Contributed by Teresa Douglass, Genealogy Specialist
This week’s flashback features images of downtown Corydon’s holiday decor in the 1940s and 1960s.
Festive lights brighten up downtown Corydon along Capitol Avenue ca. 1940.
Habermel’s Drug Store on East Chestnut Street ca. 1946. Operated by pharmacist Herb Habermel and his wife, Francis, the store was in business at this location from 1945 to 1952. It featured a large soda fountain and was a popular meeting spot for people of all ages. In 1952 the Habermel’s sold their drugstore business to pharmacist William Butt, who operated Butt’s Drug Store at this location until the early 1970s, at which time he moved the business into the adjacent, more spacious building.
In December 1961, workers put up decorations at the Harrison County REMC (currently occupied by Indiana Utilities) on West Chestnut Street. Some of you might remember the display of Santa and his reindeer seen here resting along the sidewalk in front of the building waiting to be displayed. The cheerful decoration made an annual appearance above Corydon’s streets for many years.
Don’t forget the tree!
Nolan and Margaret Hottell along with Mina Fried show their selections ca. 1959.
Jon Schraffenberger, Corydon circulation clerk, is HCPL’s Who’s Awesome! winner for November. Jon was one of 15 nominations for the honor this month.
Coworker Debi Strubler wrote, “I appreciate Jon for being willing to help out when I need a schedule change. We have a great rapport in helping each other and making sure the department has coverage. We help each other when we need a switch on work schedules.”
Assistant Director Jessica Stroud had this to say in her nomination, “Jon always goes above and beyond when assisting library patrons and his coworkers. His positive attitude is contagious, and he is a genuine team player. Jon is awesome!”
Jon joined HCPL’s staff in May of 2024. He has a strong interest in technology and also works with Beanblossom–Cesar and Swarens funeral homes in freelance tech and video.
In September of 2024, Ellie Tucker-Brown, who works in the reference department at Main, wrote this nomination, “Jon displays such a positive attitude when interacting with patrons and staff. He greets everyone in a kind manner. His cheerful demeanor remains constant, no matter what day or shift I have worked with him.”
Each month a winner is selected by random drawing. Other staff members nominated in November were Amanda Embrey, Elizabeth Esarey, Nikki Esarey, Jan Kirkham, Debbie McClanahan, Shawnda Mosson, Eden Ransdell, Pat Schwartz, Jessica Stroud, Debi Strubler, Tiffany Thieneman, Savannah Wallace, and Brandy Wilkerson.
Contributed by Teresa Douglass, Genealogy Specialist
Have you started shopping yet?
Today’s flashback kicks off the official Christmas shopping season with a sampling of Christmas advertisements from 1950. These ads were published in The Corydon Democrat and feature some of the well-known and loved stores from years past, such as Alstott’s Hardware, Berlin’s Department Store, The Fair Store, Griffin’s Dry Goods, Western Auto, and others. Check them out – you might come up with some unique gift ideas!
Contributed by Teresa Douglass, Genealogy Specialist
Corydon Girl Scout Troop No. Five celebrates National Book Week in November 1960. The girls are standing in front of the Corydon Public Library (now HCPL’s Frederick Porter Griffin Center for Local History and Genealogy) with props they have made reflecting some of their favorite books.
The girls are, left to right: Jean Ann Doolittle, Jill Ann Moss, Ardis Reising, Becky Brown, Becky Shireman, Betty Martin, Janet Conrad, Becky Leffler, and Cindy Robson. Troop leaders were Mrs. Jack Moss and Mrs. Robert Brown.
Librarian of the Corydon Public Library at the time, Muriel White Doolittle, stated that the observance of National Book Week stressed the importance of reading and getting into the practice of being informed early in life.
Celebrate your freedom to read with a book of your choice. HAPPY READING!
Contributed by Teresa Douglass, Genealogy Specialist
These two images date to the late 1950s and were taken by Walter (“Ham”) Fried. Both can be found in the Walter (Ham) and Mina Fried Slide Collection on HCPL’s Digital Archives. Walter Fried (1908-1975) served as postmaster in Corydon from 1949 to 1970. He was an amateur photographer, and, along with his wife, Mina Redden (1911-2021), he captured many everyday sights and occurrences as well as special events throughout Harrison County. Click here to view the Fried Collection, and visit our website to view our complete list of 64 digital collections.
A young girl watches as two men and a woman make sorghum over an outdoor fire pit. The location is noted as Ed Steen’s property in Laconia, Indiana.A view of colorful autumn trees along Forest Road near Corydon, ca. 1960.
Contributed by Teresa Douglass, Genealogy Specialist
In honor of Veterans Day, this week’s Flashback pays tribute to all Harrison County veterans. These are just a few of the many photographs of veterans that are in the collections of HCPL’s Frederick Porter Griffin Center.
