Footprints Volume 10, Issue 1 - A publication of the Howard County Historical Society
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Footprints
Volume 10, Issue 1
March 2021
A publication of the Howard County Historical Society
16
From the director thought he looked more like Ken Jennings, the display of the project was celebrated in an event
current show’s guest host, who is much closer to last March in the Seiberling Mansion coordinated
Moving forward with exhibits, and events Peter’s age.
Taking the role of contestants were Howard
by Reed and the HCHS Oral History Committee.
The Jeopardy competition returned, featuring a
and looking back at those who inspire County Commissioner Paul Wyman; Tom Tolen
of the City of Kokomo Department of Develop-
ment and member of the Kokomo Historic Review
lot of ups and downs in the scoring. Tom Tolen
was in the lead going into Final Jeopardy. The
clue: “She became a minor pin-up sensation dur-
K
Board, and Cheryl Graham of United Way of ing WWII when a picture of her with Old Ben was
icking off 2021 with our annual meeting now, some of those selected reach back into our
Howard County, who graciously substituted for sent to some Kokomo GIs.” The ever-humorous
was a great way to revisit my first history. There is much we do not know about
originally scheduled local radio personality Tam- Tom speculated aloud, “Who is Mary Ellen Har-
months here at the historical society and these individuals, and so we piece together their
my Lively, who was unable to attend. nish?” Mary Ellen, a longtime “senior” member of
look forward to my first full year of activities, pro- stories with bits of the historic record. The histori-
Everything was perfectly duplicated from the the board and well-known retired local teacher,
grams, and exhibits. In addition, doing the budget cal society’s job in many ways is to make those
television show including the game board and was in the audience and joined in the laughter
for the year has a way of really sharpening the individuals come alive through research, writing,
sound effects, with the well-known “thinking mu- that followed. When the written answers were
focus! exhibits, and programs.
sic” playing during Final Jeopardy. Each category revealed, only Tom answered correctly with “Who
While we remain mired in the pandemic, it feels Some of these, like Flossie Bailey, seem to be
and all questions were about Howard County his- is Phyllis (Hartzell) Talbert?” and handily won the
like there will be light in the latter part of the year. without flaws, but no one is all good or bad, and
tory, carefully created by assistant curator Randy contest. What fun and what great sports!
We can begin to think about how to reestablish we do those who came before us a disservice to
Smith. As an added fund raiser, the historical society
old norms and organize live events. But for now, present them as such. People were and are more
The “show” even included a mid-point break for worked with Windmill Grill to offer meals for
we are staying vigilant and safe. I am excited to complicated. While it might be hard to avoid
the contestants, filled by a video of an interview HCHS members to order as part of the annual
be working on the video for Hall of Legends with mythmaking when it comes to someone as pas-
with Ruth Temoney, an organizer of the Black meeting with HCHS receiving $460 as its share of
Awry Productions and board member Anne sionate and honorable as Bailey, she was a wom-
Women of the Midwest Project (BWMW) in the the proceeds.
Shaw, premiering at 6 p.m. on March 18 on our an who surely lived as we do today, struggling to
1980s. During its 35th anniversary year, “BWMW A recording of the live broadcast is available at
Facebook page. It’s going to be a great way to make sense of the world, who expressed doubt,
Revisited” updated the project chronicling the https://www.facebook.com/HCHistory.
honor those selected into this year’s Hall of Leg- frustration, and fear. We need to be able to relate
lives of black women in Indiana. A retrospective
ends. to these figures of the past, so that we can see
We have been very busy putting together the ourselves in them, or them in us. We can contrast
first phase of our new exhibition, Howard County and compare. What would I have done in Floss-
African American History Revealed. Stew, Randy, ie’s situation? Would I have been as brave? How In memoriam
Heather, and I have been researching, writing is my world like the one she inhabited? In doing Fred Odiet, 95, passed away Feb. 16. He was a former Howard County historian and long-time
text labels, creating graphics and arranging ex- so, we might resonate with pieces of her story member and volunteer at the Howard County Historical Society, most recently serving on the Collec-
hibit cases, among other tasks. We have worked and learn about ourselves. tions Management Committee.
with an African American advisory group, whose Thank you for your continued to support of the
Membership
members have informed and guided us as we historical society. We will be moving forward with
developed the various pieces of the exhibition. the repair of the porte cochere at the mansion.
We are rolling it out in four phases, finalizing a That will take a lot of resources, but we are
year from now in February 2022.
In thinking about our Hall of Legends cohort for
pleased to be moving forward to ensure the
Seiberling’s architectural integrity.
