60 Years Ago This Week - 1961
Friedens United Church of Christ, located near downtown Indianapolis, purchased 12 acres of land at 8200 S. Meridian St. to build a new worship center.    
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Southport High School seniors Jon Mattson and Ron Zeck were finalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program.  
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Eli Lilly became the first company to develop a chemical that would kill crab grass. 
  
50 Years Ago This Week - 1971
Our Lady of Grace Academy in Beech Grove was hosting its annual spaghetti dinner.
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Most tropical fish at Madison Avenue Grooming, 4386 Madison Ave., cost between 25 and 33 cents. 
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Robert VanDeVander and Marlene Pierce were married at the Indianapolis Baptist Temple.

40 Years Ago This Week - 1981
Al Derleth retired as purchasing manager of Davidson Industries after 34 years in the lumber business. 
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The dean’s list at Butler University included Casey Hayes, Roy Jones, Jeffrey Larmore, Joyce Brink, Mary Ann Christopher, Rebecca Rodman, Nadine Beal, John Cavosie, Scott Cook, Ronald Day, Todd Dudley, John MacBeth, Jennifer Maier, Teresa McCormack, Mary Ellen McLeaster, Robin Schortemeier, Julie Searcy, Ronald Smith, Charles Weisenbach, Steffani White and Berniece Yee. 
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Cathedral High School was hosting its annual Shamrauction. 

30 Years Ago This Week - 1991
Steven R. McClure was named the commercial account sales manager at Sharp Ford, 3931 S. U.S 31. 
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Southport High School basketball coach Bill Springer was named the Indianapolis Oldtimers Club’s Man of the Year.
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​Students and staff members at Homecroft Elementary were reminded daily of family and friends serving in the Persian Gulf by this “ribbon tree” in the school’s main hallway. Drawn by art teacher Gayle Stephens the tree was adorned with 86 yellow ribbons, each containing the name of a serviceperson.

20 Years Ago This Week - 2001
Debbie Ewing, head of Perry Meridian High School’s art department, was recognized as Indiana’s Art Educator of the Year. 
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Ian Bravard, a student at Clinton Young Elementary, was honored for his artwork depicting the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
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Dale Earnhardt was killed during a final-lap collision in the Daytona 500.
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The Catholic Youth Organization received a $600,000 grant from Lilly Endowment to enhance programs offered by Camp Rancho Framasa in Brown County.
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Jaswant and Singh Atwal opened the Grill of India at 8038 S. Emerson Ave.

10 Years Ago This Week - 2011
St. Paul Hermitage’s Resident Family Council, which included Linda Augenstein, Mary Dooley, Dottie Davis, Sharon Gartell and Emily Gutzwiller Vance, were treated to lunch at Napoli Villa in Beech Grove for their service to the organization.
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Beech Grove High School solo instrumentalists Emily Barton, Dustin Lehmkuhl, Matt Byland and Kyle Hollandback qualified for the state meet.
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Boy Scout Troop 92 from St. Mark Church celebrated 57 years of Scouting. The group’s Eagle Scouts included (front) Augie Hibner, Corey Pope; (middle row) Dave Jackson, Bill Mills, Tom Kern, Tom Jackson; (back) David Kirch, Ralph Bloom and Joe Jackson.

60 Years Ago This Week - 1960
Indiana Central College dedicated its $800,000 physical education building.
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Southport residents were protesting the proposed construction of a cement plant in their city.
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The Indiana Council of Protestant Churches was hoping to collect 100,000 blankets for the needy overseas.

50 Years Ago This Week - 1970
A.H. Jensen & Sons, 1361 Madison Ave., prepared tax returns for as little as $5.
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It cost a dollar an hour to play pool at Don’s Game Room, 1609 Prospect St.
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Crossroads Lincoln Mercury, 4015 S. U.S. 31, advertised a 1969 Cougar for $2,695; a 1968 Torino, $1,795; a 1966 Oldsmobile, $1,095; and a 1964 Thunderbird, $1,095.
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Safeway Quality Foods in Fountain Square and southern Perry Township was holding a beef sale; round and swiss steak, rump roast and sirloin patties cost 89 cents a pound.
 
