60 Years Ago This Week — 1963
Six-inch lifelike poinsettia blooms were advertised for 5 cents at Woolworth’s.
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Four cans of corn cost 59 cents at Miller’s Regal Market, 215 Terrace Ave., where 10 pounds of taters were 35 cents and a pound of bacon cost 49 cents.
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McDonald’s was opening an average of five restaurants a week across the country. Founded in 1940, the chain had grown to 520 stores in 45 states and had annual sales of $100 million. 
Today, those figures are 38,000 stores worldwide and $23 billion in revenue.

50 Years Ago This Week — 1973
The House of Sirloin, 902 E. Hanna Ave., expanded its hours to include breakfast while boasting “speedy, snappy service for busy, busy people.”
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Robert Hignite, a teacher and coach at Manual High School, was installed as president of the South Indianapolis Kiwanis Club. Other officers were Paul Snider, Bernard Smith, Clyde Fields and Theodore Carr.
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Interstate Jobbers celebrated its seventh anniversary at its Madison Avenue site and featured more than 1,000 suits priced at $55. The business was owned by the three-generation Bortz family, which included (from left) Mildred, Jerry, Gary and Jack Bortz.
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The PTA of Meridian Middle School hosted its annual chicken and noodles dinner.

40 Years Ago This Week — 1983
Perry Meridian seniors Doug Paget, Jeff Pierson and Laura Moore were semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program.
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Dr. Joseph Cortese expanded his dental practice at 3901 S. U.S. 31 by adding the services of Dr. John Walker.
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The $700,000 renovation on the Garfield Park Conservatory was nearing completion. The project included a new glass roof and the installation of a fountain, pools and a gazebo.
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A 20-piece bucket of Famous Recipe Fried Chicken cost $9.39; a three-piece dinner with mashed potatoes, slaw and two biscuits was $1.99.

30 Years Ago This Week — 1993
Lutheran high schooler Kathy Schulenburg was named to the All-Marion County volleyball team.
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Keystone Middle School students Paola Isada, Courtney Nicoson, Allison Schott, DJ Ausbrooks, Greg Bradley, Amy Noon, Tony Harris, Jessica Leslie and Fred Armstrong participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for the school’s new gym and cafeteria.
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The South Village and Fountain Square neighborhood associations were recognized for beautifying their communities.
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The Indianapolis Police Department was increasing its street patrol by nearly 100 officers.
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Harold and Marjorie Norcross were honored for their volunteer work at the Indiana State Library, where they had donated nearly 6,000 hours of service over the years.

20 Years Ago This Week — 2003
Perry Meridian senior Kail Smith earned the rank of Eagle Scout — the highest honor attainable in Scouting — by landscaping the shelter area at Christ United Methodist Church.
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Casey Schaefer and Nathan Humphrey were among the 28 students from Lutheran High School who participated in a blood drive.
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St. Mark School eighth-graders (from left) Stephanie Courtney, Kelsey Stack, Claire Wolters, Kaylee Schembra and Jessica Peters got an “taste” of high school life by sampling an exotic fare of mealworms.
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St. Mark students Luke Schoettle, Kimmy Merkel, Lizzie Corcoran and Bryce Opel were recognized for their entries in the haunted house art contest at The Children’s Museum.
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The 9-Ball Cafe, 3940 S. Keystone Ave., took out a half-page ad to promote its specials. One of the best buys was three 16-inch pizzas, three orders of bread sticks and a 12-pack of Pepsi for $23.99

10 Years Ago This Week — 2013

Southport High School’s football team celebrated after defeating Tech 27-10 for the Class 6A sectional title. Next up for the 11-0 and No. 5 Cardinals was No. 3 Center Grove (10-1).
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Kent John opened Closet Space Collectibles at 6025 Madison Ave. He was assisted in the business by manager Dennis Puyear and merchandise specialist Chris Smith.
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Beech Grove High School students Lennon Gregor, Michael Jennings, Jordan Sloan and Joe Pich posted impressive scores on the SAT as they all scored 1,300 or higher.
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Big Dan Pfeiffer wrote about a 1951 Plymouth Suburban in his “Car Nutz” column.

