This coming week in Indiana’s history …
1862 – President Abraham Lincoln signed the Morrill Land Grant Act which provided federal land for states to establish colleges of agriculture and mechanic arts. Indiana responded by creating a school in Tippecanoe County using funds provided by local businessman John Purdue.
July 4, 1888 – A delegation from the Republican Party arrived at the home of General Benjamin Harrison to inform him that he was their nominee as candidate for the office of the President of the United States.
1888 – Benjamin Harrison accepted the nomination of the Republican Party to run for President of the United States. He gave his acceptance speech in the rear parlor of his home on North Delaware Street in Indianapolis. He waged most of his campaign from the front porch of his home. In the November election, he defeated the incumbent President, Grover Cleveland.
1896 – William F. Walker was born in Pendleton. The son of a freed slave, he became a popular character actor whose career spanned 40 years and scores of movies and TV shows. One of his most memorable roles was that of Reverend Sykes in “To Kill a Mockingbird.”
1939 – Dedication ceremonies were held for the new inn at Spring Mill State Park. Indiana Governor M. Clifford Townsend was in attendance, along with Richard Lieber, founder of the State Park System. The inn, constructed of native limestone, still stands today, offering park visitors a cozy home away from home.
1963 – The United States Post Office introduced the Zone Improvement Plan, otherwise known as Zip Codes. Indiana, along with Kentucky, Ohio and Michigan, was assigned a first number of “4.” The next four numbers identify sections and areas of the postal district.
1978 – Kermit the Frog became an honorary member of the Lafayette Police Department. When students in a local school planned a safety campaign, they created “Safety Seemore,” a frog mascot inspired by the famous Muppet character. Kermit’s creators were impressed and happily agreed to let their famous green friend join the force, complete with a hat and gear supplied by the department.
Fun facts about Zip Codes
The Post Office introduced “Mr. Zip” in 1963 to emphasize the speed and efficiency of the new Zip Code system. The lowest number is 00501, used by the IRS in New York. The highest one is 99950 for Ketchikan, Alaska. The easiest one is 12345 assigned to the General Electric Company in New York. In Indiana, the lowest Zip Code is 46001 for Alexandria in Madison County. The highest is 47997, designating the little town of Yeoman in Carroll County. Perhaps the community of Stroh in LaGrange County has the easiest one to remember: 46789.