File - Clarksville Historical Society

Volume4#4
The April meeting was held at 7 :00 p.m. on April
14th in the Clarksville Town Hall on the first floor of
the Municipal Building. Twenty-six members and
guests attended.
Dr. Don Munich presented slides ofseldom seen
fossils that are on the far side ofthe channel, toward
the dam, and on to the island beyond. The slides were
--beautiful close-ups ofmany different kinds offossils, as
,ells a lovely views ofthe dam, and the surrounding
area and vegetation.
The geologic time scale is represented as an eight­
inch-tall glass ofroot beer. Geologic time begins at the
bottom ofthe glass. The top ofthe glass is the present
time. Seven inches ofroot beer below the foam repre­
sents time that passed before animals had shells
(Precambrian). One inch offoam at the top represents
time that has passed since animals began to make shells.
The time represented by foam is divided into twelve
great periods on the geologic time scale. The periods
averaged about 50 million years in length. During each of
those period, earth was inhabited by an obviously differ­
ent assemblange ofplant and animal life.•
The May meeting of the Clarksville His­
torical Society will be held at 7:00 p.m.
at the Municipal.
The CHS Board will present an overview
f the state of the Society, and explain
the issues that the board deals with on
a regular basis.
IARTHPORMID '--_ _ _ _-i'·4~ BIl Yr.Ap
I
Tile £lu..k",Tilie T ..iblille - Se••fe.l.be.. It.:II.
Since this is the second issue ofthe Clarksville Tribune (although the first issue on the Indiana Historical
Society Microfilm) it appears the publication began in A ugust of 1939. The following is from Volume 1, #2,
which would be the September 1939 issue.
The town board met at the Colgate School. The. report
on taxes gave the total taxes collected as $30,767.85 for
1939. Net assessed valuation ofaII property in the town
was $3,264,420.
An ordinance was passed which set the town Marshal's
salary at $150 per mo.
Recognition ofthe Postal Department that Clarksville is
a corporate town and that mails so addressed will not
. be returned to the sender.
Board meetings to be conducted openly and in a
friendly manner, to which both men and women may
come without fear ofridicule or embarrassment.
Ar..... ul .... e T.n,'.. c.......... Clarksville continues to grow. Property improve­
ments and new houses are adding to the community
every day. Mrs. George Hudson has added a fine
looking brick front to her grocery store and has built an
apartment to it. New residences are now being built by
George Wenning on Howard Ave. and by Arthur
Entemans on Homestead Ave. and Mr. Blankenship on
Lincoln Drive.
Where do you live? In Rosedale? Greenacres?
Avondale? Ohio Falls? Sure, that is right and we are all
proud ofour little sub-divisions and are trying to make
them better, but let's start telling people we live in
Clarksville. It's nothing to be ashamed ofand ifwe tell it
often enough others will realize it. Some day we can
have our mail sent to Clarksville and there will be a
Clarksville Post Office.
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&.1.... 1411 file T ..iblllle's ife.l.s
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An advisory Committee of Clarksville citizens to advise
the Town Board on municipal affairs.
Promotion of civic pride, and encouragement to prop­
erty owners to improve the appearance oftheir prop­
erty, especially vacant lots.
The regular and efficient collection and disposal of
garbage.
Baird's Store at Harrison Ave. atLincoln !Drive
(phone 285) had sundaes and sodas for 10 cents,
malted milk for 25 cents and sandwiches or milk shake
for 10 cents.
••.•1.•1. ..rid.le behul .IIUlrtled
George Egland, ofthe Pennsylvania Railroad, has
announced that because oftheEuropean situation and
possible activities offoreign sympathizers in the coun­
try, his company is increasing the guard ofthe Pennsyl­
varuaBridge to prevent sabotage.
The bridge has been guarded by one watchman, but,
effective at once, there will be three watchmen on the
structure at all times.
Thishas required the recall ofsix furloughed men and
will entail an expense of something over $1 0,000 a
yearto providethis inspection.
Mr. Egland states the War Department considers the
bridge a vital link in the country's transportation
system because ofits relation to the Quartermaster
Depot and Fort Knox. He says his orders are so far­
reaching that not even railroad employees will be
allowed on the bridge except in performance ofduty
and bridge passes allowing employees to walk across
the bridge to and from work will not be honored .
