Published: September 06, 2008 08:22 pm            

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Vignettes from the early 20th century in the Valley

TERRE HAUTE — Every so often, almost every history commentator feels compelled to report anecdotes, facts or statistics which have not been developed into a full column.

Considerable space has been devoted here over the years to the Easter Sunday 1913 tornado, which claimed 17 human lives, and the flood during the ensuing week that extinguished four more.

Almost by necessity, commentaries about the 1913 tornado-flood are restricted to recounting witness narratives of the unusual multifunnel clouds which inflicted the massive destruction. Yet there are hundreds of stories about the impact of that disaster that have long been forgotten.

Little Emma, for example, was one of the tornado’s many victims not listed in newspaper obituaries. She was a 19-year-old pacing mare owned by the Tully family at 2323 Washington Ave.

The Tullys had acquired Little Emma at age 5 from Daniel Fasig, superintendent of the Terre Haute Police, who named the mare after a member of his family.

She was well-bred. Her dam was Nettie M., who had bettered 2:30 in the mile; her sire was Winslow Boy, a half-brother of Nelson, who established a world record for stallions at 2:10 in 1891.

The day after the tornado, Little Emma was found in the barn where she resided, still standing on her back legs. However, her knees were bent and there was a vicious gash behind one of her ears.

The death of Little Emma was not immediately publicized. The Tullys had priorities. The family lost a loved one when 54-year-old Elizabeth Tully was found under debris created when the residence collapsed during the vicious storm.

Indeed, the Tullys were among the families most devastated by the 1913 tragedy.

III

One of the fruits of the new $300,000 Wabash River bridge, dedicated on October 1905, was Riverside Park, Vigo County’s “new beauty spot,” on the river’s west bank.

Initially managed by Charles Denning, the park included summer and winter gardens, amusement parlors and a free zoo. Daily summer “concerts” were presented using the finest phonograph made by the Columbia Phonograph Co.

According to a newspaper advertisement dated July 2, 1906, the park included a wharf and the “only wharf boat on the Wabash.” Boats of every description were available “on three hours notice.”

A lunch stand, specializing in short orders, was open “day or night.”

III

During the first decade of the 20th century, the “common” life insurance policy had a face value of $1,000 or less. In October 1903, the Terre Haute Tribune sought out owners of policies valued at $50,000 or more.

Only three people were uncovered with policies valued at $100,000 or more. Benjamin G. Hudnut, owner of Hudnut Hominy Mills, and distiller Col. John Beggs each had policies with face values totaling $110,000 and the late Andrew J. Crawford, owner of Vigo Iron, had several policies with total values in excess of $100,000.

Albert L. Pfau, president of the North Baltimore Glass Co., carried policies valued at $75,000, while John Ed Beggs, a son of Col. Beggs and co-founder of the Commercial Distilling Co., had policies totaling $71,500.

Anton Mayer, former proprietor of Mayer Brewing Co. (which became the Terre Haute Brewing Co. after Mayer sold it to Crawford Fairbanks and others in 1889), owned policies totaling $55,000, while the late Benjamin G. Cox owned a policy valued at $53,000.

Those identified with life insurance totaling $50,000 were Herman Hulman Jr., William Putnam Ijams, Charles Goldsmith and William Riley McKeen.

III

On June 7, 1908, the elaborate five-year-old amusement park on the south side of Wabash Ave. opened with a new owner and a new name.

Previously known as Lakeview Park, it was owned by Terre Haute Amusement Co., headed by Henry Breinig.

Lumber dealer August Fromme acquired the company and its assets from the Breinigs and renamed the eastside facility “Fairland Park.” Fromme was president and general manager.

After serious study, Fromme decided to reduce the adult admission price from 25 cents to 10 cents. Children under 10 years old were admitted free.

Instead of engaging popular big bands for one day, as Breinig did, Fromme booked lesser-known bands for a week at a time. The first 1908 attraction was The Dixie Band from Fort Worth. Performances were presented at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. daily, seven days a week.

Fromme decided not to offer vaudeville acts for which admission was charged. Instead, he offered animal shows, other acts “of the highest class” and daily motion pictures for no additional charge.

No intoxicating beverages were permitted on the premises and the buffet offered by the Breinig was discontinued.

III

Andrew Curry, a Vigo County native and brother of Harry W. Curry, principal at Thompson School on Ohio Street, was elected mayor of Coffeyville, Kan., on April 1, 1913.

Curry taught school in Sullivan and Vigo counties before moving to Kansas in the 1880s. After teaching for a few years, he moved to Coffeyville to engage in the real estate and insurance business.

Andy Curry became active in the Kansas chapter of the State Insurance Federation, serving as a founder and director.

Curry and his wife Ella had a daughter, Bonnie, born in Indiana in 1880.

        

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