The Hometown Treasure December 2011 | Page 50

Westview Jr/Sr High Quarter 1 High Honor Roll Grade 7 Rachel Bates, Dora Bontrager, Dorene Bontrager, Lynette Bontrager, Karis Brewer, Madison Burton, Emily Christner, Karyssa Davis, Dora Eash, Taylor Eash, Kloee Fitch, Bronte Fry, Eugene Fry, Julia Fry, LuAnn Fry, Alana Gingerich, Miriam Gingerich, Houston Haney, Alisha Hochstetler, Lynita Hochstetler, Seth Hostetler, Sandra Jess, Aaron Lambright, Jane Lambright, Alyssa Lehman, Jared Lehman, Logan Lewton, Peyton Martin, Dylan Mast, Amiah May, Andy Miller, Derek D. Miller, Derek L. Miller, Jolene Miller, Jordan Miller, Karen Miller, Kevin D. Miller, Kevin Z. Miller, Loren Miller, Michelle Miller, Wendall Miller, Dalton Misner, Sarah Oliphant, Sarah Raber, Brady Roth, Beth Schlabach, Kevin Schlabach, Rachel Schlabach, Anna Schmucker, Emily Schrock, Seth Schrock, Jennifer Schwartz, Leora Schwartz, Maci Schwartz, Adrianna Sharick, Reagan Sharick, Diane Stutzman, Alisa Tetzloff, Taylor Trittipo, Kari Troyer, SueAnn Wagler, DeAnne Wingard, Rita Wingard, Daryl Yoder, JoDena Yoder, Karen Yoder, Lori Yoder, Lucas Yoder, and Sandra Yoder. Grade 8 Chase Anderson, Karch Bachman, Mary Beechy, Holly Berger, Blaine Bontrager, Brenda Bontrager, Brian Bontrager, Dora Bontrager, Joetta Bontrager, Lauren Bontrager, Lorraine Bontrager, Norma Bontrager, Hope Brandenberger, Andrew Brown, Emily Fry, Kayla Fry, Kyle Fry, Gavin Gage, Erika Gamble, Asher Gingerich, Karen Gingerich, Shanna Greene, Gracie Hales, Stephani Hallgarth, Karey Haney, Kari Hochstetler, Riley Hochstetler, Jeran Hoopingarner, Alexis Hostetler, Jennifer Hostetler, Christopher Janik, Derrike Johns, Kaylee Kauffman, Bradly King, Lisa King, Miranda Kresse, Jesse Lambright, Yvonne Lambright, Aaron Miller, Cathy Miller, Derek Miller, Donna Miller, Geneva Miller, Jacob Miller, Jarrin Miller, Kade Miller, Kolton Miller, Kyle Miller, Linda Miller, Michael Miller, Norman Miller, Sierra Miller, Jared Mullett, John Mullett, Ameera Naser, Brenda Nissley, Lacey Pamer, Dhruti Patel, Savannah Rang, continued on next page pg 48 · The Hometown Treasure · Dec. ‘11 Hometown History by Carol Anderson A Commune In LaGrange County More interesting facts about LaGrange County and historical events which impacted local residents can be found in 7 Score and 10, LaGrange County’s 150th Year, from the LaGrange Publishing Company. It was published in 1982. 1836: The year Davy Crockett and a band of freedom-loving Texans were killed at the Alamo, the county holds its first presidential election. Martin VanBuren, a democrat, gets 150 votes while William Henry Harrison, a Whig, gets 128. LaGrange Town plat is laid out. 1846: Two LaGrange County families leave for Oregon via the Oregon Trail, which opened in 1842. The first Teachers’ Institute in the state is held in the county. Elias Howe invented the sewing machine. 1860: The county’s population is 11,350. Lincoln carries LaGrange County in the presidential election. The Pony Express is established out West. 1866: Civil War veterens held a camp near LaGrange for two days to reflect on their war experiences. It is the year that the Ku Klux Klan in formed. A tornado sweeps through the northwestern part of the county. 1876: The Centennial Year is ushered in by a midnight celebration in LaGrange. Several citizens leave for the Black Hills where a gold rush is on. Residents read of Col. George Custer and 264 soldiers of the 7th Calvary being killed in the Battle of Little Big Horn in Montana. Mark Twain’s “Tom Sawyer” is published. 1893: It was a year of financial panic and the beginning of a depression which was to last for four years. There were no bank failures in the county, but for two weeks in August, local banks could not get their drafts cashed by the best banks in New York and Chicago. 1905: Passenger service begins on the Valley Line between LaGrange and Shipshewana. A decision is made to extend the line east through Ontario and Mongo, and west to Middlebury. Springfield and Milford Townships file remonstrances with the county commissioners banning saloon licenses, thus making complete the prohibition of saloons in the county for a period of two years. An estimated 2,000 hogs perished in the county from cholera. 1913: Four oak logs are cut which scale 10,000 feet and sell for $35 a thousand feet. Charles Denning, RR1 postal carrier, finally gives up his buggy and got a Ford machine. Gene Stratton Porter, who has gained nation-wide acclaim as an author, is to speak at Corn School. 1916: Shoes going up in price from 15 to 20 cents a pair. Because more and more automobiles are appearing on LaGrange streets, an ordinance is enacted setting a speed limit of 15 miles an hour in town and instructing drivers to keep to the right and turn square corners. 1939: Scarlet fever epidemic closes schools and cancels sports events and some church services. LaGrange residents are surprised to see a team of Alaskan huskies pulling a dog sled through town. The driver was en route to the World’s Fair in New York. A canning factory in Shipshewana turns out 2,000 cases of tomatoes, and a like number of green beans and 1,000 cases of custom products. 1942: Sheriff Glen Eash asks that all residents of enemy nations turn over to him all arms, cameras, and short wave radios in their possession. One alien responds by turning in a gun. LaGrange County women make garments for foreign war relief.