| MARCH MEETING
Helen Carson was our speaker at the March meeting. Helen spoke about the Cattron family in Westville. She also had some interesting books that she brought along about the family.
Priscilla Sebert served the refreshments.
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APRIL MEETING
A slide presentation on the history of the Haskell and Barker Railroad plant in Michigan City, was given by Mike Fleming. Mike had many pictures taken inside the plant and also of the surrounding area. Owner John H. Barker was responsible for many of the buildings in Michigan City. Among the ones he built were the Spaulding Hotel and the band shelter in Washington park. In 1904, he donated half of the cost to build St. Anthony Hospital.
Joanne Elliott served the refreshments.
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MAY MEETING
There was no speaker for our May meeting. There was a large number of middle school students in attendance and we decided to have each one name an historical figure, past or present, that they would like to meet.
They named a variety of presidents, sports personalities, religious figures, some scientists and many others. After the students finished, the members also told who they would like to meet.
This was the last meeting that the students will be attending until September. They receive an extra credit in their history class for attendance. In May, they were given a bonus credit if they brought in a recipe for the cookbook.
The refreshments were served by Ron and Cheryl Albert.
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JUNE MEETING
June also found us without a speaker. After the business meeting, Jean Bartmess served the refreshments.
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INDICATOR PRESERVATION UPDATE
On April 8, seven members met at the town hall and worked several hours getting more volumes of the Indicators ready for the archival boxes. Jr. Elliott, Dick and Mauvie Fagg, Priscilla Sebert, Steve Potrzbowski, Ron and Cheryl Albert spent the morning cutting the acid free paper and inserting it into the newspapers. Quite a bit of progress was made........until they ran out of the acid free paper. Joanne Elliott will order more. We hope one more work day will finish this project.
The papers will continue to be stored at the town hall.
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AIRLINE SIGN UPDATE:
PROJECT COMPLETED!
The signs to mark where the old airline crossed U.S. #421 were delivered.
Mike Fleming and Ron Albert installed them at the proper site, north of Westville. The sign can be read by traffic from either direction. Our web address appears at the bottom of the sign.
At the June meeting, we decided to purchase some inexpensive, small solar lights to place at the base of the signs so they can be seen at night.
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COOKBOOK UPDATE
We now have enough recipes to get the cookbook published. Joanne, Jean, Priscilla, Mauvie and Cheryl met at the library basement at the end of May and sorted them into categories. Each one took a folder of recipes to type and get ready for the publisher.
A cut-off date of July 10 was decided on for submitting any more recipes.
These should be ready for sale at the Pumpkin Fest.
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HISTORY BOOK UPDATE
Those working on the History of New Durham Twp. have already done much research, with much more to do. This has been set aside for a short time so we could concentrate on getting the cookbook organized and published. This book will cover the period from the beginning’s of the township through 1955.
If you have any pictures of businesses as they looked before 1955, or maybe a picture of one of the businessmen or women we would appreciate having a copy to put in the book. Also any pictures of some of the past clergy, postmasters etc. would be welcome.
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NEW MEMBER
Welcome to our newest member, Phyllis Mace, who joined the WCHS at our April meeting. We hope you enjoy being in our group, Phyllis.
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DONATION
A big thank you to the Westville Tri-Kappa for their recent donations. One donation was for the Veteran’s Memorial fund and another went into our general fund.
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TRACK DISCUSSED FOR
LINCOLN FUNERAL TRAIN
MEMORIAL SITE
At the May meeting, Mike Walt, Sr., asked why we couldn’t have a section of railroad track placed next to the Lincoln Funeral Train Memorial sign on Main St. to show exactly where the train ran.
At the June meeting, Mike Fleming reported that we could get a section of track from the South Shore railroad. This would be complete, with both the rails and ties, ready to set. They would deliver it. We would have to contact someone with a crane to unload it and place it. We would also be responsible for putting down the gravel bed. The section would be 30 feet long.
Meanwhile, we must track (no pun intended) down the property owner for permission and also check into liability insurance.
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PLANS STARTED FOR 2006 PUMPKIN FEST
As in the past, the WCHS will be renting 2 spaces for our booth at the 2006 Pumpkin Fest. We will have a full page ad in the Pumpkin Fest book again this year.
Susan Slater Wright pointed out that in a previous year, we had a couple of the old Indicator’s on display and they drew a lot of interest. We will display some again this year.
Our cookbooks should be ready for sale and we will have video’s and cd’s of interest, note cards and old pictures to sell.
Joanne Elliott is donating a quilt and Dick Fagg is donating a quilt rack, both items to be raffled off that weekend. The prices for the raffle tickets will be $1 each or 6 for $5. The winner will not have to be present at the drawing.
More plans will be made and finalized at the next 2 meetings.
Start thinking about signing up to take a turn at working at the booth for an hour or two that weekend.
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SECOND ANNUAL HISTORY PLAQUE AWARDED
At the Westville Middle School awards program in May, our second annual plaque for the outstanding 8th. grade history student was awarded. The 2006 recipient was Stephanie Miller. Congratulations, Stephanie!
