Norma Tapp (1929-2016)

Norma Tapp (1929-2016), a longtime Mooresville educator and library volunteer, passed away earlier this week.  Her obituary appeared in today's edition of the Mooresville-Decatur Times.  It also appeared on the Carlisle-Branson Funeral Service website.

Norma Tapp Obituary

Mooresville-Decatur Times

Wednesday, December 21, 2016 (Page A-2)

(Click Image Above to Enlarge)

One of Mrs. Tapp's many contributions to Mooresville Public Library was her compilation of newspaper articles about John Dillinger, who grew up in Mooresville.  It is our most popular Dillinger resource, although it is a reference item and does not circulate outside the library. (Learn more about this binder from our Evergreen Indiana catalog.)

I met Mrs. Tapp a few years ago while visiting my father-in-law at a senior living center in town.  She was a warm, friendly, charming person who was interested in discussing many subjects, including local history and library activities.

Many long-time residents will remember Mrs. Tapp as a teacher and friend. She made a lasting contribution to our community, making Mooresville a better place in which to live and grow up.  If you knew Mrs. Tapp and would like to share a memory or leave other comments, please visit the Carlisle-Branson Funeral Service website's celebration wall.

Burial Map to Mooresville's Old M.E. Cemetery

Thanks to Mooresville sexton Ed Bucker, the Indiana Room at Mooresville Public Library has a burial map for the Old Methodist Episcopal (M.E.) Cemetery on West Washington Street. A spreadsheet accompanying the map lists burial plots of many of the town's earliest pioneers and settlers.  (Click the photos below to enlarge.)

Old Methodist Episcopal (M.E.) Cemetery,

also known as Old Mooresville Cemetery,

on West Washington Street 

Old M.E. Cemetery was established in 1829

Painting of the first Mooresville M.E. Church (built in 1839)

(on West Washington Street, in front of the cemetery)

Photograph of the first Mooresville M.E. Church

(from Hadley, Almira Harvey.  A Brief History of Mooresville and Vicinity [1918])

The photos below show where to find the cemetery burial map.  To the left of the map (in a yellow binder) is the spreadsheet listing the names of those buried there, as noted on the map.

Although these materials do not circulate, they may be examined in the library's Indiana Room.

Bobby Helms' Mooresville Connections

Hoosier native Bobby Helms (Robert Lee Helms) (1933-1997)–perhaps best known for the songs “Fraulien” (1957), “Jingle Bell Rock” (1957), and “My Special Angel” (1957)–was born in Bloomington, but, in later years, was a resident of Martinsville (he’s buried there in Hilldale cemetery).  He is a member of the Morgan County Hall of Fame.  His Mooresville connection comes from the 1970s, when he owned a restaurant/nightclub, the Special Angel Club, which was situated at Five Points (between Mooresville and Waverly), where State Road 144, Kitchen Road, and Orchard Road converge.  Learn more about Helms from this official website.  (Click the images below to enlarge.)

Bobby Helms publicity photo (circa 1957)

Advertisement from the 1977 Mooresville High School yearbook, Wagon Trails

Advertisement from the Mooresville Times, February 22, 1979

2016 Victorian Christmas at the Library

At today's Mooresville (Indiana) Victorian Christmas celebration, we had several popular attractions.

The Central Indiana Folk Music & Mountain Dulcimer Society performed in the library's grand hall.  (Click photographs to enlarge.)

Silly Safari's Candy Cane Chris brought a reindeer to greet our patrons.  There was a long queue of excited youngsters (and adults) waiting to meet the star attraction.

Our youth services department spent the day presenting a variety of holiday craft activities as part of our Saturday Crafternoon program.

It was another exciting and busy Victorian Christmas at the library.  To see photos from past events, take a peek at the blog by Cauli Le Chat, our retired feline roving reporter.