--­
Flood Diary
This is the continuation ofa diary kept by a
Jeffersonville woman during the 1937 flood.
Well, it's clear tonight. We just got through supper.
We are b'~ming the lamp for the first time tonight. We
will workjigsaw puzzles for awhile then go to bed. The
dogs are ? now. We can't go out on the street after 6
o'clock at night. Marshal law.
Wed., Jan 27th.
Got up this a.m. at 9:30. River still falling. Joe and
Dad went down to the commissary after breakfast. Dad
came back and said we could send a wire. I hiked down
and sent one to Gerald. I told him to send some ciga­
rettes. Then came home and Araminta and I both wrote
a letter. They are taking the mail and telegrams out by
boat or truck to Charlestown.
The river is going down little by little, but you can't
tell it. They say Chestnut Street is so full of houses
floating around that they can hardly get through in a boat.
Louisville is in worse shape that we are as there are more
people to take care of.
Poor old Jeffhere is all gone. One has no idea
how bad it is going to be until the water has gone down.
Houses floating around ever where, sheds piled up,
telephone poles strewn allover the place. Wires tangled
in trees and ever thing else, There will probably be a
plague follow the flood, as there usually is, You can go
from Brighton Ave, to the toll booths at the bridge in a
motor boat. It's over twenty feet deep at the post office.
We got a box of groceries today, Potatoes, prunes,
beans, bread and milk. Also three bushels of coal. All is
well tonight. No news of the river stage. Look for a
wire in the morning, It's clear tonight.
Thur., Jan 28th:
Got up this a.m. at 8:30. It's raining this morning,
River has dr~pped about one and a half foot since yester­
day morning. We got coffee, pancake flour, bread, and 1/
2 gallon ofcoal oil today, Ever thing is running pretty
smooth. We fixed an outside toilet todav. The whole end
of town is using it.
Joe got an anny cot and blanket today, He has
been sleeping on the settee.
I got a card from mother today, written Jan 22nd.
Today is the 28th, Also got a wire from Gerald. He is
sending cigarettes. I knew he would if! could reach him.
I look for a letter from some of them tomorrow.
Araminta got a wire from May, wanting to know where
Charles was, Also this was the first time that we knew
/lother and Aliene were a Scottsburg. Mayme told us in
her telegram. Araminta also took a wire from Tom and
Ruth at Fowler. Said they just heard how bad it was here
J
and wanting Mother and the girls to come there to them.
Well, they got a clear telephone to Charlestown
now, so they can get out to Indianapolis now by tel­
ephone. Just heard a rumor that the Brown Hotel had
collapsed, but you hear anything now. We don't know
anything for sure, Also hear that we will have lights and
the radio playing in a couple of days. That would be
something,
We got a quart of milk last night and had oats for
breakfast. Ever thing is fine around the house here - dogs
are all well.
Araminta and I got our first typhoid shots today,
We got to go back Feb, 4th to take the other shot. We
have to take two apiece. Our arms are sore now and
swelling a little, Guess they will really be sore tomorrow.
I wrote Ann and Goldie and Uncle Logan today.
Also wrote Mother but they won't go out until tomorrow, I
don't think. They only go out "'lith the mail at 2:30 p.m..
They are getting plenty of supplies in. We got plenty of coal, so ever thing is OK tonight. It's rained all day today and still raining now. It's
time for supper now, 6:30, so I'll go eat and see what the
morning brings,
Fri., Jan 20th
Today is Mother's birthday. I hope she is well.
We got up this a.m. at 8:30. River falling about 1/2
inch per hour. Seems awful slow,
We had bean soup for dinner and ham. We got
another order from the commissary today:
Hominy, peas, bread, and prunes. Also got 3 bushels of
coal and a gallon of coal oil. We did fine today, I also
got a quart of milk today. I went down to the commis­
sary today and talked awhile, then came back home.
Just heard we might have lights tonight, but it's 8:30 now
and still no lights, Hope they get them cut in by tomor­
row. Listening to the radio would be something.