40 Years Ago This Week - 1980
Perry Meridian’s girls basketball team (13-1) won its first Marion County Tournament by defeating the state’s No. 1 team, Southport, 67-56, which was previously 15-0.  The Falcons, coached by Roz Murphy and assistant Jill Brunic, featured Karen Fair, Michelle Van Deman, Lisa Cox, Toni Music, Lori Courtney, Cindy Ellis, Denise Gritton, Karen Nitsch, Mary Beth Scheuth, Susie Hinkle, Rita Maxwell and Karla Hall.
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Chicago’s Pizza, 8081 Madison Ave., had a special on its sandwiches – two for $2.44, a savings of $1.
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The Lone Ranger, portrayed by Clayton Moore in the television show, appeared at the Greenwood Park Shopping Center.

30 Years Ago This Week - 1990
Friends of former Manual High School football coach and Perry Meridian athletic director Noah Ellis established a scholarship fund in his name.
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Richard Eskew and Charles T. Stumpf announced their candidacies for the Perry Township Board of Education.
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The After Hours Band was appearing at the Holiday Inn Southeast, I-465 and Emerson Avenue, where the cover charge was $1.
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20 Years Ago This Week - 2000

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The Indianapolis Boosters elected its new officers: Jeff Cardwell, president; Shirley Roller, co-secretary; Mark Fink, treasurer; Janet Swigert, co-secretary; and Dan Federspill, vice president.
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10 Years Ago This Week - 2010
Freezing temperatures didn’t deter sledders from visiting Garfield Park. While some hills were worn to the dirt, others proved to be “sled-worthy” by many.
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Michael Taylor joined Carpenter Realtors, 8901 S. Meridian St., as a marketing specialist. A 40-year resident of Perry Township, he had spent the past 35 years in manufacturing as a night plant manager for Carr Metal Products.
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The Franklin Township Chamber of Commerce elected its new officers: Judith Duncan, president; Andy Henderson, vice president; Karen Wise, secretary; and Jean Travis, treasurer.
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60 Years Ago This Week - 1959
Dinner for two cost a “buck ninety” at Bortz’s Cafeteria, 1026 Virginia Ave. 
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Three half-gallons of milk cost $1 at Miller’s Regal Market, 215 Terrace Ave., and bacon was 39 cents a pound.  

50 Years Ago This Week - 1969
Santa Claus was expected to move into his new chalet any day at Southern Plaza, 4200 S. East St., where he would arrive via a sled pulled by Siberian huskies. 
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A 9-inch black-and-white TV was advertised for $66.88 at G.C. Murphy in Fountain Square, where snow tires cost $14.78.
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One-bedroom apartments at Park Greenwood, located at U.S. 31 and Fry Road, rented for $154.50 a month, and that included electricity, heat and water.

40 Years Ago This Week - 1979
University Heights Hospital named Joseph Houchins as its Employee of the Month.
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Members of Marian College’s basketball team included Tom Eagan and a trio of Brians: Burkert, Mills and Feldman. 
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Gail Bultman was busy selling candy for the Camp Fire Girls. 

30 Years Ago This Week - 1989
Donna L. Groff received the Book of Golden Deeds Award from the Southside Exchange Club. She was honored for her volunteer work at Methodist Hospital Hospice and for the founding HANDS, a support group for cancer patients and their families.
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A Thanksgiving dinner at The Sherwood, 6520 S. Emerson Ave., cost $3.95 for children and $6.95 for adults. 
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20 Years Ago This Week - 1999
Friedens United Church of Christ, 8330 S. Meridian St., broke ground for its expansion project.
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Former Maple Grove Elementary School Principal Niel Busse dressed as Johnny Appleseed (aka John Chapman) and visited second-graders at Calvary Lutheran School to discuss the facts and myths about the man who planted apple trees throughout Indiana. 

10 Years Ago This Week - 2009
Second-graders at St. Mark School enjoyed a beautiful autumn afternoon. With temperatures averaging about 10 degrees above normal, these students didn’t let a glorious fall day go to waste.
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Heine’s World Famous Roast Beef, located at 7040 Madison Ave. and owned by Michael and Marilyn Stewart, served a variety of sandwiches from 4:30-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday.

