Volume 4, No. 8                                                   August 1, 2003                                                                   Page 1

The

MeGAPHONE 

Elwood, Indiana                                                                                                       Elwood High School(s)

Been driving around and looking for things that I can tell you about your Old Home Town. It has been so rainy for so long that practically everyone and everything has been on hold.

I talked with Randall Hall, owner of the Opera House, and he was delighted with the letter that Jane Borowski had written. I had forwarded it on to him so he would not have to wait to see it in the paper. We talked about the restaurant he wants to have on the corner where the old Tam's store was. To make the restaurant work, people from other towns need to help it go.

Right now, people from other towns are leery about coming to Elwood. One of the things we talked about is how to get positive publicity around this county and also to surrounding towns. I have not noticed Jane's letter in the Call Leader yet, but it could be there some time this week. I wonder about sending it to Anderson and Noblesville papers. This is a great way that people who live away from here can help get the good word out about
Elwood.

This day is really nice. It is 10:30 AM, and the temperature is 76 degrees. People have planted flowers at their homes and they look good. The planters uptown are looking very good also. Park Ranger Dan has planted many flowers at the park. He has made so many positive changes to the Callaway Park that people are beginning to use it a lot. There is always someone walking around the road, and I see a lot people taking their lunch to the park. Sometimes they are alone and sometimes there are several together. And, the kids and their mothers are in the playground on a daily basis. Park Ranger Dan controls the older kids very well. He does not allow them to be running rampant and being destructive. Kudos to you Park Ranger Dan!

The fountain uptown has not been turned on for about a week. At first I thought it was because the weather was so unpredictable, but even on the nice days it has not been turned on. Do you suppose the city didn't pay their water bill?

There is a lot of work being done all around North Anderson Street, but it is hard to tell just what is happening with all of it. I know things are going on to get all ready for the big job. It was announced that the work would start the last of May, and the Memorial Day Parade committee was concerned that the work would hamper the visitors if it did start then. They
then announced that the last of June or the first of July would be the start date. Now it is in August. I guess all of the work on the utility lines, etc. were part of the start date. I know It will be so nice when it is all finished.

Even with these cooler days we have been having, there is not a lot of activity in town. A lot of people have gone to the lakes or have gone on vacation. The rest of us are just being lazy and enjoying this time of growth and excitement. There is always a crowd at Jim Dandy, it seems to be the local hang out for some of us seniors.

The Linders Dairy Store on west Main Street was purchased by Merrill Taylor, who is one of the candidates for mayor in the coming election. A lot of people did not know about  this sale. Merrill had been with Marsh Food Stores and came back to Elwood to manage the Marsh Store here after it bought out Carters.

The big Victorian house across D Street from the Baptist Church has been bought by a former cook at the high school here. I understand that it will also be a Bed and Breakfast place. It is also a beautiful house. This will surely help all who want to come visit here in Elwood. I am still waiting to hear more about the possibility of a motel and restaurant being built at the corner of State Roads 28 and 37.

The progress here in town has run into some disadvantages because of the out of town owners of a few of the buildings. They are not as interested in the growth of this town and the rehab that can be done to some of these buildings. The bad thing about these out of town owners is that most of the property they bought was because taxes had not been paid by the local owners and so for the price of back taxes they were able to buy buildings here.
Many did this so they would be able to show loss on their own taxes, now they are not interested in making these places something that will be profitable.

Things are really so much better here than it was only 5 years ago. There is much beauty around this town and more and more people are becoming positive about what is, and will, be done to this city. One person at a time is all it takes. Do a little and it starts spreading. As this is being done, the people are filled with pride that they have had even a small part in making this little town grow and look better.

Wisdom of the day is: The most wasted day of all is one in which we have not laughed!

Until next month, this is your Old Home Town Reporter signing off.

From Your Old Home Town Reporter,
Sharon (Benedict) Hurst '53
Elwood, IN, Out on Fairground Road

A Letter to the Editor 

*of the Elwood Call Leader

Dear Editor,
  This past week-end, I attended my 40th class Reunion in Elwood. Our celebration began with a pot luck at the Shelter House at the park . . . Dan Nance and his staff does the city proud. The park looks better each time I visit. Thanks for your hard work.

   Sat. eve we enjoyed a delicious meal at The Historic Opera House. Randall Hall and Keith Israel could not have offered a bigger welcome or better service. They along with their staff were efficient and can be very proud of the great facility they've brought to life in Elwood. Sunday morning Brunch was also delightful . . . with some menu items that added interest and diversity to the standard. When I first began planning my week-end stay, the matter of accommodations was my biggest question. A class member suggested the new Bed and Breakfast in town. The Plum House on South Anderson and So. J (owned by Teresa Sweet) is where my husband and I stayed. What a lovely surprise, clean, attractively decorated, plenty of snacks, and fine breakfasts made our stay such a pleasant surprise.
  To summarize . . . Citizens of Elwood: Support these new businesses. They are owned and operated by folks who care about making Elwood a new great place to live. In fact, the entire town is looking and feeling fine. Thanks for a memorable week-end.

Jane (Stout) Borowski '63
South Bend, Indiana