This week in Indiana’s history …
1806 – The Indiana Territorial Legislature chartered Vincennes University, the first institution of higher learning in Indiana. Founded by William Henry Harrison, it is one of only three universities established by a United States President. The others are the University of Virginia, founded by Thomas Jefferson, and the University of Buffalo, established, in part, by Millard Fillmore.
1838 – Governor David Wallace and a group of prominent citizens took the first steam train ride in Indiana. They traveled along 15 miles of track owned by the Madison and Indianapolis Railroad. They rode to Graham’s Fork near the Muscatatuck River. It was reported that at one point on the trip they reached a speed of 8 miles an hour.
1885 – The body of United States Vice President Thomas Hendricks lay in state in the Marion County Courthouse in Indianapolis. The funeral procession had started at the Hendricks home at Tennessee and Ohio streets and traveled across Washington Street, where every building was draped in black. Hendricks, Vice President under Grover Cleveland, had also served as Governor of Indiana.
1923 – Frank Reynolds was born in East Chicago. He attended Bishop Noll Institute in Hammond and went on to graduate from Wabash College. He was awarded a Purple Heart in World War II. Beginning a broadcasting career at WWCA Radio in Gary, he moved into television where he rose to the anchor position on ABC’s World News Tonight.
1942 – Gas rationing went into effect across the nation. President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked Americans to conserve fuel and rubber for use in World War II. Drivers were issued stickers to place on windshields to indicate how much gasoline they were authorized to purchase.
1971 – The Indiana State Highway Commission reported that nearly 82 percent of the planned interstate system in the state was open to traffic. Five interstates were completed, including the I-465 belt around Indianapolis, I-80, I-90, I-74, and I-69 from Castleton to Michigan. I-65 was expected to be open to Taylorsville within the next six months.