The Press-Dispatch
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The Press-Dispatch Wednesday, January 23, 2013 From out of the past The Petersburg Press Sixty years ago Tuesday, Dec. 16, 1952 Friday, Dec. 19, 1952 Little David Joe Eck, 5, died of suffocation as a result of a fire in his grandparents' home on Poplar and Mulberry. The fire was reported to the Petersburg fire department about 2:30 Sunday morning by David Joe's brother, Larry. He rushed out of the house in time to escape being crushed by the ceiling before it collapsed. In the meantime, the grandmother, Mrs. Myrtice Marsee (owner of The Vogue) was making a heroic attempt to open a window as she was holding onto David. But the window would not stay open and as she released David's hand to renew her efforts, the youngster disappeared. Firefighters found him soon after in a bedroom trying to hide between the bed and the wall. Both Mr. and Mrs. Marsee were injured and burned while fleeing the fire. The tyke was still alive with a weak pulse when rescued from the fire, but expired at the Daviess County hospital in an oxygen tent about 14 hours later. The local New York Central yards received two new oil diesel engines capable of hauling 69 cars of coal with capacities from 50 to 90 tons. The engines have 50 percent more power over the coal burners and it is estimated they consume four gallons of oil per mile. The engines will assist the NYC lines in moving 200 carloads of coal through here daily consigned to the U. S. Steel company at Gary, Indiana. The court house received a manicure for the tidy sum of $899. Besides a thorough scrubbing and cleaning, La Force Floor of Shoals has been laying new floors in the corridors. The checkerboard pattern of two-tone greys and black of rubberized tiling lends an imposing appearance and a new look to the inside of the courthouse. The Pike County Dispatch Fifty-nine years ago Friday, Dec. 11, 1953 The Storm Theatre has installed a new giant Panoramic full stage astrolite curved screen which is now being used for all shows. This screen is the finest obtainable. The Storm is to be congratulated in keeping abreast of the times as there are very few such screens in Southern Indiana. Jane Wyman and Ray Milland star in "Let's Do It Again" showing at the Storm on the new Panoramic screen along with Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray in "The Moonlighter." William H. Slaven advertised baking hens, turkeys, ducks and geese oven-ready for special holiday meals. Meanwhile, at Shurig Furniture, chenille bedspreads were $4.99, electric percolators were $4.95, toasters were $3.49 and automatic toasters were $12.95. And over at Rausch Motors, a '30 Model A was $30, a '41 Chevrolet Panel was $75, a '51 Studebaker Club Coupe was $695. Births: To Mr. and Mrs. Carl Frederick, a son; to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Ray Willis, a son; to Mr. and Mrs. Jim Cummings, a son, T.H., Nov. 25; to Mr. and Mrs. Chris Bosecker (Waneta Riley of Patoka Grove), of Browns, IL, a daughter, Karen Rae; to Mr. and Mrs. Albert Rolens, a son, Robert Vernon, in Chicago; to Mr. and Mrs. Carl Foster, a son, Carl James, Dec. 9; to Mr. and Mrs. J. Emery Adams (Katherine Cassida of Winslow) in Crown Point, a son, James David, Nov. 30; to Mr. and Mrs. Jimmie Geiselman (Norma Jean Harkness), a son, Ricky Allen, Dec. 8; to Mr. and Mrs. Jesse W. Polen (Mary Kathryn Richardson), a son, David Lee, Dec. 2. Marriages: Carlene Parks to Herschel Russell, Jr., Dec. 4. Deaths: Eliza Alice Baize, 88, died Dec. 7; Prentice Nelson, 41, died Dec. 9; Hope C. Malott, died Dec. 4; John Bilderback, 65, died Dec. 7; Leona Walker Dodge Smith, 56, died Dec. 6 in a car accident in Crown Point; Edward Masters, 42, died Dec. 5 in an accident involving a pickup truck and a train engine at the north Seventh Street crossing. The Pike County Dispatch Fifty years ago Thursday, Dec. 27, 1962 Roger W. Babson's Business and Financial Forecast for 1963 included the following: "large quantities of gold may be found on the surface of the moon - which brings me to my final subject, which I hope readers will take seriously. Nobody will reach the moon in 1963 or 1964, but you will see more and more about it in the newspapers during 1964 or 1965. Do not think the United States will be the only country preparing for this trip. Russia, England, France, Germany and possibly China are preparing today to go to the moon. With labor getting 15 cents for a twelve-hour day in China and with booster engines purchasable abroad, China may be the first to get to the moon." Holiday fires destroyed the Petersburg home of the Kenneth Nettles family while they were away visiting relatives in Illinois and badly damaged the Larry Huls family home in Winslow. Winslow churches invite every to attend the Union Watch Night service to be held at the Methodist church beginning at 9 p.m. Many other churches are planning Watch night services, also. Mr. and Mrs. Ray Powers celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary, Dec. 22. Marriages: Donna Rae Nordhorn to Stanley Lee Cook, Dec. 23; Helen Marie Wessel to Lt. Larry L. Batch, Dec. 10; Jo Ann Graw to Harold E. Hawk, Dec. 27; Maureen Lindsey to