1900 - 1910
1900
Year Events
1900 - Town Hall was rented out for events at the rate of fifty cents per
month, twenty five cents extra per event. Some of the churches used the hall
for services. The German Lutheran and the German Methodist services were
conducted in German.
1900 Spring - Ripley House opened. John Kraus propreitor.
1900 - Telephone switchboard installed in the rear of G. A. Baas Drugstore.
Operator was G. A. Baas
1901
Year Events
Lyceam Programs started by Louis Ward probably started at this time. In Town
Hall Town Hall also hosted other programs such as medicine shows, dog show.
Dancing club managed by Greisop and Leffler.
Saloons served free lunch on Saturday and special occassions. Mock-turtle
soup and other soups, sandwiches, cheese, or pretzals were served with drink
orders. These establishments also offered games, music, and other entertainment
were also offered.
1902
Year Events
The Batesville Yachting Club was organized in 1902 to manage motorboat
use on the canal. Headquarters were at the Park House Hotel with meetings
held in the Park House Garden. Jacob Engel, proprietor of this pleasure
resort, was an active promoter of the yacht club.
1903
Year Events
In 1903 Nick Blank operated a general store on East Pearl Street. After his
death his wife operated the store until 1914 when it was sold to Joseph
Burst and William Weigel.
1904
Year Events
1905
Year Events
The first automobile in Ripley County was bought in 1905. In 1909 only six
were in use in Batesville and were owned by Dr. C. W. Gibson, John
Hillenbrand, H. H Krome, William L Krieger and Fred Morgan, who owned two!
1906
Year Events
1907
Year Events
Adam Fehlinger purchased Ben Cloniger’s restaurant in 1907. It seems to have
been the first commercial restaurant located in Batesville, although there
had always been an abundance of hotel, boarding house, bakery and
confectionary lunches available. Edward A. Hart opened his restaurant in
1914 in a little frame building adjacent to the freight depot. He moved into
the main corner room of the Oak Palance Hotel in 1915. John Kappes sold his
cafe on west Geroge Street to Charles Gibson in 1929.
1908
Year Events
Ed Blank operated a soda parlor in the spring of 1908. Soft drink stands
were becoming popular at this time and usually operated from a drug store.
Mr. Blank had established a drug store two years previous. In 1922 Mr.
Blank installed a modern soda fountain in his drug store.
1909
Year Events
The first moving pictures in Batesville were shown at St. Clair's Hall each
week beginning in May 1909. The first successful commercial venture occurred
May 28, 1910, when the Wintz brothers opened a Nicolo. Located on East Pearl
Street, it was later renamed the Lyric Theatre. Enlarged in 1911, it
accommodated 200 chairs, an orchestra pit and stage, ticket booths,
elevated floor, double entrance doors, lighting and ventilator.
William and August Behlmer, brothers, built a three story concrete and block
building at the corner of George and Sycamore Streets in 1909. At various
times it housed Behlmer Brothers Builders and Contractors, several fraternal
organizations, the Behlmer Shirt company, the Behlmer Garment Company and
residences. It was sold in 1909 to H.C. Canfield.
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