The Press-Dispatch
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C-6 Wednesday, November 24, 2021 The Press-Dispatch HISTORY Submit history photos: Call: 812-354-8500 Email: news@pressdispatch.net or bring in a hard copy: 820 E. Poplar Street, Petersburg Source: www.history.com • Photo source: www.britannica.com Wednesday, Nov. 24 • The FBI crime lab opens its doors for business (1932) • Jack Ruby kills Lee Harvey Oswald (1963) Thursday, Nov. 25 • JFK buried at Arlington Nation- al Cemetery (1963) • First International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (1999) Friday, Nov. 26 • FDR establishes modern Thanksgiving holiday (1941) • Archaeologists enter tomb of King Tut (1922) Saturday, Nov. 27 • Pope Urban II orders first Cru- sade (1095) • Jimi Hendrix born (1942) Sunday, Nov. 28 • Magellan reaches the Pacific (1520) • The Grand Ole Opry begins broadcasting (1925) Monday, Nov. 29 • LBJ forms commission to inves- tigate Kennedy assassination (1963) • George Harrison, lead guitarist for the Beatles, dies (2001) Tuesday, Nov. 30 • President Truman refuses to rule out atomic weapons (1950) • Battle of Franklin, Tennessee (1864) PUZZLED ABOUT WHAT TO READ? ..and you will have your solution. subscribe to 812-354-8500 Petersburg basketball team—1942 The Petersburg basketball team shown in 1942. In the first row are: Jimmy Brenton, Hubert Hawkins, Bob Walker, Bernard Benjamin, Jack Graham and Morris Klipsch. In the back row are: Lorel Coleman (coach), Wally Gilliland, Johnny Cannavan, Jack Sanders, Travis Young and James Beadles. SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO The Petersburg Press Friday and Tuesday, Nov. 22 and 26, 1946 In a wild escapade that last- ed but three hours, two boys, one a minor and the other barely out of his teens stole a car in Hazleton, drove to Pe- tersburg, robbed Hempfling's Dry Goods and Clothing store and fled to Bloomfield. The boys left Hazleton about 7 p.m. in the stolen car, forced the back window of Hemp- fling's Dry Goods store after planning to rob the Werner Shoe Store, according to their confession, but by mistake, they opened the wrong win- dow. They carefully removed about $150 worth of merchan- dise and closed the window af- terwards, leaving no trace of their entrance. By 10 p.m., the state police had picked them up at Bloomfield and started to look for the owner of the stolen goods. It was not until Wednesday afternoon that one of the boys led the state police to the store and the merchan- dise was identified by Mr. Sam Hempfling. Both boys are be- ing held on charges of break- ing and entering and stealing the car. Because of their ag- es, their names are being with- held from publication. The Jones Grocery, a neigh- borhood grocery is now open for business in the west end of Petersburg. The Jones' have built a new store and stocked it as well as is possible with buy- ing conditions as they now are. Their advertisement appears on another page in this issue. Mrs. Alice Pry attempted to end her life Sunday by jump- ing into a well at the home of a relative, Home Foster, at Al- ford. She was brought to the surface by members of the family. Mrs. Pry has been very despondent since the death of her husband some time ago. She recently sold her farm near Petersburg and moved to Washington. Births: To Mr. and Mrs. Richard E. Jones, of Peters- burg, a daughter, Barbara Ann, at their home on Tues- day, November 19. Marriages: Mary Alice Meadors became the bride of William Davis Saturday morning at 10 :30 in the Ot- well Methodist Church; Ellen Geraldine Davis and Clarence Kenneth Raney exchanged vows Saturday, November 9 in Petersburg; Ruby McGil- lem became the bride of Er- vin Ropp Saturday evening at 6 o'clock at their newly fur- nished farm home. SIXTY YEARS AGO The Pike County Dispatch Thursday, Nov. 23, 1961 Town Marshall Ray Hag- gard caught a big turkey on the Patoka River bank, across the highway from Hurts Junk- yard and Car Lot, several days ago. Mr. Hurt informed him that a turkey fell from a truck loaded with the tasty birds, which had just passed by his place of business. Marshall Haggard caught up with the truck to tell the driver that he had lost the turkey. The driver told him he wouldn't go back for one turkey and try to catch it. So Marshall Haggard went turkey hunting. He said he was searching down the riv- er bank when he heard it gob- ble. It was within grabbing dis- tance. He made a grab for it and all he got that time was four tail feathers. The turkey ran into a briar thicket with Marshall Haggard right af- ter him. He dove into the bri- ar patch, grabbed the bird and they both rolled down the bank to the water's edge. Mar- shall Haggard, with his shirt torn almost off, took the tur- key home, dressed it, and has had it in the deep freeze wait- ing for Thanksgiving Day. It weighed 20 1/2 lbs. after it was dressed. Births: To Mr. and Mrs. Jack Poole, of Petersburg, a son, born Sunday in Da- viess County Hospital; To Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Bryant, of Winslow, a son, Gregory Al- len, born Monday in Daviess County Hospital; To Mr. and Mrs. Tommy McAtee, of Pe- tersburg, a daughter, Donet- ta Jean, born November 14 in Gibson General Hospital. Marriages: June Williams became the bride of David Thompson Sunday afternoon at two o'clock in the chapel at Camp Brosend in Newburgh. Deaths: Sadie Miley, 77, of Petersburg, died at her home at 2:45 a.m. Friday; Lawrence R. Gillie, 52, of Ayrshire, died Sunday, November 19 in Good Samaritan Hospital; Clara Maude Tate, 79, of Cato, died at the family residence at 9 a.m. Wednesday. FIFTY YEARS AGO