* * * 60 Years Ago This Week — 1963
Burger Chef, known for its 15-cent hamburgers, was building a restaurant at Madison Avenue and Thompson Road.
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John Visker was named manager of Kay Jewelers in Southern Plaza.
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Mrs. John Moriarty and Dr. Rex Joseph wrote letters to the editor to voice their displeasure about a zoning ordinance that allowed the construction of two gas stations within a half-mile of each other on South U.S. 31. Moriarty wrote: “Since vehicles can go 200 miles on a tank of gas, why does there have to be a filling station on every corner?”
* * *
Kathryn Turney Garten, a nationally known book reviewer, lectured during a luncheon at Southport Christian Church.

50 Years Ago This Week — 1973
In addition to targeting housewives, the fall advertising campaign of Weight Watchers was modified to attract the attention of professional men and women.
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Mrs. Ray Grant spoke during the monthly meeting of the Greenwood La Sertomans.
* * *
A 30,000-square-foot addition to Baptist High School was dedicated. The school had an enrollment of 400 and was located at 2711 S. East St.
​* * *

Students from Charisse Dance Studios, including Darcy Dillard (left) and Michele Kline were rehearsing for their recital at Manual High School. The production, coordinated by Mrs. Edward Bramlett, would feature Mexican, Greek, Spanish and Hawaiian dances.

40 Years Ago This Week — 1983
Firefighters at Station 29, including Bob Chambers and Phil Ochs, completed their three-year renovation of the the facility, 2302 Shelby St. The materials cost $70,000, but the firefighters’ work was estimated to have saved almost $150,000 in labor costs.
* * *
Dr. William Armstrong, a graduate of Indiana University School of dentistry, opened his practice in oral and maxillofacial surgery at 7800 Shelby St. He and his wife, Liz, had three children, Jessica, Emily and Anthony.
* * * 
Susie Jeff and H. Allen Andry exchanged wedding vows at the Historic Hannah House, 3801 Madison Ave. It was believed to be the first such ceremony held there.
* * *
University Heights Hospital named Roger Clark as its Employee of the Month. He was a member of the maintenance department.

30 Years Ago This Week — 1993
More than 6,000 Boy Scouts from the 19-county Crossroads of America Council participated in their sixth annual food drive. Previous campaigns had netted nearly 600 tons of food.
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Ponderosa’s new sirloin steak dinner, which included a baked potato, the grand buffet and a sundae bar, was served for $5.99.
* * *
Roncalli’s football team upped its record to 10-0 by defeating New Palestine 55-6 in the semifinals of sectional action. The Rebels were led by senior running back Mike Bohn, who scored six touchdowns.
* * *
A 2.29-carat diamond was marked down to $2,995 from $4,895 at Page & Co. Jewelers.

20 Years Ago This Week — 2003
Baxter YMCA, having been housed for about a year at the former Boat Sales on U.S. 31 because it had been partially destroyed by a tornado, moved back into its rebuilt facility at 7900 Shelby St.
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“Focus on Pastels,” an exhibit at the Southside Art League, featured the work of Ruth Howell, Marilyn Eberg, Donna Shortt and Beverly Mathis.
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Catfish, turkey and barbecued ribs were served at the Heritage House, corner of U.S. 31 and Thompson Road. The cost was $8.39 and included an array of other entrees, side dishes, salads and desserts.
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The high school football teams from Beech Grove, Franklin Central, Greenwood, Manual, Perry Meridian, Roncalli and Southport advanced to the second round of sectional action.

10 Years Ago This Week — 2013

Beech Grove High School students (from left) Kristian Folks-Bowie, Kathleen McManus, Destinee Elison, Alyssa Clemons, Katelynn Wright and Mitchell Showalter visited Ball State University to check out college life.
* * *
Nativity’s “smile drive” for the Catholic Crisis Center resulted in second-graders collecting 138 tubes of toothpaste, 238 toothbrushes and 104 rolls of dental floss.
* * *

The fourth-grade kickball team from St. Barnabas School won the Catholic Youth Organization’s city championship by defeating St. Luke 9-7. Team members were (in no particular order) Sarah Lezon, Delaney Casse, Natalie Mullin, Samantha Cardis, Grace Smith, Sierra Adkins, Brianna Harris, Ally Felix, Maddy Nelson, Addie Elsener, Becca McGaha, Elly Roessler, Allyson Biltz, Katie Evans and coaches Lisa Felix and Chris LaRosa.

