A touch of Nostalgia, by Glen Allen, Marion Chronicle, Nov. 2, 1980
( a bit of this article is missing)
You can step into many gas stations today and pick up road maps, beautifully
printed in four colors. Directions are easy and the roads themselves are clearly marked.
It wasn't always that way. Consider these instructions given in 1915 on
traveling from Indianapolis to Wabash:
"Good to very good gravel all the way - 83 miles...Start at Indianapolis;
Soldiers Monument Circle, go north on Meridian St. to 34th St. turn right...picking up
trolley go three blocks to Central Ave...turn left two long blocks and then
right...caution for R.R. 4.7, passing Fair Grounds on the left. Cross R.R. 5.7-8.5 thru
Allisonville 10.5...continue on direct road over slightly rolling country.
Cross R.R. 20.1 under trolley 20.5. Your're in Noblesville. Turn right around
Court House...straight ahead is Route 406A to Tipton and Kokomo, four corners, turn left
past large brick school and right 22.2 ____across covered bridge, coming along the White
River. Turn ____ _____
_____ iron bridge and at four corners beyond, turn square left along river bank. At end
of road turn right thru Strawtown. The instructions continued to guide the traveler
northward.
The driver was told to jog right at the church in Elwood and then turn a square
left at the barber shop in Point Isabel.
About a day later the weary traveler arrived in Wabash.
Elizabeth Friermood, prolific writer of historical fiction books for teens, is a
Marion native.
One of the best known Marion names in the world of sports in recent years is Ray
Oyler. He was the shortstop on the 1968 Detroit Tigers, which won the World Series.
William Oatis, the AP man assigned to cover the United Nations once worked at the
Marion Chronicle and Leader-Tribune...Forrest Boyd, the Mutual Radio Network reporter at
the White House, is a graduate of Marion College(now Indiana Weslyan) ....Phil Jones, the
CBS television network reporter assigned to the white House, is from Fairmount.
JCT