Shelbyville Indiana

Honoring a hometown basketball legend’s history

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William “Bill” Leon Garrett was a basketball player, coach, educator, and a college administrator who is best known as the first African American to regularly play on a Big Ten Conference (Indiana University) varsity basketball team. His image, in his college basketball uniform, is proudly displayed on the Shelbyville Cagney’s Pizza King.

2024 mural of Garrett in his Big Ten IU uniform

Mural artist signature and information plaque

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shelbyville, Indiana, however remembers Bill Garrett as a member of the Golden Bears High School basketball team. That team won the State Basketball Championship in 1947, a feat yet to be repeated.

Details about the life and accomplishments of Bill Garrett

Garrett was drafted by the NBA Boston Celtics after college, but was at the same time drafted by the US Army for a two year stint during the Korean War. After he left the Army he was a Harlem Globetrotter for a while.

Photo of one of Shelbyville’s proudest moments

Garrett also had a highly successful career as the High School b-ball coach at Crispus Attucks in Indianapolis. He later became active in the administration of IUPUI Indianapolis.  Both the Shelbyville HS Field House and the intermural fieldhouse at Indiana University are named after Bill Garett.

Indiana prepares for the total solar eclipse

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Central Indiana is fortunate to be directly on the route of the long awaited total solar eclipse. Small town Shelbyville is pulling out all the stops in preparation for this exciting event.

On the town square

Announcing the eclipse

Downtown store front decorations

Statewide excitement about the eclipse

Shelbyville is directly in the perfect viewing path of the eclipse. Hopefully the skies will be clear on April 8th. If not, you will have to wait until 2044 for the next eclipse viewing!

Indiana has the most Carnegie libraries of any state

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Industrialist millionaire Andrew Carnegie gave over 40 million dollars to build over 1650 libraries in large and small towns across America. The State of Indiana received a total of over $2.6 million from the Carnegie Corporation. This led to a total of 164 library built in the Hoosier State from 1901 to 1922, more than any other state in the Union.

Front steps of the original structure, the plaque in the center of steps was a later add

Shelbyville is in the central part of the state, and its Carnegie Library was constructed early in the building program and held its grand opening on June 2, 1902. Like most all of the Carnegie structures, it included massive columns over the front entrance and an impressive large ceiling/roof dome. The columns were made with Indiana limestone.

The dome of the original structure is visible, with later additions in the foreground.

Over the years the Shelbyville Library has seen several additions and renovations. One addition more than doubled the size of the original library. Most recently an adjacent former furniture store was obtained and after remodeling it now houses the library’s Genealogy and History Departments, instruction rooms and computer labs. This library and branches have been a valuable part of Shelbyville and Shelby County’s community since 1902.

Indiana claims more Carnegie libraries than any other state

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Famous 19th-century industrialist Andrew Carnegie donated over 40 million dollars that was used to build over 1650 libraries in large and small towns across America. Indiana received a total of over $2.6 million from the Carnegie Corporation. A total of 164 library buildings were built in the Hoosier State from 1901 to 1922, more than any other state in the Union.

The original structure, the plaque structure in the center of steps was added later

Shelbyville’s Carnegie Library was constructed early in the building program and held its grand opening on June 2, 1902. It was like most all of the other structures, including massive columns over the front entrance and a large ceiling/roof dome. Of course they were made with Indiana limestone.

The dome of the original structure is visible, with later additions in the foreground.

Over the years the Shelbyville Library has had several additions and renovations. One addition more than doubled the size of the original library. Most recently an adjacent former furniture store was obtained and after remodeling it now houses the library’s Genealogy and History Departments, instruction rooms and computer labs. This library and branches are a valuable part of Shelbyville and Shelby County’s community.

Home town café

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You always hear that the local, non-chain eateries are the best. The Chaperral Cafe in Shelbyville, Indiana proves that theory is correct! Located a couple of blocks from the downtown square, this landmark is known for its all day breakfast and “the best breaded tenderloin” around.

Local history in photos

A sincere personal welcome

Bigger than your head!

You barely see the bun peeking out

Cut in half, still too big for the bun!

I had a wonderful lunch Friday. I met one of my sons there, and as a bonus he had my 2 year old grandson with him. A special treat for this PaPaw! I had wanted to visit the Chaperral for quite sometime as their breaded tenderloin has become legendary. (Breaded tenderloins are a Hoosier favorite!) Well, this sandwich absolutely exceeded my expectations. The tenderloin was just the right thickness, the breading was not overpowering and the “crunch” was perfect! I cut mine in half, ate part in the bun, the other with knife and fork. Gonna have to go back and try biscuits and gravy sometime soon!