Our new and renewed memberships
2021, I am struck by their incredible contributions Let’s hope the snow stops soon with warmer Friedemann Arnold Janet Gunning Tyler and Ann Moore
to their communities and beyond. People can days ahead. Evan Barker Harry and Roberta Hanson Larry and Marleta Newberg
shape the world around them in myriad positive Catherine Hughes Andrew Barker Joan Hardesty David and Melody Rayl
ways. While some are doing their good work right HCHS Executive Director Harold and Elizabeth Beal Larry and Judy Ingle Beth Rider
Matthew Behnke Gloyd Johnson John and Marie Roberts
Bob and Janis Bergman Mike and Kelly Karickhoff Michael W. Rodgers
In this issue Carol Brock Cameron
Sandra L. Cross
David and Janice Kellar
Medora Kennedy
Darrell and Tonia Sherrod
Thomas Tolen
Dorothy Dague Suzanne King Douglas and Lynn Vaughn
1 From the director 4 Christmas at the 13 New board members Dean and Judy Despinoy Jim and Judy Kruggel Michael Whiteman
2 New exhibit opens Seiberling a success begin terms Janet Duchateau Chuck and Doris Lingelbaugh Christopher and Allison Wisler
Dan and Carol Estle William Maple Kori Wood
3 Campaign begins for 5 From the president 14 Annual meeting Ken and Linda Ferries Don and Gloria Martin Donald and Marilyn Wooldridge
porte cochere repairs 6 2021 Hall of Legends highlights David and Jennifer Foster Eugene and Nancy McGarvey Pamela Yohn
3 Porte cochere donors inductees 15 Membership Tammy Greene Thomas and Linda Miklik Jeff and Kathy Young
2 15
‘Jeopardy’game, first African-American county HCHS opens first phase of new exhibition
landowner history highlight HCHS annual meeting Howard County African American four phases over the next year. A community-
History Revealed based group of shareholders have informed
By Dean Despinoy of Judy Brown, the Rev. Michael Carson and Kori and provided guidance for HCHS staff
HCHS Publications Committee Member Wood to fill open seats on the board. All were
approved unanimously. T he first phase of a new exhibit regarding the creation of various
A
focusing on local African pieces of the exhibition.
t a time when the postponement of major Randy also presented the Board Development American history opened Feb. 26 This project is by no means
events has become almost expected, it Committee’s slate of officers for 2021: Sharon at the Howard County Museum. comprehensive, but a positive
was no surprise that the Howard County Reed, president; Dave Dubois, vice president; The public is invited to visit the start toward equitable represen-
Historical Society’s 2020 annual meeting could Linda Ferries, secretary; Chris Wisler, treasurer; Seiberling Mansion and Muse- tation of people of color in How-
not take place in the normally scheduled month of and Larry Hayes, member-at-large. The slate was um to discover the long history ard County history. The goal is
October. accepted unanimously by voice vote. On behalf of of African Americans in the area. to find ways to incorporate new
Board member Marsha Santen and her commit- the organization, Dubois thanked outgoing mem-
Who was the first African Ameri- information and objects into the
tee, charged with the meeting planning, were well bers Nita Campbell, Linda Clark, Dana Osburn
justified in thinking that by January 2021 the pan- and Marsha Santen for their service. He ad-
can pioneer? Who fought in World story of Howard County throughout
demic would be under control. That wasn’t to be; journed the official meeting and opened the enter- War I? Who made a positive impact on the museum, so that it is seen as not
changes were needed and the result was the tainment portion by introducing Dr. Catherine children’s lives today? separate., but an integral part of our history.
most creative and unusual annual meeting in the Hughes, who became the HCHS executive direc- The HCHS will be rolling out this exhibition in
society’s history, a blend of face-to-face and virtu- tor last spring.
al. Dr. Hughes presented the annual report for
On the evening of Jan. 12, the cavernous main
chapel of Kokomo’s First Church of the Nazarene
2020 and highlighted the events and accomplish-
ments of the year, which was drastically impacted
Major repairs needed for museum porte cochere
T
sported a colorfully lit stage with high tech back- by COVID-19 but still finished “in the black.” She
drops befitting a television sound stage. noted the Kokomo Tribune named the Seiberling he historical society is raising funds to
In the sea of seats, which normally accommo- Mansion the 2020 Best Local Landmark as part of match a grant from the Indiana Depart-
date hundreds of people, several dozen historical its Best of Kokomo edition. Major projects for ment of Natural Resources to repair the
society board members and guests were well 2021 will include repair of the Seiberling’s porte Seiberling Mansion’s porte cochere.
spaced in recognition of pandemic safety proto- cochere and an exhibition on local African Ameri- The capital campaign began in 2020 and
cols. can history. continues this year. The goal is to raise
In the rear of the auditorium, a professional vid- The work of resident historian and Footprints $50,000 from individuals, foundations, and
eo staff, hired by the society, worked lighting and contributor Gil Porter was featured in a presenta- granting organizations.
sound boards. tion on his research on the first African-American The repairs will include replacing major
A few seconds before 6 p.m., the countdown landowner in Howard County. Filling in for Porter, beams inside the roof and repointing and
started for the live broadcast over the internet. who was unable to attend, Jia Hardman- replacing masonry, all to maintain the integ-
Board member Dave Dubois stood behind a podi- Eddington, a member of the HCHS African Ameri- rity of the structure. The project requires
um and, with a cue from the broadcast director, can Advisory Group and a descendant of one of
specialist contractors capable of working on
welcomed everyone – those in the auditorium and the first area pioneers, and Michael Carson, one
those online – to the Howard County Historical of the newest HCHS board members, shared the such an historic structure, which increases
Society Annual Meeting. fascinating story of Aliff Henley, who had been the cost of repair.
