drake’s step-mother is also his sister-in-law, and the younger Mrs. Drake’s sisters is her own mother-in-law,” the paper explained.
Darius Lamont Crowe, 26, of Indianapolis, passed away Wednesday, July 24, 2024, at his residence. Born September 17, 1997, in Shelbyville, he was the son of Kelly Denise Crowe and grandson of Mary Ruth Crowe. No services will be observed at this time. Online condolences may be shared at glennegeorgeandson.com.
Michael R. Schantz, 71, of Waldron, passed away, Sunday, August 4, 2024, at IU Health Methodist Hospital. A Gathering of Friends will begin at 9:30 a.m., on Saturday, August 17, 2024, at their home, 3484 S 725 E, Waldron. The Celebration of Mike’s life will be at 10 a.m., on Saturday, with Kim DeKoker officiating. Services have been entrusted to Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville. Online condolences may be shared with Mike’s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.
Frances Conner, 83, of Shelbyville, passed away Tuesday August 6, 2024 at her residence. She was born December 13, 1940, in Shelbyville, Ind., to Turner Caine and Zella Mae (Shepard) Cordrey.
Frances was a member of the American Legion Post 70 Auxiliary as well as VFW Post 2695 Auxiliary. She was a nail technician in Shelbyville for over 40 years and took pride in her work. She loved interacting with all her loyal clients through the years. Frances had a soft heart and would help anyone close to her in their time of need.
She is survived by her daughters, Beverly McCreary (Chris Woods) and Candice Higdon; her sons, Thomas Higdon, Richard (wife, Cynthia) Higdon and James (wife, Kim) Higdon; her daughter, Brandy (husband, Jolie) Brown; her grandchildren, Holly Squire, Bridgett Holmes, Krista Read, Jeremiah Higdon, Hannah Fuch, Kyle Higdon, Maxine Higdon, Morgan Conner-Brown and Megan Brown; and several great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents and step-father, John “Doc” Codrey; her siblings, Turner Caine, Sebe Caine, Polly Merchant, George Caine, James Caine, Madalene Caine, Shirley Caine, Norma Jean Rathburne and Carolyn Sue Qurazzo.
Visitation will be Monday, August 12, 2024 from 10 a.m. to noon at Murphy-Parks Funeral Service, 703 S. Harrison Street, Shelbyville, IN 46176. Funeral services will follow at noon at the funeral home with Dr. Robb Barlow officiating. Burial will be in Whispering Hope Memorial Gardens & Crematory. Funeral Directors Greg Parks, Sheila Parks and Stuart Parks are honored to serve Frances’s family. Online condolences may be shared at www.murphyparks.com.
