Winter 2017 newsletter web

Winter 2017 Volume 31 – Number 1 Ball-Band Wedding Dress A Mishawaka Love Story Extraordinary objects related to the ...

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Winter 2017

Volume 31 – Number 1

Ball-Band Wedding Dress A Mishawaka Love Story

Extraordinary objects related to the history of the Mishawaka area are donated to Hanah Lindahl Children’s Museum each year. Each object arrives with a story and it is one of the special responsibilities of HLCM to share these stories. In 2016 a very unusual piece of local history was donated to HLCM’s care in the form of a World War II era wedding dress. The unique story of this wedding dress was written by Linda Harris, proud daughter of Roy and Alma Lee Bolen, in her own words.

by Linda Harris Let us go back to the early 1940’s when Uniroyal was known to many as the Old Ball-Band and Mishawaka Rubber Co. It was one of Mishawaka’s largest employers. Roy Bolen graduated from Mishawaka High School in 1940 and during his high school years was employed in the warehouse at Uniroyal before heading to college. Unknown to him, he would meet the love of his life Alma Lee Much. Alma Lee was in the student co-op program at Uniroyal where the company worked with the local high schools to prepare students to enter into the working world. This provided on-the-job training for those qualified to eventually obtain full time employment. At the local coffee shop where many would gather, Roy was introduced to Alma Lee by her close friends. Walking her back to work would be the first steps into their long term relationship and eventual marriage of over fifty years. After Alma Lee’s high school graduation, she was hired full-time at Uniroyal in the secretarial pool. She and Roy continued their courtship until Roy was deployed by the Army on October 14, 1941. Before actually leaving for the service, Roy proposed to Alma Lee, which she excitedly

Photograph of bride Alma Lee Munch Bolen and groom Roy Bolen with wedding party c.1945. (2016-2(a)/15)

accepted. He served his country as a Staff Sargent earning a Bronze Metal. It was just short of four years when Roy was discharged from service on October 2, 1945. During his time in the South Pacific, Roy kept in touch with Alma Lee through hundreds of letters, which she still reads today. Their relationship grew stronger during this absence by truly getting to know

each other through the correspondence back and forth. Roy was always concerned he would receive a “Dear John” letter, as some did during the war, but Alma Lee was devoted to their relationship. Once Roy knew his date of return, the wedding plans were thrown into action. During the war, most companies were employed supporting the supply needs for our country. Uniroyal was no

continued… exception. There were not, what we would consider today, nice materials for beautiful wedding gowns. Knowing the very short time Alma Lee had to prepare for the wedding, she used her artful talents and ordered nylon parachute material, twenty yards, and hired a seamstress to perform a miracle. This material was used in the manufacture of parachutes and other military items by Uniroyal as part of the service supplies for our country. As you can see in the pictures, because of her imagination, creativity and the wonderful hands of her special friend’s mother, the seamstress, Alma Lee’s wedding gown was unique and extremely beautiful. Their special day arrived on October 21, 1945 and the two became one.

Dedicated to the community, Alma Lee and Roy returned to the area after Roy completed his degree in teaching and coaching from Hanover College. Alma Lee returned to work at Uniroyal and was employed for over thirty years. She became an Administrative Assistant during which time Roy taught and coached in the Mishawaka area at Kennedy and Penn High Schools. Their longtime friends, work associates and colleagues have remained in their lives in a very special way. Their commitment to the Mishawaka area has touched a lot of lives and will always remain as part of their history. And…it all started with their employment at the Old Ball-Band, Mishawaka Rubber Co.

Photograph of bride Alma Lee Munch Bolen in parachute nylon wedding gown c.1945. (2016-2(b)/15)

Object Reports Back Home to Mishawaka Another special object recently donated to Hannah Lindahl Children’s Museum’s collection came as quite a surprise. It was first given into the custody of the Mishawaka Historic Preservation Commission by Joan Hill who currently resides in Kansas. The MHPC gifted the object to HLCM knowing that it would be an appropriate object for the Museum’s collection and reveals an interesting story. The object is a Mishawaka Public Schools Teacher’s Monthly Report from 1905. Such reports were written by teachers and sent home to their student’s parents to review, sign, and return to the teacher. This report was made out by Mishawaka teacher Nellie D. Ham for student Irene Switzer. On the report are listed unusual school subject titles such as nature, physiology and rhetoricals. From Miss Switzer’s grades, we can see that she was a good student ranking near the top of her class. It’s no wonder this glowing report was saved! Now one hundred and twelve years later, this one-of-a-kind object has found a new home with HLCM.

Mishawaka Public School Teacher’s Monthly Report c.1905.

