Interesting facts about Evansville, Indiana |
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Written by Vi
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Friday, 20 February 2009 |
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I received this list in an email from one of my favorite clients, and couldn't help but post it. There is so much local history in this list, and the majority of it, I was unaware of. I hope you enjoy these interesting Evansville, IN facts.
Interesting Things about Evansville
What year did Evansville become a city? 1847
Name five Indian tribes that lived in Evansville area. Shawnees,
Miamis, Pottawattomies, Delawares, and Kickapoos.
What was the depth of the floodwater at the corner of Washington
and Kentucky Avenues on Jan 31, 1937? 7 Feet
What product kept Sterling brewery profitable during prohibition?
Malt Extract
What was Willard Carpenter's dream to build on Reitz Hill? A College
What does Josef Stalin's daughter, Svetlana, have in common with
Evansville? Her former husband was from Evansville
Evansville is thought to have been the first city in the country to
have what in its schools? Telephones
During World War II what other police force could be found on
Evansville's street? Military Police
What did truck drivers driving through Evansville call 'The Chicken
Coop'? The Weigh Station
Why was Evansville's red light district called ' Gear Town '? It was
located in 1st, 2nd and High Streets
Why was it necessary to change the wheels on every train coming
north from Kentucky or going south to Nashville? The railroad tracks
were different sizes
What new technology became available in Evansville in 1882? The
electric light
What did Willis Copeland build in 1903? The Zentmobile
What did F.J. Scholz manufacture in one of the most extensive
businesses of its kind in the Midwest? A Cemetery Monument company
What civil war hotel was located at 3rd and Main? The Washington Hotel
What happened in 1938 to help bring Evansville out of the Depression?
The Discovery of Oil
Who invented and secured a patent for the common bottle cap? Alfred
Bernardin
How many men from Vanderburgh County fought in the Federal Army
during the Civil War? 3,761
Who is best known for beginning his career in the Blue Bar? Boots
Randolph
What engineering feat did L&N Railroad accomplish in 1885? Completion
of Railroad Bridge across Ohio River into Henderson.
Who was the first mayor of Evansville? James G. Jones
What Evansville Newspaper ceased publication with the issue giving
the account of Lincoln's death? The Evansville Dispatch
How many time was Arad McCutchan name ICC 'Coach of the Year?' 12
In 1910 what covered 30 acres west of Pigeon Creek on Maryland Street
and was the world largest of its kind. Globe-Bosse-World Furniture
Company
Who was the editor of 'The Evansville Courier' who promoted improved
schools and parks? Howard Roosa
In what year did Drive-In theaters appear in Evansville? 1946
Where was Slaughter's Avenue? The Lloyd Expressway
In what year did Evansvillians begin playing golf? 1898
In 1955, what store on the walkway was 'The Wife Saver' store?
Evansville Electric Service Inc.
What local figure was the Minster to China? Co. Charles Denby
How did Evansville lose its Wharf? It was destroyed by an ice jam.
What high school did fashion designer Halston attend? Benjamin Bosse
What does Mater Dei mean? Mother of God
Who was Evansville most famous woman? Albion Fellows Bacon
In what year did the first student graduate from a high school in
Evansville? 1862
What uncompleted building burned on Christmas Eve 1855? The Courthouse
In what park were animals first displayed in Evansville? Oak Summit
Park
What was Riverside drive formerly called? Water Street
What was the Belmont Disaster? A shipwreck that killed 14 people
What local killer's trial led to a landmark Supreme Court ruling
balancing free-press and fair-trial rights? Leslie 'Mad Dog' Irvin
What was distinctive about Vine St., Clark, Governor and Douglas high
schools? They were for black students
What west side city was annexed by Evansville? Lamasco
What local sports figure became the announcer of the Kentucky Derby?
