Beacon July 2023

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Page 6A THE BEACON July 2023 THE MEMORIES LINGER ON The Elm Drive-In in 1962 By Mary-Alice Helms “The song has ended, but the melody lingers on..” Those are some of the lyrics of an old song that was a favorite of the 1930s and 1940s crooners. Perhaps the words could be “The building’s gone, but the memories linger on.” They are things of the past, those buildings where we would meet, tell jokes, laugh, share secrets, and snack when we were teenagers. Lost either to the wrecking balls or repurposed for a more relevant use in today’s world, most of those spots which we loved would not be granted a second look in today’s world. Obviously not created for aesthetics or ambiance, they simply were places where the town’s families could go to see friends and eat a good meal at a reasonable price. For us, as teenagers, they were great hang-outs. The “Elm Drive-In” comes to mind when the memories take over. It was a rather nondescript wooden building sitting in the middle of a large lot on State Road 1, about a mile north of Brookville. The owners, Irvin and Joy Hertel had built the place next to their neat home. There were only a couple of booths or tables for inside dining. The action was in the parking lot! That lot, which I remember as gravel, often was jampacked with vehicles of every description. Customers were greeted by a car-hop, the name given to the young waitresses who took the orders from the customers, and later delivered the food. I remember one time when a harried car hop neglected to lock the heavy tray of food securely to the car. Consequently, the tray tipped into the car, spilling ice and cold soda into the lap of the non-too-happy customer. The frazzled car-hop apologized and tried desperately to help the soaked customer save his dress pants, the remains of dinner, and his dignity. It didn’t work. No tip there, I’m afraid. The “Elm Drive-In” has been gone for many years, but never forgotten. As teenagers, few of us had access to cars except on weekends when the family chariot might be used for a “date night”. Also, we had little money, so our entertainment had to be within walking distance and very inexpensive. We found places in town that made good gathering spots. We walked everywhere. It was not unusual to see groups of teens walking up or down Main Street. “The Dairy Bar” on Main Street was a good destination. Located on the northwest corner of 8th and Main, it was a mecca of ice cream cones, sundaes, sodas, and banana splits. An added attraction was its jukebox with its endless collection of popular songs and its flashing red and blue lights. When replacement records arrived, the proprietors would sell the used ones for 10 cents each. Quite a bargain, except that many of the most popular records were more than a bit “used”. “The Dairy Bar” also was torn down some years ago, and never replaced. My best friend, Carol, and I liked going farther down Main Street to a little shop owned by Hilda Wirtz. We loved the little round tables and chairs with their cast-iron scrolled backs and legs. A bag of chips and a soft drink cost a total of 15 cents. Hilda didn’t The counter inside the Elm Drive-In in 1971. mind how long we sat, giggling, chatting, and admiring the beautiful costume jewelry displayed in glass cabinets along the wall. That building was among those sacrificed to progress when the Valley House apartments were built. So many other “gathering places” should be mentioned, including Hertel’s Restaurant, Cap’s Place, the home of the famous Cap’s Chili, the Owl Tavern, the 440 Grill and Greyhound Station, The Goldfinch Restaurant, the Valley House Hotel and Restaurant, the Case House and the one which people who were kids at the time will always remember the “Jack and Jill Restaurant.” “Jack and Jill Restaurant” was located on State Road One in the spot which is now occupied by First Financial Bank. I remember it for its uniqueness. It was a dinerstyle building, the likes of which had not previously been seen in Brookville. The front part of the building was made of stainless steel and was said to have cost $100,000! I remember the flashing neon sign on the front of the structure. In these days of light shows and animation, it probably would not have been as noticeable. When it opened in 1956, it was thought to be spectacular. The neon lights were timed and arranged so that the overall effect was a 3D image of Jack and Jill falling down the hill. Quite a show-stopper. While I remember the food at the restaurant as being very good, it was not a successful venture. It lasted only two years, closing in 1958. The stainless steel diner