AN ACE IN MUNCIE
Lucy Ball, daughter of Frank C. and Elizabeth Ball, married Alvin Owsley of Dallas, Texas, on May 16, 1925. I bet you knew that. But did you know that one of Alvin’s groomsmen was both a World War I ace and a man with a famous father?
The Kirby House Hotel - Part 3
On July 21, 1916, Muncie residents were given the opportunity to view The New Kirby Hotel.
The Kirby House - Part 2
At the end of the 19th century, the push was on to make the Kirby House the biggest, the best and the most modern hotel in Muncie. In 1891, the mansard roof disappeared when owner, Julius Heinsohn, added another story, bringing the total to four. Two years later it was new fixtures and furniture.
By the end of 1895, The Muncie Daily Herald announced that Mr. Heinsohn intended to spend $10,000 on the building, both inside and out.
The Kirby House Hotel - Part 1
In 1871, Thomas Kirby built a hotel.
During the Gas Boom Era, the Kirby House Hotel was the place where gentlemen gathered to talk business and make deals. Amidst the cigar smoke, you could exchange opinions, buy land, make a bet, impress potential buyers or just chew the fat. Because of its popularity, it was not uncommon for the hotel to be unable to accommodate all the guests seeking rooms.
Meet Theodore Bear – Cataloguing
Hi! My name is Teddy.
I bet you don’t know how museums keep track of all the terrific things people donate. I know I didn’t when I first came to Minnetrista in 1988. Since then I’ve learned a lot. In fact, I’ve learned so much that the Collections staff asked me to introduce you to something they do every day – cataloguing.
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.
Cartoons, Comics, and Even Some Animation
In January, Minnetrista brought the fun and engaging travelling exhibition “Animationland” to campus. Created by the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, this unique exhibit allows visitors of all ages to explore the world of animation through art and science. Although our visitors were able to enjoy this show for several weeks on our site, our temporary closure to the public has cut the show a bit short.
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.