The Press-Dispatch Thursday, Nov. 25, 1971 Petersburg Chamber of Commerce Secretary Charles Robinson and President Rob- ert Readle informed the Press-Dispatch that a meet- ing concerning time in Pike County was held Friday night in Petersburg. Representa- tives from Otwell and Pe- tersburg were at the meet- ing and those present voted to change their time back to Eastern Standard Time Sun- day, November 28 and to stay on that time year around. May- or T.F. O'Rourke nor any of the city councilmen were present at the meeting. Monday when contacted and asked about the matter, Mayor O'Rourke said that city hall in Petersburg will observe whatever time Peters- burg people want the city hall to observe, but went on to say that the city is taking no offi- cial action on the matter. At press time, school superin- tendent Carl Swift stated that no change would or could be made in school schedules by Monday. He went on to say that the schools are linked to- gether on time because of food preparation. Mr. Swift said that school will begin Mon- day on Central Standard Time and will operate that way until further notice. A motion was passed by the school board re- cently stating, "the school will remain on Central Standard Time in compliance with the law. If the county governmen- tal units decide to go on Eas- ter Standard Time, the school will cooperate." Frank Shaw, Winslow Town Board mem- ber, said as far as he knew, Winslow would remain on Central Standard Time. Any- one having any questions con- cerning the time issue should call Charles A. Robinson, secretary of the Petersburg Chamber of Commerce, or Robert J. readle, president of the Chamber of Commerce. Births: To Mr. and Mrs. Rex Hoppes, of Petersburg, November 8, a son, James Robert, in Deaconess Hospi- tal; To Mr. and Mrs. Kasper Weisheit, of Velpen, in Me- morial Hospital Saturday, No- vember 20, a son, Rex Allen; To Mr. and Mrs. John Yager, Jr., of Spurgeon, in St. Mary's Hospital Tuesday, November 15, a daughter, Melinda Kay. Marriages: Joyce Fay Corn and Thomas Walter Memmer were married Saturday, Octo- ber 9 at 5:30 p.m. at St. Antho- ny Catholic Church in Evans- ville. Deaths: Helene Carey Robling, 77, of Petersburg, died at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, No- vember 21 in Good Samaritan Hospital; Louis Meyerholtz, 85, of Stendal, died at 10 :30 p.m. Thursday, November 18 at St. Joseph's Hospital; Floyd Murphy, 79, of Oakland City, died at 2:03 p.m. Sunday at St. Mary's Hospital; Wright Def- fendoll, 68, of Petersburg, died Thursday, November 18 at Holiday Home in Petersburg; Marjorie B. Olds, 64, of Hazle- ton, died at 1:15 p.m. Wednes- day, November 17 at Holiday Manor Nursing Home.. TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO The Press-Dispatch Thursday, Nov. 21, 1996 Something wonderful and uplifting can happen when a group of caring community service organizations join forc- es and work to benefit one of their own in time of need. That very thing occurred this past Saturday night at the Jefferson Township Community Center when the Jefferson Township Ruritan, Jefferson Township Fire Department, Pike County Young Farmers, Pike County Old Time Music Association and the Petersburg and Otwell Senior Citizens joined togeth- er for a night of fundraising for a worthy cause. The high- ly successful event was staged to benefit auto crash victims Robbie and Billy Teague and Greg Ridao. Robbie Teague re- mains in bed, but now is clos- er to home in Evansville. Bil- ly Teague and Greg Ridao were able to attend and enjoy the fine fare and music along with no less than 600 area cit- izens, according to benefit or- ganizer Chip Holder. The Jef- ferson Township Fire Depart- ment president was originally approached about a benefit by Frank Ridao, grandfather of Greg Ridao. The benefit idea snowballed from that point as Holder and the groups made contacts and secured dona- tions of time and money. Soon, Holder was adjusting crowd estimates up to the 600 fig- ure, with draws like the Pete Benfiel Band, the Jim Wool- ery group, the Dave Harvey Christian Quartet, the Bun- kum Valley Boys and musi- cians Mike Sumner and Tony Rothrock. The hut turnout re- flected an outpouring of care, but even more so, befitted two families that nearly lost three loved ones in a fatal accident several weeks ago in Illinois. Reports indicate that nearly $ 6,700 will be presented tot eh boys this Thursday eve- ning at the Jefferson Township Fire Department fire barn. Up until the night of the benefit, the Teague and Ridao families had no accounting of the trag- edy in the form of a state po- lice crash report or even a call from an official. A field report told little, but follow-up infor- mation after several weeks de- scribes an unlicensed habitu- al traffic offender who, while under the influence of alcohol, crossed the centerline and de- stroyed the Bronco carry- ing Robbie and Billy Teague, Greg Ridao and Jeff Kimmel. Passing motorists helped get the boys clear of the Bronco just before it caught fire. The driver of the 1978 Ford that crossed the centerline was killed instantly. Births: To David and Sandy McBeth, of Petersburg, a son, Jesse Mansfield, on November 9 at Jasper Memorial Hospital. Deaths: Christopher H. Hayden, 16, died Monday, No- vember 18 at St. Mary's Med- ical Center; Essie Hill, 88, of Petersburg, died Monday, November 18 at 11:33 p.m. at Deaconess Hospital; Darold J. Martin, 80, of Oakland City, died Monday, November 11 at 5:30 p.m. at Renal A ffiliates in Evansville; Zela W. Robinson, 93, of Petersburg, died at 9:30 p.m. Thursday, November 14 at Amber Manor Care Center.