Veterans Day parade in Corydon, 1945. Leading the group north on Capitol Avenue just past Chestnut Street are: Earl Miller, Marshall Robson, Leo Cromwell, and Ray Resch.
Seasoned veterans and new recruits gathered together for this photograph taken September 20, 1917 as the younger men were preparing to leave for service in World War I. A total of 58 young men from Harrison County left that day and headed to Camp Zachary Taylor. They were photographed alongside Civil War and Spanish-American War veterans who came to see them off and show support. The men are lined up across what is now Capitol Avenue near where the current Corydon Town Hall is located.
A few of Harrison County’s World War II service men and women.
Marine Sergeant James W. Arnold of Palmyra in the South Pacific during WWII.Corporal Mildred Wilson of Elizabeth re-enlists in September 1943.
Staff Sergeant John R. Sieg of Depauw is awarded the Bronze Star by Brigadier General James M. Lewis, field artillery commanding officer, 30th Infantry Division at Falkenstein, Germany, June 25, 1945. Sieg was with the 823rd Tank Destroyer Battalion, 30th Infantry Division, 7th U. S. Army.
Sergeant Edmund Rainbolt of Corydon is presented with the Bronze Star in 1945. Rainbolt entered the service in 1942. After basic training he was deployed to the European Theater. He served as staff sergeant in Company L, 119th Infantry and entered France as part of the Normandy Invasion, landing on Utah Beach on D-Day +4, and served throughout France and Germany. Throughout his military career, Sergeant Rainbolt was awarded several medals, including two Purple Hearts, The Bronze Star, five Campaign Stars, and a Sharpshooter Badge.
Here are a few stories and experiences of Harrison County individuals who served during WWII:
Grover Lamar Bodendstadt of Mauckport,
In December 1943, Bodenstadt’s family had reason for concern as they received conflicting information about him. He had written his wife and his parents from a hospital in the Mediterranean area telling them he was wounded. After this, his parents received his name plate from a Red Cross field worker. On the morning of Friday, December 3, his parents received a telegram from a General in Washington, D. C., stating that Pfc Grover L. Bodenstadt had been killed in action on November 11 in Italy. The following day, Saturday, December 4, 1943, Mrs. Bodenstadt received a telephone call from Washington saying that Lamar was not dead. Naturally the family was distraught with the conflicting information and anxiously awaited something more definite. The news was positive. Lamar did survive the war, and earned a Purple Heart.
Robert J. Gettelfinger of Ramsey
Robert J. Gettelfinger completed advanced pilot training at the Blackland Pilot Training Camp of the Army Air Force near Waco, Texas in February 1943. Pilot Gettelfinger was then assigned to the 76th squadron in the Ferry Command base at Miami, Florida. Gettelfinger served with the Army Air Corps in the Burma/China Theatre and was decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross as well as the Legion of merit. He continued his military career as an officer and served in the U.S. Air Force for 27 years, retiring with the rank of Colonel in the Strategic Air Command.
William E. Hornickel of Taylor Township
Hornickel joined the Air Force and completed his basic training at Sheppard Field in Texas. He then transferred to the University of Oklahoma for further training and received his wings at Mission, Texas in January 1944. Lt. Hornickel piloted a P-51 Mustang Fighter plane during WWII and flew over 60 missions. In December 1944, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for a dangerous mission flown during the Battle of the Bulge. On his 61st mission, January 17, 1945, Lieutenant Hornickel’s plane was shot down over Germany. Declared missing in action, his body was found in a shallow grave in Germany a year later and returned home. He was 21 years old. Just three weeks prior to Hornickel’s deadly mission, his younger brother, Corporal Paul Hornickel, a radio operator ona B-29, was killed when his plane crashed over Saipan, December 27, 1944.
James E. Rosenbarger of Corydon
James E. Rosenbarger graduated high school in 1942. He entered the Army in February 1943 then trained in Texas and qualified as an expert rifleman and infantryman. In October 1944, Jim was sent overseas, and he was killed in action in France November 16, 1944. He was twenty-one years old.
Walter J. Simon of Depauw
Simon entered the Army in December 1941, and in July of 1943 he was sent to England as a pilot in the 8th Army Air Force. He was promoted from the rank of First Lieutenant to Captain by the end of the year. In July 1944, Captain Simon was presented with the Oak Leaf Cluster added to the Air Medal. The award was in recognition of numerous photo reconnaissance missions over Nazi-occupied Europe. Simon was a photo pilot and took daily pictures of the land-fighting in Europe. These photographs helped make the initial invasion landings a success and helped show the Allied High Command when and where to strike. By the end of his military career, Simon reached the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
1950 Naval Recruits
Harrison County U.S. Navy recruits in basic training May 1950. In front, left to right are Gene Baxley and Kenny Kitterman. In back are Dick Cromwell, Donald Becket and Pete Timberlake.