Dubois began with opening remarks from board freed from slavery in North Carolina and travelled
president Sharon Reed, who was unable to at-
tend, followed by standard annual meeting busi-
north to become the first African American to buy
land in Howard County in the 1844.
Recent donors to the porte cochere project
ness. Minutes from the Oct. 17, 2019, annual The evening turned to “fun with history” as local In memory of Jim Aikman, from Robert Hoch Marsha Santen
meeting were read by Secretary Linda Ferries. lawyer and HCHS board member Peter Inman Paula Saul and Danyce Saul Medora Kennedy Brian and Laura Sheets
Randy Rusch presented the HCHS Board Devel- hosted “Howard County Historical Society Jeop- Judy Brown Wayne and Jane Kincaid Dave Shirley
opment Committee’s recommendation to retain ardy.” In his introduction, Peter said he was play- P.A. Conwell Tom and Marsha Maple Lynn Smith
Dubois, Lynn Smith, Chris Wisler and Rusch for ing Alex Trebek, the longtime host of the popular Rosalie Gollner Ron Metz Greg and Melody Sumpter
additional three-year terms and the nominations game show, but Jeopardy fans in the audience Larry Hayes Kyle Rayl
Charles and Patricia Hinders Sharon Reed
14 3
New HCHS board
homeless established by the Center Town-
Pandemic couldn’t stop Santa and Christmas ship Trustee. Using an automotive metaphor,
CAM would serve as the “cam” linking the
By Linda Ferries
HCHS Publications Committee Chair
2020’s Santa theme – and Santa himself
showed up to keep the spirit alive!
parts of an “engine” with the power to make
things happen for the community’s needy. members begin terms
M
An integral part of the community, CAM
asks may have been the order of the While in-person visits were limited, thousands provides a place where the homeless can
day and jovial hugs replaced by social of online visitors took advantage of a virtual come in to shower, wash their clothes, have
distancing, but nothing deterred Santa Claus video tour made by Awry Productions, funded
K
computer access and friendship. It also can ori Wood and the Rev.
from making his appointed rounds – including by a grant from the Community Foundation of serve as their “payee representative” to help
Christmas at the Seiberling 2020. Howard County. It captured Santa chatting with Dr. William J. Smith Jr.
them manage their income properly and pay are the newest members of
The Howard County Historical Society staff decorators and sponsors as he made sure their bills.
and volunteers met the challenges of a pan- Christmas came to the Seiberling. And come it the HCHS Board of Trustees.
A key to its success has been the tradition Wood is currently studying
demic to create another successful holiday did. Thanks to sponsors, ticket sales and vot- of clients giving to others. During the intake
season in the beautiful Seiberling Mansion – ing donations, the month-long annual event for her bachelor degree in
process, CAM asks if the new client, having social science, focusing on
both in person and virtually. Images of the jolly raised nearly $12,000 for the historical society. been helped, would be willing to come back
old gent filled the mansion in keeping with “Christmas this year was, of course, very dif- anthropology with a minor in
and help others. history. She is deputy director
Ruth served as CAM executive director for of Howard County EMA, a
26 years, always adding services to meet single mother, and a heart
new needs. In 2007, the Bill Hudson Project transplant recipient. She has
was launched, with six beds available for a passion for learning about
homeless men to rent for $5 a night. In 2009, what makes us who we are
the Family Hope Center was started to pro- and different cultures from
vide an emergency shelter for intact families. around the world. She says
In 2011, Ruth started a permanent housing Kori Wood
she’s excited to be a part of
program, making trailers and homes availa- the Howard County Historical Society and can’t
ble to families who are homeless and near wait to share its history with the community.
homeless. Serena House provided a shelter The Rev. Smith is a native of Mathews County,
for young women for several years. Va., and has served as pastor of Second Mis-
Today, CAM still sees more than 1,000 sionary Baptist Church in Kokomo since 2015.
people a year through the drop-in shelter, Before coming to Kokomo, Smith pastored
serves as a payee for more than 50 house- churches in Virginia and North Carolina and was
holds, houses 30 people nightly, and assists an active leader in the communities he served.