Tom Glaser, Dec. 8. Deaths: Elmer E. Beadles, former Winslow School principal and superintendent, died of cancer, Dec. 20; Elida E. Phillips, died of a stroke, Dec. 21; The Press-Dispatch Twenty-five years ago Thursday, Dec. 17, 1987 Construction of a 64-bed nursing home is scheduled to begin on Illinois St. It will be located on a 3.3 acre lot between Robling's Cafe and Pike Industries. The new facility named Amber Manor Care Center will employ between 60 and 65 people. The facility is owned by Glenn Group of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It is expected to have a yearly payroll of $630,000. Pike County's bid for a $100,000 matching grant to build a golf course fell through. According to golf course committee member, Jim Pell, they ranked seventh among applicants. The first five were funded 100 percent and the sixth was 50 percent funded before funds were depleted. Storms with 50 mph winds blasted the area late Monday night and early Tuesday morning. Classes at Petersburg Elementary were cancelled because of no heat and power outages were common throughout the day. An estimated 1,400 people in Southwest Indiana could lose their jobs and about 160 people employed locally by Old Ben Coal could be layed off if an Indiana Air Pollution Control Board plan goes into effect as planned according to testimony by spokesmen from AMAX and Old Ben Coal. Births: To Mr. and Mrs. Steven Wayne Miller, a daughter, Jessica Nicole, Dec. 2; to Mr. and Mrs. Kenny Hoschgesang of Jasper, a daughter, Whitney Lyn, Dec. 6; to Sgt. Kevin and A-1C Elizabeth Anne Dreesman of Scott Air Force Base, IL, a daughter, Tiffani Anne, Nov. 30; to Mr. and Mrs. Grant Marshall Jr. of West Baden, a daughter, Scarlett Vanessa, Dec. 3; to Mr. and Mrs. Brent Townley of Indianapolis, a daughter, LaTashia Nicole, Dec. 10. Marriages: Ann Margaret Weisman to Mark Stephen DeCarlo, Nov. 6. Deaths: Opha Collins, 91, of Petersburg, died Dec. 8; Josie Ault, 80, of Petersburg, died Dec. 9; John Clickenbeard, 76, formerly of Freelandville, died Dec. 13; Ralph Hartley, 69, of Winslow, died Dec. 9; Ruth Wansman, 79, of Oakland City, died Dec. 9; Virginia Mounts, 62, of Princeton, died Dec. 7; Myrtle Benedict, formerly of Winslow, died Dec. 11. Seeking history page photos The Press-Dispatch is seeking Pike County historical photographs to publish as part of The History Page. If you have a photograph of a school class from the past, of businesses, communities or people from the past, contact The PressDispatch, P.O. Box 68, Petersburg, IN 47567. Phone number is 354-8500. Please identify the photo and those in it as we have no way of identifying it. C-11 Spurgeon High School Ladies from 1948 Six of the eight lady graduates are shown in the photo of 1948. On the front row are Rosalie Bailey Henager, Colleen Riddle Logsdon, (Elaine Logston, daughter of Colleen Logston), and Joan Tharp Davis. In the back row are Yvonne Parke Stogsdill, Violet Oxby Mason, and Susie Copeland Owens. The photo and information was sent in by Don Parke of Newburgh. Pike County Historical Society Post Office moved to Petersburg By Sandy McBeth In 1817 when the Post Office was moved from White Oak Springs to the new town of Petersburg, Major John McIntire was elected the new postmaster. He also served as the County Clerk. As one of the few educated men of the county he taught school for six hours a day, being the second known teacher in Petersburg. He first taught at the courthouse as there was no other building available. School was finally moved into a schoolhouse which was built at the corner of Eighth and Walnut Streets (where the First United Methodist Church now stands). It was a two-room log building. The Traylor school in Jefferson township in 1828 was open from sun-up to sun-down and parents paid $1.50 to $2 per student for a 60 day term. Teaching was done using the recital method. The first school built in the Lockhart Township area was known as Beaden Branch, built in 1833. The building was 16 feet by 18 feet, constructed from logs and had a dirt floor. As the school was only used during the fall there was no fireplace and the logs were not chinked. The writing desk used by the students was a plank someone found floating down the Patoka River. It was placed on pegs which had been driven into the wall. Paper was scarce in the earliest schools. Bark of river birch and sticks burnt on the end to write with were first used. Later slate was used as chalkboards which finally gave Winslow High School—Junior Class 1937 The Junior Class of Winslow High School in 1937 had Wrex Burns as sponsor. Members of the class were, in the front row (l to r): Wrex Burns (sponsor), Dymple Burns, Evelyn Fritz, Evadene Nelson, Anna Belle Coberly, Helen Carr, Geneva Cooper, June Hale, and Faun Grogran; second row (l to r): Etolia Hedges, Georgia Broshears, Roberta Willis, June Spaw, Eunice Bass, Katherie Cassiday, Agnes Williams, and Pearl Hurt; third row (l to r): Lester Jones, Mrs. Gladys Cooper, Jessie Northerner, Lucille France, Betty Bratton, Doris Phillips, Violet Woolsey, and Phillip Montgomery; fourth row (l to r): Cleo Kinman, Dillard English, John Stevens, Glenn Chumbley, Harry Copple, Bill Evans, and Gene