These images and many others are available in our Military Photographs collection on HCPL’s Digital Archives. Additional collections on the website associated with veterans include a Ledger of Harrison County Veterans’ Graves, Franklin Township Volunteer and Militia Rolls, 1862, a Grand Army of the Republic collection of records, and records of the Anderson Guards, a Civil War-era militia group based in Corydon. Visit our Digital Archives.
Many more additional materials are available in house at the Frederick Porter Griffin Center, including resources on soldiers and patriots of the American Revolution, including DAR lineage files, War of 1812 soldiers, and a wide variety of information on the Civil War and its veterans. We also have a large obituary collection and cemetery records as well as a vast amount of family and local history files. The Frederick Porter Griffin Center is located directly behind the Main library building in Corydon at 117 W. Beaver Street, and is open 9:00-5:00 Monday through Saturday. Staff will be on hand to assist you with your research.
Please note: The Griffin Center is not ADA compliant. If you would like assistance, please call 812-738-5412 or email us at genealogy@hcpl.lib.in.us to arrange for accommodations.
Shawnda Mosson, Palmyra Library Assistant, is HCPL’s Who’s Awesome! winner for October. Shawnda was one of 17 nominations for the honor this month.
Nikki Esarey, the Palmyra lead circ associate and Shawnda’s immediate supervisor, nominated Shawnda, writing, “Shawnda really helped out during the Scooby Doo Escape Room – resetting the room and taking in some of the groups. She also was a great guinea pig by coming in before her shift to solve the mystery making sure everything worked on opening day. Shawnda is always willing to help and does such a wonderful job with programming. The patrons love her classes. She is a real asset to the library. Shawnda is Awesome!”
Shawnda also won the Who’s Awesome title in May of 2024. She interned with HCPL before joining the staff in March of 2010. She has worked at the Palmyra Branch for 15 years. In addition to providing great readers’ advisory and customer service, she does youth storytime, hosts the monthly “Not Your Mother’s Book Club,” leads painting classes, and the Palmyra Clever Crafts sessions.
Shawnda has received numerous nominations in 2025. Esarey nominated her in August stating, “Shawnda has offered to lead September’s adult paint classes because I will be unable to do so. She is always willing to help out and is truly dedicated to the library and its role in the community. Shawnda is awesome! “ Shawnda received this nomination from Library Director Alisa Burch in June, “Shawnda came up with some new and engaging activities for this year’s Summer Reading Challenge. She suggested a Tiny Art show for teens and adults that runs throughout the program and planned a Bluey Bash at the Palmyra Branch. Both programs have been great additions and fit the Color Our World Summer Reading theme perfectly. Shawnda is awesome!“
Each month a winner is selected by random drawing. Other staff members nominated in October were Amanda Applegate, Rachel Baelz, Amanda Embrey, Elizabeth Esarey, Nikki Esarey, Sandy Harbeson, Carolyn Hofelich, Bob Ohlrich, Trevor Smith, Jessica Stroud, Tiffany Thieneman and Brandy Wilkerson.
Contributed by Teresa Douglass, Genealogy Specialist
A community-wide Halloween celebration has taken place in Corydon since 1934. This first formally organized event included a parade, a costume contest, and a community dance held in the courthouse lobby. The Chamber of Commerce, along with various civic and fraternal organizations, sponsored the event, which was intended to provide an orderly, structured entertainment option for the entire community.
The following three articles from The Corydon Democrat describe the plans and details of the 1934 event, revealing the community spirit behind its planning and promotion, as well as the engagement of participants.
This first article, dated October 17, 1934, introduces the event plan to the public.
A second article appeared a week later in the October 24, 1934, edition of the newspaper. This article provides specific details about the parade and dance, as well as the prize categories for the costume contest. The article also provides “Halloween Suggestions” for costume ideas.
After the event, a third article was published in the paper on October 31, 1934. It gives a colorful description of the festivities and notes the wide variety of interesting costumes that appeared. The names of winners in each prize category are listed, and the conclusion is that “the entire evening’s fun was orderly and well organized and everyone seemed to have a good time.”
Elizabeth Esarey, Lanesville circulation clerk and Makerspace substitute, is HCPL’s September Who’s Awesome! winner. Elizabeth was one of 12 nominations for the honor this month.
Jessica Stroud, assistant director wrote, “Elizabeth and Pat did a wonderful job in rearranging the adult, teen and youth DVD collections at Lanesville. Kudos to them for their initiative and dedication to making browsing easier for our patrons. Elizabeth is AWESOME!“
Elizabeth joined HCPL’s staff in late October of 2024. She came to HCPL with two years of library experience at the Floyd County Library working in circulation, youth programming, and computer and technology assistance at the Galena Branch.