the ill and elderly as guardians. He is also president of Embracing Hope of
In 2019, Ruth turned the reins over to a Howard County, a com-
new executive director, remaining on the munity development
CAM staff as director of church relations. She corporation that is over-
is proud of the program she nurtured, but she seeing the restoration of
says CAM’s success is the product of a sup- long vacant Douglass
portive community and clients who continue School, opened in 1920
to help the nonprofit long after they have as a segregated school
been helped. for Kokomo’s African
As Ruth has written: “Luke 12:48b American children. The
says, ‘From everyone who has been given group seeks to make
much, much will be demanded; and from the this a community cultur-
one who has been entrusted with much, al center to “Celebrate
much more will be asked.’ The privilege and History, Knowledge,
The Grinch-themed Walnut Room was winner of the People’s Choice Award, receiving the most votes through donations. blessing of working at CAM are a wonderful and Success!”
gift from God.” The Rev. Dr. William Smith
4 13
improved; hope for the future has been in- his family, to churches in Kentucky, Florida, ferent from past years,” said From the president
stilled. For the older participants, the UP pro- and Michigan. Ruth was raised that life was event chair Peggy Hobson. “But
grams offer an opportunity to learn how to work
while also learning what it means to be paid for
lived on this belief: “only that which is eternal
shall last.” There were always extra people
the decorators were the same go
-getter, get-it-done creative peo-
2021 Legends dedicated
the work. Work crews “hired” by homeowners
pull weeds, clean gutters, lay mulch, rake
leaves. Donations and grants provide the fund-
living in their home. Loving and ministry, she
says, were as natural as breathing.
At the age of 11, Ruth began playing piano
ple they've always been. From
the gorgeous foyer to the Grinch-
themed Walnut Room to the third
their lives to improving
ing to pay the workers. An UP woodshop and
the UP Makers Space offer opportunity to learn
and organ in church. By 13, she was playing
piano for a Spanish mission in a condemned
floor and its festival of trees, dec-
orators worked tirelessly to make residents’ quality of life
H
skills while making products they then market building in Detroit. At age 16, she read “The it beautiful despite everything.”
in the UP boutique. Young people learn how to Cross and the Switchblade” and knew, she Special thanks go to board istory bears witness to each of us in many ways,
save money, budget and set goals for the mon- says, that someday the Lord would call her to a member Teresa Fields and and we bear the responsibility of accurately com-
ey they are earning. city ministry. HCHS custodian Bill Baldwin for piling its record.
KUO began with the support of Trinity United She and Bob Lawson, married in 1967. The their efforts to meet the extra When reconciliation is needed, it gracefully reveals itself in
Methodist Church as an outreach to the neigh- couple lived in Tennessee, Nebraska, Ken- challenges posed by the pan- unusual ways that spark excitement of new discovery for
borhood near the southside church at Home tucky and Sullivan and Jeffersonville, Indiana, demic. some and disappointment for others.
Avenue and South Locke Street. Since the before moving to Kokomo in 1983. Ruth Teresa extends her thanks to Breadcrumbs lead us through conversation, revealed ob-
church closed a few years ago and turned the earned a degree from the University of Louis- Heather Fouts, Jill Snyder, and jects and rummaging through attics and basements to ask a
building over to KUO, the nonprofit has created ville School of Music Dana Osburn for 3rd floor deco- different question or find a new answer to a long-evaluated
a community center where young people can and, with her hus- rations; Beth Martin and Donnie one. History has no biases, is unapologetic, touches every
study for classes, learn new skills, and enjoy band, began a career Fields for packing up; and Barba- life and every community — and keeps marching on.
sports and recreation. KUO also has operated in ministry. Ruth’s ra Bothast for loaning decora- Every community’s history is compelling and continues to
a northside satellite location at a former church ordination is with tions. unfold in various crevices and corners. When community
at Taylor and Purdum streets. American Baptist And even if Santa was the fo- members leave and return, they learn of new wrinkles that
The adage “start while you’re young” is clear- Churches USA. After cus, the Grinch stole visitor have been uncovered. Some are drawn back to what they
ly imbedded in all the programs offered by Ko- serving in music min- hearts, winning this year’s knew only to find it has been revised, updated or expanded.
komo Urban Outreach. Learning life’s lessons istries at First Baptist “People’s Choice” by gaining the Each life changes position within the context of history as
as soon as possible gives kids confidence and Church in Jefferson- most “votes” in contributions. new generations are added and the perspective we now
security and starts them on the path to becom- ville, First Baptist in Congratulations to Julie Epp, have on our historical timeline shifts.
