Historical documentary of Irvington Indiana and Butler University
Cameras: John Knox & Rick Maultra;
Production: Adriana de Aguiar, Angela Gillmer, Bradley K. Sims & John Knox;
Special Thanks: Irvington Historical Socitey & Stephen J. Fletcher;
Film Credits: Indiana Historical Society, Bobbie & Jodie Shimer, Tom Mullendore & Jack Baker;
Photo Credits: Robert Van Buskirk, Nancy Ostrander, Howard Caldwell, Mike Wagoner, Victor Vollrath, M.D., Hoosier Girl Scouts, Gerry Mathias, Larry Muncie & Kent Stewart;
Written By: Rick Maultra;
Associate Producer: Larry Muncie;
Music: Sammy Kaye Orchestra;
Produced By: Rick Maultra
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Hoosier History - The Tale of Irvington TV 16
Historical documentary of Irvington Indiana and Butler University
Video (30:36)
Other Identifier: Accession Identifier: IBHA.HCC.0065; Other: IBHA.HCC.0065
Notes by Alex Hall, J470 Broadcast Media Analysis, Spring 2022
After logging this tape I learned that the tape is a documentary on a show “Hoosier History” and this episode was about the history of the town of Irvington Indiana. This tape was made to educate people about the rich history of Irvington, the tape displayed both the good and the bad from Irvington’s history which is important and necessary to remember and learn from in the future. This is why also being able to preserve many old photographs and film of early Irvington for generations to see in the future is another reason why this documentary may have been made.
00:01 Video starts out showing children and families of various ages experiencing different aspects of life; work, play, household work, getting married. With an unknown older music running in the background (Music?).
00:40 News reporter (Rick Maultra) appears and introduces Irvington Indiana as being featured on the show “Hoosier History”
01:08 Video pans through old photographs of the first settlements of Irvington, the narrator discusses the area's first known settler (John Wilson) and describes the accomplishments of other early arrivals into early Irvington.[Text Wrapping Break]02:11 Narrator discusses how Irvington received its name and how that is intertwined with its unique prohibition
02:59 Gerry Mathias, a descendant of John Ellenberger is interviewed and talks about Ellenberger's contribution to the town of Irvington through buying up all the acreage in the area
03:43 Various early photographs of Irvington are shown with music as the narration explains when Irvington became officially recognized as a town and what it was like there during the early years (peppy little cow war).
04:50 Shows and talks about the panhandle railroad depot and the train wrecks.
05:17 Cuts back to Maultra in front of Butler’s Campus discussing a history of Butler College
05:32 Music plays as a slideshow of old Butler student athletes, and band members appear. Butler College information continues
06:25 Interview with Butler College (Irvington) alumni Mary Ramier (1919-1920), she discussed her relationships with her favorite professors
07:06 Video shows many homes outside of south Irvington and explains how Greek life bought those houses and started a very popular fraternity and sorority life at Butler College. Also talks about the sports history at Butler college.
*08:37 Interview with Larry Muncie from the Irvington Historical Society, starts talking about the specific reasons why Butler had to move out of Irvington and how it affected the town.
Incue: 8:33 “After 53 years…”
Outcue: 9:04 “... a part of the community before.”
Including the noise from the railroads, the lack of access to land for expansion and the availability of land North of Indianapolis. The town struggled mightily following Butler leaving because of the 53 years of dependency that the town had on Butler.
09:28 A discussion of specific early small businesses in Irvington, Interview with Imogene Jones (a columnist for Eastside Emporia at the time?) Talked about the small town feel of Irvington.
10:57 Hilton U. Brown, his life and his accomplishments are all discussed
11:34 Interview with a descendant (Kent Stewert) about Hilton U. Brown, discussed how Brown made people feel important and could bring out the best in people
*13:25 Interview with Victor Vollrath (Father was a grocer in town) discussing how the push mobile races were some of his favorite memories about Irvington.
Incue: 13:25 “one of the fondest memories”
Outcue: 14:15 “Quite an event”
He speaks about how all the kids in town would participate once a week and the merchants in town would buy the prizes for the children, it was really known as a large event. (This shows the sense of community in town.)
16:03 Eloise Orton is interviewed about her story about how the first girl scout leader whom she knew came up with the idea for selling cookies that the parents would bake in their ovens, this evolved into becoming the girl scout cookies we know of today.
17:18 Discussion of D.C. Stevenson (resident of Irvington), how he was a resident Klan member and how his stories such as brutalizing and raping a girl in town had left a dark spot in Irvingtons history.
18:25 Video and discussion of how both public and private schools developed in Irvington, along with a description of high school student life
19:41 Howard Caldwell interviewed on the linders ice cream that was a staple in town for years.
20:11 Discusses Abe Martin and painters/cartoonists from around Irvington
23:30 A narration over video of students all the way through high school, discussing life for young people and newspaper routes delivered by pony and dogs
25:02 Narrator talks over videos of everyday life in Irvington, he speaks about how Irvington is a community and everyone knows it as home.
26:15 Begins a compilation of interviewees saying their favorite things about Irvington and how they have built lasting friendships there.
27:14 Closing statements for Hoosier History by Maultra.
27:30 Ending credits begin over pictures and videos of possible Irvington residents?
29:56 Screen goes black