This coming week in Indiana’s history …
The War of 1812 began. Indiana Territorial Governor William Henry Harrison left office to lead soldiers in the 32-month conflict between the United States and Great Britain and its Native American allies. As one result of the war, the United States gained firm control over the Indiana Territory, leading to increased settlement and economic development. This created the foundation for statehood in 1816.
1909 – Two interurban cars of the South Shore Electric Line collided head-on at the Shadyside Crossing near Chesterton in Porter County. The accident killed 12 people and injured 52. The tragedy led to a change in railroad management and the installation of automated signals.
1927 – The Indiana Theater opened in Indianapolis. Built at a cost of $995,000, the “movie palace” was designed with an exquisite Spanish Baroque exterior of white glazed terra cotta. When first opened, the building included bowling alleys, a barber shop, a lunch counter and a starry-roof ballroom. The stunning ballroom remains a popular venue today, and the stage is now home to the Indiana Repertory Theater.
1937 – A three-mile parade through Logansport was held by the Grand Army of the Republic. Leading the procession were 45 Indiana soldiers who had fought in the Civil War over 72 years earlier. The elderly Boys in Blue rode in automobiles as crowds cheered them all along the way.
1975 – The motion picture JAWS premiered across the nation. The story includes an old boat captain named Quint who tells the true tale of the sinking of the USS Indianapolis. The movie sparked a resurgence of interest in the ship. In 1995, a memorial on the downtown Canal Walk was dedicated in honor of the over 800 men who died in the sinking, as well as the 316 who survived.
2002 – Indiana First Lady Judy O’Bannon was among many who attended the dedication of a new Indiana Historical Marker at the home of Levi and Catherine Coffin in Fountain City. Their home was a major station on the Underground Railroad in the middle 1800s. It is estimated that the Coffins helped more than 2,000 slaves reach safety.