1884 – The cornerstone was laid for the new Gibson County Courthouse in Princeton. Designed by the McDonald Brothers of Louisville and constructed by Joseph Miller of Washington, Ind., the finished cost was $118,661. This is one of the many splendid county courthouses all across Indiana.
1909 – The Cobe Cup Automobile Race was held in Crown Point. The grueling 25-mile contest was the forerunner of the Indianapolis 500. The winner was Louis Chevrolet who, with his brothers Arthur and Gaston, went on to fame in auto racing and manufacturing.
1915 – Bosse Field was dedicated in Evansville. Named for Mayor Benjamin Bosse, it is one of the oldest baseball parks still in regular use. It was the setting for the motion picture “A League of Their Own.”
1964 – The happy music of a steaming calliope heralded the arrival of the showboat Majestic in Madison. A project of the Indiana University Theater Department, the floating playhouse offered a taste of old-time entertainment to towns along the Ohio River. In addition to performing in “Arsenic and Old Lace” and other plays, students on board ran the box office, worked in the kitchen, and generally kept the old boat in “ship shape.”
1971 – The first Black Expo was held at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Over 50,000 people attended the two-day event. There were 75 booths, entertainment by the Dells and other singing groups, and a benefit basketball game featuring stars from both the ABA and the NBA.
1978 – Garfield the cat, a creation of Hoosier cartoonist Jim Davis, made his first appearance in 41 newspapers across the country. The famous feline is now enjoyed by readers of over 2,500 newspapers around the world.