1859     Mayor Samuel Maxwell and the Indianapolis City Council established the first paid fire department.  It had previously been a volunteer force.  The department began with a hook and ladder company and two hand engines and, in 1860, gained their first steam engine.

1885     Charles Edward Henry began production at the Opalescent Glass Works in Kokomo.  Still in business, the company is known for its high-quality hand-mixed sheet glass art and colored glass.

1905     “The House of a Thousand Candles” by Indianapolis author Meredith Nicholson was published by the Bobbs-Merrill Company.  The book became a best seller and inspired a play and two motion pictures.  Many think the book resulted from the author’s visit to a home on Lake Maxinkuckee in Culver, Indiana.

1935     Admiral Richard E. Byrd was guest of honor at the Columbia Club in Indianapolis.  The famed pioneer aviator and polar explorer was introduced by Mayor John W. Kern and treated to a concert by the Cathedral High School Band.  Byrd spoke of his many experiences and showed movies of his explorations.

1949     The world premiere of the movie Johnny Holidaywas held at the Lyric Theater in Indianapolis.  Filmed almost entirely at the Indiana Boys’ School, the movie stars William Bendix and Hoagy Carmichael with a cameo appearance by Indiana Governor Henry Schricker.

2005     Ruth M. Siems, home economist, died at her home in Newburgh, Indiana. For 30 years she was on the innovation staff at General Foods.  Her best-known creation was Stove Top Stuffing Mix, introduced in 1972.  Over 60 million boxes are sold at Thanksgiving time.

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Indiana Statehouse Tour Office

Indiana Department of Administration

Visitors are welcome at the Indiana Statehouse Monday through Saturday.  For more information, please contact the tour office.

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Listed below are five important events in Indiana.  Select the correct year for each.

1.  Indiana joined the Union, becoming the 19th state.   a.  1776  b.  1801    c.  1816    d.  1825

2.  Indiana adopted a new state constitution.    a.  1851    b.  1865  c.  1870    d.  1874

3.  Indiana opened the current statehouse.    a.  1824.   b.  1865    c.  1888    d.  1910

4.   Benjamin Harrison was elected President.    a.  1864    b.  1872    c.  1882    d.  1888

5.   Hoosier Wendell Willkie waged a spirited campaign for President. a.  1932    b.  1936    c.  1940    d.  1944

                   Bob Hope and Jane Russell were emcees at the Lyric Theater for the world premiere of “Johnny Holiday.”  In the audience was Governor Henry Schricker (above) who appears in the movie as he visits the Indiana Boys’ School.

Answers:  1. c   2. a   3. c   4. d   5. c