Footprints A publication of the Howard County Historical Society Volume 4, Issue 3 August 2015

In this issue:

6 more remarkable people join Howard County Legends

Revived pottery has long county history

Just whose names are on our streets? 2015 Love of history leads Hall of to HCHS internship Legends 16 From the executive director Relationships and history

elationships — that’s what history is real- managed ’ auto factory. R ly about. Humans are intensely social Tate also did business with David Foster, creatures, and our history revolves around our D.C. Spraker, and T.J. Harrison among others. connections to other people. His house, once located at the corner of George Tate of Kokomo was a guy with con- Washington and Taylor, still stands. It was nections. He came to town after the Civil War moved to East Jefferson Street in 1930 and to set up a lumber business and became became the Designer Show Home in 1989. something of a “lumber baron”, shipping How- Tate’s life takes on a deeper meaning when ard County hardwoods off to the east for hous- you consider his relationships. He becomes es, businesses and furniture. He kept a coal part of the larger picture of Howard County, business on the side as well as several small helping us better understand and appreciate farms. our economy, environment, street names, ar- When he had finally cut down all the market- chitecture and politics, among other things. able lumber in the area, Tate took advantage If, for just a few moments, we could be a his- of the natural gas boom. He was one of the torian in the year 2115, we might make better founders of Kokomo Gas, and was one of choices about our relationships today. Since Monroe Seiberling’s investors in the Diamond time travel is just a sci-fi dream, we’ll have to Plate Glass factories in Kokomo and Elwood settle for making the best choices we can and and the Jonesboro Rubber and Insulated Wire relying on history to help us do so. factory. His daughter married Seiberling’s son, Alton, Dave Broman Executive Director who stayed in Kokomo after Monroe left and

In this issue:

2 From the executive director 12 Intern’s love of history leads to 3 HCHS hosts Disasters exhibit learning experience 4 Six ‘Legends” to be inducted 13 What’s in a street name? 8 Pottery has long history 14 Membership

2 15 Membership HCHS to host Disasters traveling exhibit Thanks to all who joined the Howard County Historical Society or renewed their memberships from May through July. ou don’t need to head to the basement disasters, causing accidents like fires, crashes, and your insurance rates won’t rise, but spills and explosions. Disasters of all kinds— Jim Aikman Charles & Patricia Hinders Thomas & Kathryn Rethlake Y James Allman, Robert & Mary Hingst Darrell & Jule Rider disasters are headed this way. biological, violent, or bizarre events such as Tom & Ellen Anderson Bob & Joan Hoch Chris & Libby Riesen The Howard County Historical Society will epidemics, bombs and squirrel migrations—are Howard County Home Builders Craig & Janine Huffman Ed & Carolyn Riley host Indiana Disasters, one of the Indiana His- forever remembered in local communities. Association Glenda Kamosa Michael Rodgers Cynthia Bizjack Kent and Jan Kauffman Halperin Blake & Jennifer Rollins torical Society’s newest traveling exhibitions, In this traveling exhibit, photographs from Kent & Marcia Blacklidge Stephen Kiley Randy & Mary Rusch during the month of August. various IHS collections and institutions all over Glen Boise AICP Wayne & Jane Kincaid Dr. Allen Safianow Natural and human activities, and often a the state capture unforgettable Indiana catas- Dan & Barbara Bourff Dick & Shirley Lee Myra Sanburn combination of the two, produce catastrophic trophes while newspaper headlines, illustra- Dr. Robert & Sally Bratton Chuck & Doris Lingelbaugh Donald & Joni Sanders tions and survivor accounts show how Hoosi- H.C. & Mary Ann Byrd Wayne & Susan Luttrell Paul Sandy events affecting the Indiana landscape and Bill & Sharon Carter William & Bonnie Maple Charles Short Hoosier individuals. Stories of these events are ers persevere in the face of disaster. Hilary Crook Edward & Vickie Martin Ronald & Jean Simpson passed down through generations. Sometimes Indiana Disasters is made possible by Krog- Steve and Cheryl Currens Brent and Mary Jo McClellan Jackie Smith we learn how to prevent disasters, but other er. For more information about this exhibit, call Steve Daily Gene & Nancy McGarvey Patricia Sottong times they’re unavoidable. HCHS at 765-452-4314 of visit howardcounty- Dianna Delgado Judge William & Marty Menges Phyllis Stucker Dean Despinoy Garry Mervis Mrs. Jean Thomas In Indiana, extreme weather such as floods, museum.org. To learn more about the IHS and Dr. Matt Dillman, Jan & Bill Miller Tom & Dianne Trauring tornadoes, blizzards and drought persist year its programs, call (317) 232-1882 or visit Dillman Chiropractic Sondra Neal Macon Dale Traxler to year. The way humans interact with their www.indianahistory.org. Robert & Greta Dunlap Jerry & Marcia Nelson Conrad & Karen Uitts Beryl Etherington Fred Odiet Carl & Helen Webb environment also leave people vulnerable to Tom & Lynn Folkers David & Lisa Olmsted John & Emily West Ted & Paula Goff Fred & Elizabeth Osborn Lonita Williams Sandra Grant Jim & Brenda Papacek Clara Emily Wilson Joan Hardesty, Dr. Phillip Pate David Wilson Mary Ellen Harnish Mary Ann Peabody, in memory Larry Wise & Larry Little Thomas & Jeanne Harrell of Hod Peabody Donald & Marilyn Wooldridge Marjorie Herr Swing Richard & Virginia Rea Dr. Don & Deborah Zent Ralph & Sharon Herr Ruth Reichard