I might get to go to Scottsburg Sunday with
George Roberts, His family is there and he said he
would take me if he went. Weare still cut off from
ever where, Maybe we can get out through
Charlestown on road 62 by Sunday, I hope so any way,
Ararnintajust told me she got Tuck Coots to get me through to Charles out on Spring Hill tomorrow. Guess I'll get to see a little of what's went on, if I get to go, Guess Joe is going to get to take some official pictures tomorrow. Tuckv;.'drLts him to. Well, it's been a fme day today and clear tonight. I
haven't got any mail or cigarettes from Gerald yet. Sure
hope they come tomorrow, We haven't got any left.
I'll go to bed and see what tomorrow brings.
Sat, Jan. 30th
Got up this a.m., 9 o'clock. Raining outside.
Guess it will clear up afterwhile. Hope so, anyway.
Things are going pretty good today. Charles just came
in again from out on the hill . He came after the mail.
Well, nothing happened this morning - river still
falling . It's now 1 o'clock and it's clearing up .
We ate dinner and the lights came onat 1 :30.
Boy, that's something. We can play the radio now; that
will be something.
Wegotanother half-gallon ofcoal oil today.
We've got 5 and a halfgallons now. That will last 2
weeks anyway.
I went to the post office today but no mail.
Maybe I'll get some tomorrow - hope so .
Louis Letharman just came in from Scottsburg
and told us Mother and Aliene are staying at the hotel
out there. Dorothy is there also . She is sick. Guess
they will all leave for Fowler Monday, as Tom sent them
25 bucks. Well, at least we found out where they were
at last. I can't understand why they didn't wire
Araminta. They were gone. Six days before we knew
where they were. Oh well, ifthey don't care I don't
either. Aliene sent in a carton ofTwenty Grand (ciga­
rettes).
Hope Gerald's get here next week. I wrote to
Mother and Garnet tonight. I'll write to Gerald tomor­
row and Harry.
It's clear tonight. I washed the dishes . Araminta
is working ajigsaw puzzle. We are listening to the Barn
Dance. Well, we will see what tomorrow is.
Sun., Jan. 31 st
Got up this morning at 9 o'clock. It's a pretty day
today. We ate breakfast and I went to the post office.
Boy, we got some mail today. That makes one feel
good at times like these . Araminta got two letters from
Mayme and one from her mother. I got one from
Gerald . He knows more ofwhat's going on here than
wedo.
Nothing going 0 n much today. Arami nta went
overto Joe Voigt's house for Mass today. The Catholic
church held Mass there this morning.
I saw Charley at the post office this morn­
ing. He said he would be over after me tomorrow to
help him get his house back in order. They are going to
use his house as Military Headquarters forthe soldiers.
·
Guess they will operate from there while the town is
under Marshal Law.
The water is still going down about 112 (foot) in
an hour. It sure will take a long time for this wate~ to
get out ofhere at that rate.
Araminta has just got through writing her mother.
I wrote Gerald. I'll write Mother again tomorrow if!
don't go out to Charley's.
1.
Joejustgotinwith2quartsofmilk. Wealso
got 4 loaves ofbread . Dad brought it in.
Araminta wired Aliene today and told her to
wire Colgate'S her address. Everythings under contro"!
here at home. We are listening to the radio. Boy, it
sure helps out.
Well, it's clear and cold tonight. Maybe we can
get some sunshine soon. Well, I'll go to bed and see
what happens tomorrow.
J7Je di3lJ.' e/ld>- here. J7Jl;- lIJlh7aWJ7 writel;
wha laced .'fllL:0 lonnidable difficultie:r,
11l7l-:eda,hty, and di}77!ptillJ7 a:r the 1_9.l7 f/alJd
brall..q/;t ta her He ,and did it with a 5].1RW 1.11
t.?ptimim7 and lartitvde, de>-erve:r am" atirlJi­
rabi.1n the..fe n7anp pear.}- latel: Jhe lJ7ad
have been a real/I-'
. /leat lad{/.
. •
A field trip to the Portland Museum is being planned
for June. We will carpool over. More details in the
May newletter.
The Society has been invited to have a display in the
Ohio River HeritageFestival, sponsored by the Corps
ofEngineers, and held at Louisville's Waterfront Park
onJune 25th.
We have purchased and received a roll ofmicrofilm
from the National Archives which contains Civil War
era reports from Camp Joe Holt.
We continue to need people to volunteer in the
Museum on Friday's from 1-4 p.m. We also need
people to read microfilm ofold newspapers for
newsletter material ..