ing responsible adults. The dedicated staff and Kokomo, and Market Mary Tetrick and Symposium for The discovery of the story of Aliff Henley, the first African
volunteers’ efforts are crucial in making each Street Methodist creating this colorful and fanciful American to purchase land in Howard County, has opened
participant a better person and our community The Rev. Ruth Lawson Church in Logansport, tribute to the Christmas anti-hero. the door to many little veins of history branching out in dif-
a better place to live. Bob and Ruth were And in case you missed it, or ferent directions. While none of those branches have per-
co-pastors of Liberty Baptist Church in Tipton just need a bit of a holiday spirit sonally connected to me, just learning of Aliff's story has
County from 1991 to 2017. In 1983, Bob began boost, the video is still available provoked me to examine my own family history, and I have
The Rev. Ruth Lawson a counseling practice, which continues today. through the howardcounty- begun sharing more of what I know with my children and
T o honor Ruth Lawson is to honor her faith. The Lawsons have three sons and, over the
To honor her faith is to honor its greatest years, helped raise some 34 kids (mostly teen-
manifestation, Kokomo’s CAM, Inc. agers). But opening their home to create family
museum.org website at https://
www.facebook.com/watch/?
v=2766507616970651
grandchildren.
Legends sometimes are legends just because of the dis-
covery of their existence. While coming from different times
For more than 28 years, CAM (Coordinated for people was just the start for Ruth. The event was supported by and different life experiences, this year’s inductees into the
Associated Ministries) has served the home- In 1976, she helped found the Ministerial Jail these sponsors: The Wyman Howard County Hall of Legends shared a common thread.
less and the needy, and kept their stories in Visitation Committee in Jeffersonville, and in Group; Community First Bank All loved their communities so much that they dedicated
front of those more fortunate. But the story 1984, the MUFF – Ministerial Utility Fuel Fund of Indiana; Ivy Tech Community their lives to improving the quality of life for all residents
started long before CAM was created. in Howard County. In May 1993, Ruth became College-Kokomo; Coca Cola Bot- and, in some cases, impacting the state and entire nation.
Ruth Lawson was born in Kentucky in 1948, founder of CAM with a simple mission: to meet tling Co. of Kokomo; Indiana Uni- Let’s keep marching on with the history of Howard County!
and, as she has written, grew up with a loving the needs not being met. The acronym CAM versity-Kokomo; Financial Build-
and secure family of a mother, a father, a developed from a task force of Howard County ers Credit Union; First Farmers Sharon Reed, President
brother and a sister. Her father was a minister church leaders who took up the challenge to Bank & Trust; and Duke Energy. HCHS Board of Trustees
who started churches; his calling took him, and replace and expand on a drop-in center for the
12 5
birth to be around 1765, making her closer to ple become self-sustaining.
2021 Hall of Legends inductees announced 95 or 96 when she died. Aliff Henley’s life is a
tribute to the enduring human spirit and perse-
The evolution continued, as Kokomo Urban
Outreach Executive Director Jeff Newton de-
———————————————————————————————— verance spanning an epoch of American histo- scribed in a 2016 Kokomo Tribune article. The
Watch on March 18 at 6 p.m. on https://www.facebook.com/HCHistory ry. program added an advisory board, made up of
What better symbol to her memory than the members of the program, designed to guide
white spectators surrounding their hanging decoration on her tombstone — a rose in full the effort.
Flossie Bailey bodies. bloom. “We’re trying to help people out of economic
I Flossie appealed to the governor for the state despair instead of helping people through it,”
t is a challenge to do justice to the memory
militia to help quell the ensuing violence threat- Kokomo Urban Outreach Newton said. So, KUO stopped serving the
of someone like Flossie Bailey, one of
I
ening all black residents in the area. She orga- weekly dinners and took the funding used for
those selected to the 2021 Howard County Hall n 2017, the Hall of Legends Selection Com-
nized, which was one of her most valuable the pantry and moved it to funding a food co-
of Legends. mittee decided to not only honor individu-
traits. op, where, for a $10 fee, people learned to pre-
By all reports, she was brave, smart, full of als, but also organizations that have had pro-
As the Grant County head of the National pare meals to cook throughout the week from
energy, tireless in her pursuit of justice, a keen found and lasting impact on the Howard Coun-
Association for the Advancement of Colored ingredients KUO provided.
organizer and lead- ty community. In this historic moment of eco-
People, she was known as a force to be reck- Most significantly, Urban Outreach started
er, even stylish and nomic hardship for so many, the committee
oned with. She was successful in preventing new programs under the “UP” logo (for
poised. It would be immediately considered selecting Kokomo Ur-
further bloodshed in the following days. She “Unlimited Potential”) to help empower young
easy to paint her a ban Outreach – and the team that has spent
was also clearly brave, evident from her contin- people to work for themselves. First came
saint, but she would the last 15 years changing lives for the better—
ued work in the face of threats of violence to ManUP in 2016 followed by StepUP4Girls;
probably object. for the honor.
