Hoosier History Highlights: May 1-7
This Week in Indiana History
1813 - Corydon became the second capital of the Indiana Territory. The site was moved from Vincennes to be more central to the newly organized territory. Corydon became the state capital when Indiana gained statehood in 1816.
1870 - John T. McCutcheon was born in Tippecanoe County. He graduated from Purdue University and went to work for a Chicago newspaper as a cartoonist. He often illustrated stories by Hoosier humorist George Ade. He started drawing political cartoons in 1896 and became known as the “Dean of Political Cartoonists.” He won a Pulitzer Prize in 1932 for a cartoon dealing with bank failures. (See "Extra" in the right column.)
1914 - Indiana Governor Samuel Ralston proclaimed the second Sunday of May to be Mothers’ Day, following the national observance announced by President Woodrow Wilson. In his proclamation, the Governor said, “A mother makes sacrifices that none other would make. . . she is the dominant factor of the home and the strength of the nation. Her love is the philosophy that shapes the destiny of men.”
100 Years Ago
1922 - Jack Johnson, former world heavyweight boxing champion, was the star at the Broadway Theater in Indianapolis. For the week, he appeared twice daily on stage as he demonstrated the necessity of self-defense and performed various gymnastic exercises. He played tug of war with audience members and, as the newspaper said, “He always won.” At the time, according to filmmaker Ken Burns, “Jack Johnson was the most famous and most notorious African American on earth.”
1950 - Poet Ogden Nash was in Bedford to speak to a crowd of 700 in the high school gym. He told his audience that he attributed his success to a knack for rhyme and the fact that he writes bad poetry deliberately. Having already published 11 books of verse, he admitted, with tongue in cheek, that “lack of talent is not enough for a successful career. You’ve got to have a chunk of luck.” (In 2002, the United States Post Office honored Nash with a commemorative stamp on the anniversary of his 100th birthday.)
1969 - The Indianapolis News reported that over 1,800 state employees were earning more than $10,000 a year. The large salaries went to an average of one out of thirteen persons employed. At the top of the list was the mental health commissioner, earning $35,000. The governor was third on the list with an annual pay of $31,000.
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HOOSIER QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"Ideals were set and wishes were made, but training and work were intensive - which resulted in opportunities presenting themselves seemingly at the right moment. Wishes, with work, do come true!"
- - - Beulah Bondi (1889 - 1981)
Beulah Bondi, born in Valparaiso, was a popular character actress on Broadway and in movies. Among her many roles, perhaps the most remembered is that of the mother of Jimmy Stewart in “It’s a Wonderful Life.” At age 87, she won an Emmy for her guest-star performance on “The Waltons.”
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Indiana quick quiz
State Park Jumble
Unscramble the letters to find the names of Indiana State Parks
BNWRO NCTOUY
LRVSISEALE
LFYCIT LAFLS
PISRGN LIML
KHKMSAAA
Answer
Brown County, Versailles, Clifty Falls, Spring Mill, Shakamak
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Extra:
In 1932, John McCutcheon won the Pulitzer Prize for this editorial cartoon entitled “A wise economist asks a question.” The subject was the rash of bank failures at the time. The cartoon shows a squirrel sitting in front of a man on a park bench. The squirrel says, “But why didn’t you save some money for the future, when times were good?” The man on the park bench replies, “I did.”
This article originally appeared on Evening World: Hoosier History Highlights: May 1-7
