No Wonder the Basketball is Flat

Episode #6 of Grandpa Billy Bob's Mooresville History Super Fun Quiz explores where Mooresville High School basketball games were played before the old gymnasium was built (next to the old high school building) in 1920.

Click Video (Above) to Play

The gymnasium was dedicated on December 30, 1920.  It was the first high school gym in Morgan County and was considered state-of-the-art a century ago.  It stood just north of the old Mooresville High School building (completed in 1909), and was across from the original Academy School built by the Mooresville Society of Friends in 1860, which was the first high school in central Indiana.  Both the Academy building and the gymnasium still stand today on the campus of Newby Memorial Elementary School on North Monroe Street (old State Road 267) in Mooresville.  Learn more about the century-old gymnasium from this superb handout by Susan Haynes, communications director for the Mooresville Consolidated School Corporation.

Mooresville High School (1909 Building) with

1920 Gymnasium (circa 1921 photo)

(Click Images to Enlarge)

1920 photo shows the Academy Building (left)

and Mooresville High School (right)

before the gymnasium was constructed

 

Many Mooresville High School basketball teams played home games downtown (you'll have to watch the video above to learn where), including those pictured below (photos courtesy of various Mooresville High School yearbooks and Mooresville Public Library's Indiana Room photo collection).

MHS 1909 Boys' Basketball Team

 

 MHS 1917 Boys' Basketball Team

 MHS 1917 Girls' Basketball Team

 

  MHS 1918 Boys' Basketball Team

You'll notice the basketball is flat when you watch the video.  No wonder--all the hot air is in the host, Grandpa Billy Bob.  (Just kidding.)
  

Grandpa Billy Bob's Mooresville History Quizzes

While Mooresville Public Library was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic (mid-March through mid-June, 2020), you could still have some fun with Mooresville (Indiana) history, thanks to the library's Indiana Room historian, known to his adoring fan (namely his grandson) as Grandpa Billy Bob (or "Bebo," as his grandson, now age 2-1/2, might say).  Here's the first in what hopefully will be a series of local history video quizzes, with, we hope, better lighting in future episodes.

Grandpa Billy Bob's Mooresville History Super Fun Quiz #1

(COVID-19 Edition), by Mooresville Public Library

The quiz answer appears in the video's credits near the end.  Or, you could click here.  It's your call.

UPDATE:  Here's another installment!  As if one weren't enough.

Grandpa Billy Bob's Mooresville History Super Fun Quiz #2

(COVID-19 Edition), by Mooresville Public Library

Look for the answer near the end of the video credits, or click here.

ANOTHER UPDATE:  Here's another episode!  As if your life weren't bad enough right now.

Grandpa Billy Bob's Mooresville History Super Fun Quiz #3,

(COVID-19 Edition), by Mooresville Public Library

Answer?  In the video credits, or click here.

STILL ANOTHER UPDATE!  When will this all end?

Grandpa Billy Bob's Mooresville History Super Fun Quiz #4,

(COVID-19 Edition), by Mooresville Public Library

Answer?  In the video credits, or click here.

STILL YET ANOTHER UPDATE!  Can we just surrender already?

Grandpa Billy Bob's Mooresville History Super Fun Quiz #5,

(COVID-19 Edition), by Mooresville Public Library

Answer?  In the video credits, or click here.