Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 34, Number 177, Decatur, Adams County, 27 July 1936 — Page 49

1836 -1936

f hievements of [dams County

ECATUR NOTED FOR MANUFACTURERS

KINESSMEN ■CANIZED TO | kIDECATURIi Lber Os Commerce, ■receding Organiza■ions Boon To City ■ history of the Decatur | of Cnniinen e anti its preKorgunizations is the story j Knd of wl, ° fo " K "' a “ d i ■T d th mmercial. in- j K anil <ivir success of a ' town Etrin.l of mon. operating tinEh‘ names of the Decatur „• Commerce. tile DecaKdnstrvil Hub. 'lie Decatur Errial , Inb anti a number of Epcr.il''" I committees tried ami cxp-rh-nced many ; Es Their sn c cess can be , K. : |,v the smoke of factorEi’.- ,J federal, state and | E-ntH- ami tie- tinkle of cash ' Ers. I E®en first organized in 1902. Eprenth Quinn as president., E- -,..v Hi ve percentage of Eftrreitp is mill active. John who was president of Kb at 'lie time of i’s reorg-’ m i '-’l. is a member of Kj. of the Cell E .t'imi Imperfec t recHiake it impossible to give a 1 story of the members of j or its activities. I , of rh- first hicvements of j Hthth was th" location of the .

■g Giove f;u t.>: y in Decatur ■it ? :!>•- decade follow Bui' m<-ml>-. r> of the organiza- ■ - ■ obtained the Holland St. ■S . >n; p;i >iy. the General Kit .ompany anti the Decatur company. ■ celebrate the location of the ■ i'- major industry, the Holl■ir.r !.oiii> Sugar company, ■w'o’-m-il :i committee and KiD>';durs famous Old Homo the grandfather of the Decelebration, liter years the < l»tb was ac- ! ■k’.h> niit.m’iug of trunk high- ■ through tin city. Bidding am.it.v the association ■tbi- ■h’-miith numerous trips v . ommission. a coast to coast route. ■ ’»u :“'i a road leading from to Canada. C. S. highway a e.-i-h.-ast road connectmajor Ohio highways. ■ highway 527. ■kti r c,. s < n f t ] lP organiza- ‘ the location here of a new factory to he housed in ■* Conveyor building. ■ >’-. employ approximately The Chamber of Com- <• li'iw negotiating with the ■ton Canneries. [ n e .of Ohio, ■•la canning plant here next would he a permanent 'hoiisnnds of dollars of products. year the Chamber of Com a committee 'to th» Decatur Free Street during the first week of U*J' wn to test the reaction of to siih civic enterby the success of Chamber of Com1)11 5,11

■ Attendants To Queen Wfflmaw' I ■*«. Shl Ks w Bi '-iSSSk wP < Wr K **'■ jl . i£r" Ilk- J* J ■x B W ™ J *“■'*»■» ►JttaSta---....— ■ U<?'. ildred Teeple RUth Elzey ■g** Mildred Teeple and Ruth Elzey, runners-up in the contes Kh m>2 faCentennial Queen, will act as attendants to Miss Fti™? ■t» n ? “• durln K Centennial week, as Miss Indiana and Miss AdW“ y ' r «spectively. I

DECATUR DA MA DEMOCRAT

Queen Os Decatur i - w Miss Frieda Scherer, elected queen of Decatur’s Centennial by popular vote of Decatur citizens, will preside over the court of honor during Centennial week. August 2—B.

Lauds Industry ' - James I. Farley De.atur’s .splendid industries and its fine civic epirit are the subject of special comment in an articD i written by Congressman Farley. l for this Centennial Edition of the Democrat. ■ ' ’ , MRS. JANE ACKER Mrs. Jane Acker, who died | May 9, of this year, was the | ( city's oldest resident at the time ' of her death. She was 97 years old.- Mrs. Acker was daughter j of the first elected sheriff of | < | Adams county and was born in a two room log house near Bo- | bo. She made her home on first j street at the time of har eighth.

