Table of Contents
Acknowledgements 9
Introduction 11
I 1890s-1910
1 Bierhaus Home a Remnant of a Different Time 15
2 Dr. Charles Sanford's Story Became a Part of Local History 19
3 Dr. Von Knappe and the "Castle" on the Corner 22
4 Buffalo Bill's Wild West Came to Town in 1898 25
5 Pearl Buttons Were Once Manufactured in Vincennes 29
6 Legacy of "Uncle Joe" Roseman Can Be Seen in Knox County Cemeteries 32
7 Vincennes Native "Hub" Smith Was Diplomat and Composer 35
8 Pritchett Case Was One of the Most Unusual in County History 38
9 Vincennes Patrolman Killed after Touching Live Wire 41
10 Location of Fort Sackville Was First Marked in 1905 44
11 Vincennes Came to the Aid of Earthquake-Devastated San Francisco 47
12 Bloodhounds Helped Fight Crime in Knox County and Beyond 50
13 Destructive Hailstorm Caused Damage in Northern Knox County 52
14 A 1909 Streetcar Accident Resulted in Fatality 54
II 1910-1920
15 The Abernathy Boys Came to Town in 1910 59
16 Stibbins's Murder Shocked Knox County Residents in 1911, Part 1 62
17 Stibbins Brothers Stood Trial for Murder, Part 2 65
18 Verdict Reached in Stibbins's Case, Part 3 68
19 Glenn Roughan Had One of Vincennes's Twentieth-Century Success Stories 70
20 Murder at the Savoy Made Headlines in 1912 73
21 Theatrical Men's Friendship Was Commemorated for Years 75
22 Bridge Watchman LaCoste Had a Challenging Job 79
23 Vincennes Cemeteries Named in Contest 82
24 Bowers-Lescher Sanitarium Once Served Medical Needs of Knox County People 84
25 Christmas 1914 Saw First Vincennes Municipal Christmas Tree 87
26 History-Making Race at the Fairgrounds 89
27 Production of Alice of Old Vincennes Was Part of 1916 Centennial Celebration 91
28 First Vincennes Public School Razed 94
29 Vincennes Police Department Acquires First Motorized Vehicle 97
30 Arnold's Hobby Brought Happiness to Thousands 99
31 Ruth Jordan Served as Nurse Overseas during First World War 102
32 Men Fail in Attempt to Rob Bruceville State Bank 106
33 Bruno the Bear Made His Home in Vincennes for Many Years 108
34 "Cornstalk Killing" Frightened the Community in 1919, Part 1 110
35 Local Man Confessed to Infamous Murder, Part 2 113
III 1920-1930
36 Story from the 1920s Became One of the Most Bizarre in Local History 117
37 Franklin Roosevelt Spoke to Voters at the Knox County Courthouse 120
38 Checkers Champ Banks Competed in Vincennes 123
39 Old Post Laundry Was an Innovation for Vincennes 125
40 St. Louis Cardinals Played the Bicknell Braves 127
41 Fox Drives Were Once an Important Part of Rural Life 129
42 President Warren Harding Passed through Knox County 131
43 Edwardsport Bank Cashier Murdered in Attempted Robbery Part 1 134
44 Accused Murderers Brought to Justice, Part 2 137
45 "Gentleman Jim" Made a Brief Stop at Union Depot 139
46 Local Students Took Part in Spelling Bees 141
IV 1930-1940
47 Cooking Schools Were Once Held in Vincennes 145
48 Miniature Golf Was a Popular Pastime Locally Beginning in 1930 147
49 Nancy Gardner Baker Was Last Vincennes Civil War Nurse 149
50 Daniel Hanes Was Symbol of a Bygone Era 151
51 Knox County Girl Named Champion in International Canning Contest 153
52 Vincennes Mayoral Election of 1934 Was a Nail-Biter 155
53 Sally Rand Brought Her Risqué Show to the Pantheon Theater in 1935 157
54 The 1936 Heat Wave Was the Worst in History, Part 1 160
55 Ail-Time Record High Temperature Reached Locally, Part 2 162
56 Turtle Derby Was an Amusing Civic Undertaking 164
57 Vincennes Took in Evansville Flood Refugees in 1937 166
58 William Strange Was One of the Last Knox County Civil War Veterans 169
59 Duke Ellington Took the Stage at Vincennes 171
V 1940-1950
60 Main and Busseron Streets Became One-Way 177
61 Knox County Townships Plagued by Mosquitoes 180
62 Vincennes High School Graduates of 1882 Recognized 183
63 Abbott and Costello War Bond Day 186
64 Vincennes CCC Camp Lasted Just a Few Months 188
65 Castor Beans Were Grown in Knox County During the Second World War 190
66 Coogan Stationed at George Field in 1944-45 192
67 Father Flanagan Brought His Message to Vincennes 195
VI 1950-1960s
68 Vincennes City Hall Razed 201
69 Local Landmark Came Crashing Down in 1952 204
70 Vincennes Welcomed "Citizen" Truman 207
71 The 1955 Peach Crop Killed by Frigid Early Spring Weather 209
72 "Uncle Billy" Green Jr. Was Grandma Moses of Vincennes 211
73 Davy Crockett Craze Hit Locally 214
74 Old State Bank Building Was Once Truly Hidden History 217
Selected Bibliography 219
About the Author 221
