History

The following stories previously appeared in the Harrison News, the Harrison local paper prior to the Press. This snippet of old stories dates from the 1870s to the 1880s, published by Walter Hartpence the editor-publisher.

In an early photograph the Lawrenceburg volunteer firemen called “Laddies” are poised and ready for a parade in front of the old Bank of State and Redman’s building. Large trees block the view of the Miami Fire Co. No. 1 at Short Street, the Lawrenceburg firehouse. The building to the left of the firehouse was a one-story building where the old post office building now stands; the next building was the home of Edstal Boone Gully.

1869 – Indiana ratified the 15th Amendment to the United States Constitution. The third and last of the “Reconstruction Amendments,” the amendment prohibits the denial of voting rights based upon race or skin color. Indiana was the 14th state to approve the measure. It was passed into law by the United States Congress on Feb. 3, 1870.

April 25 - May 1 1865 – The side-wheeler steamboat Sultana exploded on the Mississippi River near Memphis. The boat, built to carry 376 passengers, was vastly overloaded with paroled Civil War prisoners of war.

1816 – President James Madison signed into law the Enabling Act, passed by Congress. The measure would permit Indiana to become a state “on equal footing with the original states.” The next step was the organization of a constitutional convention, which took place in the summer of the same year. Indiana was admitted to the Union on December 11, 1816.