Dillon; fifth row (l to r): Amel Royalty, Victor Church, Harry Hale, Gene McConnell, Paul Ward, Billy Arnold, and Raymond McDonald. way to paper and ink. Books were also scarce. The only books in the early school usually belonged to the teacher. By the 1830's each township had a library with 100 books. At the Kime school in 1834 the students were taught individually based upon their arrival at school. By 1837 "Free Schools" were becoming popular. Families within a district banded together to fund a school by providing the free labor to build a school and pooled their funds to pay the teacher and also provide "room and board" as part of the pay. Under this method a school term was around 30 days each year. Families would take turns boarding the teacher at their home during the school term. Then the teacher was usually paid a rate of $1 a day to teach school. Another type of school found in Pike County during this time was the "pay school." The school teacher set up a school in an area where there were several children. He (most early teachers were men) then charged a fee per pupil for attendance during a school term. A term usually lasted around 60 days and the usual fee was $1.25 per student. Students were between the ages of 5 and 21. Most schools had what was known as "out buildings." These were an outhouse and a three-sided stable area for horses ridden to school by the students. There was not always a well for drinking water located at the school so students took turns bringing a bucket of water from home or the nearby creek. The Bailey school in Pike county was built around 1854 and was the first school house built of frame construction. All of the school houses prior to it were of log construction. The Bartel school house also located in Pike county at about the same time was a one room frame building with a sawdust floor. Students who wanted to become teachers had to pass the State Examination for teacher's license. Teachers' Institutes were held annually for the entire county before the school sessions began to prepare teachers for the upcoming school year. They lasted a week and covered a variety of topics. Students of the common or public schools who had completed all the requirements for graduation also had to take a "public examination of application for graduation." They were also required to have a "recommendation of good moral character" from their teacher. In the spring of 1883 public examinations were held at Spurgeon, Stendal, Union, Winslow, Delectable Hill and Petersburg. The normal school held in Petersburg in 1883 started on April 30 and ran for eight weeks. Instruction in addition to the required public school subjects included Algebra, Geometry, Physical Geography, Latin and German. Tuition for the term was $6. Children who came from out of town to go to school boarded (rented out rooms) with families in town so they could attend school. Early school buses were known at "school hacks." these were horse drawn wagons. Some were open on the sides with flaps that came down in bad weather. Little coal heaters were located in the center of the wagon to keep the children warm or bricks were heated in the stove at home and wrapped in blankets for heat. A printed description of the contents of a school building located in Jefferson township in 1890 read as follows: "The school house and out buildings are in a good condition. The furniture consists of the following: reading chart, Physilogical chart, Dictionary, Globe, Chair, Table, Coal and Water bucket and shovel and poker." In 1891 J. T. Barnes taught at the Iva School. He had 59 students and received a salary of $1.92 daily. According to the trustee's report for that year the school house was "old and porous but well ventilated, good bucket, tin cup and dipper. Good broom, stove cracked at bottom, good poker and shovel, good seats." The Coleman School in 1891 was also known as School No. 9 and had 29 students that year. School was taught by Lizzie DeMotte for $2 daily. She had 15 students learning English Grammar, eight in Physiology, six in U. S. History and four in higher arithmetic. Lunch in the early schools was brought from home, usually in a bucket. An example of lunch might be a baked potato (which was used as a hand warmer in the winter) with an apple and "bread and butter" sandwiches. By 1897 many teachers were being paid up to $150 per school year which lasted 100 days. A tour of the Petersburg school by the Editor of the Pike County Dispatch on January 17, 1908 told of the sizes of classes and studies of the day that year the first grade class with Miss Sarepta Deen was so overcrowded the class was split and each half attended school for a half day. Second grade under Miss Bowman had about 50 students. They had a large well-lit corner room with seven windows. The newspaper did note there were several "larger than normal" pupils in this classroom. Miss Gullick was hired to help with the overcrowding. She taught part of the second grade and part of the third grade together. Miss Whitman taught the rest of the third grade, 60 pupils in her classroom. Fourth grade with Miss Grigsby was learning punctuation and construction of sentences. There were 69 pupils in her class.