part of the structure was moved from the hill, and the kitchen/dining area, which had been built on the site, remained. That portion was purchased and renovated by the Borne family and used as their home for a number of years. It was sold to People’s Trust company bank and then to First Financial Bank. While the current generation probably has never heard of many of these places, there are those “golden oldies” among us who can remember them all. Some of them are gone forever, but the memories will linger on. Budgeting Makes It All Worthwhile A BETTER WAY TO GET THE MONEY YOU NEED. By Alan Thorup, CRMP In my last article, I mentioned budgeting in regard to a home purchase with a mortgage. Expanding on that, a budget put together well is a valuable financial tool for individuals and families to meet their immediate/monthly needs as well as set aside funds for both anticipated and unanticipated needs. Just as valuable is the discipline to follow it! To begin with, collect paystubs/direct deposit information for determining regular monthly household net income (after taxes and benefits are deducted). Next, collect all your recurring bills for utilities, auto/other fixed payment loans, and credit card minimum payments. Additional documentation on other recurring payments for insurance (health, dental, prescription, etc.), and then any additional payments made regularly such as church donations will also need to be added. Once all of this is collected, you have the $ amounts you need to put in writing or input into a spreadsheet your fixed net income and expenses. Hopefully, you have a positive number after deducting your fixed expenses from your net income, and if so, this is the amount you have left over to cover groceries as well as unexpected expenses and future needs for large-item purchases, vacations, etc. To cover anticipated needs for those large purchases and unexpected expenses, a good way to accomplish that is to set aside money regularly to ‘pay yourself’. If after plugging in the net income and expense numbers, you have a positive number at the bottom, add in an amount you can comfortably save while maintaining payments on all your other obligations, and put that into a separate savings account. Further, you can set up a spreadsheet that details what those $ are for in your savings account such as; vacation, home improvement/ maintenance, car purchase, new tires/brakes for the car, etc., and pull those funds out as needed, and adjust your spreadsheet. Finally, maintaining the discipline to follow your budget is critical for both short and long-term financial success. We all see, read, and hear about things daily that we would like to have or do. For most of us, the reality is that we can’t afford to act on impulse to satisfy every ‘want’ we have. However, going through the exercise above on a regular basis, and adjusting the budget as income and expenses change, provide us the opportunity to become much more aware of what we have to do in order to purchase things responsibly today, and in the future. The team at FCN Bank is ready to help you find a better way to get the money you need. Instead of high-interest credit card debt, FCN Bank offers better options such as home equity loans, personal loans, home refinancing and more. BRATER - WINTER FUNERAL HOMES fcnbank.com The BEACON - Great News for Great People.
July 2023 THE BEACON Page 7A The following was submitted by Henry “Hank” Steinmetz. We appreciate that he shared his family’s legacy and their patriotism. This is the story of a family who proudly served their country in the Armed Forces. Otto A. Steinmetz was born Nov. 22, 1889 in Yorkville, IN. He was drafted into the Army on Nov. 20, 1917, and was sent to France during the early part of WWI. Otto served as a Calvaryman/Wagoneert and rode mules or drove teams of horses to haul ammunition from the supply depot to the front lines for the infantry. The enemy always tried to kill the mules and horses to try to slow down or break the supply chain. (The Army didn’t have a lot of motorized equipment back then). Otto was discharged and sent home on Nov. 26, 1919. He returned to Yorkville and worked various jobs, On May 7, 1924, Otto married Rose M. Lipps, also from Yorkville. Eventually, they bought a farm east of New Alsace, IN where they eventually raised five boys. Joe the oldest, was drafted M DEAR ARIE By Marie Segale marie@goBEACONnews.com Dear Marie, I wonder... I’m sure I can’t be the only person/woman/ spouse struggling with being retired and being home fulltime with my husband! Wow, spending all this time together is a little too much. Being retired, my husband thinks he has a perfect right to