10 Years Ago Sesquicentennial: July 4, 1876, Warsaw marked the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence with a grand celebration. At sunrise, bells of the city rang for 20 minutes. At 9:30 a.m. a procession formed under the command of Gen. Reub Williams on the corner of Center and Indiana streets, extending south to Market, with 13 young women representing the original states and 25 girls the states added. Field and staff officers of the Late War (Civil War) and soldiers of the War commanded by Col. Lamson marched first through the downtown streets to the fairgrounds where the Rev. J.B. Tuttle opened with prayer, the band played and speeches were given. The Rev. W.L. Lowe adjourned. Bells of the city rang for 20 minutes at sunset followed by band music and fireworks. 25 Years Ago Madison School sixth-grade reading class of Doug Hoffert presented the play “Tom Sawyer” to classmates and parents. Brandon Schmidt portrayed Tom Sawyer; Matt Hoskins, Huckleberry Finn; Joanna Parker, Aunt Polly; and Lindsay Kennedy, Becky. Atwood Elementary School hosted the Atwood Senior Greyhounds Club this week. Jesse Robinson and her great-granddaughter, fourth-grader Tracy Truex, ate lunch together and visited classrooms. Robinson’s children, grandchildren and now great-grandchildren have all attended Atwood Elementary School. Triton High School has chosen Lara Anders, daughter of Richard and Jerilyn Anders, Bourbon, as valedictorian for the Class of 1989. Wendy Rust, daughter of Wendell and Joyce Rust, Bourbon, will be salutatorian. She is the reigning Indiana Junior Miss. 50 Years Ago Bids on repairing the Akron High School building will be opened April 20 in the superintendent’s office. Hugh Rickel, engineer, reported on repairs needed to the Talma School. Martha Mendenhall, former teacher at Beaver Dam, has been re-hired to teach this fall. School board members are Ed Bucher, Gail Creighton, Eldon Cumberland, Ralph Davis and Whitney Gast. James Wright, son of Mr. and Mrs. K.P. Wright, Nappanee, has been elected president of the student council for the 1964-65 school year at Black Hills State College, North Dakota. He is a graduate of Atwood High School. Trainer Dick Lockwood will wrestle the 600-pound Lemo the lion Saturday as part of the grand opening ceremony for Ream Steckbeck Paint Co., 314 E. Market St. 75 Years Ago Beginning March 11, Warsaw Girl Scouts will conduct a drive to raise funds by selling cookies. The first troop was organized in Warsaw five years ago by a group of eight girls: Betty Pottenger, Helen Lucas, Flo Rose Taylor, Jean Munson, Catherine Schlemmer, Mary Alice Treesh, Betty Dufur and Peggy Hunter. Presently there are three troops in Warsaw and a fourth is in the process of formation. Warsaw women re-enacted the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Women’s Home Missionary Society Feb. 26, at the Warsaw Methodist Church. There were Mrs. H.B. Gerard, Mrs. Clara Church, Mrs. S.B. Stookey, Mrs. Mabel B. Wallis, Mrs. Homer Sailor, Mrs. Harry Ayars, Mrs. Harry Watkins, Mrs. Loren Chastain and Mrs. Ralph Kreamer. The organization was founded by eight Bostonians in 1869.