Centennial Edition

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

CITES VALUE ' OF INDUSTRY Farley Lauds Local Enterprise And Civic Spirit Honorable James I. Farley. • Congressman from this District in I the United States House of Representatives. comments as follows upon Decatur's thriving industries and its splendid civic spirit in an article written expressly for the Centennial Edition of this newsi paper: “It has been my happy pleasure to visit Decatur and Adams County regularly for a number of years past. I have watched the i development of the city and the I surrounding location with much interest and satisfaction. “I never go into Decatur without feeling that this city is one of the most progressive county seat towns in the state. Here I public improvements keep pace ! with private progress. People are i happy, contented and employed. “When the General Electric (Continued On Page 501

Observation Os Business District 50 Years Ago

By FRED V. MILLS Situated on the southeast corner of Second street and Jefferoon street was the old 2-story frame school building that formerly stood where the Central school building now rftands. The old building wa-s . empty that year but next year was I occupied and owned by John D. Hall an a feed store. On the north- ' east corner of Second and Jefferson. the three frame buildings stood ■ back 30 feet from the sidewalk and were occupied as dwellings. Mrs. i Kate Champer lived in one. John : Miller. Erie freight agent, lived in one, and Mr. Kingsbury occupied the oth r. Going north on the east side of Second street, a 2-storv frame building was occupied iby Mr. i Charles Porter and wife, the late Mrs. Gene Stratton Porter, who came to Decatur as a bride from Wabash County. Indiana, the spring i.of that year. j Adjoining north were two vacant ' lota and across the alley a frame building occupied liy H. S. Porter’s ' second hand store. Adjoining was a building occupied by Mathias Colchin’s restaurant and bakery, then two va ant lots, adjoining which | was a brick building owned and occupied by Mrs. Barthel’s saloon, i Next was Yager’s furniture and : undertaking store, and adjoining ! was a building owned and occupied p>y John Wilfley’s grocery store.

t Decatur, Indiana, Monday .July 27, 1936.

$1,500 PRIZES WILL BE GIVEN FOR LIVESTOCK Attractive Prize List To Attract Centennial Exhibitors Prizes totaling approximately sl-, 500 will attract exhibitors from six counties and prospective buyers from over the country to the agricultural show to lie held in connection with the Decatur Centennial celebration from August 2 to 8. All of the livestock will be in Decatur by Tuesday. August 4 at 10 o’clock. They will remain in Decatur for the week. A full program has been planned. Approximately 500 animals will be in the show. The live stock show, which has attracted much interest in previous years, will have many unusual features this year. Cattle will be exhibited on the city’s parking lot east of the termination of Madison street on First street. The judging ring will be in the tent this year. Calf Club Show E. T. Wallace, extension dairyman from Purdue University will begin judging of the 4-H club calves. Tuesday afternoon at 4 o’clock. More than 70 animals representing the four leading dairy breeds in the county .will be represented. | The breeds are: Holstein. Guern-1 sey. Jersey and Ayrshire. °rizes amount to about sius. Two District Shows The Guernsey and Jersey district shows will be held in Decatur for the second consecutive year. This is th«* first city that has ever had both shows. The Guernsey regional show will be he'd Wednesday, August 5, at It o’clock, with W. W. Yapp of the University of Illinois as judge. Five counties, Wells. Huntington, Allen. Dekalb and Adams will be represented. Approximately S3OO will be given in prizes, half of which was donated by the Centennial association and half by the breeders. About 100 animals will be entered. Prof. Yapp will also judge the Jersey parish show to be held Thursday, August 6. beginning at 9 o'clock. Prizes will be the same as in the Guernsey show. About 100 animals are in the competition. First On Record For the first time in the history of the breed, it is believed, a production show will be held for a full week. A few one-day production shows have been held. As the Holstein breeders are just beginning to organize, the show here will be on a county basis only Prof. Salisbury of Ohio state university has been obtained as the judge. The prizes will total about the same as in the other (Continued On Page 50) >