60 Years Ago This Week — 1963
A 12-piece bucket of chicken, a pint of slaw and a heaping pile of fries cost $2.97 at Chicken Delight, 2863 Carson Ave.
* * *
The monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment at 1433 S. Meridian St. was $70, which included all utilities.
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A lady advertised that she would iron a bushel of clothes for $3.50. For an additional 50 cents she offered pickup and delivery service.

50 Years Ago This Week — 1973
Dr. Frank Daskalos was elected to the Indiana Chiropractic Association’s board of directors.
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Mrs. Frederick Baumgartner played the guitar during a variety show for (from left) Leslie Bohrer, Dawn Whitaker, Tina Likens and Tim Lane.
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Cecilia Sanders was honored for her 25 years of service as secretary of Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
* * *
Flu shots for the Hong Kong B strain were available for $1.75 at Teamsters Locals.

40 Years Ago This Week — 1983
Manual High School golfer Tracy Chapman shot an even-par 72 at the Muncie Elks Country Club to earn medalist honors in the state tournament. She also won the Mental Attitude Award.
* * *
An explosion at the Comfort Inn, 602 E. Thompson Road, blew out a rear wall of the hotel. A leaking propane tank was blamed for the blast, but investigators didn’t know what detonated it. Maintenance man Emory Bradley suffered burns over 60 percent of his body and was in critical condition at Wishard Hospital.
* * *
St. Mark Grade School’s cadet B kickball team won the Catholic Youth Organization’s city championship by defeating St. Jude 24-22. The squad consisted of Kathy Steinberger, Drue and Erin Hillan, Erin Speth, Anne McGauley, Jenny Selzer, Jeanne Higgins, Clara Spaeth, Mandy Evitt, Cathy Von Essen and coaches Sophia Cairo and Debbie Rolfsen.
* * *
The girls cross country team from Keystone Middle School took first-place honors at the Marion County meet. Squad members were Michelle Kendall, Jill Sheridan, Wendy Mozingo, Marcia Supple, Jenny Knight, Julie Mosby, Lesa Ansler and coach Wally Cox.

30 Years Ago This Week — 1993
Ron Howell and Dawn Leisure, both football coaches in Garfield Park’s youth league, exchanged wedding vows on the 50-yard line. 
* * *  
Roncalli’s football team upped its record to 9-0 by defeating Chatard 21-12 in the opening round of sectional play.
* * *
A luncheon special at Bynum’s Steak House, 3850 S. Meridian St., featured a sandwich and a bowl of soup for $3.50.
* * *
Tara Simpson, Jennifer Armstrong and Danielle Spears were winners in the Say No to Drugs poster contest at MacArthur Elementary School. 
* * *
Chris Bradley, Brianna Underwood, Sam Blossom, Andrea Stumpf, Cory Schouten and Trish Strietelmeier were Keystone Middle School’s Students of the Month.

20 Years Ago This Week — 2003
Chris Leppert achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest honor attainable in Boy Scouts, after completing his service project of reroofing and repairing Mike Eskitch’s home.
* * *

J.D. Willett, a junior at Manual High School, attended the Sen. Evan Bayh Service Leaders Summit, where he was honored for his community service.
* * *
Pat Musgrave, Roncalli’s special needs coordinator, won the Teacher of the Year Award from the Learning Disabled Association.
* * *
Alexandria Lewis and Chase Grant were among the kindergartners from Clinton Young Elementary School who enjoyed picking pumpkins during their field trip to Golden Harvest Farm.

10 Years Ago This Week — 2013

Roncalli’s Students of the Month were (front) Tam Awl, Chad 
Ransburg, Sarah Barron, Hana Roessler; (back) Bridget Bard, Abby Locker; Morgan O’Brien, Savannah Sloan, Mackenzie Prince, Bridgette Antolin, Cole Walters, Liam Hosty and Andrew Nover.
* * *

Robert Moriarty, plant manager of Amtrak’s Beech Grove maintenance hub, Beech Grove Mayor Dennis Buckley and Ron Summers, the facility’s budget manager, gave a thumbs up to the funding agreement that preserved the Hoosier State passenger rail line to and from Chicago.
* * *

Southsider Voice Publisher Kelly Sawyers (left) and Editor Denise Summers published their annual Women in Business section.

