Recovering Addicts Left with Questionable Future

Recovery Associates Inc. is closing its doors leaving many addicts with limited options. The center which helped addicts recovering from substance and gambling addiction, will at least temporarily be shut down. According to this article, in Indiana, Vigo County ranks "sixth for meth addiction, eight for prescription drugs, and ninth for alcohol abuse." These numbers show the large amount of addicts needing treatment in the area. This is largely linked to the amount of drugs being produced in the area. Recovery Associates is a United Way partner and currently there are no plans to re-open. In order to help reduce any negative impact a gap in treatment might have Freebird Solutions is opening its doors to the displaced addicts.

Team Sycamore Racing

Earlier today I attended a presentation about the Motor Sports Minor available at ISU. The program is a collaboration of the colleges of business, technology and nursing, health and human services. Although I only attended because it was required for a class I came away from it impressed by the efforts of the faculty and students. The program is very unique and aims to prepare students in all aspects of the racing world. This program can also be beneficial for individuals who aren't familiar with racing. One of the highlights of the program is Team Sycamore Racing, which is run solely by ISU students. Team Sycamore Racing is a great example of motivated students working together to better themselves and the university. The competitive nature of racing and the applicable experiences students receive, help prepare individuals for any job even those not related to racing.  In the future, hopefully similar opportunities will be available in other areas and help improve the university and the students it graduates.

Downtown Terre Haute

This past weekend I visited Greenville, South Carolina to attend my brother's wedding. If you haven't visited it is a really great place with a very active downtown, both socially and economically. This made me wonder why Terre Haute couldn't support a similar environment on a smaller scale. Although downtown Terre Haute has some examples of successful busineses, the first that come to mind are almost always the Terminal or Copper Bar. Not to say that bars don't play a vital role in social life of a city but it would be nice to have some local businesses or restaurants take advantage of some of the available space. The new Children's Museum will hopefully play a role in attracting different types of businesses to move downtown. Downtown Terre Haute, Inc. has the some of the same goals to help improve life downtown. This organization has a large list of members and is a great source for various activities going on in Terre Haute. One of the group's main activities is the downtown Farmer's Market which reminds us of Terre Haute's days of agricultural prominence. Hopefully this group and others will continue to coordinate its efforts and work to revive the downtown area.

Who are the Hulmans? Part Three

Continuing the work of his wife Herman bought a building capable of holding 60 patients, three times as much as before, and donated another $10,000 to convert it to a hospital. The Herman would continue to contribute to health care in the Terre Haute area providing $80,000 for hospital expansion in 1908. As Herman aged, he occasionally took time to hunt and fish, along with ride his horses. But business was always on his mind and Herman was hopeful that Herman Jr. would join the family business. Those plans changed when Herman Jr. left to be married in Cincinnati. After he eventually returned, he never lived up to his Father's expectations.
Undeterred Herman started the biggest project of his life, the new Hulman Building. 
The project was an obsession for Herman and he often became ill from the long hours he was working. Herman began looking for a site in 1888, and he found it at 9th and Wabash in 1892. ``It was easy enough to plan the exterior, but to plan the interior and arrange the machinery and different departments from cellar to dome was a mental tax with which I never again want to be burdened,'' Herman recalled. Finally after settling on plans, the building was opened in 1893. More than 5,000 people came out to see the Romanesque Revival-style building. By 1903 Diedrich and Theodore had passed and Herman's sons began taking on more responsibility in the family business.
The business continued to expand and employed over 150, including 50 traveling salesman. The new territory being covered created needs for new branches in Mattoon, Ill., Paris, Ill., Evansville, and Brazil. During this period Herman continued various philanthropic efforts throughout Terre Haute. In 1898, Anton's marriage would end in divorce. This was especially troubling to Herman, a devout Catholic. But soon after Anton remarried, and an event would happen that changed the Hulmans forever. In 1901, Anton Hulman Jr. was born. An event that made the usually reserved Herman unable to hide his pride. Anton "Tony" Hulman Jr. is a name that has become known to race fans around the world. From that day forward the Hulman legacy would continue to grow.

Who are the Hulmans? Part Two

Herman, now 27, the same age as Francis when he started his partnership was managing a very profitable business. Herman's experience from his apprenticeship proved to be very beneficial and he led the business with a confidence that calmed his brother Theodore. As the Civil War loomed, Herman feared for his personal and professional life. Personally, Herman feared that the war would keep him apart from his girlfriend, Antonia Riefenstahl. After several unsuccessful attempts to persuade her to travel to U.S., Antonia finally arrived from Germany in 1862, and they were married the same year. The stress of war made acquiring goods to keep their store stocked even more time consuming. In 1863, while Herman was working more than ever, Theodore left to be married. Soon there after Herman celebrated the birth of his first child Maria. Theodore briefly left the business to serve in the Indiana Home Guard. As the war ended, Theodore returned and Herman celebrated the birth of his first son Anton. By the time their third child was born, Herman Jr., Antonia and Herman had already mourned the loss of Maria.

The war which had created times of uncertainty for the business, ultimately resulted in greater success and expansion. In 1869, Herman's desire to diversify led to a merger with R.S. Cox Jr., his biggest competitor. That same year he purchased the Alexander McGregor distillery. Six year later Herman was exhausted from all of his ventures and sold the distillery prior to an extended European vacation. After returning Herman purchased half-interest in the distillery, which he would keep until 1878. That year he traded his distillery interests to regain full interest on his wholesale business, ending the Hulman and Cox merger. Herman diverse investments would continue with stakes in railroads, the telegraph, water and sewage systems, and gas and electric companies. 

