“Greentown on the Ballot”

   A new exhibit has opened at the Greentown Historical Society, 103 E. Main Street.  It  features information about Greentown area people who have run for political office or been involved in government on several levels.  There will be items from the personal collection of Bob McCann, who was on the election and re-election committees for several presidents, and worked from the White House during the terms of Presidents Nixon, Ford and Reagan.  There are also several interesting photographs and memorabilia involving presidents from Lincoln to Obama.     The exhibit will run through November 25. 
   A traveling exhibit from the Indiana Historical Society is in place until Sept. 10.   This exhibit, named “Faces in the Crowd; Indiana and the Political Process,” is not the story of the candidates behind the microphone, but the individual citizens in the crowd – each of whom play a crucial role in ensuring the electoral process works. 
    A series of presentations will supplement the exhibit.  On Saturday, August 18, at 2:00 p.m., Bob McCann’s presentation, “From Greentown to the White House,” will include highlights of his 35 years of White House and Capitol Hill experiences.  The program will be at the History Center, 103 E. Main Street.
  On October 21, Eastern High School students will give a background of the Lincoln-Douglas debates and recreate portions.  This program will also be at 2:00 at the History Center.
   November 1 will be the annual meeting and dinner of the Greentown Historical Society.  The time and place will be announced later.  At this meeting, attendees will enjoy some political campaign songs through the years and there will be a reprise of the Lincoln-Douglas presentation.
   Alan Zirkle, who was a member of the Indiana Legislature, will speak about his experiences on Saturday, November 3, at 2:00 p.m. at the History Center.
   The History Center is open Saturdays and Mondays 1 to 4 and Sundays 2 to 4.  Admission is free and the facility is handicap accessible.

Barber to Six Generations of Murphys
  

                                                    Photo by Rachel Jenkins

Don Wisher, on left, and Michael Murphy try to convince Madilynn Murphy to allow her bangs to
be cut.  With encouragement from other family members, the operation was completed.

   Two year old Madilynn Murphy became the sixth generation of the Murphy family to get a haircut by Don Wisher, local barber.  She sat on her father’s lap for a trim of her bangs and let it be known that she wasn’t sure she liked the whole idea. 
   Don started barbering August 3, 1960.  After two years in the Army, he opened a barber shop in Windfall in 1964.  He moved the business to Greentown in 1966 with a shop on South Meridian Street.  In 2001 he moved again, this time to a remodeled portion of his garage at his home. 
   The first Murphy who was his customer was Otto Murphy in 1964.  Then followed, in succession, Dayrell, Gene, Dan, and Michael.  Madilynn is Michael’s daughter.

  Community Garden Doing Well
by Anita French, Community Garden Chairman

                                  Photo by Rachel Jenkins
  Tom Driver, a regular volunteer at the Community Garden,
                does so to “give back to the community.”

   The Greentown Community Garden is thriving again this year despite the hot weather and no rain. The season started out great with 19 volunteers, but has dropped off to around 7 regulars. The biggest thrill is seeing our young volunteers come out to help. We have a young man named Tom Driver an Eastern student, who has been a regular for several weeks. He is a great help, and lets us know there is a future Community Garden leader. Everyone is welcome to come and volunteer at the garden.  We work every Wednesday 9:00 am to 11:00 am, and again in the evening at 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. A total of 287 volunteer hours have been logged as of 8-1-2012.
  As of this date we have also harvested a total of 887.75 pounds of produce, including  head lettuce, broccoli, squash, cabbage, cucumbers, onions and a few potatoes. We have lost some plants due to the stress of the heat and lack of water. We hand carry water to each plant, but sometimes it just isn't enough.
  I would like to thank Scott Tracey, a volunteer fireman,  for coming to our rescue a couple times to spray the garden down with much needed water.
  The Greentown Community Garden sent out sponsorship letters a few weeks ago, asking for a yearly sponsorship of $25 per year for our garden. This money will be used for tools, equipment, seed, fertilizer and to sustain the garden in years to come.  All sponsors’ names will be painted on our shed. We would like to thank First Farmers Bank and Trust, Flook's Automotive Napa, New Life Assembly of God, American Legion Post#317, Subway, Century Villa Health Care, Century Fields Retirement Community, Sharon’s Beauty Shop, and Master Creations Jewelry for sending in their sponsorships. If we missed anyone that would like to be a sponsor, please contact Anita French at 765-431-8376.
  With great plans in the works, the garden is gonna keep growing stronger.  We just need your help (a little rain would not hurt too.).

