Miscellaneous Columbus Indiana Topics

[David Sechrest]

A word of explanation: Since this Historic Columbus Indiana Message Board is still rather new, I have elected to set up the board where I am the only one who can create "threads," or folders. I can envision that everyone who stops by here will create a new folder when they leave their message, and I envision that this could lead to a rather unruly, disorganized Message Board.

I have created Folder Topics for discussions. Please select the Folder topic you feel your comments pertain to. If I need to create a new Folder for a specific discussion, I will do so.

Can't seem to find a place to put your comments? Leave them here.

[Ricky Berkey]

There is a new radio staion at 98.5 FM. WHUM billing itself as "community radio" - so far they are commercial free with only public service messages for various local events and organization. The format? Very very very electic...like a box of choclates the say...you never know what you might get next! Very low power, I about have to stand on my head out in the West Hill area to pick it up but its definatally my cup of tea. Give it a listen. Apparently its run by some member of the Quinn family from Indy, they delight in oddball radio formatting.

[David Sechrest]

I spoke with Mitzi Quinn last week regarding WHUM's format, and how much I have enjoyed listening to this new Columbus Station.
I found out about the station through a visit to Art In the Heartland. I noticed one of Mitzi's business cards, the new station, and gave it a listen that evening.
I recently had to make a trip up to the VA Hospital, and listened to the station until it dropped out. I think it was around the 88 mile marker on I-65.
Right now, WHUM's format is taped. They hope to go live very soon.
It's good to hear the variety in what they play. I really don't listen much to FM radio anymore, simply because of the fact that the stations are specialized, and the artists I enjoy listening to don't seem to fall into the format most radio stations use today. As Paul Simon once sang, "each generation throws a hero up the Pop Charts," and the heroes of todays generation don't impress me very much.
Back when AM radio stations were king, and played the TOP 40, you could count on a variety of music, and it wasn't unusual to hear Frank Sinatra or Paul Muriat played after a Beatles or Rolling Stones tune. The TOP 40 format offered a variety of music that kids today don't have an opportunity to hear.
If you listen to WHUM at 98.5 on the FM dial, you'll definitely be entertained...
I wish them the best of luck.

[Margo McCaip Hughey]

What a great message board, Dave !! It's taking me quite a while perusing it, but I'm enjoying it so much, when I can!!

I am not sure if you post memory messages or not. My dear friend, Judy (Eckles)Arbuckle was a classmate of mine in the CHS Class of '55. We have a group of classmates who meet once a month just to chat and renew memories, over lunch.
We are currently planning our 50th Class Reunion for next yr. on August 27,2005. Please let me know how to post this information. I tried to register but it would not let me.
This memory page I passed out to the attendees at our Lunch Bunch held on Sat. July 17th. If you care to share it on the message board, please do. If you need to edit, no problem. If it is not acceptable, I will understand.

REMEMBER WITH ME

Do you remember memorizing Bible Verses in Sunday School, and singing in the Church Choir each Sunday? The family walking together to First Baptist Church on Franklin Street and listening to the bells playing as you passed First Christian Church during your journey.
Remember when a quarter was a great allowance for the Sat. Matinee at the Rio Theatre?. When you were thrilled to find a penny for the new gum ball machines?

How about days spent at Irwin Gardens, the huge fish in their pool, smelling all the wonderful flowers, and then making a special wish in the wishing well.
Listening to The Shadow, Lone Ranger and Tonto, or Fibber McGee and Molly on the Arvin Radio, and then watching Mickey Mouse Club, Roy and Dale, and American Bandstand on your neigbor's NEW TV?
Reading books and then checking some out to take home from the Library with all those steps. Playing Kick the Can, Red Light, Green light, My Mother made a Chocolate pie, and catching lightning bugs in a canning jar. How about days spent at Lincoln School trudging up that HUGE staircase and swimming in the pool there, before Donner Park's pool was even built?
As we grew older, doing the drag down Washington Street after a basketball game at the Pearl Street Gym, to celebrate a victory by OUR Bulldogs coached by Mr. Stearman? ( we always called him MR. during our school days.) Sipping on a Green River or Chocolate coke at the "Greeks" after school? Senior Cords?