60 Years Ago This Week - 1959
Mr. and Mrs. Lee Pierle, who had 15 children, 66 grandchildren and 10-great-grandchildren, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. 
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Charles H. Boswell was re-elected mayor of Indianapolis, outpolling Republican challenger Will T. Sharp 69,913 to 51,862.  
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All drug stores in Marion County joined forces with the Indianapolis Diabetes Association to offer free diabetes tests.
  
50 Years Ago This Week - 1969
Dewey Halcomb won the first round of the turkey shoot hosted by the Kiwanis Club of South Indianapolis.
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The A&P grocery stores at 1337 Shelby St. and 4011 S. U.S 31 featured round, sirloin, T-bone and porterhouse steaks for 99 cents, $1.09, $1.29 and $1.39 cents a pound, respectively. Oranges cost 4 cents each, and bananas were 10 cents a pound.
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Southwood Assembly of God was selling $49,000 worth of 7 percent bearer bonds to build a church at 8700 S. Meridian St. 

40 Years Ago This Week - 1979
Perry Meridian High School’s Aqua Maids, which assisted in the operations of all home meets for the boys and girls swim teams, elected its officers: Kelly Brittan, president; Cindy Johnson, secretary; and Elly Petcoff, treasurer.
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The cast of Manual’s production of “Bye-Bye Birdie” included Mark Bowell, Richard Williams, Theresa Snoddy, Kathy Gilvin, Mary Gabbard, Rhonda Munn, Derek Tamber, David Ackerman, Marcia Smith and Scott Medsker. 
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Bill Greathouse and Linda Wenn, chairmen of the Perry Township Education Association Legislative Committee, were organizing a reception to honor the area’s outstanding politicians and teachers.
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St. Roch’s junior Catholic Youth Organization kickball team won the city tournament. The squad featured (front, from left) Annette Page, Chris Schmoll, Lynne and Lisa Swift, Donna Northcutt, Shelly Pinna, Karen Schuster; (back) Patty Meyer, Sherry Bullock, Tina Meyer, Joni Ancelet, Kathy Roembke, Kathleen Mappes, Lisa Sandefur, Betty Stumpf and Clare Hillan. Coaches Dick Gallamore and Julie Gough are not pictured.
 
30 Years Ago This Week - 1989
The Southside sky and the hearts of many local residents were darkened as the former Bemis Bag factory on Barth Avenue went up in flames. Damages were estimated at more than $300,000, and the main structure would likely be demolished. Four youths were charged with arson and were in the Marion County Juvenile Detention Center.
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In addition to its breakfast and lunch hours, Sisters’ Place, 2310 Shelby St., announced that it would open for dinner on Thursday and Friday evenings.
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Roncalli’s football team defeated Avon 39-6 to win its second straight sectional title.

20 Years Ago This Week - 1999

Marien Hardware, 3604 Madison Ave., was celebrating its 71st anniversary. The store originally served as residence for German Southsiders, with the storefront added in 1928 when the Marien family bought the home.
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“Taco” Teddy Wade was the new owner of the Tijuana Connection, a restaurant and sports bar at 1265 N. Madison Ave. in Greenwood. Wade had remodeled the facility to include a dance floor and two large-screen TVs.   
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Lutheran High School recognized its outstanding fall athletes: David Hall, Kari Piepenbrink, Jana Fix, Brittany Andrews, Lauren Mascher, Becky Henchman, Luke Finchum, Matt Schultz, Peter Brakke, Carl Lehenbauer, Chris Dorman, Mary Prater, Allen Janke and Peter Queck.

10 Years Ago This Week - 2009
Deano’s Vino Restaurant and Wine Bar, 1112 Shelby St., sponsored a benefit “yappy hour” for the Southside Animal Shelter. The event featured appetizers, a special menu, a silent auction and music.
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The Thirsty Turtle, 2949 S. Meridian St., offered food and drink specials for $2 on Mondays.
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Defending 5A state football champion Center Grove and Lutheran were competing for sectional titles.
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