60 Years Ago This Week — 1963
Out of the 28 stories on the front page, 17 were less than 15 lines long.
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Sandra Tucker was elected vice president of Trane Hall dormitory at Ball State Teachers College; Judy Dresslar was elected recording secretary of Brady Hall.
* * * 
Indiana’s first sales tax of 2 percent was just a week away from being implemented. 
* * *
King and queen candidates for Sacred Heart High School’s homecoming were Pat Carson, Victor Herman, Tony Ressino, Steve Rieman, Sue Baker, Josephine LaRoss, Charlene McAtee and Connie Rogers.
* * * 
The PTA of Homecroft Elementary School sponsored a Christmas in October carnival.

50 Years Ago This Week — 1973
Betty Sexson was named interim director of the Fountain Square Senior Citizens Center. She replaced the Rev. Edward McCance, who had been appointed administrator of Indiana’s Commission on Aging.
* * *
Since Southport Library was expected to have only half its capacity of 70,000 books for its opening in early 1974, the Bucks for Books Committee — chaired by Mrs. Leland Richards — was launched to purchase books and magazines.
* * *

Mrs. Price Hawkins pointed out a spooky feature of the haunted house at The Children’s Museum to Rick (left) and Berry Hawkins.
* * *
Michael Dye was named branch manager of Associates Financial Services’ new office at 8001 Madison Ave.
* * *
G.C. Murphy’s in Fountain Square sold battery and electric AM radios for $9.94.

40 Years Ago This Week — 1983
Insty Prints, 936 E. Hanna Ave., boasted three photo copiers to better serve its customers.
* * *
Phil Greene, the newly installed lay minister of Holy Rosary Catholic Church, distributed Holy Communion to his mother, Maggie Greene, and grandmother, Margaret Minardo.
* * *
Marie Kress, Mary Springer and Elsie Hoovler from the Women’s Club of St. Mark Catholic Church were among those planning the parish’s fall bazaar.
* * *
Southport High School seniors Steve Kerlin and Cheryl York were named National Merit semifinalist scholars.

30 Years Ago This Week — 1993

Basketball legend Louie Dampier served as the grand marshal for Southport High School’s homecoming festivities, during which Sherrie Graham was crowned queen.
* * *
Keystone Middle School seventh-graders Wendy Osborne, Kris Self, Jeanette Eads, Lee Guthrie, Alex Craig and Kelly Floyd, all members of the Discovery Team, presented a play about ancient explorers, particularly Christopher Columbus.
* * * 
Perry Meridian High School students Jeremy Garritano, Teresa Ali, Michael Braverman, Richard Burton, Nicholas Camin, Amanda Clarke and Shane Julius were recognized for their performance on on the PSAT National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.
* * *

A 370-foot-tall radio tower for WGGR-FM was pieced together in four days in the 600 block of East National Avenue.


20 Years Ago This Week — 2003

Perry Meridian High School English instructor Nancy Johnson (center) received the Project E Teacher Excellence Award, which included a cash prize of $10,000. She is seen with Principal Ed Henry and Dolly Bauman of Project 
* * *
Sheila Delaney, daughter of Mike Delaney and a graduate of Center Grove High School, and Mark Nellans, son of Mrs. Gary Nellans, were married at Greenwood United Methodist Church. The bride was an assistant manager for IKON Office Solutions; the groom was employed as a sales manager for Culligan Water Co.
* * *
Brokenburr Trails Apartments on Perkins Avenue at Raymond Street had a date with the wrecking ball to make way for garden apartments and homes. The 35-year-old low-income housing project had been vacant for two years. 
* * *
The fall fun fest at McDonald’s, 5416 S. U.S. 31, featured karate demonstrations, live country music, fingerprinting of children and a cheeseburger and fries for $1.
* * *
The 33rd Degree, the highest honor awarded by Scottish Rite Freemasonry, was presented to Carl Culmann and Charles Burton.
* * *
Greenwood High School’s football team upped its record to 8-0 with a 27-7 victory over Whiteland, Franklin Central and Roncalli were 5-3; Perry Meridian, 4-4; Manual and Southport, 2-6; and Beech Grove, 0-8.

10 Years Ago This Week — 2013

The girls soccer team from Perry Meridian High School won its fifth straight sectional title by defeating Roncalli 2-1.
* * *

The 262 American flags that had adorned the city of Southport’s utility poles for the past six months were stored away until next spring, and Kenny Winslow was there to help, just like for the last 10 years.
* * *
Southport’s undefeated football team (8-0) clinched the Conference Indiana title by crushing Bloomington North 70-41.

“Memories are the key not to the past, but
to the future.”