And, with all our progress don't you wish that JUST ONCE you could slip back in time, and share that pace with the children of today? Especially the ones who have way too much time at home alone?

So lean back on a plot of grass, after making a clover chain for your neck, and look at the clouds and say...That one looks like ...

In loving memory of Judy (Eckles) Arbuckle
7/8/37 ~ 7/5/02

My special friend from the 50's
Margo (McCalip) Hughey
[e-mail]

[Ricky Berkey]

I think she was trying to use the Login or Register prompt at the top of the screen. It will return a message saying logins are disabled by the administratior.

[David Sechrest]

I'm glad you brought that to my attention! Jeez...there's nothing like setting up a message board and people can't register. Oh well...
I think I fixed the problem. I just tried registering under a different name, and a window popped up and said I would be sent a password.
As of yet, I haven't received it. I'll keep playing around with this and maybe soon I'll figure it out!
Dave

[David Sechrest]

William Pumphrey has sent me a couple of emails regarding his efforts to save the main building of what some of us not-so-old-timers-yet refer to as the old Central School.
From what Bill says, it may be possible to save this building.
Those interested need to organize, as well as contact John Quick of the BCSC, as well as Mayor Fred Armstrong.
If there is a possibility that the main building could be saved from a dusty fate, then we need to try and see how to go about doing it.
If it's not already too late...
Dave Sechrest

[Ricky Berkey]

From what I understand its too late to save it but would welcome any opportunity to do so. What a classic facade that 100 year old building has. The only reason its in such bad shape is that they deferred so much maintenance in an attempt to build evidence for a new building. Central school deserves a second chance.

[David Sechrest]

On November 4, Wayne wrote: << I,AM NEW TO THIS BOARD. I NEED TO KNOW HOW I CAN GET THE 1969 NEWSPAPER FROM THE REPUBLIC. THAT IS IF THAT WAS THE NEWSPAPER BACK THEN.AND THE MONTH I,AM LOOKING FOR IS JUNE AND JULY OF THAT YEAR. IF ANYONE CAN HELP ME I WOULD BE VERY GREATFULL.>>

Wayne, the Bartholomew County Public Library (is it still called the Cleo Rogers Library?) has issues of the Evening Republican (what is now known as the Republic) on microfiche. If you're a resident, you may stop in there and someone at one of the desks will help you.
If you're not a resident, I'm not really sure how you would go about getting back issues. I guess you could try contacting the Republic directly, and see if they would make copies and mail to you (by the way, the Republic's website address is .
The Library's web address is www.barth.lib.in.us/

Good Luck...

David Sechrest
Historic Columbus Indiana

[Jon Smith]

I am also new to this board, and I have a question:

What is the oldest building in Columbus?

[David Sechrest]

On 11-22-04, Jon Smith wrote:

>>I am also new to this board, and I have a question:
What is the oldest building in Columbus?<<

Ricky, since you're doing the Visitor's Center tours, you might have more insight about the answer to this question than I.

There is mention of I. Jodgson, architect of the Courthouse, paying a weekly visit to watch the progress of the building in the July 18, 1872 issue of the "Columbus Republican."

And, in my John Crump article, mention is made of John's father, Francis J. Crump, building one of the earliest downtown business locations in Columbus, known back then as the Orr corner. As of this time, I have not been able to locate exactly where the Orr corner was.

The Crump was originally completed in 1889, but in 1934, extensive work was done on the outside of the building, totally changing the appearance from the way it originally looked.

The old City Hall, which is now the bed and breakfast place on the corner of 5th and Franklin was completed in 1895.

If I remember correctly, the old Carnegie Library, which used to be approximately where the new library is today, was built around 1903.

The bank on the corner of 4th and Washington was, at one time, the First National Bank, but it was remodeled extensively sometime during the early 1900's (as well as in later years), and looks nothing like it did. This building was built before 1865, but I don't think you can include it as a possible answer to your question, due to all the extensive remodeling (if you want to see what the original building looked like, click here: www.historiccolumbusindiana.org/images/illcol/20.htm

An educated guess tells me the oldest building would be within that strip of buildings across from the Courthouse (on Washington Street), or, the area between 4th and 5th on Washington Street on either the east or west side.

