August 29 – September 4The Week in Indiana History |
||||||||||||
“Slow motion gets you there faster.” – – – Hoagy Carmichael (1899 – 1981) Hoagy Carmichael, born in Bloomington, was a songwriter, singer, actor, and attorney. HIs movies include “To Have and Have Not” and the most famous of all his popular songs is “Stardust.” Did You Know?   The first Indiana State Fair was held in 1852 in military park in Indianapolis. For the next few years, the fair was hosted by other cities, including Lafayette, Madison, New Albany, Fort Wayne, and Terre Haute. In 1860, a new fairgrounds was established in Indianapolis in the area now known as the Herron-Morton neighborhood. During the Civil War, the grounds were converted to a prison camp named Camp Morton. After the war, the fair continued at that location until 1892, when it moved to its present address on East 38th Street. Take an “Armchair Tour” of the Indiana Statehouse
ANSWERS: 1. Lew Wallace (The novel was Ben Hur)  2. Benjamin Harrison 3. Ambrose Burnside (sideburns) HOOSIER HISTORY HIGHLIGHTS: The Grand Army of the Republic meets for the final time |
1933   Dedication ceremonies were held for the Lincoln Memorial Bridge over the Wabash River. The span connected Vincennes to Lawrence County, Illinois. Principal speakers at the event were Indiana Governor Paul V. McNutt and Illinois Governor Henry Horner. Legend has it that the site is where Abraham Lincoln crossed the river when he moved from Indiana to Illinois.
1946   The first post-war Indiana State Fair presented a big show called the “Radio Roundup.” Broadcast nationwide over the ABC Radio Network, the program starred Hoagy Carmichael, Herb Shriner, Singin’ Sam, and the comedy team of Olsen and Johnson. Local talent included the Hoosier Hop Gang, the Four Notes, and Jimmy Boyer and the Rhythm Makers. Emcees were Governor Ralph Gates and Lieutenant Governor Richard James.
1949   Civil War soldiers of the GAR (Grand Army of the Republic) held their final meeting in Indianapolis. It had been 84 years since the war ended in 1865. In attendance were 6 of the 16 surviving members of the Union Army. They ranged in age from 100 to 106. (Pictured: A GAR medal)
1968   Roots Department Store in Terre Haute advertised the Nehru jacket, the latest style in young men’s clothing. Inspired by garments worn by the Prime Minister of India, the hip-length tailored coat was popular only for a few years in the later 1960s and early 1970s. The ones offered by Roots were made of wool with a satin lining and sold for $25.
