Interesting Fairfield news from long ago

Democrat, Aug. 28, 1902

FIRE AT FAIRFIELD

THE UNIVERSALIST CHURCH AND JOHNSTON'S WAREHOUSE BURNED WEDNESDAY MORNING

Undoubtedly of Incendiary Origin, as Church Had Not Been Used For Two Weeks

About two o'clock yesterday (Wednesday) morning the Universalist Church in Fairfield was discovered on fire. The flames had gained such headway in the interior of the building that it was impossible to save the edifice, and it and James Johnston's implement warehouse immediately south were both i a short time burned to the ground.

The fire was undoubtedly of incendiary origin as it has been two weeks since services of any kind had been held in the church.

The church, although built over 50 years ago, was in a good state of repair and the loss is not less than #2,000, with no insurance.

Mr. Johnston's loss on building and contents is estimated at $500.

This is the second fire that has visited Fairfield in the past five years, five residences having been burned in October, 1897.

Democrat, 1899

FAIRFIELD NEWS

Bring your produce to Johnston's general store and receive the highest cash price.

Herbert Loper is prepared to do all kinds of dental work. Office in Linegar's Pharmacy.

Dr. E.P. Zeumer has located here for the practice of his profession. Office in the Fairfield House.

See Joe Dudley before you sell your Hogs, Cattle and Sheep.

Ads disguised as news 1860

 

Movie ads from 1930

 

1929 -- stuck em up often

Democrat, 1929

Fairfield Men Held Up Last Saturday Night

Gus Glidewell, Armond Kelly and Virgil Bowen were held up and robbed while enroute to Brookville from Fairfield about 9:30 last Saturday night. The three Fairfield men had heard of the fire which was raging at the K of C hall, in this city, and were on their way to the fire when they met a car near the farm of William Logan, which refused to give them any of the highway, forcing them into the side ditch.

Immediately, three men alighted from the car and at the point of drawn revolvers, ordered Mr. Glidewell and his companions to "get out and hold up your hands."

They took what cash the Fairfield men had upon their persons and after disabling the lights of the car in the ditch, the highwaymen disappeared in the direction of Fairfield.

Owing to the darkness, Mr. Glidewell, Kelly or Bowen were unable to obtain a description of the men nor get the license number of their car. At present time, no grace has been found of the highwaymen.

Filling Station Attendant is Victim of Holdup

George Reidenbach, night attendant at the Riverside filling station, was the victim of a holdup Wednesday night, by three young men who appeared to be about 18 or 20 years old.

The three youths drove up to the station about 10 o'clock and purchased a cigar, asking the attendant for a rag with which to clear their windshield. Reaching into a desk drawer for the rag, Mr. Reidenbach straightened up to find himself covered by a gun in the hands of one of the youths. The robber forced George into a corner after opening the cash register and procured $22.50 from the drawing, overlooking about $20 in quarters and halves to another compartment of the drawer.

The three climbed into their Ford roadster, bearing an Indiana license, and departed toward Cincinnati. Mr. Reidenbach immediately notified the towns south of this city, but no trace of the robbers has been found at this time.

Our beloved town park -- 1922

Democrat, 1922

FAIRFIELD

Chicken Supper an Enjoyable Event

Despite Storm -- Park Improvement Assured

Monday morning, July 17, dawned bright and fair and found the citizens of Fairfield Township very busy getting read for the much talked of chicken supper, and at 6:30 p.m., great stacks of fried chicken and mashed potatoes were ready and the guests were soon seated, 60 persons being served at one time.

After a little while it became evident that the rain was going to spoil their plans but being ever prepared for all emergencies, the men commandeered trucks and autos and the supper was moved to the I.O.O.F. dining hall. In a short time supper was again ready and went merrily on.

The menu consisted of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, pea patties, apples sauce, slaw, pickles, pie and coffee. Ice cream, cake and lemonade were served at the stand. On account of the rain, it was impossible to have the program that had been arranged.

Mr. DeMuth, the genial Delco agent, had the park beautifully lighted. The people of the township responded liberally, and the visitors were very generous. Two hundred persons were served.

It was an evening that will long be remembered by everyone who was present and the hearty response of the people as placed the park proposition upon a sound basis, with sufficient confidence established to proceed with some needed improvements and arranging for its permanent upkeep.

 

1919 appliance ads

Most rural people still didn't have a continual source of electricity in 1919. If you lived "in town," you were one of the lucky ones.

Facts, fiction, figures

American, July 1855

Wister's Patent Wash Tub

We might have said two weeks ago, that we were in the possession of one of these tubs from the manufactory of Messrs. English & Stran of New Albany, who own the right for Southern Indiana, and who are prepared to supply orders, wholesale or retail, but we preferred testing it thoroughly before recommending it. 

It has now been in use here, three weeks, and been tried on all sorts and sizes of clothes, from bed quilts to night caps and we are authorized to say that it fills the bill, and performs all that is claimed for it.

It is simple and durable, in its construction and but little heavier than an ordinary wash tub. It will be serviceable in the family of every man who desires to lighten the burdens of his wife or daughters, but those who think everything a humbug that does not do, or lighten outdoor work, will not buy it, or if they do they will growl about it.

They can buy patent threshers or rakers or cultivators but a patent wash tub is too small a matter for them.

Let all our readers who are in the reach of Messrs. English and Stran, send for one immediately.

We learn that Mr. Doddridge, the proprietor of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin, has made arrangements for  a manufactory here, and that they will be for sale in Brookville next week.

We need not urge the men who love their wives, to buy one -- they will do it without urging.

It will come with poor grace from some of them to say they can't spare $8, these hard times, when they chew and smoke more than twice that amount in a year.

Grand Island, Neb., 1901

HOUSE BURNED

And no trace found of the occupants.

Brookville -- The farm residence and all buildings belonging to Joseph Horn were burned to the ground tonight and the family cannot be found. The family consisted of Horn, his wife and four children. The fire is still too hot to determine of the bodies of the members of the family are buried under the debris of the residence, but it is believed all perished in the flames.

Moral: Insure in the Gordon Agency.*

*This was actually part of the story. The story is also a lie.