Remembering a teacher and a coach

Around 1920, Oscar Edwards, a graduate of Wiley High School in Terre Haute, Indiana, won first place in the long jump at the IHSAA State Finals with a leap of 20 feet, 20-1/2 inches. Edwards not only made his mark around the track, but also in education.

A graduate of Indiana State Normal, Edwards earned a degree in physical education in 1929. He then started his master’s degree at Indiana State Teachers College, but left in 1931 when a job opened up at Booker T. Washington High School in Miami. A physical education teacher, Edwards also coached football and basketball. Eventually, he earned graduate degrees from Indiana State Teachers College and Indiana University.

According to Vigo County Historian Mike McCormick, “Throughout his teaching career, Edwards was outspoken in his efforts to improve the academic environment for black children. His reputation for activism may have affected his advancement but, in 1963, he was named assistant principal at Miami’s George Washington Carver High School.”

McCormick shares Edwards’ story in “Wabash Valley Profiles, a series of tributes to hometown heroes who have made a difference.” This series was presented by First Financial Bank. Edwards’ tribute appeared in 2006.

Rockin’ out in Clinton!

The Clinton (Indiana) Public Library, 313 South 4th Street, is the repository for several interesting photographs of musicians in the 20th century. Take a gander at this 1950s image of The Fabulous Challengers, comprised of Bob Reed, Bob Sizemore, Mick Lowry, Larry Huffman and Jack Stefani. What a slick-looking group!

This 1960s photograph of The Stormers (Jim Howell, Sam Sweazy, Bob Gibbons, Jack Huffman and Jerry Zanandrea) is a classic!

 
Here’s an undated photo of Johnny Bettineschi on saxophone and Armond Gitard playing guitar. This duo played with many area bands.

And representing the female persuasion are Anna White and Iva Weir. This duo played folk and rock favorites.

More photographs of musical groups from Clinton are available here.

Mischievous little pixies

Don’t you just love to look at photos of children being forced to “like” one another? Can’t you just hear family members saying, “Nadine, give your sister, Phyllis, a big hug! Phyllis, act like you love your sister!” This late 1920s photograph is from the private collection of Betty Wilderman Lowe, Terre Haute, Indiana.

This 1931 photograph from the private collection of Lisa Lowe Yowell, Terre Haute, Indiana, puts a smile on my face every time I look at it. These smiles look so genuine. I don’t think anyone needed to force these reactions. Baby Betty June Wilderman looks like a mischievous little pixie, and young Barbara Lee Wilderman looks like she thinking, “Oh, here we go again! Little Betty June is starting something again!”

If you would like to add personal photographs to Wabash Valley Visions & Voices, feel free to contact Cinda May, Wabash Valley Visions and Voices project coordinator, at 812-237-2534 or cinda.may@indstate.edu.

Are you ready for your staff Christmas party?

It’s nearly Christmas and that means there are parties to attend, good food to eat, and people to renew acquaintances with. In this 1942 photograph students at the Indiana State Teachers College, now known as Indiana State University, kick up their heels during their Christmas Sophomore Dance. And, yes, those are suckers in their mouths!

Twenty years later, this group of Indiana State College, now University, students decorates a hall on campus for the annual Christmas ball.

Both of these Martin’s Photo Shop images are part of Indiana State University Archives.

Postcards share good cheer

It’s December and that means it’s time for Christmas and other holiday cards. The Vigo County Historical Society has a wonderful collection of such cards. The above 1910 postcard has Santa raising a toast. It reads, “Cast dull care away, for here's to Xmas day. Join the festive bowl, and be a jolly soul.”

What animal lover can resist this undated postcard wishing someone Merry Christmas in German? Don’t we all love howling dachshunds?

Ah, and what Scrooge didn’t open his door to these three carolers?

Traditional Foods for the Holidays

Home economics students at Indiana State University prepare meals.

As we head toward the holidays, many of us begin to think about all the cooking and baking that is to come. George Washington declared Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1789, and since then we've been celebrating the holiday with  family and good friends, and of course, with food. Over time, families adopted traditional recipes and handed them down from one generation to the next. For some, these recipes are family treasures. They are shared, entered in contests, guarded, and argued over. 

Now that the official Holiday cooking season is underway, I'd like to share some recipes for Hasen Pfeffer and Pumpkin Pie, as well as some images of local bakers, which you will find in the Wabash Valley Visions & Voices Collections. What are some of your  traditional holiday recipes?

Photograph of Carl Prulhiere, baker at Fossi's Bakery.

Video explores Civil War service of Sisters of Providence

Mother Mary Cecilia Bailly, general superior from 1856 to 1868

Shortly after the firing on Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861, Oliver Perry Morton, Indiana governor, asked for the assistance of the Sisters of Providence in the administration of City Hospital in Indianapolis. After inspecting the facility, Mother Mary Cecilia Bailly, general superior of the Congregation, agreed to send sisters to what would become known as Military Hospital.

A new video illustrates how the sisters responded to this call for nurses. First of all, the hospital was in terrible disarray. According to the Community diary of the Congregation, “They [the sisters] found the new hospital in a miserable state of filth and disorder, and the sick in a wretched condition. The Sisters labored very hard to put the hospital in proper condition; their exertions were crowned with the greatest success. The change they soon effected in making it a clean, comfortable house for the sick soldiers, filled the people with admiration and inspired great confidence in them.”

Learn more about the heroic service of the Sisters of Providence during the Civil War on the Congregation’s website for fourth- through eighth-grade students, WoodsUp.