Ball Brothers Afloat
Extended families can get us involved in the most interesting things. One such family member was George Ashley Tomlinson.
Tomlinson was born in Lapeer, Michigan on January 28, 1868. After attending the University of Michigan, he spent two years in Wyoming, working as a cowboy. He then worked as a newspaperman in Detroit and New York, until 1893, when he became interested in steamships. He went on to own his own fleet of Great Lakes freighters.
Horseless Vehicles Part Two
As horseless vehicles became popular in the early 1900’s many carriage manufacturers simply switched from horse-drawn conveyances to engine power, keeping the same chassis and body designs. Often small shops used these components to design their own versions of the horseless carriage.
Horseless Vehicles Part One
Electric cars are not a new concept. Manufacturers were producing electric-powered cars in the late 1800’s as an alternative to gasoline powered engines. Like other early cars, many small companies built their own versions. Each claimed that the batteries they used were the most efficient and would last 60, 80, or 100 miles before recharging.
Happy 25th Anniversary Oakhurst!
“Oakhurst itself is the exhibit. Oakhurst itself is the work of art,” said Frank Bracken at the Ball family opening of Oakhurst. “It is the literature, it is the musical composition. Oakhurst is what we come to experience, what we come to see and what we come to learn from. It is an interactive place. It’s a place in which we can … interact with nature. And that’s really what Oakhurst is all about.”
Muncie's First Golf Course Part 2
1925 began with some changes for the Minnetrista Golf Course. On Monday January 26th, Mr. & Mrs. Frank C. Ball and Mr. and Mrs. Edmund B. Ball signed over the land for Muncie’s first municipal golf course to the local Y.M.C.A. At the same time, Mr. & Mrs. George A. Ball conveyed the deed to the Walnut Street Baseball Park to the Y.M.C.A. Together, the two pieces of land became known as the Ball Recreation Field.
Muncie's First Golf Course Part 1
In September 1920, there was a growing interest in Muncie for the construction of a municipal golf course. A suggestion was made to the Board of Park Commissioners that land to the north of Highland Avenue in McCulloch Park could be used for a six- or nine-hole course.
A Machine That Changed The World
If I asked you to name an important invention from the first decade of the 20th century, what would come to mind? Airplanes? The air conditioner? Tea bags? Those are all good suggestions, but how about the Owens Automatic Glass Bottle Making Machine? I bet you didn’t think of that one, did you?
Texas Plant Welcomes Ball Brothers
Strange how history has a way of repeating itself. What seems to be abundant one day – much more than we can ever use in ten lifetimes – somehow manages, when looking back, to be there and gone in little more than a blink of the eye.
Burst Tank at Ball Factory
At about 1:30 on the afternoon of Monday March 16, 1896, an alarm went out from Box 6-1 near the Ball Brothers factory. Immediately the citizens of Muncie feared the worst. There had been other fires at Ball glass works, one of the city’s major employers. And yes, the fire department was headed for the factory. But this was no ordinary fire.
Votes for Women
As we progress through the calendar year, it is evident 2020 will be a year for the history books. From the global pandemic heaping impact after impact on our nation, to the upcoming presidential election, this year is sure to be filled with milestones and events historians will continue talking about for years to come. With so much going on it should not be forgotten that 2020 is also the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment – the groundbreaking legislation providing women with the opportunity to vote.
Spreading a Little Holiday Cheer
When I sit down to work on a blog post I often take a look back to see what was written the year before. When I did that this month I smiled as I realized that with the holiday season drawing near, last year I wrote about Ball Brothers’ special edition of A Christmas Carol. This is a piece of company and family history that remains one of my favorites, but, the small book given out to employees, friends, and family is not the only story of Christmas at Ball Brothers Company.
Ball Ledger Collection
Recently one of our Archives volunteers, Norm Beck, agreed to take on the task of reviewing the collection of Ball family and company financial ledgers to determine type of content (investments, sales, income, etc.) and how they are set up to find the information contained within. Although just getting started with the collection, he has made some interesting discoveries.
Hot Weather and Water Supplies
Hot weather is not a new phenomenon. While it currently may be hotter for longer periods of time and in places that do not normally experience high temperatures, extreme heat conditions made an impact on people’s lives and livelihood more than 100 years ago.
Experiencing Bob Ross at Minnetrista
In 1983 a Datsun camper drove into Muncie, IN, carrying a little-known art instructor named Bob Ross. Although the vehicle had seen better days and the wheels had some rust, the truck itself was filled with paints, canvases, and easels ready to unlock the creativity and dreams of those lucky enough to join Bob in one of his painting classes.
Ball Blue and the Hoosier Slide
They’re everywhere – in grandma’s basement, at flea markets and rummage sales, and in the Minnetrista Heritage Collection. They are used to hold pencils and pens, as centerpieces at wedding receptions, and as decoration in many kitchens. They are the beautiful blue jars, which Ball Brothers in Muncie produced. In approximately twenty years, Ball made millions of Perfect Mason and Ideal jars, some in clear, but most in blue.
Ball Women Fashion
From big and extravagant to slender and elegant, the evolution of women’s traces self-expression through history. Style showcases personality without ever saying a word. This was the case for the Ball women. For decades, they used clothing as a way to display not only their personality, but their social status. Let’s take a look at some of these beautiful pieces that have stood the test of time, pieces that have been entrusted to Minnetrista for safe-keeping.
Creative Ventures and Colorful Dreams
Did you watch the Academy Awards ceremony last month? Like usual, the event was filled with celebrity appearances, musical performances, and of course the presentation of Hollywood’s most coveted award – the Oscar. While the awards have been given out since 1929, the film industry has been around much longer. In fact some entrepreneurs achieved success in producing motion pictures in the late 19th century, and by the early 20th films had become a full-fledged industry drawing countless viewers.
A Christmas Carol
Each year the Holiday season seems to get busier and busier. Hanukkah and Christmas have now passed us by and New Year’s is fast approaching. Last month it seemed like I had plenty of time ahead of me to bake treats and make plans to see everyone on my list. Now that we’re in the home stretch to turning the calendar I mainly feel tired and frazzled.
From Home Kitchen to Company Creations
Do you do your own canning at home? Did your mother or grandma? If so, chances are they had at least a few copies of the Ball Blue Book floating around the kitchen. Full of recipes and tips, over time the publication became a go-to resource for home canners. With the iconic Ball logo or jars incorporated into the cover art, anyone picking up a copy knew that the publication came with the same quality as the company’s other trusted products.
A Halloween Masquerade
Halloween season is upon us. For weeks I’ve been surrounded by displays of pumpkins, candy corn, and costumes whenever I’ve run to the local pharmacy or grocery store. Seeing these festive items always transports me back to my youth. Each year I spent months carefully planning my costume—always giving lots of consideration to all of the options. Once I had selected my desired persona, putting together the perfect costume became my obsession.