25 Years Ago — 1998
Dec. 14 — Area residents soon may be able to pay for services provided by the city of Anderson with a credit or debit card. Under the plan being considered by Anderson City Council, parking tickets, ambulance charges and other fees would be eligible for the new payment methods. “We’re in the process of requesting proposals for bank services,” City Controller Leisa Julian said. “We’re trying to be more customer-friendly.”
Dec. 15 — An East Elementary third-grader thinks big. He asked his principal, Nancy Phenis, for help with getting into the Guinness Book of World Records. As a result, on Monday his school broke the Guinness record for the greatest number of persons performing a song in sign language. The new record is 332 after East Elementary first, third and fifth graders signed “Jingle Bells” during their Christmas program Monday night.
50 Years Ago — 1973
Dec. 12 — Anderson College’s new Center for Public Service will formally open on Thursday with a ceremony at O.C. Lewis Gymnasium. William D. Ruckelshaus, U.S. Deputy Attorney General at the time of his departure from federal service, will be speaker for the event. The Center is designed to help students make direct entry into public service careers immediately upon completion of undergraduate studies.
Dec. 12 — Anderson retained its lead in the weekly Associated Press Indiana high school basketball poll. With 11 of 16 possible first place votes, Coach Ray Estes’ 4-0 Indians hold a healthy margin over second place Hammond, which attracted two first-place votes.
75 Years Ago — 1948
Dec. 18 — John Wilson of Anderson College had the biggest night of his career and put on one of the greatest scoring performances ever seen last Saturday as he tallied 46 points while the Ravens were defeating Adrian College, 86-55. Wilson’s 20 field goals and six free throws eclipsed all Hoosier records and fell only one short of the professional Basketball Association of America mark. The victory kept Anderson’s unbeaten streak intact.
Dec. 25 — Mrs. Freda DeKnight, food editor of Ebony magazine and author of the widely-known cookbook, “A Date with a Dish,” gave a food clinic and demonstration at the West Side Community Center last week, under auspices of the Urban League. Mrs. DeKnight was also guest of honor at a tea at the home of Mrs. Robert Streaty.
100 Years Ago — 1923Dec. 17 — Damage estimated at $50,000 was caused by a fire in the Miller-Wohl clothing store and the Meyer Drug Company store, Eleventh and Meridian Streets, here Sunday night. Nine firemen were overcome by smoke and poisonous fumes in fighting the stubborn blaze, which started at 7 p.m. and was not under control until midnight. It is believed fire started in the basement of the drug store from defective wiring. The entire Anderson fire department was called before the fire was checked.
From the 1800s
Dec. 15, 1882 — The infelicity that has so long existed in the family of Byron Dyson culminated on Saturday last by Mrs. Dyson refusing to longer live with him as wife, and instituting a suit for divorce, alleging habitual drunkenness. Mrs. Dyson is now at the home of her parents.
Compiled by Elmore Hammes, for The Herald Bulletin