Silent films show Sullivan in late 1930s

An old photograph of the Sullivan County Public Library

If  you enjoyed the movie, “The Artist,” then you’ll love these two silent films taken in 1938 and 1939 in Sullivan, Indiana. The scenes in one film include cars, horses and buggies, people, children, school children, a Coca-Cola delivery truck, horse and laundry buggy, gas stations, service stations, dogs, medical care, coal miners, a baseball game, milkmen, tractors, cows, and a sign for the Davis Hotel. And just like today, the children push and shove one another to get in front of the camera and a few even stick out their tongues!

The scenes in the second film include a football game, W.V. Jennings Lumber Co., cars, the Sullivan Flying Club, a Gulf service station, people leaving a dry goods store, people leaving a church service, and aerial views of a baseball field and game, the town of Sullivan, and the Sullivan Courthouse. Take a gander at the football game. Those were tough dudes playing without helmets or much padding!

The films are part of the Sullivan County Public Library collection. The library is located at 100 S. Crowder Street in Sullivan. Enjoy these awesome moving images!

Now that’s a lot of mussel shells!

The photo above is incredible. While there is no date to accompany this image, there was the following description: “View of 29 tons of mussel shells lying next to the railroad tracks.” Twenty-nine TONS! This photograph is part of the collection of the Sullivan County Public Library in Sullivan, Indiana.

The above undated photograph shows two men taking a break from their work with mussel shells. This photo is part of the collection of the Sullivan County Historical Society. These old photographs show an amazing amount of mussel shells.

Just so you don’t get into trouble with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, please don’t collect mussel shells from public waters. Here’s what the DNR’s website says about this: “It is illegal to collect or take live or dead mussel shells from public waters. A ban on harvesting shells has been in effect since 1991 to protect against a rapid decrease in the abundance and distribution of mussels. Please do not disturb living mussels or take dead shells. It is illegal to possess live the following aquatic invasive mussels: Asiatic clam, quagga mussel and zebra mussel.”

Publication celebrates 50 years of UMWA District 11

“Please accept my heartiest congratulations on this momentous occasion, the celebration of your Golden Anniversary,” so began John Lewis, president of the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA), to the membership of District 11 in a 75-page publication celebrating the union.

These words of congratulations from Lewis appeared in the “Golden History 1890-1940: 50 Years of Progress and Achievement” publication of District 11 of the UMWA. This publication is chock-full of congratulatory ads, photos and historical information.

This publication is part of the collection of the Sullivan County Public Library. The library is located at 100 South Crowder Street in Sullivan, Indiana.

Protesting against saloons

Demonstrations have always been an important part of the political culture of the United States. Large cities and small towns have been the sites of various protest movements. In the early 1900s, the town square in Sullivan, Indiana, was the site for a temperance movement demonstration as illustrated in the photograph above.

Look closely at the photograph. First of all it’s interesting because it’s a panoramic image. In the photo you’ll find people playing the drums, trumpets or coronets and perhaps even a clarinet. The large banner reads, “We Protest Against the Saloon.” Take a look at how the people are attired. Like people of today, some are active participants and others are observers, sitting on the curb around the square. The square is beautifully manicured and the street lamp is gorgeous.

This photo is part of the Sullivan County Public Library collection. The library is located at 100 South Crowder in Sullivan.

Union Christian College: progressive for its day

In tiny Merom, Ind., a progressive college opened its doors in 1859. Union Christian College was a co-educational school where women were encouraged to enroll in any class that men took.

Pictured at right is the Linconian Hall, so named in honor of President Lincoln in 1863. The Linconian Society met in this room.

Union Christian College closed its doors in 1924. For the next 12 years, the facility was opened only in the summer for various camps. In 1936, the campus was reopened as the Merom Institute. Owned by the Indiana-Kentucky Conference of the United Church of Christ, the facility is now known as the Merom Conference Center.

This image is part of the Sullivan County Public Library collection. Check out a larger image of the Linconian Hall.

Can you dig it?

It’s groovy. It’s funky. It’s psychedelic. Yeah, it’s the 1972 Sullivan (Indiana) High School 1972 Spring Swing Out concert! This photograph shows the far-out, foxy seniors who participated in the spring musical. Yeah, man, you’re digging it — those are smiling faces hanging around!

This photograph is part of the Harry Jarrett Collection at the Sullivan County Public Library, 100 S. Crowder Street. The library is one of several partners of Wabash Valley Visions & Voices.

To view this image more closely, click here.

Peace out, dude!

Groundhog Day: once a legal holiday?

Groundhog Day is quickly approaching on Wednesday, Feb. 2. We all know the routine — weather forecasters wait to see if Punxsutawney Phil will see his shadow and whether we will have an early spring or a continuation of winter snow and ice. According to an old newspaper clipping from the Sullivan County Public Library, Groundhog Day was once a legal holiday in the Hoosier state!

Why does the library have this clipping? Well, it seems that the late Dr. James B. Maple, a local doctor and historian, enjoyed researching Sullivan and Vincennes, Indiana, newspapers for material about Sullivan County. His passion was so great he filled 42 volumes of scrapbooks!

To view the Groundhog Day article more closely, click here. The short story appears in the second column, last full paragraph.

‘Oh, the weather outside is frightful’

“Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful. …” Perhaps this is one of the songs that the Sullivan (Indiana) High School singers sang in 1966 when they were taping a Christmas show at television station WTWO. This photograph is part of the Harry Jarrett Collection of the Sullivan County Library, 100 S. Crowder Street. To view a larger image of this photo, click here.

For more Christmas-related items on Wabash Valley Visions & Voices, click here.