George Cummins, who began his Cummins "Bookstore" in 1892 (directly across the street from where it is today), moved into its current location in 1897. I read somewhere that this building (406 Washington Street) was the location of the post office before Cummins relocated his Cummins Bookstore there (I always wondered where all that old post office equipment that was stored downstairs in the "basement" came from). BUT, what year this building was originally built, I do not know.

In the Columbus of 1898, Ben Thomas was the owner of what everyone calls the Cerealine Mill, the building sitting inside the Cummins headquarters complex, but what year this building was built, I do not know.

The building we know today as Max's Jewelry, was built around 1913. Before this time, a millinery sat on this corner, but was demolished to make room for this commercial building.

If memory serves me correct, the old Central School building was built sometime between 1896 and 1903 (can't remember which date tho).

Sorry Jon, maybe someone with more information than I can provide an answer to your question...

Dave Sechrest
Historic Columbus Indiana

[Deleted]

Hi Dave, I understand the oldest building down town is on the cornner of 4th and Franklin st.

[Ricky_Berkey]

My understanding that the oldest commercial building is the Ulrich Block building at 4th and Franklin. It was built around 1850 although the date at the top says 1891 (when it was remodeled). Ulrich was a German baker who baked bread for the Union army during the civil war. Remnents of his original oven were located during remodeling of the space where Papa Harrys pizza used to be. The part of the building on Franklin facing First Christian Church used to be a railway station with rooms to rent upstairs. The site of first Christian used to be called "Railroad Square" and was the main hub of Columbus railroad operations.

[David Sechrest]

Thanks for your help, George and Ricky!

David Sechrest

[Ricky_Berkey]

I asked that question about the oldest building to the Historical society:

The oldest building I know of is the Perry-Reeves-Marr home at 2900 Washington Street. The large brick home was built in 1835 by Colonel James Henry Jeter Glanton for Ransom and Catherine Martin Perry. At the time it
was north of Columbus and part of a large farm---the only house north of Columbus on that Road. Although the building has been enlarged over the years its integrity has not been compromised.
I hope this information helps you. Sandy


>From: "Ricky Berkey" <[e-mail]>
>To: <[e-mail]>
>Sent: Wednesday, November 24, 2004 12:06 PM
>Subject: Oldest building ...
...snip...
>>... at 4th and Franklin. Are there any
>> houses or buidlings still standing that are older? Thanx for any
>information,

[Bob Lane]

Hi Stephanie Reed, Interesting commentary on your life in Columbus. We lived on Dellasburg Rd from 1968 to 1987 I think. We moved there from Seymour but Columbus was my home until about 1958 then mover about 7 miles out west off SR46 I grad in 1952. Our kids went to Petersville school. Is Reed your family name or married name? Regards, :Bob Lane [e-mail]

[David Sechrest]

