Published: June 20, 2009 10:32 pm         

Looking Back: 1999: Shelburn dedicates monument to victims of May 21, 1949 tornado

TERRE HAUTE — Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.



1999

• The Terre Haute Concert Band, directed by David McConkey, presented its second “Twilight Melodies” concert of the season at Fairbanks Park.

• Sullivan High School senior Joseph L. Harris received the prestigious McHale Scholarship during the final assembly of the American Legion Boys State held on the Indiana State University campus.

• The town of Shelburn dedicated a monument in memory of the 11 residents who had lost their lives during the tornado on May 21, 1949.

• Brian Evans, former Terre Haute South Vigo High School and Indiana University basketball star, returned home to conduct a youth basketball camp at Terre Haute South.

• Terre Haute Ford added the KIA line to its dealership. Manufactured by KIA Motors in Seoul, Korea, the average price per car was $10,000.

• Terre Haute North Vigo High School graduate Katie Ireland was named to the girls Academic All-State tennis team by the Indiana High School Tennis Coaches Association.

• Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology announced two in-house promotions: Greg Ruark to be the new athletic director and Russ Mollet the new head football coach.

1984

• The Vigo County Board of Health ordered the Indiana-American Water Co. to fluoridate Terre Haute’s water supply as soon as possible or within 90 days. Dr. W. W. Drummy was the County Health Officer.

• The Wabash Valley Amateur Radio Association, in conjunction with the American Radio Relay League, held the annual field day exercises in the Dobbs Park shelter home. The 24-hour project showcased what the group’s function would be during a national disaster.

• Don Neuenschwander, president of John’s Dental Laboratories, was named recipient of the Terre Haute Area Chamber of Commerce 1984 Great American Dream award as the year’s outstanding small business owner.

• Len Quinlan became the sole owner of the Conservatory of Music at Riverside Plaza. John Reitmeyer had started the business 35 years before at 823 Wabash Avenue.

• The Terre Haute North Vigo High School drill team was named the outstanding team at the Flag-Dance/Drill Team Camp at Indiana State University. Members Lori Harbaugh and Traci Lynn Smith were selected to be in the six-member All-American Drill Team.

1959

• A Sprint Car Program opened the racing season at the Fairgrounds track, which had been rebuilt and was said “to compare with the finest tracks in the country.”

• More than 1,000 persons participated in the parade of the Indiana Veterans of Foreign Wars and auxiliaries at their 38th annual state convention in Terre Haute. Moving in advance of the parade, Terre Haute Boy Scouts distributed 5,000 pamphlets outlining flag etiquette through the crowd.

• One thousand boys and girls had registered in the 60 baseball teams, the girls softball program and boys tennis program to be conducted at Woodrow Wilson Junior High School during the summer.

• Snow Hill Coal Corp. announced the closing of the 25-year-old Talleydale deep shaft mine. Superintendent Frank Ralston and 171 workers were affected.

• A Pennsylvania Railroad diesel engine was badly damaged and eight freight cars derailed when the engine pulled out of the freight yards and sideswiped a moving freight train on the main line tracks just east of the 25th Street crossing.