Last Issue
of the Megaphone Online . . .

     

for this millennium!!!

Here We Grow Again . . .

This edition of the Megaphone carries 8 pages . . . 4 more than our first edition. The only way we can maintain the Megaphone at this level would be for list members and readers to continue providing articles and materials to use once a month for this feature.
    

I can put it together and post it to the web pages. But it will be primarily up to the readers to provide most of the materials. We welcome contributions from anyone interested in submitting articles for publication. Preference will be given to original material. Simply forward your work to: mcrim1361@att.net .

Thanx . . . 
Marvin Crim

WLWHS '57

Page 2 -- Christmas Memories -- Genie (Forst) Boyer
Page 3 -- Meet the Moderator -- Genie (Forst) Boyer
Page 4 -- A Moment In Time -- Sharon (Woods) Schwartz

                      Held by the Night -- Sharon (Woods) Schwartz

Page 6 -- Haven't Got Time For The Pain -- Re: Jerry McClish
Page 7 -- A Non-Christmas Story -- Julie (Stout) Duffitt
Page 8 -- Peace In A World of Chaos -- Julie (Stout) Duffitt
   

My, oh my. Here we are at the beginning of the Christmas Season and it is already time for a new EDITION of the Megaphone.

Our Ol’ Hometown is really coming along. Anderson Street has been open from Main to the RR tracks for the past 3 weeks. There are some streetlights in place but of course all of them are not up yet, just enough to let everyone know how they will be looking, which is great. The downtown looks very nostalgic with the ADDITION of these new lights and really brings back fond memories of yesteryear. I can hardly wait for you who are away from here to see our new uptown look. The old opera house, where Tam’s was, is looking awesome. It will not be finished as soon as they had hoped since taking off all the layers of paint on the bricks has taken longer than they had thought. It will be worth the wait just to see how beautiful it is looking.

I had mentioned the window decorating project our Design Committee, a sub-committee of the Elwood Main Street Committee is sponsoring. You will be glad to hear that it is progressing very well. The Elwood Police and Fire Departments have created a really neat display in the old Sweet Shop/Schiff's Shoes building. Slowly but surely this town is looking ahead. The St. Vincent Mercy Hospital, which owns through to the alley on So. A Street and to Anderson Street on So. B Street, has torn down the old Goodyear/used furniture store and hopefully it will not be long before they are able to begin their expansion.

At our last Main Street meeting, the mayor of Elwood said the new civic complex is on schedule and will be started first thing this next spring.  He updated us on some of the things we can look forward to. The RR will close So. C Streets exit onto Anderson Street. They and INDOT are planning to landscape the area on both sides of the street. If this does proceed as planned, what a major difference that will make at the entrance to our uptown area. He also said that INDOT will create a one way circle drive through Willkie Park on No. Anderson Street. The statue of  Ol’ Wendell will stay as well as the shelter house already there. They are planning to add lighting along the drive and a fountain as well as a footbridge across the creek.

We still have a wait for these things to be accomplished, but it has been a very long time since there have been plans of any sort for this beautiful, old town. The Sesquicentennial planning is moving ahead. Co-chairs are Jerry Dunnichay and Jim Knoop. Secretary is Jan (Rudig) Helpling and Treasurer is Angela (Waymire) Cassidy.  What a dynamite group!!!

Our Home Town is indeed blessed this Joyful Christmas Season.

Your Roving Hometown Reporter,
Sharon (Benedict) Hurst '53