she and her family. both are geared toward teens and provide
She might point out At the center of Kokomo Urban Outreach are
Many of her accomplishments are a matter of mentoring and tutoring as well as an opportuni-
that while she the 4 Rs – “Respectful, Responsible, Reliable
the public record. Flossie Bailey fought for ra- ty for young people to earn gift cards for work-
fought for justice, and Ready to work, to lead, to speak up and to
cial equality. She and her husband sued a ing in the community. Soon younger siblings of
she failed in her solve problems in a positive way.” Its mission is
movie theatre for being denied entrance be- participants wanted to participate and MiniUP
effort to see anyone to ensure that every young person in Howard
cause of their race. She became Indiana lead- was created to prepare boys and girls ages 4
in Marion, Ind., held County has the education, work ethics, and life
er of the NAACP. Significantly, she led a grass- to 9 years to enter regular ManUP or StepUP
to account for the skills needed to transition successfully into a
roots campaign to get an anti-lynching law programs when they turn
lynching deaths of self-reliant adult. Over its 15 years, Kokomo
passed in Indiana. The 1931 law called for the 10. Over the past
two black teenag- Urban Outreach has continued to evolve to
dismissal of any sheriff from whose jail a pris- four years,
ers, Abram Smith meet community needs and improve the future
Flossie Bailey oner was taken and lynched. This law was es- more
and Thomas Shipp. for hundreds of local children.
In fact, she had tried in vain to prevent the sential in defusing the constant threat of vigi- After founding KUO in 2006, organizers
lynching but was met with dissembling and lante violence to black Hoosiers. quickly discovered that little could be done to
evasion from the sheriff, the mayor and even While most people knew of Katherine realize these goals without first addressing the
the governor’s office. According to James Mad- “Flossie” Bailey from her time living in Marion, problem of hunger. Various programs, includ-
ison’s detailed account of Bailey’s life in Traces she was born in Kokomo in 1894 to Mr. and ing a food bank, were created to make sure the
Magazine (2000), she remained frustrated by Mrs. Charles Harvey. She was raised in the young people of Kokomo had enough to eat.
her failure to stop these murders. city and graduated from Kokomo High School. For years, the food programs represented
Regardless of hindsight, what is known is that She married Dr. Walter T. Bailey in 1917 and Kokomo Urban Outreach’s most visible impact
she stayed busy in her Marion home the night moved to Marion, where he had established his on the community – from the 800,000 commu-
of Aug. 7, 1930, calling for calm in the wake of practice. They had one son, Walter Charles. nity meals served each year throughout the city
Flossie soon began her involvement with the than 400
this terrible, shameful event, when a mob to the Buddy Bags that provided food for low-
recently founded civil rights organization, the young people
dragged and attacked three young men ac- income schoolchildren to eat over the week-
NAACP. She formed the Marion branch work- between the ages
cused of rape and murder from the Marion jail. end. More recently, KUO has worked to re-
ing diligently for years to gain support and of 4 and 18 have benefit-
James Cameron was spared by someone’s shape its connection with the community,
membership. At points, when she feared her ed from the UP programs.
plea from the crowd, but Smith and Shipp were changing the conversation really. Rather than
phone line was being tapped in Marion, she The changes in the community have been
lynched. simply providing handouts to people in need,
returned to Kokomo to continue her organizing. noticeable, Newton said in another interview
An iconic photograph captured a crowd of the organization began programs to help peo-
with the Tribune. Attitudes and grades have
6 11
County. Mysteries remain in Mrs. Hen- On the basis of all her accomplishments and scientist and inventor Dr. George Washington
An improbable, yet amazing, ley’s story. An apparent mar- the strength of this connection to her Carver, Perry’s mentor when he was a student
journey for a remarkable riage to Samuel is undocu- hometown, the nominating committee honors at the Tuskegee Institute.
woman who Indiana State mented beyond her tomb- Bailey as a Howard County legend. Carver Center still emulates its original vision
Archive records show is the stone. Also, Alief spelled with of community and organizational collaboration
first African American to buy an “e” has confused research- Sources to benefit students of all ethnic backgrounds,
America’s Black Holocaust Museum website:
land here. Furthermore, re- ers for at least 150 years. Ar-
https://www.abhmuseum.org/freedoms-heros-during and it has continued to evolve to meet chang-
search through the Howard chivists attempting to sync the -jim-crow-flossie-bailey-and-the-deeters/ ing needs. Today’s programs include basket-
County Historical Society, the name with other records then Madison, James H. (2000). "Flossie Bailey: 'What ball, mentoring, tutoring, drama, art, games,
Kokomo Early History Learn- and now apparently couldn’t a Woman!'". Traces of Indiana and Midwestern His- boxing, drug and abuse prevention, and a myr-
ing Center, and the Genealo- decide if it was a man or a tory. Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Society. 12 (1): iad of after-school activities.
gy and Local History depart- woman. The name Alif Henly 23-27. Carver Community Center leaders and volun-
ment at the Kokomo-Howard appears twice in an early teers take pride in the fact that their programs
County Public Library has re- county history book, though not only support the area’s youth, but their en-
vealed powerful and inspiring amazingly not with the de-
Carver Community Center tire families. Events at the center bring genera-
details about this matriarch of
Howard County.