Intern, continued from Page 12

Another exhibit I worked on was the World War I also assisted with the Howard County Fair II case. Volunteer Vince Molino and I have rede- exhibit. I didn’t do much of the research, but signed the case with new items. Vince and I did most of the fabrication of the ex- During this internship I have learned how to hibit. From this, I learned exhibits are not just streamline my writing, putting what is important in about research and exhibiting items; I learned the work and not all the information. I have also that some exhibits take a good amount of manual learned that I may like how a label or bio reads labor. After it was completed and ready in the and sounds, but then ask myself if the average round barn in the farm, it was a good feeling to visitor will understand the information I am trying see all our hard work come to fruition. to relay. I learned many skills on how museums I have enjoyed my time as an intern with the work what to do and what not to do and how to HCHS and hope to stay on as a volunteer and take care of artifacts. use the skills I have learned there in my future education and career. 14 3 Six ‘legends’ to be inducted Aug. 14 What’s in a [street] name? By Emily West of the common pleas court and circuit court in the By Dave Broman Seiberling spent his first 25 years on the fam- Footprints Editor 1850s and 1860s.

HCHS Executive Director ily’s Ohio farm. In 1864, he went into the lum- t certainly is easier to navigate through a city Although commonly called “Malfalfa Road” by ber business in Canton and then purchased an locals, County Road 300 West may never have rom its earliest years to the present day, I that names its streets with numbers. Second interest in the Akron Strawboard Company. Street logically comes right after Third Street – officially received a name. In addition, its nick- F Howard County has been home to a long When a huge reserve of natural gas was dis- name has had a spelling change over time. line of remarkable people. unless you live somewhere like Bloomington, covered under east central Indiana, and Hoosi- which throws in a few streets in between the According to Odiet’s research, a farmer named Six of them will be inducted into the Hall of er business leaders offered free gas to those numbered ones. William B. Smith, and later, his son, Isaac, owned Legends on Aug. 14, joining inventor Elwood who would locate their factories in Indiana, But the city of Kokomo was a little more imagi- 50 acres on the road just north of the Wildcat Haynes, author , journalists Seiberling was one of the first to accept. With native, or perhaps, appreciative, of its community Creek, now Camp Tycony. Isaac was an exten- Steve Kroft and , entrepreneur his group of investors, he established the Ko- leaders when its streets were named. sive grower of melons and alfalfa. Then a gravel road with no specific designation, Isaac began George Kingston, choral conductor Margaret komo Strawboard Company in 1887 and Dia- In the HCHS files is a long list of streets and the calling the road “Melfalfa” for a combination of his Hillis, Sister Martin McEntee and 24 others. mond Plate Glass Company in 1889. origins of their names compiled by Fred Odiet, crops. The name caught on with county residents This year, the Hall of Legends nomination His business interests expanded rapidly, add- former Howard County historian and HCHS mem- ber. and stuck. committee has selected an inventor, a journal- ing a second Diamond Plate factory in Elwood, Drivers have a choice of spellings for Philips — ist, the county’s first female judge, a communi- a strawboard factory in Noblesville, the Hart- One obviously named street is Way, after the Apperson brothers, who produced auto- or is it “Phillips” — Street. Signage shows both ty leader, one of the country’s leading heart ford City Window Glass Company, the Mont- mobiles for Elwood Haynes, and later under their spellings. In actuality, it is named for Theophilus surgeons and the namesake of the Seiberling pelier Sheet and Tin Plate Company and Indi- C. Philips — one “L”, founder and editor of the Mansion. own names. ana Rubber and Insulated Wire Company in Another is Kingston Street. George Kingston, Howard County Tribune. No doubt his first name Jonesboro. He also prospected for oil in most well known for inventing the carburetor, also may have many alterations in spelling if it had Monroe Seiberling’s Wells and Huntington counties and was invented and manufactured other products for been chosen for a street. time in Howard County instrumental in establishing the boom automobiles. His company was Kingston Prod- Other well-known streets with long-forgotten was relatively short, but town of Gas City. ucts. He also owned the Seiberling Mansion for namesakes include his impact on central The gas fields began to deplete in the 38 years. Markland Avenue, named for David Mark- Indiana was significant early 1900s and Seiberling moved on to Through the years, some streets have had land, a justice of the peace and farmer who arrived in the county in 1855 and lasted far beyond other projects, relocating to Peoria, Ill., name changes as well. For example, Kokomo his years. As one of the where he built the Peoria Rubber and once had a Seiberling Street, named for Monroe Dixon Road, for Jonathan Dixon, a farmer first industrial entrepre- Manufacturing Company and the Seiber- Seiberling. Now known as Leeds, it was the loca- from the Russiaville area neurs to take ad- ling Plate Glass Company in nearby Ot- tion of Seiberling’s strawboard factory between LaFountaine Street — also found with and vantage of the Indiana tawa. His Peoria factory played a signifi- Markland and Park avenues. without the “E” on the end and with a lower- case “F”. It is named for Francis LaFoun- Gas Boom, he built the cant role in the development of the auto- Many long-time residents still call Carter Street “Water Works Road.” It was once the Greentown taine, a Miami Indian. country’s largest plate mobile, working with the Duryea brothers Pike. Much of it is simply known as County Road Albright Road, for John Albright, a farmer glass factory in Kokomo on their first cars and helping them de- 50 North. from Tennesse who arrived in 1847. Although and started the commu- velop pneumatic tires. Other streets have had a change in spelling now a road on the southeast side of