Contributed by Teresa Douglass, Genealogy Specialist

These Laconia 1^st– and 2nd-graders look eager to get started. Even their teacher is smiling!

To see more photos, visit HCPL’s Harrison County Schools Collection.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Laconia 1^st & 2^nd graders – 1939-1940

These children were 1st and 2nd graders at Laconia Grade School during the 1939-1940 school term. They posed for the picture outside of their school building, which was constructed in 1934 and served the community until 1986.  Individuals in the photo have been identified left to right as follows:

Front Row: Cletus Russellburg, Jack Briles, Jimmy Sample, Johnny Boone, Billie Crosier, Roselie Johns, Shirley Boone, Phyllis Ann Crosier, Mary Jones, Rosella Johns. (The Johns girls in this row are twins.)

Second Row: Margaret Ellen Crosier, Ruby Faith, Marilyn Beckort, Francis Timberlake, Joyce Denbo, Doris Williar, Alice Biddle, Mary Ellen Williar, ______ Howell, and Allen Denbo.

Third Row: Teacher Violet Rooksby (Gassert), Jimmy Allen Beanblossom, James Mathis, Maurice Russellburg, Lena Mae Kingsley, Donald Faith, Gene Best, John Maurice Ashton, Maurice Fisher Williar.

 

 

Contributed by Teresa Douglass, Genealogy Specialist

It’s back-to-school time already – summer goes by so fast, doesn’t it?

In honor of all our young scholars, this month we will feature Harrison County school groups of the past. We start with a group of first graders from Lanesville, ca. 1930. Visit the Harrison County Schools collection to view more photographs.

Lanesville 1^st graders – ca. 1930

These Lanesville-area first-grade students pose for a photograph outside an entrance to their school building. Many of the students have been identified.

Left to right in the front row are: James Simler, Alvin Hussong, Luetta Emily, two unidentified children, Orville Hussong, an unidentified child, and Mr. Prage, the school principal.

Middle Row: Kenneth Day, three unidentified children, Gertrude Lottick (teacher), Russell Loy, Donald Kinzer, and Francis Zollman.

Back Row: Florence Prage, an unidentified child, Dorothy Prage, two unidentified children, and Cecelia Gleitz.

 

Contributed by Teresa Douglass, Genealogy Specialist

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blue River Entertainers – 1931

These five men made up the vocal and instrumental group known as the Blue River Entertainers. Although their order in the photograph is unknown, members of the group were R. T. Ellis, Harley Baylor, Buch Armstrong, Wilson Kennedy, and Carl Rippy. The musicians were from Fredericksburg and were a popular group of the time that played engagements throughout surrounding counties. The group gained air time on WGBF and WHAS radio, and won a $50.00 prize in a musical contest at Purdue University.

The Blue River Entertainers performed in Corydon at the Harrison County Fairgrounds on August 4, 1931, at a large event hosted by Hopkins Fertilizer Dealers. A convention of sorts, the event drew representatives of the company and their families and friends from twenty counties in Southern Indiana and ten counties in Western Kentucky. Over 3,000 people attended the event, which had a day-long program featuring a variety of entertainment and music.

Visit the Music and Entertainment section of HCPL’s Corydon Photograph Collection.

Contributed by Teresa Douglass, Genealogy Specialist

Shelton P. True’s confectionery was the go-to place in Palmyra to meet up with friends and enjoy homemade ice cream, candies, and other tasty treats during the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries. This and other business photos from the past can be found in HCPL’s Businesses of Harrison County collection.

A large crowd of men and boys gather for a photograph in front of the S. P. True Confectionery in Palmyra, Indiana ca. 1900. Individuals in the photo have been identified as follows, (L-R): Samuel H. Voyles, (unidentified), Charles “Tad” Taylor, Herschel Eaton, George Johnson, John Wolfe, Joe Ollis, Mel Herthel, George Martin, Jake Martin, Charley Dalton, Ed Ollis, Roy Rippy, (unidentified), Shelton P. “Barney” True (owner), Benton Arnold, Jim Deweese (on box), Otto Voyles, Blunk Bott, Noah Mosier, Alvin Osborn, Ottis True, John Voyles, Barb Emily, Homer Johnson, and Perry Jonson (holding horse).

Shelton P. True, known by many as “Barney,” established the confectionery in the town of Palmyra in the late nineteenth century. True was born in 1871 and was the son of James L. and Nancy True. He married Elizabeth (Lizzie) Avery of Palmyra, and together they ran the popular confectionery, which was located on the south side of Main Street next to Martin & Huff’s dry goods store. The confectionery sold various candies and homemade ice cream as well as soup, hot dogs and sandwiches, fresh roasted peanuts, cigars and cigarettes. Open from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. during the week, and a couple of hours later on Saturday and special occasions, the store was a well-known spot to meet friends and while away the hours around its pot-bellied stove. True operated his establishment, which later became known as the Midway Sweet Shop, for 47 years. He passed away in 1958 at age 86.

Contributed by Teresa Douglass, Genealogy Specialist

As we celebrate the nation’s semiquincentennial, here’s a look back at how Harrison County celebrated the State of Indiana’s sesquicentennial in 1966. We do love a parade! The Indiana Sesquicentennial Parade took place in Corydon on August 13, 1966. It was one of many events held over the summer to celebrate the state’s 150^th birthday.

Have a safe and happy 4^th!

Additional images can be found in the Walter and Mina Fried Slide Collection and the J.D. and Elizabeth Williams Slide Collection.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corydon Central High School’s marching band heads south on Capitol Avenue during the Indiana Sesquicentennial Parade in Corydon, August 13, 1966.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

North Central High School’s marching band wore costumes reflecting Indiana’s early history.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The float sponsored by the Corydon State Bank depicts office work in 1816 and 1966.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Harrison County Farm Bureau’s float in the Indiana Sesquicentennial parade.

The Sesquicentennial Queen of Harrison County, Diana Grant (sitting), and the Pancake Festival and Harrison County Fair Queen, Connie Rainbolt (standing), wave to the public. The float featured a replica of the First State Capitol made by Corydon High School Industrial Arts students and their teacher, Daris Broglin, with help from the Corydon Jaycees.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Indiana State Sesquicentennial Queen Sylvia Butler of Angola sits on her throne on the float of the State Sesquicentennial Commission. Accompanying her as attendants in the Queen’s Court were the Floyd County, Greene County, and Orange County Indiana Sesquicentennial Queens.

Men from the Elizabeth Fire Department take part in the parade.

Many floats in the parade had a “then and now” theme comparing life in 1816 to that in 1966. This float demonstrates advancements in plumbing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two horses pull a replica of a Wells Fargo stagecoach. The parade entry was sponsored by the Wenning Packing Company in Central Barren.

This streetscape of Capitol Avenue in Corydon captures a view of the August 1966 parade as it heads for the south bridge. Davis Drug Store at the corner of Capitol and Beaver Street is seen at the left, and the Fair Store and Old Capitol Bank are visible at the right. The Farm Bureau feed mill and the former south bridge over Little Indian Creek can be seen in the distance.