Though we don’t know pre-
scriptions of “Colored” people,
churches or schools. First ref-
erence is among a list of early
F or well over 70 years, Carver Community tions together in a fun and social environment
Center has been an integral part of the
Kokomo community, promoting wellness for
designed to nurture the best qualities of each
individual.
cisely when she left North settlers, all white men, and Alif the body, mind and spirit, but its founding in The center has also become a major location
Carolina, she and her family Henly. It’s impressive that the 1947 to provide a recreational facility for Afri- for pickleball. Almost every square inch of the
were in Indiana sometime name was recalled and rec- can American youth was a long time coming. basketball courts now bears the lines and port-
around 1835. Marriage rec- orded (with the white guys, no The need for such a center grew in a time of able nets for the game that is all the rage for
ords show Henley’s daughter, less!). That someone at least institutional segregation in Kokomo. As princi- local senior citizens.
Lucinda, married the Rev. remembered her suggests pal of Kokomo’s Douglass School, the Rev. Donta Rogers, the current director of the cen-
David Rush in Rush County in she was notable in meaningful Henry A. Perry Sr. recog-
1837. Tombstone of first African- ways. nized the need for a recrea-
The family ultimately was American landowner in Howard Like other Indiana pioneers, tion center for the city’s
part of a group of African County, Aliff Henley. they came to buy land and Black young people and be-
Americans who migrated from help build a community. As gan working toward its crea-
Marion County north to the new Richardville the small settlement grew, the Rev. Rush and tion in 1929.
(Howard) County. Also in the group were the Case Henley (the same son liberated with his Douglass had opened in
pioneers Lewis Clark and John Hardiman. mother in 1801) are two of the individuals en- 1920 to serve as the city’s
They bought land and began farming around trusted on an 1851 deed to ensure three- elementary school for Afri-
1844 to 1845 in what would eventually be Ervin quarters of an acre of land in Ervin Township can Americans; its students
and Clay townships, and this cluster of families would be used to “Erect or cause to be Built were not allowed to use the
became the Rush Colored Settlement, some thereon a house or place of Worship,” which pools, gyms and facilities
six miles northwest of the county seat of Koko- would be the first African Methodist Episcopal that young white people took
mo. Church – and precursor to today’s Wayman for granted.
A brief published history says the settlement Chapel A.M.E. The grantor of land was Mrs. It took a March 1940 visit
was named for the Rev. Rush, who led the Henley, making the start of the A.M.E. church to Douglass School by First
church there. Archival accounts say the Rush part of her legacy to Howard County. Lady Eleanor Roosevelt to
and the later Bassett Colored settlements each She was a woman liberated from slavery in create the needed momen-
had a school and they shared a Baptist church. Virginia and North Carolina, who did not read tum, and eight years later, in
Rush also served over the Methodist church or write, who bought and paid for 80 acres of June 1948, Carver Commu-
and a cemetery. There we find “Alief Henley,” land with cash money on Nov. 11, 1844 — the nity Center was opened to all
whose striking gravestone contains the follow- earliest date we’ve found of an African Ameri- the people of Kokomo. Perry
ing inscription: Wife of Samuel Henley. Died can in Howard County. But how old was she had suggested naming it in
Oct. 3, 1861. Aged One Hundred and Ten then? A more plausible interpretation of slave honor of the eminent Black
Years. records and census schedules presumes her In a historic photo, children try out a trampoline at Carver Community Center.
10 7
ter, is a perfect example of how “Carver” has – where we can teach kids more about how to D. Tavern on East Markland Avenue. judged a beauty contest or two. For his “day
spanned generations. People who came to the eat, how to prepare food and how to set up a By 1940 he was performing in Indianapolis job” back home, Hardimon started as a janitor
center as kids now bring their kids. In a 2018 table, more reading programs so kids can be and the February 1941 obituary for his grandfa- at the General Motors Corporation’s Delco
newspaper interview, Rogers explained: ready to go back to school and more activities ther indicated he had moved to Buffalo, New plant in Kokomo, ultimately rising to the role of
“[Growing up] I got to come and experience for kids like field trips,” Rogers said. York. He had made it to the East Coast, and civil rights chairperson for the area union local.
actually playing with other kids in the communi- Paraphrasing a story in the Kokomo Tribune, the big time. He knew people and knew what was important,
ty,” he said. “I was here every day – we have more than 70 years after its founding, Carver Accomplished and dignified, he was an elec- and was always available to help a fellow union
this game room, and I thought our game room Community Center serves as a pillar of the trifying entertainer who mingled easily with oth- member and never too busy to call on an elder-
was just the best thing ever. It had pool, ping community. For some, it has been a home er musicians and dazzled sophisticated East ly shut-in.