An 1890 hardware store turned restaurant

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The three story brick building was built in 1890 and housed a hardware store for decades. The locally owned J.G. DePrez Co. was a prominent feature in downtown Shelbyville, Indiana. The building now houses a unique restaurant on the first floor .

Pudder’s storefront

Looking out on the town square

 

 

 

 

 

Pudder’s opened in 2019 and was able to survive the pandemic. It has maintained its local patron base, and is beginning to gain a reputation in surrounding areas. The restaurant is spacious, has two bars and interesting interior decor.

Full service bar

Interesting rustic decor

 

 

 

 

 

Sher and I went to Pudder’s for a late lunch. We were seated immediately,  there were a couple of other tables occupied. The service staff is very attentive and meets your needs without delay. Sher started with one of the signature cocktails and really enjoyed it.

“Fancy” cocktail menu

Sher’s Pink Drink

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Their menu offers an assortment of burgers, wraps, salads, wings and tons of appetizers. Sher ordered the veggie wrap, which was absolutely filled to overflowing with good stuff. I wanted to go with the Fish and Chips. The two pieces of cod were served piping hot, and each piece was very thick and filling!

We had a great lunch

Pudder’s has live music each weekend and a regular schedule of trivia nights. The drinks, food and service is good. Hard to beat that combination, plus for us Pudder’s is close by.

New viewing deck overlooks Blue River

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Craftsmen just yesterday put the finishing touches on the new viewing deck overlooking Blue River in Shelbyville, Indiana.

This nice observation deck is just across the Blue River Trail pavement at the end of the new A to Z Storybook Trail. We just published a post about that trail feature here. Shelbyville and Shelby County are in central Indiana, and are continuing to expand the popular Blue River Trail. These additions add to the enjoyment of trail users.

A Bison-tennial statue in Shelby County

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Before each county got theirs to decorate

Indiana’s Statehood Bicentennial was celebrated in 2016. The remnants of that celebration can be seen all over the state in the form of 5 feet tall fiberglass bison. The in.gov website states: “Indiana Association of United Ways was the proud sponsor of the statewide Bison-tennial Public Art Project. This legacy project helped celebrate Indiana’s 200th birthday by decorating and displaying 5-foot-tall fiberglass bison with an end goal of at least one – if not a herd – of bison on display in each of Indiana’s 92 counties.” We’d seen a few around the state, and just last week we saw a newly placed one in Shelbyville.

Balsar the Bison in front of the old Porter Pool Bath House

Lots of local landmarks, businesses

Recognize that Kennedy Covered Bridge?

 

 

 

 

 

The bison is named Balsar after the main character in The Bears Of Blue River by Shelbyville resident author Charles Major. Not sure where Balsar has been since 2016, but now the Shelby County bison grazes in front of the old Porter Pool Bath House which was built in 1930. (Read about the current use of the Porter building here.)

 

 

An A to Z Storybook Trail

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A new short trail showcasing highlights and history of Shelby County has been completed along the Blue River Trail in Shelbyville, Indiana. The 13 signs are placed at intervals with two “letters” each on the signs.

One of the 13 signs on the trail

Shot of the trail

Note the limestone benches

Sign showing local attraction and bit of history

The whole trail and sign placements are very nicely landscaped with trees and flowers. Scattered around are large limestone “benches”. These have been quarried from a Shelby County quarry that has has been in operation for decades.

The main Blue River Trail along the tree line

In the far background you can see the Blue River-Wind, Rain and Water public art (here is a link to our post about the sculpture). Shelbyville and Shelby County have done a great job constructing and maintaining the Blue River Trail complex across the city and through at least three parks.

 

 

 

A refurbished local landmark back in service

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The Joseph Fountain was first dedicated in 1923 on the center of the town square in Shelbyville, Indiana. It has been the center of the “square” (as the center of town has been known for decades by the locals) and has supported the Christmas Trees and for one year in the 1950’s it was covered  with cornstalks in the fall.

Vintage photo showing the Fountain in the center of the square

New information plaque placed at the rededication of the fountain

During the years 2020-2021 a massive project completely reconstructed the square, entrance streets, sidewalks and parking. There the fountain, after complete restoration, was replaced in its historic location. With water again flowing freely, the fountain is once again the center of the square delighting young and old alike.