This week in Indiana’s history …
1867 – Sarah Breedlove was born in Louisiana. She went into business, and, under the name of Madam C. J. Walker, established a cosmetics company in Indianapolis. She was hugely successful and became the first American woman to earn a million dollars.
1917 – A full-page newspaper ad said, “Travel the Electric Way, There’s a train your way any hour of the day.” The Union Traction Company provided convenient times every day to many cities around the state. Indiana could boast that it had the second-largest interurban system in the country.
1921 – Governor Warren McCray invited the Ogden Northside Carolers to sing at the Statehouse on the day before Christmas. Custodian Roy Couch had put up a 40-foot tree in the rotunda and decorated it with colorful lights, spangles, and holly. A local reporter said the tree gave the Statehouse “a Yuletide appearance it has not seen since twelve years ago.” The carolers ranged in age from 10 to 14 and were directed by Mrs. James M. Ogden.
1935 – A 22-foot, 40-ton statue of St. Nicholas was unveiled at Santa Claus, Ind. The Lafayette Journal and Courier reported that “a thousand persons braved the cold weather and slippery pavements to come to the little village for the ceremony.” The statue still stands in the festive community.
1957 – Singer Bobby Helms from Martinsville ended a highly successful year in his career with the release of “Jingle Bell Rock.” The song was an instant hit, along with “My Special Angel,” another big record for Helms in a year he also appeared on the Ed Sullivan network television show.
1971 – Santa Claus visited the office of Governor Edgar Whitcomb at the Statehouse. He was there to bring cheer to special guests of the governor. They were the children of three Air Force pilots who were being held prisoner of war in Vietnam. The governor, himself a POW during World War II, lit a Christmas candle as a symbol of safe return for all American service members imprisoned or missing in foreign nations.