Step out (virtually or physically) and look at historic points along the Blue River Trail. Below you'll find more in-depth information on each of the stops.
1) Conrey, Waller, DePrez was the first furniture factory in Shelbyville, Indiana. It was started by D.L. Conrey, who came to Shelbyville in 1861. Originally he owned a furniture store under the name Jamison and Conrey, which eventually sold coffins along with furniture. In 1867 he purchased the house on the corner of Harrison and Mechanic (which at one point was the home of Thomas Hendricks and now houses Shelby County United Fund . Eventually, the Conrey, Waller, DePrez, Company becomes Conrey-Birely, also known as the "Dinky."
2) Shelbyville, Indiana's Junior Chambers or Jaycees, was started in 1946. One of the first boys' baseball teams in the county was the Morristown Athletics, which was started in the first decade of the 1900s.
3) As noted in the video, Captain Baily was one of the first to operate a steamboat on the Blue River. He eventually moved his boat operation to Broad Ripple, Indiana. In May 1893, George McBride launched another steamboat operation on the Blue River. Over the next couple years, competition increased, and canoe paddling and rowing became popular as well.
Prior to the steamboat, boats were still a frequent sight along Blue River. In fact, in 1828, Merry McGuire applied to the County Commissioners "for leave to Establish a public Ferry on Blue River in Jackson Township." Later, a request was granted for a ferry on Sugar Creek in Addison Township.
4) The first Shelbyville Parks and Recreation Department was appointed in 1914, with the first members being Charles Morrison, Charles Spiegel, and Frank Sheldon. While unrelated to Sunset Park, to make the first City Park possible, community members and organizations were tasked with donating items to make the park, and some of those items included a flagpole, a fountain, and playground equipment. In 1916, a brick entrance was built, and in 1919, additional land was purchased. This first park in Shelbyville was later renamed Morrison Park, after Laura Morrison, in 1928.
5) In addition to donating the four acres for the City Cemetery, Arthur Major also was one of the first settlers to receive a merchants license in the county. He had a store at "Morvin Place," located near Flat Rock River. He also was involved in building the first courthouse in Shelby County, in the center of Public Square. He was the uncle of Stephen Major, who was Charles Major's father, as well as the uncle of another Stephen Major (there were multiple shared first names in the Major family), who was the grandfather of William S. Major, the namesake of Major Health Partners/Major Hospital.
6) Nothing could have prepared the city for the flood that had come on March 25, 1913. While there had been floods in the past (1883, 1897, 1898) nothing was quite like the rain that had fallen not only on the several days leading up to the 25th, but also the months leading up to March. That morning, businesses were closed, and community members formed teams to strengthen the levees, boats and rafts were sent out to rescue community members in need, and bucket brigades were formed to put out any fires that may have come up. People were asked to place lamps in their windows at night to help penetrate the darkness, as the Water & Light Company went dark.
Not only that, but the damage caused to the city was visible. On top of the broken sidewalks and roads and the damage to wooden structures and to outhouses, the Big Four tracks were washed out (meaning no trains could enter the town) and the interurban bridge was so damaged that it sagged after the approaches gave way.
7) In addition the things listed in the video, John Walker helped the state build Michigan Road here in Shelby County. He entered contracts with the Road Commissioner for the clearing of certain sections of the right of way.
Walker's land was the entrance to the early city- the area where the bridge is now located on North Harrison was known as Walker's Ford and was frequently mentioned as the safest crossing place in Shelbyville. It was replaced by a bridge in 1833 as part of Michigan Road.
8) Enos and Edwin Porter came to Shelbyville in 1892 and were involved with the grocery business. After joining Frank Rembusch in the mirror business, he formed the Porter Mirror & Glass Co.. In 1924, he purchased the Van Dolsen Manufacturing Co. and changed it to the Porter Steel Specialty Company. It now is owned by the Shelby County Tourism & Visitor's Bureau.
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7 май 2020
