Blog post by Randi Richardson Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924), a progressive democrat, was the 28th president of the United States serving two terms from 1913 to 1921. During the course of his administration, the perimeter of the White House was guarded by sixty-six men each night working in three shifts of twenty-two each. One of those
Blog post by Randi Richardson The Second Baptist Church of Bloomington was established in 1872 with eleven founding members. In 1873, members purchased land at 8th and Rogers for a church structure, a frame building that was not completed until 1890. Until that time, members worshipped in various homes. A new Second Baptist Church on the
Blog post by Randi Richardson John Ketcham (1782-1865) settled in Monroe County in the spring of 1818. At the time of his arrival he was already quite prominent. Once situated in Monroe County, he remained a person of prominence. Among other things, he built the county’s first water-powered grist mill, was commissioned to build Bloomington’s
Blog post by Randi Richardson No documentation has been found to indicate when the Todd School was established in Section 35 of Polk Township. One thing is for certain, however. It was opened in 1872 or earlier when Capt. George W. Friedley and Hon. F. Wilson, candidates for the state senate, were scheduled to have
Blog post by Randi Richardson Charles Blanchard in his History of Morgan, Monroe and Brown Counties published in 1884, noted that John Ketcham was given the contract to build Bloomington’s first permanent courthouse in 1820, but the courthouse was not complete until 1826. He supposed the reason for the delay was that Ketcham was paid
Blog post by Randi Richardson It isn’t often that one designs their own tombstone or the designer of a tombstone is even known. And it isn’t often that one tombstone stands about among many others in a given cemetery. For those reasons the tombstones of John F. Dillon and the Dillon family at Rose Hill
Blog post by Randi Richardson Monroe County wasn’t exactly hurting for grocery stores in the 1950s. According to the 1953 Bloomington Telephone Directory, there were 53 supermarkets spread throughout the county with the large majority situated in Bloomington. Nevertheless, Louden’s Supermarket at 4th and Madison opened with much pomp and circumstance in September 1955. An 8-page ad was published
Blog post by Randi Richardson Golden eagles, not to be confused with bald eagles, are one of the largest, fastest, nimblest raptors in North America. They hunt on land and in the air. They are capable of preying on land animals the size of a small deer with a grip strength said to be 100 times
Blog post by Randi Richardson For many years, in many homes and restaurants, tins of Winterlein lard and other Winterlein meat products were a common sight. Bloomington Packing Company, manufacturer of Winterlein merchandise, was founded in 1922 by Ernest Reuter, Elzie L. Baldwin and Fred G. Baierlein, all former residents of Muncie. Winterlein was created
Blog post by Randi Richardson Looking at the busy parking lot in front of Kroger at Second and College today, one would see little or no evidence that the property was once the original campus of Indiana University. But before the last remaining building was demolished, several relics were removed and made a part of