" • 11 " » On the southeast corner of Second and Madison streets, was the James H. Stone hardware store. In 1886 On the northeast corner of See- : ond and Madison streets. where Vance & Linn are now' located, was ’ a vacant lot- To the north on the i east side of the street was a brick i building occupied by Norval Black- < burn, the front part being used as the Decatur Post Office. Mr. Blackburn was ipostmaster and J. C. Patterson wae deputy postmaster. He i also edited the Decatur Weekly Democrat in the same room. , Adjoining was a dry goods and notion store operated by Mr. Vore. Next was Schafer Bros, block, owned by' < Jacob and Fred S hafer, hardware and implements. (Adjoining them was the building owned and occupied by Peter Forking's -saloon, and ’he next was owned and occupied by Jacob Martin bakery and restaurant. Adjoin- ; ing was John Miller and Nicholas Miller barber shop. Next was First : National Bank, with Dore T. Dotwin, president, Bus. Kolbe, cashier and Richard Porter Dorwin, bookv; er. On the alley was Donovan & Addlesperger grocery etore. The property across the alley north was owned and occupied by John Brock, stoves and tinware. Next was Isaac Rosenthal clothing store, and the ■ adjoining room was occupied by Ira 1

Decatur’s Main Business Street ■k . M ■k* x ■Wf ‘A/ ■HE ■BmkS a. I* SL- j jX&I’sC. c A I J Pictured ajtove i-a view of Second street, on which is located the main portion of Decatur’s Business district. The view pictured above, whows Second street, from Liberty Way north. Special light lines, erected to provide la brilliantly illuminated midway during the Centennial, may be seen in the foreground.

H.L GONTER WELL KNOWN Former Local Man Wins Lake County And State Recognition ; Herman L. Confer is another I Decatur man who has paddled J right along on his own ability and has made good in a big ware-Born here nearly seventy years ago. Herman when a young man be- | came assistant cashier in a bank in Sturgis. South Dakota. Several . years later he returned here and operated the Peoples restaurant a short time, then became city editor of the Democrat. In 1898, he returned to Sturgis to become cashier of the same bank in which he ; had formerly worked. Some three years later. Mr. Confer returned to Decatur and became associated with J. W. Place and F. E. France in the Place Ice Cream Company. In 1910 he was appointed deputy secretary of state, serving with honor and credit for six years, un- | der Mr. Ellingham and Homer Cook He returned here and in 1918 was the Democratic candidate i for secretary of state. Sixteen years ago he went to Gary as secretary and later vice-president of the Gary Trust & Savings Company and in 1930 was elected treasurer of Lake county, holding that position four years and was sucl ceeded by his son. France Center. A man of attractive personality and with the ability to do his job well. Mr. Confer has succeeded 1 and his friends are glad.

Blossom's meat market. Next was Spencer & Hull Boston Store, dry goods. In the same room in front part on the south side, Marion Elzey conducted a jewelry store, and the adjoining room was occupied by the John VVogelwede saloon. The adjoining property was owned and occupied by Mellen Burns, maker of harness and leather goods, and the next room was occupied by Adolph Dagde, ice cream parlor and restaurant. Next was a vacant lot. and on the southeast corner of Second Monroe streets was the Niblick, Crawford & Sons Clothing Store. Remember? On the northeast corner of Second and Monroe streets was a saloon, and going East on Monroe street was a vacant lot. Next was a frame building occupied by a saloon, adjoining which were two j frame buildings, and on the alley [ was the Burt House Hotel, owned ■ by Mrs. Dick Townsend. Across the al'ey on the north side of Monroe street was a frame; building occupied by shoe repair : ,-hop and the adjoining building was occupied by Al Burdge barker ehoip. Next was a frame building occupied by Tom Bixler saloon, with another frame building adjoining that. On the northwest corner of Monroe street and First street was a brick building owned and occupied by John King, wag n manufacturer-

HOLDS RECORD FOR SERVICE Henry B. Heller Is Oldest County Official In I Years Os Service The oldest county official in I years of continuous service is; Henry B. Heller of Decatur. Ad- 1 I cotmty attorney since February in 1914, 22 years ago. Mr. Heller succeeded to the honor early this year when the state aPolished the board of children guardians and charities. At this time ! his mother, the late Mrs. D. D. Heller, was president and had been active on the two county ' boards for about 30 years. I Mr. Heller has been attorney for, ■ the city of Berne for more than 10 ■ years and has given legal advice i to the town of Geneva for more than 20 years. A native of Decatur, Mr. Heller | attended the public schools here and was graduated from the Decatur high school in 1895. After leav-| ing school he studied law for a short time in the office of Mann and Beaty before attending the Indiana Law School at Indianapolis from which he was graduated in 1897. He immediately began the practice of law in Decatur and in 1902 entered partnership with his fath- 1 er the late Judge D. D. Hellel. In 1914 he was appointed county attorney, succeeding Clark J. Lutz. Mr. Heller has been active in political and civic affairs during his adult life. He served as prosecuting attorney two terms from 1907 to 1911. He was Democratic |