Chick Anderson
How many growing days does Evansville have? 185 Days
How many years did the Wabash Erie Canal operate? 12 Years
What was unusual about the children's barber chair in Strouses? The
barber chair was a carousel horse
What vaudeville comedian never failed to mention his old home town
Evansville in his act and movies? Joe Cooke
What was 'The Pitts?' A threshing machine
What is the oldest road in the Evansville city limits? Red Bank Road
What Evansville golfer won the 1944 PGA? Bob Hamilton
What was destroyed in a roaring inferno on Jan 31st, 1946? Globe-
Bosse-World Furniture Company
What was the name of the amusement park located on East Morgan
Avenue? Yabroudy Park
What chocolate animals was a Christmas tradition at Hermann's Candy
Store? Chocolate Mice
What Evansville citizen was the first to attend Indiana State
University? James Shanklin
What was the first brick building in Evansville? The Courthouse
What local person was the national leader of the Klu Klux Klan? D.C.
Stephenson
When did the first electric generating plant start in Evansville? 1882
Who was the first woman editor of the Evansville Sunday Courier and
Press? Judith Clabes
What was the first high school west of Alleghenys? Evansville High
School near 7th and Main
What were 'The Simplicty and the 'Traveler? Automobiles manufactured
in Evansville
Who was the first school teacher in Evansville? Thomas Truman
What area was known as 'The English Settlement? McCutchanville
Who was Evansvilles College first All-American basketball player?
Gus Doerner
What television station first broadcast the news in color? WFIE
What happened to the LST Shipyard? Destroyed in a fire
Where did Theodore Roosevelt speak in Evansville? 5th and Locust
Streets
Why did gypsies make an annual pilgrimage to Evansville? The Queen is
buried in Oak Hill Cemetery
How many square blocks were under flooded in the 1937 flood? 500
What was WEHT's channel prior to 25? 50
In the 1930's what did Weinbach Avenue and Barker Avenue have in
common? They were the city limi
What did soap manufacturer Adolph Melzer Jr. leave to the city of
Evansville? A thousand dollar gift to collect interest for 200 years
Who was ISUE's first basketball coach? John L. Deem
What did 'Free the Eagle' refer to? University of Southern Indiana
independence
Where was Evansville's only public roller coaster? Yabroudy Amusement
Park
What was Welborn Hospitals first name? Evansville Sanitarium
When was St. Boniface church on Wabash Avenue built? 1881
In what decade was 'Good Times Ahead for Evansville' made popular?
1930's
What year was the Evansville Race Riot? 1903
Who was Anchor Industries World's largest flag dedicated to? The
Iranian Hostages
Before Oak Hill cemetery, where was Evansville's burial ground
and Mulberry
What pro sport did Central H. S. grad Dr. Ralph Wilson participate in
1930? Professional Wrestling
What pioneer village to the east, now a ghost town, was an early
rival of Evansville? Darlington
What crime did Hugh McGary's father commit? He murdered an unarmed
Indian.
How did Jack McLean end his sport show? Good night to all good sports
What large institution west of Evansville provided treatment for
patients with tuberculosis? Boehne Camp
What Rex Mundi football player went on to national fame? Bob Griese
What Civil War encampment was located on the old fairground on the
riverfront? Camp Wallace
What man from Evansville was one of the first three Americans killed
in WWI and where is he buried? James Bethel Gresham
Which hotel had 'The Rose Room? The McCurdy
What railroad baron was from Evansville? David Mackey
Evansville is located just north of what famous 'line'? Mason-Dixon
Line
What was Evansville's first private hospital? St. Mary's on the
waterfront
Hoosier Cardinal was a pioneer in the manufacture of what industry?
Plastics
When was a fire department established? 1888
Who was the first black doctor in Evansville? George Washington
Buckner
What company made the first farm tractors in the United States?
Hercules Buggy Company
Where was the first jail located? 3rd and Main Streets
How long is the Ohio River? 981 Miles
What pair of rare animals (the only two in captivity) was at Mesker
Zoo? Blue glacier bears
When was Evansville first museum established? 1904
What was the name of the hospital for blacks? Welborn Walker Annex
What year did the Evansville Philharmonic established? 1934
Why did Evansville schools have recesses? To move the horses to the
shade
What year was the first commercial flight from Evansville to Chicago?
1928
Where was the Sunshine Coal Mine located? West Maryland Street
Why was there a riot in 1865? Opposition to increasing black
settlement
What year was the L&N Railroad station built? 1901 |