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WCHS MEMBER CELEBRATES 95TH. BIRTHDAY
On April 12, Elsie Behnke celebrated her 95th. birthday. In the afternoon, WCHS members Dick and Mauvie Fagg, Joanne Elliott and Priscilla Sebert called at the home of Ron and Cheryl Albert where Elsie was spending the day. They brought a pretty decorated birthday cake to share with her. She also received a beautiful bouquet of flowers from the WCHS.
Elsie was born in DeKalb County, Ill. In 1934, she married Bernard Behnke and they resided in Illinois until 1936, moving to Logansport. In 1942 they moved to Westville and Elsie has made her home here since then.
Elsie is an accomplished musician, playing the violin, piano and organ. At one time she played the piano with a dance orchestra.
In the early 1950’s, she was the Westville town clerk-treasurer, the first woman to be elected to office in Westville.
She enjoys baking, cooking and crocheting. The past few years she has crocheted dozens of afgans, giving them to family and friends, and she has donated several to organizations for raffles.
Elsie, her daughter Cheryl, and grandson, Mike Albert all belong to the WCHS, our only 3 generation members. She also has a great-grandson, Brady.
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MEMORIAL DAY SERVICE
The Westville American Legion Post #21 held their annual Memorial Day service at noon at the Veteran’s Memorial.
The colors were presented by Mike Warnock, Jim Bechinske, Ron Stallings, Walt Iliff, Jim Hannon and Terry Baker, the members of the Color Guard.
Post Commander Larry Collier was the speaker and Post Chaplain Lew Cass read the service.
The new wreath was placed by Melanie Rimbaugh.
This year, 2 motorcycle groups joined in the event. The American Patriots Motorcycle Riders Group, Inc. and the Christian Motorcylist Ass’n. Before the service, these riders rode to the edge of the street in front of the Memorial and parked their ‘bikes’ in a row.
Members of the Patriots Motorcycle group gave the gun salute at the end of the service.
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VETERAN’S MEMORIAL GETS
“SPRUCED UP” BEFORE
SERVICES
The day before the Memorial Day services, Joanne and Jr. Elliott and Ron and Cheryl Albert got the Memorial looking it’s best.
The windows were washed inside and out, and all of the brass nameplates were polished with WD-40. This also keeps the plates from corroding. The concrete was swept and the light fixtures cleaned off. A bright new flag was atop the pole and Cheryl arranged new flowers in the urns. She also decorated the new wreath that the Legion placed there on memorial Day.
Pictures of those who lost their lives in WW 1 and WW 2 were placed in one window. Frames with the names of those who perished in Vietnam and the Civil War were also in the window. These were removed after Memorial Day.
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NEW MICROFILM MACHINE IS DISCUSSED
The Westville library has a microfilm machine, but no way to print off of it. Any articles must be hand copied, or the librarian has to take the film to the Chesterton library to make a copy for the patron.
Joanne Elliott suggested that we provide them with a new machine. After checking prices and finding that the cost is not within our budget, we discussed possible of ways of funding such a purchase. One idea was to ask several other community organizations to help with the costs. Another idea was to have a fund raiser. Mike Fleming is going to contact the trustee to see if there is a way for the township to help with the purchase.
We will be discussing this at future meetings and try to come up with a plan.
WCHS ANNUAL
SCHOLARSHIP
Our annual $250 scholarship for a Purdue North Central student was discussed at the June board meeting. Applications and a letter with the criteria for awarding the scholarship will be taken to the PNC campus before the fall classes begin.
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REMINDERS
Our meetings are held the 4th. Monday of every month except December. Board meetings begin at 6 p.m. followed by the regular meeting at 7 p.m. in the lower level of the library. Guests are always welcome.
Our website address:
www.westville-history.com
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50 YEARS AGO.........1956
You could hop into your brand new Ford, priced at $1748 for the cheapest model, or $3151 for the pricey one. You filled your tank with gas costing 23 cents per gallon. Turning on the car radio, you listened to “See You Later, Alligator”, “Ivory Tower” and “Que Sera, Sera”.
Elvis, Pat Boone, Perry Como, the Everly Brothers, Guy Mitchell, the 4 Lads and the 4 Preps all had hit records.
Driving that Ford to the outdoor theater, you watched “Giant”, “Anastasia”, “High Society” “The King and I” and “The Ten Commandments”.
The minimum wage was raised to $1, enabling you to purchase more loaves of bread at 18 cents per loaf, or more 3 cent stamps.
The Edge of Night and As The World Turns began their run on t.v. Peyton Place was published.
Albert Woolson, the last Union soldier of the Civil War, died at the age of 109.
Grace Kelly married Prince Rainier III in Monaco.
The Andrea Doria sank after colliding with the Stockholm, in heavy fog. 52 persons perished.
The Soviet Union sent troops and tanks into Hungary to crush uprisings.
Was it really that long ago??
Elsie Behnke celebrates 95th birthday.
WCHS
NEWSLETTER
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