Co-worker Pat Schwartz, has nominated Elizabeth twice. In August she stated, “Elizabeth is a great asset at the Lanesville Branch. She takes it upon herself to pull books and display them in the children’s, teen, and adult areas of the library. We worked together to move the children’s DVDs to the wood book shelves that would be lower for the children to peruse, where some of the shelves they were on were 6 ft. tall and well above their line of sight. Elizabeth is always available and ready to tackle new projects with enthusiasm and a “get it done” attitude. Elizabeth is awesome to work with.” Pat’s March nomination read, “Elizabeth is always happy to assist in any task that needs to be done. She is quick to pick up on new tasks and enjoys a challenge. I enjoy working with her because she has a positive attitude and is great with the patrons. Elizabeth took it upon herself to change the display books in the Children’s department with the theme, topic, or celebrations of the month. Elizabeth is awesome! “
Makerspace Specialist Heather Rapp had this to say about Elizabeth in her March nomination, “She is not only incredibly friendly to everyone she meets, but she also consistently demonstrates a willingness to learn and assist wherever needed. Recently, a family of three visited the Makerspace—a parent, a twelve-year-old, and an eight-year-old. While I was working with the younger child, the twelve-year-old needed guidance on designing a heat transfer t-shirt. Without hesitation, Elizabeth stepped in, confidently directing them to the appropriate tools and ensuring they had the support they needed. She made the family feel welcome and comfortable, seamlessly offering her help without being asked. Her initiative, warm-hearted nature, and eagerness to assist make her an invaluable part of our team.
Each month a winner is selected by random drawing. Other staff members nominated in September were Chelsea Arnold, Nikki Esarey, Heather Rapp, Steven Schifcar, Pat Schwartz, Joanna Shepherd, Trevor Smith, Jessica Stroud, and Brandy Wilkerson.
Coby Young, Makerspace specialist assistant, is HCPL’s August Who’s Awesome! winner. Coby was one of seven nominations for the honor this month.
Pat Schwartz, Lanesville branch, nominated Coby stating, “Coby is always looking for things to keep busy with. He is great with the patrons and knows his stuff when it comes to the machines in the maker space. Coby asks if there is anything that needs to be taken out to the trash cans and sweeps the sidewalk, deck and porch for us when he has a cancellation in the maker space or an empty slot in the calendar. He is always helpful and friendly. Coby has been an awesome addition to the Lanesville branch!“
Coby joined the Makerspace staff at Lanesville in April. As a graduate of Corydon Central High School with a technical honors diploma, Coby came to HCPL highly recommended by CCHS Industrial Tech Instructor Ben Spencer. He is a senior at Purdue Polytechnic University majoring in Mechanical Engineering Technology and holds a SolidWorks Additive Manufacturing Certification. He has worked as a teaching assistant at Purdue University helping students with solid works and NX 3D Modeling.
In July Coby’s supervisor, Assistant Director Jessica Stroud, nominated him writing, “Coby has taken the initiative to begin planning a Computer Automated Design (CAD) class in the Makerspace. One of HCPL’s goals regarding the Makerspace is to hold engaging maker programs to promote public interest and draw new users into the space. Kudos to Coby for coming up with this wonderful idea and for his willingness to take on a new challenge. Coby is awesome!“
Each month a winner is selected by random drawing. Other staff members nominated in August were Amanda Embrey, Elizabeth Esarey, Debbie McClanahan, Shawnda Mosson, Jessica Stroud, and Debi Strubler.
In December 1961, workers put up decorations at the Harrison County REMC (currently occupied by Indiana Utilities) on West Chestnut Street. Some of you might remember the display of Santa and his reindeer seen here resting along the sidewalk in front of the building waiting to be displayed. The cheerful decoration made an annual appearance above Corydon’s streets for many years.
Seasoned veterans and new recruits gathered together for this photograph taken September 20, 1917 as the younger men were preparing to leave for service in World War I. A total of 58 young men from Harrison County left that day and headed to Camp Zachary Taylor. They were photographed alongside Civil War and Spanish-American War veterans who came to see them off and show support. The men are lined up across what is now Capitol Avenue near where the current Corydon Town Hall is located.
Staff Sergeant John R. Sieg of Depauw is awarded the Bronze Star by Brigadier General James M. Lewis, field artillery commanding officer, 30th Infantry Division at Falkenstein, Germany, June 25, 1945. Sieg was with the 823rd Tank Destroyer Battalion, 30th Infantry Division, 7th U. S. Army.
Harrison County U.S. Navy recruits in basic training May 1950. In front, left to right are Gene Baxley and Kenny Kitterman. In back are Dick Cromwell, Donald Becket and Pete Timberlake.
