Published: June 28, 2008 08:37 pm            

LOOKING BACK: 1998: Ground broken for Heartland Steel plant in the Vigo County Industrial Park

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



1998

• A storm on June 29th hit the Wabash Valley almost as hard as the rains earlier in the month. Many large trees wee uprooted.

• Construction was underway for Menards, 1380 Fort Harrison Road. The $6-$7 million project was located on 24 acres west of Plaza North Shopping Center.

• Jimmy Smith, once a juvenile detective with the Terre Haute Police Department, was named executive director of the Terre Haute Boys Club to succeed Steve Heck.

• Meme’s Boutique moved from 4812 S. Seventh Street to 121 McCallister Drive next door to Schultz Men’s Clothing.

• Ground was broken for Heartland Steel plant in the Vigo County Industrial Park. Harold Coker was the president and CEO of the firm.

• Casey DeGroote, a 1998 graduate of West Vigo High School, signed a four-year deal with the New York Yankees organization.

n Dollar General opened its fourth Terre Haute store at 940 Poplar St.

1983

• The Terre Haute Committee for Area Progress and Grow Terre Haute agreed to unite and form one group to solve problems and promote the community.

• The Vigo County Historical Society recreated the era of World War II in a salute to the “Stage Door Canteen” at the Armory on North Ninth Street. Colleen Coleman was the director.

• Representatives of local veterans organizations rededicated the Corporal Charles G. Abrell Memorial Bridge located on Indiana 63 across the Wabash River. A new historical marker replaced one destroyed by vandals more than a year ago.

• The fourth annual litter count by Terre Haute Area Clean Community showed the city 46 percent cleaner than it was in 1980. Eric Meister was president of the organization.

• Karen Isbell of Terre Haute was installed as the national president of Psi Iota Xi sorority at its national convention in Champaign, Ill.

• The Indiana National Guard at Hulman Regional Airport was to receive $1.28 million in federal funds to construct warm-up holding pads and other projects.

1958

• John T. Royse was elected president of the Vigo County United Appeal Inc. Established a year before and incorporated this year, it raised funds for 23 agencies of the Community Chest and the Vigo County Chapter of the American Red Cross.

• The Terre Haute Board of Park Commissioners delayed its decision to build a swimming pool at Deming Park and remodel the outdoor pool at 13th and Cruft streets. Opposition by the Terre Haute Council of Churches was based on the fact that the plan implied racial segregation.

• The newest branch of Fairbanks Memorial Library opened at Meadows Shopping Center with Ruth Hunter as librarian and Elizabeth Ciancone as assistant. It was believed to be Indiana’s first shopping center branch library.

• The Rev. Gilbert L. Piker, formerly of Terre Haute, was named district superintendent of the newly created Terre Haute district of Indiana Methodism.

• Plans for the new offices of the Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce on the first floor at 631 Cherry St. were now complete.

        

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