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\ % C * ■ +- * 1 # lt;*' \ ♦ W S ^ A ♦ * %T A 'V j* * * * A.'\ //' ‘ * * * ' ‘ ^ / V ^ # * lt;• * * ' * * * ' £. «. # -. M ' S \ V* ' lt;*►•% ^ .* 4 lt;V ♦ « lt;*Page 6 Greensburg Daily News Tuesday, November 1 1, 1975XXclt;4ult;fAlert Once Bustling County TownBy ELLEN CALLAHAN Daily News CorrespondentALERT — This is a quiet little hamlet nestled about 24 miles#southwest of Greensburg on the Decatur county line, joined by Bartholomew county line to the west and Jennings county line joining on the south.Passing through Alert today you wouldn’t believe that thiscommunity was once bustling with business^ enterprises andthe railroad industry.Alert is in Jackson township.James Bannister is accreditedwith having laid out the town on Aug. 30,1886. It was surrounded by heavy timberland, — fine and fertile farm country.We cannot be sure where Alert first got its’ name although legend has it that sometime prior to the Civil War - when Post was being carried on horseback and deposited at irregular intervals in the most populous neighborhoods, a school - teacher suggested that a prosperous, wide - awake, alert community should have an appropriate name. So it was, according to the story, that Alert was approved. Before this time residents referred to it asDogtown.The Alert State Bank wasestablished around the early 1900s and did a thriving business for several years. Alert’s telephone company was operated through an exchange in charge of J. C. Nicholson. It had a free service with all exchanges in Decatur and Bartholomew counties and pay connections with Bell andIndependent long distance lines.Before t efrigeration came inFirst Nine Weeksto being Alert had its’ own type of freezer. Ice cubes about 8inches thick and two feet square were sawed out of Bear Creek inwinter. They were then stored in sawdust bins for use in thesummer.The Evansville and Richmond Railroad, built in 1889, was kept busy due to the timber business and hauling of farmers products. The railroad didn’t quite reach Alert but it took the town only a short time to spread - out enough to reach the railroad. The E and R telegraph office was operated by EdwardTalkington.Giving invaluable service to the community were two shops working with leather, one was Joe Burns’ harness works; the other Jessie Peppers’ shoe making shop.Many industries were established in Alert including, James Banister’s wooden -pump works.Beecher Short came to Alertfrom Greensburg and was accredited with the building of a sawmill along the railroad to the south. Short was betterremembered by towns people for his exquisitely tailored suits and expensive cigars.A handle - factory was established in Alert about 1893operated by Clark and Noblitt of Columbus. Kellys’ Nurseriescovered 30 acres and was ofgreat importance to Alert.Alert had two churches then, both drawing good support from the community. Rev. Charles Glick provided the Sunday services at Methodist churchevery two weeks. Rev. George F. Callon filled the pulpit of theSouth Decatur'sHonor Rolls ListedChristian Union once a month. Each church held regular Sunday school services. Rev. W. H. Baker also once a minister ofthe Christian Church, was publisher of the Christian UnionMessenger, it thrived forseveral years, then relocated inOhio.Alert turned out many a fine pupil from a large one - room schoolhouse. A new school withtwo rooms and basement was built in 1894. Professor Leslie E.Moore taught first and second high school departments, along with grades seven and eight. Miss Cordelia Rogers had supervision over the primary and science departments.A story told of a character ofearly Alert by the name of Prior Knight, it seems for sixty - two long years he lived the life of “simple cussedness.” Never asked but one woman to marry him and she asked Prior to“excuse her.”Among the early business men of Alert are as follows; S. B. Leech who owned andoperated a general store, he was known for his good quality of merchandise at fair prices.George B. Blazer was the village blacksmith. J. A. Burns was harness maker, he made, repaired and did anything necessary in the harness line. Henry Lawrence operated ageneral store.When horses and otheranimals were in need of being doctored, they were taken care of by Dr. Raymond Banister, the veterinarian. Prior Knight, with the aid of his paint brush, could turn an old building into a thing of beauty. Anyone in need of a doctor’s services could call on Dr. Charlie Wood, both physician and surgeon. Mrs. Frank Sater was vocal and instrumental instructor ofmusic.Honor rolls for the first nine -Tony Harrison, 10.I rr lOThe Kelly Tavern was managed by Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Kelly. It was well known by weary travelers for its fineaccommodations and food.Samuel Kelly operated one of Decatur counties finest smallfruit farms. He shipped a amount of fruit to themarkets.Mr. Smiley Fowler, a native of Alert, has written many warm and humorous stories about the town. While researching the history of Alert, I came across this tale once written by Mr. Fowler.“It seems that an Alert coon -hunter and a Sardinia resident were engaged in an argument. The former was going good when he suddenly bit his tongue, and his opponent easily got the best of it. In those days it was said the long possession of a setter • hound or a coondog destroyed a man’s reputation for veracity.Alert may not be the hustling town it once was — still it’s atown filled with a lot of great history.If I haven’t already written about your town and you have some history to contribute or if It interesting history in one of my earlier stories, send your information to me in care of the Greensburg Daily News.Union Flat RockSunday guests of Mrs. nnabelle Williams were Mr.and Mrs. August Meyers, Mr.and Mrs. Roger Williams andfamily and Miss MelissaMeyers of Osgood.Mrs. E. J. Tucker, Mrs. Glenn Williams, Mrs. Alvin D. Hughes and Mrs. Willard Tucker attended the Decatur County Homemakers Fun Day held Friday at South Decatur High high school.Mrs. Willis Thackery, Mrs. Annabelle Williams and Mrs.Williams at-enior Citizenser recently at Milan. Mrs Gross showed pictures ol ecent trip to Austrailia. s. Rethamae Wiseman olMANY 1 believe th classes wlright: Dai R.R. 2, WcAware9CReports activities (Country Cli presented a meeting Sj tended by a During tl directors foielectwere bership, as Hoffman, R Ogden, A1 Brewer. Cor was the nor composed chairman, and Steve F assisted in cHoldoverWenning, B Stutz, Howa R. McLaugl Howard MaIrvin Kuhn Club officlt; the next mboard.Following James Cat i:_____1: .a Jpresided. N annual mee
Newspaper Details
Greensburg Daily News
Greensburg, Indiana, US
Tue, Nov 11, 1975
Page 6
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
MO, USA 20 May 2019
Other Publications Near Greensburg, Indiana
Greensburg Review
Greensburg New Era
Greensburg Decatur Press
Greensburg News
Greensburg Daily News and Greensburg Daily Review