Although not all Herman's ventures succeeded, nothing could slow his desire for success. The strain of such success forced Theodore to retire to outdoor work in 1879. He focused on raising vegetables on a 756 acre farm that he sold to the government for used a federal prison. As Herman's responsibilities continued to grow, his time with family was further reduced. Antonia focused on their sons, while Herman focused on business. While focusing on raising her sons Antonia couldn't help but be frustrated with the city's lack of health care infrastructure. The city had very few trained nurses and the sick would often be treated at home or the jail. Following Antonia's lead, Herman bought a vacant building at 2nd and Mulberry, and in 1882, St.Anthony Hospital was opened. By this period Antonia was already very ill and passed away in April. The loss of his wife led Herman to continue his wife's work.

Who are the Hulmans? Part One

Some of the most recognizable landmarks in Terre Haute were gifts from the Hulman Family. The Hulman Center, Rose Hulman, the Hulman Airport, Hulman Links, and ISU's Student Union are all examples of the Hulmans' philanthropy. I have lived in Terre Haute for 15 years and knew very little of the Hulmans or what brought them here. The story of the Hulmans' journey to Terre Haute actually started in Cincinnati. Diedrech Hulman first moved to Cincinnati in 1842 from Lingen, Germany. Anxious to make a fortune of his own Francis Hulman, Diedrech's brother, quit a book-keeping job in Paris.

In Cincinnati Francis started a partnership with Charles B. Meyer, specializing in importing luxury items. Francis became frustrated with the inconsistency of selling non-essential goods. After attempting to convince his partner to diversify their offerings, Francis accepted that his partnership would not last. During this period Francis was first told of "Terra Haute" by John Bernhard Ludowici. Ludowici had been a grocer in Cincinnati for several years and was convinced Terre Haute's position on the nation's first interstate hinted at it's potential for growth.

After first arriving in 1850 Francis saw a place different from what Ludowici had described as a "territory is rich with wealthy farmers in the surrounding country and beautiful prairies". Terre Haute is often noted for it's smell and during this period the smell resulted largely from the pork packaging industry. Nevertheless, their partnership began with a $700 investment from Francis and $1400 from Ludowici. Their offerings included groceries, liquor and tobacco, glassware, nails and leather. Once the store began to experience success Francis asked for a larger percentage of earnings and was denied. Again Francis tried to convince another partner to try new ventures and Ludowici refused. Arguments intensified and in 1853 the partnership ended with Ludowici keeping ownership as the dominant investor.

Having only been in Terre Haute for three years, Francis had very little to keep him there. Undeterred Francis decided to open a store directly across from Ludowici's. The ``F.T. Hulman Wholesale Store'' was advertised in local papers and as profits grew so did the size of the ads. Francis was married in 1854 to Eleanora Sophia Wiesmer. As his business grew Francis sought the aid of his brothers Herman and Theodore to help. After surviving 1857, a year when many businesses closed Francis allowed himself a vacation the following year. He along with his wife and daughter would take a summer long trip to Europe while visiting family in Germany. Francis felt comfortable with his brothers at the helm.

Prior to launch the boat needed to be fumigated. This required the heating of a heavy chain until it was red hot. The chain would then be dipped in tar to create clouds of smoke. While heating the chain one of the officers was overcome by the heat and dropped the chain setting the deck on fire. The ship's heavily varnished woodwork was like a candlewick. Some passengers were able to board a lifeboat, while others jumped into the sea. A passing boat was only able to rescue 65 of 538 passengers. Francis and his family were not among the survivors. Herman was now left to run his brother's business in very uncertain times.

The Terror of Terre Haute

Having lived in Terre Haute for the majority of my life, I am usually intrigued when I hear of a local athlete that is a major success. While reading An American Hometown I became interested in Charles "Bud" Taylor, a boxer who had killed two men he had faced. After a few minutes searching I found out that Taylor actually had a book written about his life. Thanks to the wonder of Google I was able to preview a portion and gain some perspective on his upbringing.

Taylor grew up the son of a "teamster", which during that period meant transporting goods by a horse-drawn carriage. This job obviously was not a job of high prestige or pay, along with little job security. From 1900-1915 his family moved seven times, all within a 10 block radius near Tippecanoe avenue. In his neighborhood it was typical for families to live paycheck to paycheck. With no money for a car, the Boys Club or Boy Scouts weren't a luxury Taylor had an opportunity to participate in. If he had, he probably wouldn't have became the kind of boxer he did. Instead of learning the Boy Scout Oath, he was learning to settle his disputes with his fists. A story that is common to many of the great boxers of all time. 

Fortunately for Taylor his delinquency started and ended with fighting. He was a trustworthy child, who by the age of 10 already had a job selling the Terre Haute Post-Telegram. During this time Taylor's older brother, Orville, died of gangrene. It was later found out that his illness resulted from a kick in the stomach while playing football. Taylor never spoke about the incident and his son was unaware that his father had a brother, only finding out while being interviewed after his father's death. It is tough to imagine what emotions Taylor had to relive when two men would later die after fights with him. Although in the case of Frankie Jerome (p 90) it could be debated that he died from a failed surgery rather than from the fight alone. Regardless of the cause Taylor felt responsible saying, "No one knows how I feel. I'd give anything to have Frankie alive tonight,". Taylor's life is a great example of Terre Haute history that is anything but ordinary.