Trimble Sign Company

As I was reading An American Hometown, I stumbled across something very interesting. I was surprised to learn that Trimble Sign Company was in business in 1927. The passage in the book talks about Jimmie Trimble and his magic hands, and ends by saying the shop is still in business. However, I already knew this because one of my sorority sisters is the daughter of the Trimble Sign Company's owner! We purchase a lot of our sorority banners and signs from the local shop.

Bayh College of Education

As we all know, Indiana State University has a new College of Education. The old College of Education used to be were the current College of Business is. However, those buildings were meant to be dormatories, not classrooms.

All last year, construction was done to the old State High on 7th street. State High used to be a school for students to practice teaching, but it soon turned into a high school. After that, the building was used as a preschool/daycare. Since the building has been renovated, it has become the new College of Education and it is beautiful and up to date.

It is named after the Bayh family, who have been attached to Terre Haute since the 1920s. Today, Evan Bayh came to ISU for the dedication of the new college. However, there was little publicity. I think something this important should be advertized a lot, but it was not. If we want people like Evan Bayh to be involved with our school, then we have to show them that we want them to be involved. This would include advertising their visits and showing up to their events.

Jason Aldean

Over the weekend, Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean came to Terre Haute to complete their Wide Open tour. The concert was held at the Hulman Center. In the past, artists like Gretchen Wilson and Rascal Flatts have performed at the Hulman Center. However, it has been several years since we have had a major artist come to Terre Haute. The Jason Aldean concert sold out the Hulman Center. It was the first time the areana has been sold out for several years. Maybe this event will attrack more artists to come to Terre Haute. If that happens, then the town will draw more people to Terre Haute and more money.

Terre Haute Meat Packing Plant

Terre Haute used to be the home of the meat packing plant called Home Packing Co. However, in 1963 a tragic accident occurred at the plant. The building faced the Wabash River. During the early morning hours in January 1963, the building suddenly exploded. It is estimated that 16 people died and 55 others were injured. Rescue workers had to wear masks to avoid getting being exposed to ammonia and methane. The ammonia was released from broken refrigerator lines and the methane was released from ruptured sewer lines. Among those who died was Donald Scott. He was a salesman and the brother of the president of the company. He was found sitting in his chair, buried in bricks. The first floor fell into the basement freezer. Witnesses said bricks flew everywhere and it felt like an earthquake.

Vigo County Jail

Not too long ago, the current Vigo County Jail was built next to the Court House. However, the old jail still exists. While it is no longer in use, the building still stands. As you cross the bridge from West Terre Haute into Terre Haute, you notice an old building. That is the jail. Up close, the building is beautiful and unique. Unfortunately, it stands useless. I think someone should make the old building a museum, or restaurant like Moggers and Stables.

Federal Court House

In November, the old Federal Court House was closed down, and a new one opened up at 921 Ohio Street. The old building is beautiful inside and out. Too bad it's no longer used for its original purpose. The building was bought by ISU and they plan to turn the building into the new college of business. During the Great Depression, Franklin D. Roosevelt helped establish the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Part of the WPA was the Federal Art Project (FAP). The goal of this program was to employ artists. The FAP created over 5,000 jobs and 225,000 works of art. The old Federal Court House has some of the art that was created during the FAP in its courtrooms. Supposedly, ISU has great plans for the old building, but I think it should have stay the court house. The new building is much smaller, less prestigious, and does not have the grand presence of the old building.

Moggers

Moggers Brewery is located at 9th and Poplar Streets. The building was built in 1837. Matthias Mogger was the founder of the brewery, and he was from Germany and one of the first entrepreneurs for brewing beer. Mogger's Brewery was housed in the Bleemel Building from 1848-1868. In 1893, Mogger's Brewery was the seventh largest brewery in the country! However, in 1958, the brewery closed, but re-opened in 2000 and became the second oldest active brewery in the nation. It was also the first brewery in the country to use black models. Mogger's makes its own brand of beer called Champagne Velvet. Moggers is now a restaurant and bar. The building is decorated with antique brewing equipment.