Kokomo, nity’s shift from an agri- from the original namesake through the years, an Albright Street was once located in Koko- cultural economy to one Ted Weber was a tinkerer and experi- possibly due to an inattentive sign maker. mo. It is now Havens Street. of heavy industry. His menter, who would be right at home with Lindsay Street was named after Nathaniel R. Morgan Street, for John R. Morgan, a dentist family home still stands today’s “Maker” community. Ted graduat- Linsday, a former judge and legislator, according in the late 19th century. on West Sycamore to Odiet. A native of New York, in 1844 Linsday Monroe Seiberling ed from in 1969 and his Purdum Street, for Kokomo’s first mayor after Street, an icon of the interest in music and electronics started early. After helped establish the first court in Richardville the city incorporated in 1865, Nelson Pur- gas boom and home to the county museum. high school, he enrolled in a technical school and County – which had a name change of its own, dum. becoming Howard County. Linsday was a judge 4 13 graduated as valedicto- In 1991, she received a degree in communica- rian of his class, earning tions from Purdue University. Her television HCHS internship draws on love the highest scores in the career began at WLFI-TV in Lafayette as an history of the school on anchor and reporter, while also working part- his exit exam. In 1971, time as an adjunct professor of broadcast jour- of history, teaches museum skills he enlisted in the U.S. nalism at Purdue. The family agribusiness ex- Air Force and focused perience left her with a unique viewpoint and By Chris Markiewicz on communica- an abiding interest in the markets, especially HCHS Intern tions. After his tour of commodities, so it was natural for her to spe- duty, he moved back to cialize in business and financial reporting. y experiences with the Howard County Mu- Kokomo and went to M seum did not begin with my internship; it She went on to cover the stock market for began years before when visiting my Grandma, work in research and both CNN and Bloomberg Television and now who lived at the corner of Conradt and Sycamore development at Delco provides business news from the NASDAQ in streets. I would walk down to the museum with my Electronics, remaining Times Square for more than 50 local television dad and go on a tour. there until his retirement stations around the country. I credit my love for history to my father and in 2005. Ted Weber During her career, Jane has covered the dot grandfather. My dad always encouraged me to In the mid-1980s, com bust, the 2005 Republican National Con- watch and read about history. My grandfather al- Ted’s love of music collided with the Internet, and he vention in New York, the Economic Summit of ways told me stories of his childhood in Arkansas found himself part of an online bulletin board for jazz and during the Great Depression and his time in the the Americas, the 2008/2009 financial crisis blues musicians. Reading a constant list of complaints U.S. Navy during World War II. Thanks to these and the World Trade Center attacks on Sept. influences. I learned that history is an important about the speakers available at the time, he put his ex- 11, 2001. part of learning, I know this has been said many perience to work and began experimenting with speaker Jane lives in Manhattan with her husband, times before, but to understand where we are go- prototypes. He sent them to musician friends around the fellow Purdue grad, Gene Schafer, and her two ing, we need to understand our past. country, and they convinced him to go into business. children, Max and Lila, who love to visit How- I graduated from Western High School and will be Weber Speakers was incorporated in 1996 by Ted ard County and the family farm near Green- graduating from Indiana University Kokomo this fall and his son, T.A. In the years since, they’ve provided town — and are quickly becoming Boilermaker with a degree in history and political science. I have audio equipment for a long list of artists, including Joe fans. never really thought of working in a museum before Walsh of the Eagles, Blondie, Metallica, Maroon 5, Eric this internship. I wanted to be a teacher or profes- Clapton, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Zac Brown Band, sor. But after this internship, I have started to think that working in a museum could be a good career Brooks and Dunn, Rascal Flatts, Taylor Swift, Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley and many others. The company choice. I have really enjoyed my time the past cou- HCHS Intern Chris Markiewicz, who assisted started as a hobby by “Ted the Guru” is still providing the ple months. I have learned more about Howard with the Lydia Hankemeier exhibit, may look County than I expected. world’s best musicians with a classic, vintage sound My first project as an intern at HCHS was setting into a career as a museum curator after his from precision-manufactured speakers. up an exhibit on Lydia Hankemeier, a local artist. I experience at the Howard County Museum. was a little overwhelmed with the process of start- Jane Kingseed grew up in a farming commu- ing an exhibit, but thanks to Curator Stew Lauter- use. With Stew’s help, we contacted a few local nity and took her interest in the commodity bach and Curatorial Assistant Randy Smith, I was artists with the art association to get more infor- markets to a career in broadcasting. Today, as able to get myself on a set path of what I needed to mation on Lydia and get their opinions on the art Jane King, she operates from the NASDAQ, work on and find in the collection. pieces. providing business news to television stations By working on this exhibit, I learned many skills, At the start of the exhibit, I did not know who Lyd- across the country through her own company, including how to properly handle art without putting ia was or know of her work. After finding all of her oil, dirt or pressure marks on the art. During the Lilamax Media, and is seen locally on WISH- pieces in the collection and working with them, I setup, I learned that I cannot gather all my infor- TV. started to enjoy Lydia’s work. Jane graduated from Eastern High School in mation and data from books, Internet and internal Jane King items. I have to find information from outside to Continued on Page 14 1986 and was Miss Howard County Fair 1987.

