The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-08-13
Nv EIdora Field

"D'you remember that picnic we
had back in 1sS2?'
When Pap Reynolds was runnin'
IN the Old mars race and fell down
and cracked his shinbone?'
Yep and do you remember"
So for hours and hours Thursday
at the Marion County Old Settlers
picnic at Broad Ripple Park con-
versation wove itself out of events
that have transpired since the Old
Settlers Association was formed and
it's first picnic held in August, 1880.
About 100 members were present.
but the ''old-timers can recall sew
eral picnics of the association with
attendance OF 500 persons, at least.
TOO many counter attractions,
they agreed Thursday, land they're
not many of us left nowadays,
either" they added.
The oldest ."old settler" present
was Joseph M. Johnson, SO, the ia
Their of Emsley Johnson, attorney.
The old gentleman was one of the
association founders and was on the
entertainment committee for the first
picnic forty-siX years ago. Mrs. a.
NJ. Jackson of Noblesville, IS years
old, was the oldest woman present,
although she has been coming to
the "old settlers picnics only
about twenty-five years" she said.
Tells of First Train
The program was short. Mrs. Mar
garet Keeney and Miss Clara Lease.
of IAN old settler. j. hi
Lease, sang several solos and led
those present in such old-time songs
as Molly Darling" Judge Franklin
McCray and William Schumacher
spoke.
Some of the "reminiscences ex-
changed at the picnic were those of
the first train that ever came into
indianapolis. That was seventy
eight years ago and Joseph NJ John
sons remembers it.
1T was on the old J. NJ. & I.
road" he said. The rails were
wooden. covered with sheet metal.
People waited for hours to see that
first train. Wood was burned in
the engine and sparks set things
afire a number of places along the
road. The passengers rode in open
cars. l was just a small boy. but
| remember distinctly the terrific
noise the engine made, and of being
afraid of it"
p George Kerr. 6f33 College Ave,
told of the first street car operated
in indianapolis. THAT was in the
fall of '63," he said. The ride was
from the Union Station to Military
Park. then used as the Playground.
| was Just a little boy and l waited
for hours for the privilege Of being
a first passenger. Mules pulled it
and l remember they baked sew,
eral times and the men passengers
got out and pushed the car"
Joke With Telephone
j. II. Lease, CLOS Marion Ave, de
scribed the first telephone of which
he knew in indianapolis, about 1882.
II was working in the lunchroom at
the Union Station" he said, when
an incident occurred which shows
how familiar people We're with the
new device. The proprietor, a fell
low named Quinn. was a great
joker. One morning. a reporter from
the old Journal came in and saw an
affair that Quinn had just rugged up
on the wall 1t consisted OF a box
about the size of a large cigar box.
with a piece of rubber hose attached
to one side and bell, operated with
a small crank. on the other"
What's that thing?" the reporter
asked. "One of those new tele-
phones. the joker replied. The re-
porter. excited. wanted to use it.
''Go> ahead" said Quinn Just ring
the bell first" The young fellow
turned the crank. put the hose to his
ear, then shouted in it. and all with
such eagerness and innocence that
those of us who watched him were
with laughter II don't
suppose that reporter published that
story"
when these Marion County pic
mics began, indianapolis had a popu-
lation of about 5000" commented
one old settler. There was prac-
tically nothing north of Sixteenth
St, then known as Tinker ST We