Today, Saturday, December 4th, I had the opportunity to play the role of Santa's helper in the Commons Mall. I arrived downtown around 11 am, and since I wasn't scheduled to start helping Santa until 1pm, I thought I'd walk around some.
The first thing I noticed was the difference in the Custer Building (northwest corner of 4th and Washington). The old Cummins Bookstore sign is gone, and no reminders remain of what the building once looked like. I guess the owner probably feels the place looks alot better, especially considering the fact that his wallet is much lighter now, but the building now holds no memories. Standing in front of it and looking at it, I could be in Muncie Indiana or any other town in the US.
The downtown area is slowly succumbing to the fate that old Cummins Bookstore sign fell victim to (by the way, when the "wrecking crew" came in and started work on the building, they hauled the sign off to the dump. My brother, Dale, told them he wanted that sign, and they brought it back. It now sits in the little room inside the bookstore looking terribly lost and out of place).
As Columbus grows bigger and as more places like Circuit City, Menards, and the new Sam's Club that is scheduled to open up next year, relocate in those "high traffic" areas where shoppers are now busy spending their dollars, a little more rust gathers on the downtown area.
Since I still have the bad habit of smoking, I stood out front of the bookstore for some time this morning, looking for tell-tale signs of Christmas shoppers hustling and bustling their way up and down the sidewalks.
Not a soul was in sight.
A couple of women who work at one of the banks popped in to Papa Harry's for something.
I stood there for 15 minutes and not a person passed me by. I stood there in front of the bookstore and remembered those long ago Christmas days of my youth when the downtown area was alive and the Cummins Bookstore sign was all lit up and Murphy's was across the street and the people came and went, carrying bags and boxes and the electric train display in Sears Toyland was hustling around its track and Zaharakos wasn't a nostalgic attraction, but the place to go at Christmas time.
A couple of springs ago, I took my kids on a hiking trip to an old train bridge I used to play at when I lived on Center Street. I parked my car on Marr Road and we walked the tracks to the point where they had been ripped out of the ground, the only thing remaining was a worn path leading the way to the iron bridge. I told my kids stories of my youth. The kids I played with. The trouble I got in to. The trips back to the iron bridge during those summer school vacation months of July and August when the water under the bridge was a breath of fresh air and skinny dipping was something we never thought twice about.
From a distance, the bridge looked the same as it did when I was a kid, if you don't consider the fact that there are no longer any rails to try and walk along without falling off. Once we reached the bridge, the memories were there, but parts of the bridge weren't. It looked odd and out of place in today's world, where search engines now replace steam engines and standing there in front of the bookstore this morning, the downtown area reminded me of that bridge...

[Ricky_Berkey]

David,

Where was the Sears store originally before the Commons destruction/construction? I think its amazing that they are still downtown at all and didn't flee the Commons Mall years ago. To still have a major retailer in a downtown area is a rarity in any city. I try to shop there for that reason alone. Compare our downtown to many others and it is still vibrant in comparision but it will will never be a shadow of what it once was. Downtown can still draw huge crowds like at last nights Christmas parade, wish there was a way to bring them ack during normal hours. The new trend in retailing is strip malls that look like old downtown city centers. We have one still standing and ripe for a rebirth.

[David Sechrest]

RickyBerkey said:

David,

Where was the Sears store originally before the Commons destruction/construction? I think its amazing that they are still downtown at all and didn't flee the Commons Mall years ago. To still have a major retailer in a downtown area is a rarity in any city. I try to shop there for that reason alone. Compare our downtown to many others and it is still vibrant in comparision but it will will never be a shadow of what it once was. Downtown can still draw huge crowds like at last nights Christmas parade, wish there was a way to bring them ack during normal hours. The new trend in retailing is strip malls that look like old downtown city centers. We have one still standing and ripe for a rebirth.

The old Sears Toyland was in the Brad's Furniture building, just north of 6th Street on the east side (I believe).
You're are right about Sears. They must have a great deal on the rent there, and it's nice that this anchor store has remained all these years in the downtown area.
While I was waxing nostalgic last night in my post, I guess I was really comparing downtown shopping back to only a couple of years ago when I hung out at Cummins Bookstore and opened the place up on weekends. The Christmas season was always the best, by far, and it just seemed to me there was alot more Christmas shopping activity happening in downtown Columbus two years ago.
I know things will never be like they were back in the 1960's and before. City demographics have changed. Our lifestyle has changed. We way the do and conduct business has changed dramatically.
BUT, with all that said, there's still a wisp of hope somewhere inside me that our downtown will, some day, be a vibrant shopping place. And you're right about the mall. Maybe more anchor stores will realize the benefits of locating downtown, with restaurants following, and more specialized stores.
Then maybe the cityfolk can start thinking about a parking garage...
David

[David Sechrest]

I'm sorry Ricky. The old Sears building was located on the east side of Washington Street, north of 6th Street. You can catch a glimpse of it here: www.historiccolumbusindiana.org/pics/downtown1955.jpg (it's on the left side of the picture).
Sears Toyland was a little further north, in a separate building.

I hung around for the parade last night. It was great fun. Bob Schwartzkopf opened up the bookstore and it was fun to rummage around inside a little bit.

You know? As far as downtown businesses go, it might be better to have the parade during the daytime, instead of nighttime when most places are closed.