12 5 Eleanor Stein studied economics in college, established the county’s Alcohol and Drug Ser- worked as a legal secretary for the Manhattan vices Program. Project during World War II, and then returned Eleanor was involved in many aspects of to school to study law. She came to Kokomo in community life outside of her profession, and in 1963 when her husband accepted a job at 1992, received the Academy of Women’s Delco Electronics. During the next 48 years, Award for Public Service and Education. she set a lasting example of service and lead- ership. Douglas Hogan Jr. was, in the words of a When she was very young, her father was Kokomo Tribune editorial, “an active communi- killed by robbers at his pharmacy. Her mother ty leader who served the people well.” had to work six days a week to provide for Douglas was a three young children, a model of strength and lifelong resident of hard work that guided Eleanor for the rest of Howard County and her life. a 1948 graduate of She was a Regent’s Scholar in high school Kokomo High and earned a full scholarship to Columbia Uni- School. He worked versity, graduating with a degree in economics. for many years at World War II was still going on when she went Continental Steel to work as a legal secretary in for the top- and was active in secret Manhattan Project. Within a short period the United Steel- of time, her supervisor convinced her to study workers local as law and she met her future husband, Frank Civil Rights Chair- Stein, a physicist who also worked on the Man- man. hattan Project. After his retirement Eleanor returned to college at the NYU in 1977, he dedicat- School of Law, earned her J.D., and briefly ed his remaining practiced law in New York. In 1975, after her years to public ser- Douglas Hogan Jr. children grew up, she took the Indiana Bar Ex- vice. Hogan was a am and resumed precinct committeeman and served on the Traf- her career as an fic Commission and Board of Public Works. He attorney. Five chaired the Human Relations Commission, pre- years later, she sided over the local NAACP chapter, and led was admitted to the Carver Center Board of Directors. He rep- practice before resented District 3 on the Kokomo Common the U.S. Su- Council for 12 years and was known for his preme Court and efforts to clean-up blight and eyesores in the was elected to district. Douglas was also active in his church, the Howard the New Bethel Tabernacle, as superintendent August 14 Hall of Legends (tickets on sale now) County Municipal of the Sunday School program. Court as the Nationally-known commentator Tavis Smiley September 19-20 Koh-koh-mah reenactment county’s first fe- has publicly credited Hogan for his own interest male judge. She October 20 HCHS annual meeting at Elite Banquet Center in public service and politics, and Smiley is just served until one of the numerous young men who benefit- November 14-27 Mansion and museum closed for holiday preparations 1989, during ted from Hogan’s leadership and mentoring at