I On northeast corner of First and Monroe streets was the 2-story ’ brick residence of Dr. T. Dorwin, and on the southeast corner of First and Monroe streets was the brick , residence of Daniel Railing. On the southwest corner of First and Monroe streets was the brick residence of Dr. Trout and on tne northwest corner of Second street and i Monroe street was a 2-story brick building in a small corner room of which was the Adams County Bank. Ba’ance of the building was owned and occupied by Jesse Niblick & Sons, dry goods and groceries. They also owned and occupied frame building on Second street north, used as a warehouse. Adjoining it north across the alley was Webber’s livery stable. Going west on Monroe street,' i north side, adjoining Niblick & Co. | | was a frame building occupied by; I Henry Winnes, dealer in bboota i and shoes. Next was a frame buildI ing occupied by saloon and ad- | joining was a small frame building ' where fruits and vegetables were I sold. Next was the Mary Closs Millinery store, and on the alley was a frame building occupied by Ja- ; cob Closs & Son jewelry store, I clock and watch repair shop. Across; the alley, the two-story frame build-I ' ing still standing, was occupied as i (Continued On Page 50) 1

SECTION SEVEN

Holds Record 1 1 w* Sr gL . ' j’’’ jßP** /■ , | Henry B. Heller Henry B. Heller. Adams county' attorney, holds record for years of I continuous service in community, j ' j county chairman for four years and secretary of the county ceni tral committee for six years. He ’ was secretary of the Decatur pub- ■ lie library board for 25 years and ’ has been an officer and member of ’ the official board of the Methodist | church for many- years.

Invites Former Residents _____ nF i ; ;- ’i Mrs. R. D. Myers Mrs. R. D. Myers is general chairman of Homecoming and invitations for Decatur's Centennial celebration. Several thousand invitations have been sent to former residents under the direction of Mrs. Myers.

Civic, Religious, Social, Commercial, Industrial, Agricultural

HIGH RATING IS GIVEN CITY FOR INDUSTRY Factories And Agriculture Assure Stability For Future Decatur has u national reputation for being one of the most progressive. prosperous and modern cities of its size in the United Staes today. While not the largest Decatur is one of the best cities in the middle west, regardless of size, and it owes its singular position to a happy combination of thriving industries, a cooperative civic spirit and a county more than ordinary fertile in soil and rich in the progressiveness of its farmers. The acquisition in recent years of such outstanding industries as the General Electric Company, the McMillen Feed Mills, McMillen Fertilizer Co., Central Sugar and Central Soya plants, the Cloverleaf Creameries, Decatur Castings Company, gives the finest kind of assurance for the future stability of the city. These, with the many older industries long established in Decatur, provide a diversification of industry which is most, desirable. These excellent industries give ' ideal working conditions and a livelihood for many Decatur citizens and their families. They regularly employ approximately 1.000 persons and during seasonable ' operations between 1,400 and 1.500. With their families this means i these industries afford a living for several thousand persons. The annual output of Decatur's manufactured products, which are distributed in every state of the Union and to many foreign countries, totals several millions of dollars. This rich industrial and agricnl- ! tural background provides an opI portunity and incentive for a retail shopping district that is sec- ' ond to none for a city of its size iin the United States. . More Industries Coming And the ideal conditions here I continue to attract industry. It is I now reported that a new factory I employing approximately 100 men ' plans to begin operations in DeI catur very shortly. The concern, now located at Grabill, is managed i by R. Brantmiller, of Fort Wayne. I and manufactures lawn furniture and similar articles. According to present plans, juvenile furniture (Continued On Page 50)