Memory Lane

Bill Boone has created several blogs on the history of sports in our local schools.
Be sure to check out his website Athletic History of Darlington High School.

I was standing at my kitchen window this morning and thinking about trash.  Yah!  Trash.  Unusual subject to ponder over.  As a child, I remember my Grandmother, Mary Coddington Endicott, reusing items over and over and talking about how difficult it had been for people to sometimes not have the basics during the war.  A paper bag was worth a million bucks to her.  She’d wash out bottles and reuse, we call it now, repurpose.  Such little things meant a lot.  My mom, Dorothy C. Holladay, washed out plastic bags and reused until they fell apart.  And now I know why.  I am thankful for so many things in this life.  The ability to have the simple items that my kin never took for granted.  Being a Scout Leader during the late 1970’s, 80’s, and 90’s, a total of 25 years, at various times, recycling was brought back to our attention.  But, around this area, other than aluminum cans and newspaper, we did not have the facilities to recycle, like I proudly do today.  This week, I had less than 1/2 of a 30 gallon bag to put out for the trash.  And am I proud?  You better believe it!  I didn’t put that bag out because I intend to fill it up first.  I always felt guilty for not doing a better job at helping to save our resources.  And now I find myself changing my lifestyle.  So many things count.  Like going to the post office 1 to 2 times a week instead of everyday.  Saving gas and reusing and repurposing everything that crosses my path.  So now I think more about my footprint.  What will I leave to our children?  I pray that it is hope, that they will have a future.
Thank you for our wonderful recycling center.  One step at a time.
Sara Kelly

I have a special fondness for Darlington as my great grand parents and aunt & uncle lived there in the 40’s – 60’s (maybe even earlier) and still reside in the cemetery a short distance from where they lived on the corner of Harrison & Mill. My aunt & uncle, Ruth & Raymond Haas, raised rabbits for both food and pelts. Later they had a franchise to sell Terri Lee dolls and traveled through many states in the mid west. My aunt in the late 50’s also owned a thriving dress shop on main street. My great grand father, Fred Haas, ran the lumber mill on sugar creek for many years in the 40’s & 50’s. We would make the long drive from California in the 40’s & 50’s. As a young child I remember the “fire flies” and thunder storms in the summer. Fred would tap the maple trees surrounding their house and made maple syrup every year. Unfortunately it looks like all those trees are gone. We would drive route 66 & pick up a tortoise on the side of the road as it was migration time. I would release it in their garden in Darlington with a date painted on the back with nail polish. Many of those Texas tortoises were seen years later. I started a whole population of displaced tortoises.
I noticed on your web page the picture of the old garage on Madison & Main was torn down and replaced by Fountain Trust Bank. Al & Lucy (don’t remember their last name) ran that garage for many years and is a distant relative through a couple cousins in Crawfordsville. Thanks again for touching my past through your web page.
Bob Ward

We lived in Darlington but my dad farmed 80 acres south of town for my grandmother Hazel Peebles. He also worked at Stewart Warner in Lebanon along with several other men from town. I was his "hired hand" and he often sent me to the elevator on our little Ford tractor and a box bed trailer full of corn to be ground into hog feed.  Al and George Yount would be so kind and patient and tell me where to move the trailer to when it was time to load the feed. Then I would proudly return to the farm after completing my assignment.  As a teenager my group of girl friends would stop by Arthur Friend’s Drug Store and my favorite treat was a “sawdust sundie”. That was 2 scoops of chocolate ice cream with a large scoop of malt sprinkled on top. That only cost 15 cents. It truely was a great place to grow up!
Sandra Peebles Siepert

You know, growing up in Darlington has been such an unforgettable experience. I have often told our kids how much I wish they could have grown up here in the way my siblings and I did.  Their were businesses in every building! The dry goods store, Brown’s furniture store(where I purchased many Matchbox and Hot Wheels cars), Mid Mullen’s pool hall, Timmons gas station, Binfords gas station, Gilliat’s garage, East’s grocery store( always loved the steak sandwiches!), and who will ever forget Harmon’s Sundries( a.k.a. Harmon’s Drugstore) where I consumed more "green rivers" than I could even attempt to count! With the growing number of retail stores in Crawfordsville, sadly, this began the closing of local businesses.  Nothing will ever take the memories away from those of us who have grown up here. As my son, Isaiah, and I stroll the town, I’m always sharing with him of what it was like as a child growing up here in Darlington.  I’ll always be proud to call Darlington my home town! Be blessed everyone!
Chuck Gleason

My name is Susan Anderson and my ties to Darington is my Grandparents were Ales and Susie Maxwell. My Grandma died before I was born. We lived with my grandpa until I was 4. I have 2 older brothers, Ron and Jerry Birchfield. My Mom’s name was Carol Maxwell. She had 16 brothers and sisters. Looking at the old photos brought a lot of memories back. I remember going to the gas station with my Grandpa and listening to all the men talking about war and other stories. I also use to go down to the lumber yard and  get the empty pop bottles and line them up in the driveway into the lumber yard. We moved to Crawfordsville when I was 4 but we spent every weekend at my Grandpas house until he passed. Thanks for the memories.

After reading these comments, I realize that those of us who had the wonder of growing up in Darlington will always carry the town in our hearts.  Who can forget the excitement of the arrival of the carnival on Main Street for the Legion fish fry…
John Branstetter

Hello Darlington Friends and Family,
I am sure I will write again, but this note is to Bob Ward. My Mother, Betty Branstetter worked for Ruth and Raymond Haaas at the dry good store. Yes, I got one of those Terri Lee dolls. I loved that store. I would go to the store and if it wasn’t busy, I would play store by myself. Mother always made sure I put everything back in it’s place. I would pretend to wait on customers and explain about the clothing, etc. I had many Bobbie Brooks outfits when I was a teenager. Great Memories. Ruth and Raymond were very special people, very kind.
Molly (Branstetter) Hayes

Thanks to all who have shared their memories of Darlington. 
If you have memories of Darlington and/or old photos and want to share them, simply email us at [email protected] we'd love to add them to this page!

I descend from the Noah Brock family  The old Brock farm is out past the toll booth. His daughter Sallie married Wm. Painter and are my mom’s folks.  Mom’s older brother Lee Painter lived on Washington St.  He was called home from WW1 to take care of the blacksmith turned garage to support the family when his dad had heart trouble.  My great aunt Edith Brock pretty much raised my mom and I would spend part of every summer at Uncle Lee’s and Aunt Ediths.  Mom’s dad was the blacksmith and sheriff in Darlington in 1800s.  Mom graduated from Bower’s H.S. and I have a picture of the graduating class.
Lynn Parker