Crawfordsville Journal Review 21-Sep-1963 1:1- His Auto Skids Off Road, Hits Car In
Garage- Harold Applegate, 46, Is Killed In Accident West of Waynetown- WAYNETOWN- Harold
Applegate, Rt. 1, Attica, 46-year-old Fountain County businessman was killed about 9:50
p.m. Friday when his car left US 136 west of here and crashed through a fence and into a
private garage, knocking a car out of the building. The spectacular crash occurred,
according to state police, as Applegate apparently lost control while heading east on the
highway. His 1955 DeSoto sedan left the road on the north side near the Montgomery County
line, about 4 miles east of Hillsboro, and tore through a farm fence. It careened in a
skidding loop during which officers believe the driver, who was alone, was thrown out. The
auto slammed through the door of the Homer Faucett garage, which is situated parallel to
the highway near his house. The car struck the rear of the garaged Faucett car, a 1962
Oldsmobile, with such force that it knocked it completely through the rear of the garage.
When the Applegate car came to a stop it occupied the position in the building in which
the Faucett auto had been parked. Applegate’s momentum when thrown out of the car rolled
him along the ground until he was found close to the garage. Startled by the crash, Faucet
tame out to the garage and found Applegate. He said he believed the injured man lived only
moments. He was dead when officers arrived at the scene. Trooper Stan Kenny said Applegate
died of multiple head injuries. His car was declared a total lass, and damage to the
garage was estimated at between $400 and $500 and to the Faucett car extensive. The body
was removed to the Servies Funeral Home in Waynetown. Applegate, with his brother, Robert,
operated a plant on Ind. 55 between Newtown and Attica that manufactures grain dryers.
Investigating the accident besides Troopers Kenny and Glen Sillery were
Fountain County Sheriff George Cureau, Waynetown Marshal Clyde Bowlus and Fountain
Coroner Ralph Nelson.
Crawfordsville Journal Review 21-Sep-1963 1:1- Crash Victim’s Funeral Tuesday- ATTICA-
Funeral rites for Harold Applegate, 46, Rt. 1 Attica, who was killed in a single-car
accident east of Hillsboro Friday night, are set for 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Roemer Funeral
Home here. Rev. Lewis Haskell will officiate, and burial will be in Riverside Cemetery
here. Friends may call at the funeral home after 7 p.m. Monday. He was born Nov. 11, 1916,
in Fountain County and his parents were William J. and Hazel Marlatt Applegate. In 1940,
he married Margaret Caldwell. He was a member of the Newtown Presbyterian Church, the
Newtown Masonic Lodge, the Scottish Rite in Indianapolis, the Fraternal Order of Eagles
and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He was a farmer by trade and ran the
Applegate Farms. He also was in the certified seed business. Survivors include the widow;
a son, Russell Eugene, at home; his mother in California, and a brother, Robert A.
Applegate of Attica. He was preceded in death by a daughter.