do nothing. For example, sitting in front of the television all day would be fine with him. I think being retired means that I finally have time to do the projects I want to get done, and I sometimes need his strength and help to accomplish them. Our opinions differ drastically concerning how to spend our time. I’m just really frustrated. I always thought that when I retired, I’d have time to read all of those books on my list, go to museums, travel to places S ALUTE TO THE MILITARY Otto A. Steinmetz Henry “Hank” Steinmetz Eugene “Gene” Steinmetz Vernon “Vern” Steinmetz Clarence O. Steinmetz into the Army and was sent to the Philippines (Pacific Theater) during WWII. He handled the shipping and receiving of artillery, etc. in the supply depot. Clarence was drafted into the Army and was sent to Korea with the Infantry Division. He fought on the front lines. Clarence’s entire tour of duty in Korea was spent fighting on the front lines and living out of a “fox hole.” Gene was drafted into the Army and sent to Tok Junction, Alaska. He worked in Communications. He and several other soldiers ran a communications station twenty-four hours a day, every day. Vern was also drafted into the Army and was sent to Germany where he was an MP (Military Police). Hank enlisted in the Navy at age seventeen. He was sent to school and was trained to be an electrician. He served on two ships- a destroyer called the USS Glennon D.D. 840 and an aircraft carrier named the USS Antietam CVS36. The legacy of the Otto and Rose Steinmetz family is that all six men served I’ve always wanted to see, and be free from a schedule. Retirement has not worked out that way for us. When I worked full time I was able to accomplish so much more than I do now. I was always told, “If you want something done, give it to a busy person, he or she will get it done.” The fact that we would have to live around aching knees, shoulders, hips, poor eyesight, hearing loss, and memory issues never occurred to me. Living around doctor appointments and being involved in grandchildren’s schedules to help their working parents has been a reality check. This is not the retirement I pictured. Marie, what words 7247 State Road 46E Batesville, IN 47006 812.932.3300 their country honorably and proudly. What is significant about these men are the wars in which they served. Otto served in the First World War. Joe served in the Second of advice can you give to help my situation or ease my frustration? Karen in Harrison Dear Karen, Newly retired couples can have great difficulty with suddenly having no schedule. Start a new daily routine. Look for new interests or hobbies that include ways to meet new people. Stay active, get daily exercise to stay healthy, and keep your brain working. Having your adult kids close can bring lots of happiness, but having to always be there for them may add stress to your life. Life is all about balance. Do you have a pressing issue? Reach out to marie@ goBEACON news.com TOPSOIL (Regular and Shredded) FILL DIRT GRAVEL SPECIALIZED HAULING & DELIVERY World War. Clarence served in the Korean War. Perhaps the greatest honor should have gone to Rose, the boys’ mother. She spent many, many sleepless PRIME CUTS NOW AVAILABLE Filet Mignon Ribeye (Boneless) New York Strip T-Bone Steak Top Sirloin Steak Sirloin Steak Flank steak Sirloin Tip Roast Joseph “Joe” Steinmetz nights sitting in her rocking chair and praying that God would protect her boys and send them home safely. Her prayers were answered. God Bless America! Steer-Rite Farm Grain Fed Home Raised Beef *All Steaks, Briskets, & Roasts are weighed & priced Chuck Roast Brisket Stew Meat Beef short ribs 18 - 1/3 lb. Steak Burger Patties Bulk Ground Beef Payment: Cash or Check Available in our freezer at the Lutz Auction Center weekdays from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. On Saturday’s during auction hours You can also call Dale Lutz at 513-266-1859 or Randy Lutz at 513-266-1860 to schedule a pickup time. Home grown, grain fed, government inspected, & locally processed Lutz Auction Center is located at 25980 Auction Ln. Guilford, IN 47022 CONGRATULATIONS HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES! TAKE YOUR NEXT STEP WITH US ¥ Prepare for a career or to continue your education ¥ A more affordable pathway to a bachelor’s degree ¥ 30+ quality academic programs in high-demand fields VISIT OUR CONVENIENTLY LOCATED CAMPUSES IVY TECH LAWRECENBURG 50 WALNUT ST. LAWRENCEBURG, IN IVY TECH BATESVILLE 1 IVY TECH DRIVE BATESVILLE, IN Get it All at www.goBEACONnews.com SCHEDULE A TOUR ONLINE AT IVYTECH.EDU/VISIT OR STOP BY CAMPUS
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