Eleanor Stein which time she November 28 Christmas at the Seiberling kick-off Save the date the Save 6 11 method of firing in round “beehive” kilns. satisfying contracts for war material. Kokomo New Bethel Tabernacle and the Carver Cen- Tragedy struck on Christmas Eve in 1942 Sanitary Pottery had operated at capacity pro- ter. when the plant was destroyed by fire. At that duction for more than eight years and the em- Dr. William Reed grew up in poverty in Ko- time, the company was owned by Gerber ployees had just received a Christmas bonus komo during the Great Depression, seemingly Plumbing Fixtures. The fire resulted in one of the day before the fire. destined for a life of manual labor. the worst fire losses in Kokomo’s history with Company president Max Gerber immediately After his 1945 graduation from KHS, he an estimated damage as high as $750,000. stated intentions of rebuilding the plant and served in the Navy, and as his tour of duty Hundreds of employees were out of work, liter- resuming operations. He was a dynamic figure was ending, Bill determined that he wanted to ally overnight. The fire started around a kiln in the industry’s success and also showed a be a doctor. Taking advantage of the GI Bill, and was discovered by the night watchman. By great interest in the welfare of his community. he enrolled in IU, attended evening classes the time two fire extinguishers were used and He was deeply interested in the well-being of and did factory work during the day. the firefighters arrived, it was out of control. the plant employees. For this reason the plant With persistence and hard work, he complet- At the time the firm was not only manufactur- was rebuilt, playing a prominent role in the fu- ed a degree at Indiana University School of ing ware for various contractors, it was also ture economic prosperity of the community. Medicine and accepted an internship at the University of Kansas Medical Center, where After Patriot Porcelain purchased he participated in UKMC’s first open heart sur- the plant in 2013, production modifi- gery. cations were made, including in- In 1985, he performed the center’s first heart stalling new pressure casting equip- transplant and went on to become one of the ment. Also included in the plans were top heart surgeons in the Midwest. Dr. Reed 10 new presses and about 13 robots, has published numerous articles in scientific as well as 1,000 feet of conveyor journals, has been a professor at the universi- belt, changing a formerly labor inten- ty and is presently the Chair of the Cardiovas- sive, hands-on operation into a more cular Diseases Department. automated, cleaner plant. Not only William Reed has this significantly decreased pro- As the owner of Stonecrest Farms near Kan- duction time, but it also has helped to sas City, his successful racehorses have in- published “The Pulse of Hope – A Surgeon’s reduce prices. cluded Perfect Drift, who won almost $4.7 mil- Memoir from Poverty to Prosperity”. In it, he lion and finished third in the 2002 Kentucky In 2003, producing lavatories in the shares his story and his thoughts on leader- Derby. The Great Western pottery office, above, remains as part U.S. cost double the price of produc- ship and giving back. of the Syndicate Sales complex on West Morgan Street. ing them in China. Because of sky- In 2004, Dr. Reed and his wife, Mary, donat- The same building in the early 1900s, below, shows the rocketing shipping costs and increas- ed $1 million to help build the Center for Ad- The induction banquet for the 2015 class of beehive kilns in the background. ing taxes and wages in China, the vanced Heart Care at the University of Kan- the Howard County Hall of Legends will be price gap has closed, making it pos- sas, and the Dr. William A. and Mary J. Reed held on Friday, Aug. 14 in the Casa Bella din- sible to produce competitively priced Cardiovascular Surgery Center is named in ing room at Pastarrific, on South Webster lavatories and sinks in the U.S. their honor. In 2012, they pledged another Street in Kokomo. Tickets and information will $1.5 million toward the construction of the uni- Kokomo Sanitary Pottery is one of be available online at howardcounty- versity’s Center for Advanced Heart Care. only seven manufacturing plants of museum.org or at the Howard County Histori- its kind in the U.S. In 2014, Reed became an author of some- cal Society, 1218 W. Sycamore St., Kokomo. thing other than a scientific paper when he It has been said that reopening the pottery was a minor miracle. When the plant’s history is taken into ac- www.howardcountymuseum.org count, it can be said that it literally rose from the ashes to thrive once www.pinterest.com/hchistory more. www.facebook.com/hchistory

