The

MEGAPHONE

Elwood, Indiana                                                  Elwood High School(s)

Volume 2, No. 5                                                                                              May 15, 2001

Contents

Page 1 -- Your Old Home Town Today -- Sharon (Benedict) Hurst

Page 2 -- Denstock II -- Genie (Forst) Boyer

Page 3 -- Meet the Moderator -- Genie (Forst) Boyer
Page 4 -- How I Got My Name -- Elmer "Mean Gene" Eisaman 

                        Ask Meg -- A Letter from "Mama Duck"

Page 5 -- Journey To Guam -- Part V & VI -- Julie (Stout) Duffitt  
Page 6 -- Bits and Pieces -- In and Around Elwood -- Sharon (Benedict) Hurst

                        Cook's Corner -- Vickie "Mama Duck" Wardwell

Page 7 -- My Story: Housewife? -- Toots (Davies) Pethoud

Page 8 -- Off Her Rocker -- Kokomo Seniors

                        1000 Marbles -- Vicki "Mama Duck" Wardwell

  The first is from the Madison County Foundation and the second is from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).  This means that we will be contracting with an historian to set the boundaries and do the paper work to have our uptown area designated a Historical Commercial District on the National Register of Historic Places. There is much interest around the state and some other areas about Elwood and the move to become revitalized that has been going on here.

  It is time to see that the flowers are planted in the marvelous new planters and it is very pleasing to see the number of people who are asking about the donations to purchase the flowers. Several groups are already decorating the empty windows in the uptown area and there are another 4 or 5 groups who are waiting for an empty window to become available for them.

  The benches really look nice along the street. I think people are really surprised how nice it is beginning to look uptown. Theresa Mangas and I stopped for an early supper, between meetings, at River's Inn the other evening and once again were delighted to see so many people we knew either at the restaurant or strolling down the sidewalks.

  The new curbing and lighting is finished to P Street and the sidewalks are finished to about G or H Streets.  The forms are ready the rest of the way on the west side of the street and it will not be long until the east side has forms ready to go too. By Denstock time we should be able to walk on the new sidewalks beneath the new lighting fixtures. It is all looking so good.

  The hospital is planning to start construction on their building in August but I think September is official ground breaking. The new civic center will be started shortly thereafter and will be up any ready to be dedicated by the Sesquicentennial celebration. The third big project is the school expansions.

  There really is a lot going on in your old home town. There will be a silent auction of Elwood memorabilia on August 11, 2001 as a kick off for the Sesquicentennial year and the official celebration start August 11, 2002. There should be quite a few things for those of you who are collectors out there to acquire at the auction. Hopefully some of you may be able to be here during that time.

  Whether it is in June at Denstock or in August at the auction, you will be pleased and surprised at the facelift of your old home town. We are really making it a place to be proud of.

Your Roving Home Town Reporter
Nan aka Angel #2
Sharon (Benedict) Hurst '53
Now in Elwood, Indiana