Hometown Heroes Part 1: Scatman Crothers

Benjamin Sherman Crothers was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, on May 23, 1910. He is known as a famous actor, musician, and dancer. He started his musical career at the age of 15, when he was a drummer for a speakeasy band in Terre Haute. He acquired the pseudonym "Scat Man" while auditioning for a radio station in Dayton, Ohio, in 1932. The name was given to him because of his unique version of scat singing, which consists of making the sounds of a musical instrument with only your voice. The name was later condensed to "Scatman" by Auther Godfrey.

Throughout Crother's life, he had an extensive amount of work in music, television, and film. He played the drums and piano for many bands. He played with the jazz singer Slim Gaillard and also with The Ramparts. Besides playing with various bands, Crothers also released many solo albums. He was also in many television series like Dragnet, Charlie's Angels, and to name a few. He was most popular for his voice overs though in television shows like Magnum P.I. to name a few. He was most famous for voice overs, though, in television shows like Transformers and Harlem Globetrotters. He also appeared in many films such as Meet Me at the Fair, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and The Shining.

For all of Scatman Crothers success in his professional life, he was also happy in his personal life. He married Helen Sullivan in 1937, and they had their one and only daughter, Donna, in 1949. Crothers had a long and productive life until it was taken on November 22, 1986, from pneumonia brought on by lung cancer. He was at the ripe age of 76, and he is buried in the Hollywood Hill Cemetery next to his wife. Crothers is another great example of a Terre Haute man who felt his dreams were too big to be pursued in this place, but the town seems to making strides in embracing its past. While out on a walk, I discovered the hometown heroes banner shown above, and also the star shown below. It seems Terre Haute is starting its own Hall of Fame by displaying its most successful "heroes" on Wabash Avenue.

Paul Dresser

Johann Paul Dreiser was born on April 22, 1859, at 318 South Second Street in Terre Haute. He was the fourth child in a family of thirteen children that included the famous author Theodore Dreiser. The Dreiser family was a German Catholic family, and Paul's father had hopes of him becoming a priest. Paul tried and failed to please his father by attending St. Meinrad's seminary. In the end, though, music was Paul's calling. He left Terre Haute at the age of 16 to pursue a music career, and at this time he also changed his name to Paul Dresser (stage name). Dresser was satisfied for a while traveling throughout the Midwest to play in medicine and minstrel shows. After a while, he decided to settle in New York City to compose.

While in New York City, Dresser was doing exactly what he loved. He was writing and publishing music. He even became a principal owner of the publishing house Howley, Haviland, and Dresser. Through this publishing company, he composed many songs including the Indiana state song "On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away." During the 1890s, Dresser was one of the most popular composers of the time. Sometimes, though, too much success can lead to quick failure, which is what happened to Dresser when he became to free with his money. By 1904, he was having financial difficulties, and he failed to adapt to the changing musical styles. Soon, Dresser became ill and died at his sister's house on January 30, 1906, at the age of 47. For such a short life, he had many accomplishments that are still celebrated today, especially in Terre Haute, Indiana. Dresser's boyhood home can now be found in Fairbanks Bank Park on Dresser Avenue with his beloved Wabash River as its backdrop.

Fairbanks Park

Fairbanks Park has the beautiful Wabash River as its backdrop. Most of the land for the park was donated to Terre Haute in 1916 in memory of Henry Fairbanks by his two sons, Crawford and Edward. Henry Fairbanks was very influential to the city of Terre Haute, and he was serving as its mayor at the time of his death in 1978.

When you enter the park on Dresser Drive, Paul Dresser's home sits on the right. Dresser was the famous composer of "On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away," which is our current state song. His home was moved to Fairbanks Park in 1963, and it is maintained by the Vigo County Historical Society.

Upon driving in further, a large archway can be also be seen on the right. Currently, there is a garden area under the archway. Before it became a garden, it was a huge oval shaped swimming pool (198 feet long and 128 feet wide) surrounded by a seven foot sandy beach in 1924. Once the swimming pool was taken out, Thomas Dubois, an Indiana State University graphic design student, designed a fountain in the area.

At the back of the park, the Chauncey Rose Memorial stands out in great contrast to the other structures. In 1887, it was the front of Terre Haute's first building that acted as a post office and federal building. It was moved to the park in 1936.

Other structures located at the park is the amphitheater, which is next to the Chauncey Rose Memorial. This is where concerts can be held. There is also the Blumberg Shelter and a gazebo that were donated to the park for the Annual Fairbanks Park Arts and Musical Festival.