10 7 Revived pottery has long history in county

By Bonnie Van Kley sinks produced in Kokomo are now for sale in HCHS Publications Committee Member major retail outlets such as Lowe’s and Home Depot. oward County residents have been en- H couraged by the recent $15 million in- The pottery came to be in 1893 when the gas vestment Patriot Porcelain made to reopen the boom attracted many industries to Howard factory known as Kokomo Sanitary Pottery. County with offers of free natural gas. It started production with about 50 employees and grew When it closed in 2007, 140 jobs in the com- to more than 250 by its 60th anniversary in munity were lost and the long, eventful history 1953. Its buildings covered more than four of the company was just that – history. acres, and its workers manufactured a wide But a great effort by local businessmen, the variety of plumbing fixtures. city of Kokomo and the state of Indiana made it The Great Western Pottery Company, as it happen, and the new jobs have brought new was known in the beginning, was organized by people into our community. Lavatories and three Kokomo citizens – Godlove Conradt, his An artist’s rending of the facility in 1953 for its 60th anniversary. At that time, it was known as the American-Standard plant, with buildings covering more than four acres.

son, A. V. Conradt, and W. G. Conradt continued as plant manag- Coxon. er and W. G. Coxon became the Their plans to build a plant began plant superintendent. Then in 1918 with the purchase of 13 acres of Sig B. Kling came from Louisville to woodland property on the north serve as manager. side of Kokomo. The task of clear- In 1929 Standard Sanitary merged ing the site began in 1891, and with the American Radiator Compa- construction took place the follow- ny to form the corporation that later ing two years. In the beginning the employed more than 250 people. plant manufactured only water Many changes have occurred dur- closets. In 1899 Great Western ing the plant’s existence. In 1893 purchased the Brewer Pottery A.V. Conradt the total daily output of the plant Company of Tiffin, Ohio, and in was 75 pieces of ware. In 1953 the subsequent years not only were daily production was close to 1,000 different types of water closets pieces. This was possible because manufactured, but they began pro- of a major modification that took ducing lavatories from vitreous place in 1922 when the hand- china, the first in the country. pressing method of manufacturing Great Western operated the Ko- vitreous china plumbing fixtures komo plant until 1918, when it was was replaced by the liquid casting purchased by the Standard and method. Then, in 1924, two effi- Sanitary Manufacturing Company cient, railroad-type tunnel kilns The pottery began operations 1893, when the gas boom attracted many energy-intensive of Pittsburgh. At that time A. V. were installed to replace the old industries to Kokomo with its offer of free natural gas. W.G. Coxon 8 9