Flashbacks from Howard County News

August 1952

Around the Town Pump

   Looking at the proceedings going on down at the Memorial Park and Eastern High School grounds from a women's angle, brings one such woman to a single conclusion!  The displays to be viewed at the 1952 Howard County 4-H Fair, are enough to make many a hard-working housewife drool with envy!
   Comfort in the home is no longer an item of the future.  It's here!  Gleaming white appliances for saving time and labor, fill the largest of the display tents---electric stoves, washers, hot water heaters, refrigerators, ironers and the latest of appliances, the deep freeze.
   For color in the modern home, the housewife may view luxurious carpets, colorful linoleum tile, cool-looking awnings, and heating units that look like another attractive piece of furniture instead of the old-fashioned, much abhorred heating stove.
   The variation of models and makes in the latest of that home entertainment feature, the TV set, speaks well for the steady improvements being made in this field.  Yes, the home-maker can find plenty over which to drool at the merchandise display exhibits.

Average Income Rate Reaches $1,678 Level

   The Commerce Department has reported that the average income in the United States reached a $1,678 annual level in May.  That is, if the rate of personal income continues all year at the May level, the average income will be $1,678 a year.

August 1972

Misses McGuire, Land Win First Places At Indiana State Fair

   Pam McGuire, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Paul McGuire, and Ellen Land, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Land, Kokomo, Rt.4, placed first in senior duets twirling contest at the Indiana State Fair.
   Ellen also placed first in 15 year old advanced strutting.
   The girls recently enjoyed a week in Buffalo, N.Y. attending United States Twirling Association Grand National.  Ellen placed 8th in 15 year old strutting competition in a group of 31 contestants.
   Additional award winners at the Indiana State Fair have been - 4-H Dress Revue - Dress-up Outfits, Janet Howell Rt.2 Greentown, blue ribbon; Foods VI Choice of a baked product, Cindy Bolinger, Rt.1 Greentown; Swine, Pure-bred market Barrow class, single barrow, 211-240 lbs. Tom Howell and family.

Dedaker Named Eastern Assistant Football Coach

   Robert Dedaker, a 1968 graduate of Eastern's biggest MIC rival, Oak Hill High School, will be helping guide the Comets' football fortunes next season.
   Dedaker, who graduated from DePauw University, Greencastle, in May of this year, was hired at a recent meeting of the Eastern School Board to fill the vacancy created when Willard Rice was named head coach of the Eastern gridiron squad.
   Dedaker holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in physical education and social studies and is attending classes at Indiana State University, Terre Haute, this summer.
   He participated in college baseball for four years and football for two years at DePauw.  His younger brother, Gary, was a member of the 1971 Oak Hill basketball sectional and regional championship team.

Greentown Gems

   OVERSIZE VEGETABLE
 Mrs. Eli Harvey brought in a head of cabbage weighing 20 pounds, and it was almost more than she could reach around.  The cabbage was grown by Enos Harvey of near Marion.
*****
   HOW'S THIS FOR a fish story?  Don Miller was in his boat with his family on the reservoir.  He was near the bridge and the shoreline just south of the high school.
   A two-pound largemouth bass jumped into his boat!
*****
  SPEAKING about making Greentown an attractive place to live, reminds us of our thought expressed in this paper when we entered the 1970's.  In looking to the new decade, we expressed hope some public-spirited citizen would donate a piece of land near the center of town to be made into a public plaza.
   It could have trees and a fountain and park benches.  The plaza would add much to the attractiveness of the community a pleasant and beautiful gift that would be remembered and enjoyed by future generations.


August 1982

Town Board Rezones Lot for New Lodge Building

   Greentown's trustees voted unanimously Tuesday night to rezone property owned by Greentown Masonic Lodge No. 341 so the organization can continue construction of its new building.
  Acting on the recommendation of the town's Plan Commission, which met prior to the regular trustees' meeting, the board agreed to rezone the 102-by-390-foot lot from industrial to residential 4.  The lot is located at 625 E. Payton St. directly across from the Howard County 4-H Fairground.
   Under the new zoning, the lodge will construct its new building as a "private club not providing hotel service and not conducted for gain."  The old zoning permitted only industrial buildings to be on the property.

Panda Vans Will Move

   Panda Vans, 125 N. Meridian St., is moving out of town to a new location.  Owner Gary Duncan said the new facilities on the northeast corner of Ind. 19 and Ind. 22 will offer the business more space and greater accessibility.