Museum Calendar March 31, 2015 – Ongoing Clothing Store After 2 years, hundreds of volunteer hours and the financial support of our Museum Artifactors and a grant from the Mishawaka Business Association, the Museum’s Clothing Store Exhibit is now open. The exhibit features WWII era clothing, the history and products of Ball-Band / Uniroyal, fashion accessories for men and women through the decades and more. October 5, 2016 – May 31, 2017 World Famous Mishawakans, Part II This exhibit features three world famous residents from Mishawaka’s past and present. This year we are highlighting the life and influence of Anna Rohrer (track and cross country athlete), Allan “Rocky” Lane (movie and television actor) and Wallace Dodge (inventor and entrepreneur). This exhibit changes annually, to see past featured World Famous Mishawakans visit HLCM’s website!

October 2016 – Ongoing Mishawaka-Penn-Harris Public Library Display The Museum’s display case in the lower level of the downtown Mishawaka library features a rotating adventure of objects from the Museum’s permanent collection. The case currently features vintage games and toys. April 10 – May 15, 2017 From Pencils to Pixels: Hoosier Cartoons and Comics Your opportunity to discover the creativity of Hoosier cartoonists with this traveling exhibit from the Indiana Historical Society. The exhibit explores the adventures of comic strip characters such as fat-cat Garfield, Brown County savant Abe martin, and “Chic” Jackson’s “Roger Bean,” which featured the lives of a typical Hoosier family.

Thank You The Hannah Lindahl Children’s Museum Endowment Fund administered by the Community Foundation of Saint Joseph County was begun with a founding donation of $10,500 by Don and Nancy Crawford in 2000. The Endowment has since grown to more than $225,000. The Endowment Fund ensures the ongoing legacy of Hannah Lindahl Children’s Museum in the local community. It supports our mission to provide a collection of unique artifacts that encourages families to explore, learn and enjoy the history of the Mishawaka area. We wish to thank our

2016-2017 Donors

to the Endowment Fund

$150 – $200

Bob and Mary Alice Beutter Barbara J Byrum Ilene M. Crutchfield William and Linda Gray Nancy Harter

The Museum Needs Your Support!

Donna Hums Alison Kerchner Jim Kish Lexie Schroeder Kobb Peggy and Allen Marker Tomi Mason Connie Saltzgaber

What Your Dollars Do • Educate kids about local history and fire safety • Care for the Museum collection • Keep HLCM open to the public • Update exhibits and facilities • Provide special events for the community Please become a Museum Donor today with a gift starting at $25 Mail to HLCM, 1402 S. Main Street, Mishawaka, IN 46544 Thank You

William Welling

$1,000 – $5,000

Patricia L. Tollens If you wish to make a donation to the HLCM Endowment Fund, please contact [email protected], 574-254-4540 or contact the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County at 574-232-0041.

Museum Advisory Board 2016–17

Dave Eisen, president • Linda Irish, vice president • Linda Gray, secretary Connie Saltzgaber, treasurer • Dr. A. Dean Speicher, Superintendent • Ruth Ann Bauert Kevin Davis • Peter DeKever • Dave Eggleston • Annette Ernst • Lisa Gartee • Eva Jojo Avery McCool • Dr. Bruce Stahly • Dr. Theodore Stevens • Ellen West Emeritus: Emmy Cokewood • Karen Jackson • Paula Meersman Ann Sharp • Jane Weaver Director: Lexie Schroeder Kobb Museum hours: Tues. – Fri. 9 AM to noon & 1 PM to 4 PM, (closed whenever school is not in session in SCM) Admission charges: $1.00 – Children ages 2 – 4 $2.00 – Seniors ages 62+ & students ages 5 – 17 $3.00 – Adults Free Admission for Museum Members

1402 South Main Street Mishawaka, IN 46544 Telephone: (574) 254-4540 FAX: (574) 254-4585 www.hlcm.org

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2016 – 2017 Artifactors Wall of Fame 20+ Years Atef M. Tawadros D.D.S. Bryan Chiropractic Center Garden Patch Market Gary’s Barber/Style Shop

11 – 14 Years

15 – 19 Years

Princess City Dental

1st Source Bank Dr. Brian D. Eberhart Magrames Motor Sales Michiana Accounting Service Schindler, Olson & Currey Teachers Credit Union Weber Electric, Inc. Woodcox Cleaning & Restorations

George A Mighion DDS PC KeyBank Magrane Pet Medical Center

6 – 10 Years 2 – 5 Years

Hinges & Handles, Inc. John Boettcher Sewer & Excavating

New Donors United Beverage AJ Heating & Cooling, Inc.

Special Project Donors Beta Gamma Chapter of Tri-Kappa, Inc. Four Winds Casinos Mattress Warehouse Mishawaka Business Association Mishawaka Education Foundation

Thank you for your support! For information about becoming a Museum Artifactor, please contact [email protected]

The mission of the Hannah Lindahl Children’s Museum is to provide a collection of unique artifacts that encourages families to explore, learn, and enjoy the history of the Mishawaka area.