pong, board games … and then we had the away from home. For others, it was the hap- Coast audiences. During the 1940s and 1950s, A fascinating recent addition to his story was
basketball court. Especially if it was bad out- pening place to be after school. But for all, it various incarnations of his jazz band recorded found in records relating to a remarkable family
side, we had some place to go that was in- has been a safe place to gather, be active and at least 15 tracks issued by several record la- history. Research shows Hardimon is a direct
side.” socialize in Kokomo. An apt description of a bels at the time. The group backed everyone descendant of John Hardiman from Virginia,
Of course, for decades, Carver Community facility and program that has nurtured hun- from Louis Armstrong to Ella Fitzgerald. Har- born around 1792. Ancestor John is listed in
Center has been most well-known for its tradi- dreds of people over several generations. dimon performed with Pearl Bailey and Billie the 1840 census schedules in Indiana, and a
tion of basketball. Youth and adults of all ages Holliday. He jammed with orchestral jazz lead- few years later he and a group of other African
travel from miles around to watch and partici- Baggie Hardimon Americans from Marion County headed north.
pate in Carver’s camps, clubs and teams. Their land purchases in Ervin and Clay town-
Carver’s basketball programs range from kin-
dergarten and up through adults, offering this
most Hoosier of sports to boys and girls, men
H e was a true renaissance man.
His accomplishments were extraordinary.
He performed with the biggest names in popu-
ships from 1844 to 1847 place them among the
original African American pioneers in Howard
County, with John Hardiman among the area’s
and women. lar music, and a dozen or so of his own band’s early farmers.
In August 2017, the 70th anniversary of the recordings from the 1940s are searchable Descendant Orval Chester died on March 31,
Carver Community Center was celebrated for online. His name appears in notable mid-20th- 1999, at the age of 85 (his wife Marian had
an entire weekend with a homecoming, dinner century jazz anthologies. preceded him in death). His zest for people, his
and worship service. More than 350 people Closer to home in a second career phase, he love of family and friends, and a sense of pur-
attended the recognition dinner that Saturday, supported his community as a local labor lead- pose in the way he applied his extraordinary
including 25 family members of the Rev. Perry, er, while still performing at venues ranging talent throughout a long and eventful life en-
the center’s founder. It was a clear demonstra- from Kokomo dinner clubs to Indiana Pacers sures a lasting legacy for the man named Bag-
tion of how many lives have been positively home games in Indianapolis. gie Hardimon.
impacted by the center over the years. Family members say he “moved mountains.”
As with all organizations, money is never in Yet this Kokomo native who played high school
great enough supply to meet the needs for basketball and later played guitar at the famed
Aliff Henley
building upkeep and improvement along with
programming costs. Support has come through
donations and grants from the City of Kokomo,
and fabled Apollo Theatre in New York City,
never lost his sense of humility.
He got down on his knees and prayed. Every
Orval Chester “Baggie” Hardimon
O
n Aug. 12, 1779, in Princess Anne Coun-
ty, Virginia, an elderly white woman
named Mary Fentress paid property tax for an
the Community Foundation of Howard County, night of his life. er Stan Kenton and studied with Jimmy Smith, enslaved human being – the “negro Aliff.”
Center Township and the United Way, along Orval Chester Hardimon, later known profes- who revolutionized the use of the Hammond B- On Nov. 2, 1801, in Randolph County, North
with many generous individuals. In recent sionally and affectionately as “Baggie,” was 3 organ as a jazz and soul instrument. Carolina, Edward Fentress presented a manu-
years, Community Development Block Grant born in Kokomo on May 25, 1913, the son of Hardimon continued that tradition. For years mission petition to the court on behalf of his
funding by the City of Kokomo has gone to a Pearl and Carrie Hardimon. He started playing after leaving the East Coast for the gentler brother George, requesting that one Aliff Hen-
variety of improvements, including replacing music in high school as a drummer, then rhythms of Indiana, he taught guitar and organ ley and her child Case be liberated from the
roofs, windows, downspouts and gutters and switched to guitar. The first appearance of his to area youth and continued to perform locally shackles of slavery.
cleaning and tuckpointing the bricks. name as a performer is as an instrumentalist in almost to the end of his life. Jet Magazine ran a On Nov. 11, 1844, the very same Mrs. Aliff
Carver is here to stay, with plans to continue a 1937 musical program at Wayman Chapel picture of him in 1971 accepting an award for Henley, 500 miles and 43 years from bondage,
to grow and serve the community. A.M.E. Church (he was a lifelong member). the longest engagement at the Grissom Air was first in line that day at the land office in
“We want to do more things for kindergarten Switching to the secular scene in the late Force Base Officers’ Club. He regularly accom- Delphi, Ind., where she paid $280 “in full” for
and up, so that would mean more tutoring, 1930s, “Baggie Hardimon and his swingsters” panied local singers at area venues, and even 80 acres of farmland in northwestern Howard
more after-school programs, nutrition programs had gigs at the Izaak Walton Club and the D. &
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