On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away

The song "On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away" was written by the 19th century composer, Paul Dresser. Paul Dresser was born and raised in Terre Haute, Indiana, and while he was away he missed his hometown and the beautiful river that flows through it. This song is the famous composer reminiscing about Terre Haute while away on a trip. Dresser wrote the song in 1897, and by 1900 millions of copies had been sold. The song became so special to not only Terre Haute, but the whole state of Indiana. It became the state song on March 14, 1913, when adopted by the Indiana General Assembly. The song is known as the first official symbol of Indiana, with the state flag not being founded until four years later.

The chorus of the song is as follows:
Oh, the moonlight's fair tonight along the Wabash,
From the fields comes the breath of new mown hay.
Through the sycamores the candle lights are gleaming,
On the banks of the Wabash, far away.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98WVVxYsb4s&feature=related

U.S. Penitentiary

The U.S. Penitentiary in Terre Haute was built in 1940 when President Franklin Roosevelt approved its location in 1938. One of the main reasons the penitentiary is located in Terre Haute is because the Chamber of Commerce raised $50,000 to buy the land for it to be built. The building of the penitentiary was important for Terre Haute citizens, because it would help the economy by supplying jobs. It is located at the intersection of State Road 63 and Springhill Drive on the south side of town. The prison holds only adult males. It is also the only federal prison to hold a death row. It was chosen to have a death row, because of its central location. One of the more famous prisoners to be put to death by lethal injection was Timothy McVeigh. Timothy McVeigh was responsible for the Oklahoma City bombing.

Furthermore, the U.S. Penitentiary was one of the first federal prisons to emphasize rehabilitation of offenders. Psychological and psychiatric treatments are provided, and prisoners are treated more humanely. They are referred to by names, not numbers. Also, education programs are provided to the inmates. The inmates are also given jobs through places like UNICOR, so they are not just sitting around all day.

The U.S. Penitentiary still stands in Terre Haute after 72 years. It is a formidable structure, that should scare anyone who even drives past it. I know I kind of get the chills when I drive past it, knowing that there are some very dangerous people inside. It is kind of ironic that one of Terre Haute's ugliest buildings is one that remains standing after all of this time. Who knows why people would want a federal prison with some of the country's most dangerous criminals in their backyard, but who knows why people in Terre Haute want a lot of things like the destruction of its greatest treasures. But, the point is, it is here if anyone is into looking at prisons for a tourist attraction!

Condit House

The Condit House is currently located on Indiana State University's campus, and houses the current President Bradley and his wife. The house has been on campus since 1962, and it's the oldest building. Before the house became property of the university, it was the private residence of the Reverend Blackford Condit family since 1862. The Condit family purchased the home from Lucien Houriet, a local jeweler in Terre Haute at the time, who had the house built in 1860. The house is a great example of the rich history of Terre Haute, and the beauty that used to surround the town. It is actually five years older than the university, or more accurately, the Teacher's College that opened in 1865. Although, there are not many building left from the earlier years of the university, places like the Condit House make it easier to imagine what Indiana State would look like today if its past had not been erased.

The Hippodrome

The Hippodrome is America's oldest standing vaudeville theater. It was built in 1915 at the corner of 8th & Ohio Street, and was designed by the famous theater architect John Eberson in the German Renaissance-Revival style. It was designed to seat a large audience of 1,000 people. It officially opened on February 15, 1915, to a large crowd that included the governor of Indiana. The theater was constructed so that performers did not need the assistance of microphones or speakers to amplify their voices. Instead, the sounds reverberated off the stage and echoed throughout the entire theater.

The Hippodrome Theater was unique compared to the other vaudeville theaters in Terre Haute at the time. The other theaters started to show actual movies, but the Hippodrome only ever showed live performances. Over the years many famous performers (magicians, musicians, television stars, etc.) came to the theater. These performances would take place twice a day, one at 2:30 PM and the other at 8:15 PM. In the late 1920s vaudeville was starting to die, and the Hippodrome in Terre Haute closed down in 1929. From 1931-1948, the building was used as the Community Theater of Terre Haute. Since 1955, the building is known as the Scottish Rite Temple. It still stands today, and it would be easy to imagine the grandeur of it as the Hippodrome Theater. Like many other things in Terre Haute, though, it has died and may never be restored to its past splendor.