A New Resource in the Research Library
Blog post by Rod Spaw Memories fade, but photographs remember. That makes visual images important resources for exploring the past. Photos can raise questions, provide clarity or suggest additional avenues for discovery. New to the Monroe History Center’s collection of research tools is an index of photo studios that operated in Bloomington between 1892 and
Into the Lions’ Den
Blog post by Randi Richardson This sketch accompanied the circus announcement published in the Bloomington Evening World on July 26, 1924. The caption under the sketch noted that the “biggest lion is the one that tried to kill the trainer and the smallest lion is the one that saved its master’s life.” It was additionally
Bloomington High School Song
Blog post by Randi Richardson Bloomington’s “new” high school, the one at Second and Walnut, was dedicated in late 1914. By 1928, the school had a new song, “The Bloomington High School Song.” It was sung to the tune of the Washington and Lee Swing. The composer of the song was Mary Steen, the daughter of
George Buskirk on Trial for the Murder of Elzie Easton
Blog post by Randi Richardson After shooting and killing Elzie Easton and gunning down his companion, James Douglass, on Christmas Eve, 1889, George Buskirk, the saloon keeper, escaped through a rear door and headed east to the home of his mother. He reportedly gave some thought, initially, to turning himself in to the sheriff, or
Biosketch of Capt. W.J. Allen, Once Among the Wealthiest of Monroe County
Blog post by Randi Richardson William John Allen was born September 8, 1836 in Putnam County, Indiana, and came to Monroe County with his parents, John W. and Fanny (Clark) Allen, when he was only three months old. After completing his education in the common schools of the county he took a college preparatory
Guest Blogger: Eva Ladd
Hello, my name is Eva Ladd and I’m currently an intern at the Monroe County History Center (MCHC) from Bloomington High School North through my Service Learning Program. I have a general interest in history, specifically the 1960’s, with the Civil Rights movement being one of my favorite topics. My Service Learning class required me
The Murder of Elsworth “Elzie” Easton
Blog post by Randi Richardson The story below was taken from an article titled “Double Murder, Terrible Shooting Affair,” published in the Bloomington Telephone on December 27, 1889, and found in the clipping file at the research library, Monroe County History Center, Bloomington, Indiana. It was abbreviated from the lengthy original as shown by the
New Collection of World War II Letters Donated to the History Center
The Research Library recently received a small collection of correspondence between a son, Glen Whaley, and his family in Stanford, IN during his time enlisted with the Navy during World War II. Library volunteer, Lee Ehman, recently went through the letters and wrote up a bit about the contents of the collection and about Glen’s
Jennie Easton’s Hotel a Stinesville Landmark
Blog post by Randi Richardson The story below is from upon an article titled “Aunt Jennie’s ‘New’ Hotel Has a Place in History,” published in the Bloomington (IN) Saturday Courier, on May 13, 1955, p. 1B. It is abbreviated from the original as shown by the ellipsis. The Monon railroad, by coming to Stinesville instead
HIDDEN GEMS IN UNEXPECTED PLACES
Blog post by Randi Richardson If you or someone you love graduated from Bloomington High School 1908-1958, you might be happy to know that most of the yearbooks between those dates are available from the Indiana Memory Digital Collections from the Indiana State Library. The Collections are relevant to a number of people, places and