This week in Indiana’s history …
1891 – President Benjamin Harrison arrived in San Francisco on a 10,000 mile 31-day trip to the West Coast. The children of the city stood along Van Ness Avenue and tossed flowers into the carriages of the Presidential party. At the time, the journey was the longest ever taken by a President while in office. On the return trip, Harrison stopped in his hometown of Indianapolis.
1898 – Indiana Governor James A. Mount, responding to a request from President William McKinley, called for 4,000 volunteers to fight in the war with Spain. Indiana was the first state in the nation to meet and exceed its quota, with over 7,000 volunteers eventually involved in the war, which lasted less than four months.
1920 – The Indianapolis Common Council voted to increase the pay of city policewomen to $4.50 a day. The raise brought the wage up to the same level as a patrolman. An appropriation of $25,000 was also made to cover the expenses of the city centennial celebration coming up in June.
1937 – Lafayette city schools closed at noon so students could attend the Tom Mix Three-Ring Circus at Martin’s Show Grounds. The famous movie cowboy advertised a show with over 200 acts, three herds of elephants, 1,000 wild animals, and the world-famous Arbaugh Family, daredevil aerial performers. School superintendent Morris E. McCarty said he believed the show would be “of educational advantage to the children.”
1956 – The Four Freshmen were among the big-name recording stars performing at the Columbus auditorium. The group was formed by Columbus brothers Ross and Don Barbour when they attended the Jordan Conservatory of Music, part of Butler University. Joined by Ken Errair and Bob Flanigan, the quartet was named the nation’s top vocal group by Downbeat Magazine three years in a row. Also on the bill at the Columbus concert were Nat King Cole, June Christie, and the Ted Heath Orchestra.
1976 – President Gerald Ford spoke to members of the Indiana Broadcasters Association at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. He discussed issues in the upcoming Presidential election. That evening, he was an overnight guest of Otis and Beth Bowen at the Governor’s Residence. The next day the President and Governor Bowen traveled to Evansville where they spoke at the Vanderburgh County Auditorium.