Protected Skies

A shining example of American service is located right in Terre Haute. The 181^st Fighter Wing has been stationed at Terre Haute International Airport since 1954. Nicknamed the Racers, their impressive service to the United States is enough to make any city proud.

The Racers are no stranger to conflict; they flew submarine patrol in World War II and were activated for the Korean War and the Berlin crisis. Additionally, the unit was part of Operation Desert Storm. From 1995 to 1997, the Racers participated in a humanitarian deployment to Romania. Closer to home, they provided security for the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta. The Wing has also served the citizens of Indiana many times during floods and other natural disasters.

With such renowned service comes recognition. The Wing was honored with the prestigious Air Force Outstanding Unit Award in 1976, 1987, and 1998.

In 2008, the 181^st Fighter Wing was re-designated to be the 181^st Intelligence Wing. The change in status required all of the F-16's to be transferred to Fort Wayne International Airport, Air Guard Station.

The 181^st Intelligence Wing carries a rich history and embraces an unknown future. Although fighter planes no longer grace the Terre Haute sky, the information interpreted at the base is vital to keep the nation safe. The Wing constantly trains in order to protect their community and country.

Chanticleer Building

The Chanticleer Building was built by the Deming family in 1925. It features a decorative brick and terra cotta front with a red tile pent roof. The building takes its name from the singing rooster in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, which clarifies the purpose of two colorful roosters adorning the façade of the building.

Initially the building housed a retail outlet area on the first floor, a furrier (person who deals in furs), bookstore, small department store, and insurance agency. There were a number of individual offices located upstairs for attorneys, accountants, a judge, and various other individuals operating from single offices.

Forrest Sherer Insurance, an initial tenant in the building, remains there today. A distinctive blue canopy marks the entrance to their business. The interior of the Chanticleer has been remodeled several times by Forrest Sherer, which currently occupies 7/8 of the building. For eighty five years, they have been providing the citizens of Vigo County with insurance.

Thankfully, this company values the history of their building. While many other businesses have moved on to “bigger and better buildings,” this insurance company has stayed and improved their workplace. I commend Forrest Sherer Insurance Inc. for single handedly keeping history alive. Without their contributions to the building, it may not have stayed erect long enough to see the millennium.

Where Art Thou, YWCA?

The YWCA existed as its own entity in Terre Haute until 2006. Its program had an illustrious history; so what caused it to end?

Terre Haute YWCA was founded in 1902, within Samuel Early’s residence on Ohio Street. Six years later, the founders purchased and built their facility on 121 N. Seventh Street. For the next sixty years, it was the central fitness and living hub for thousands of Wabash Valley women.
Firmly placed in the community, the YWCA has a long history of aiding its members. In the 1930’s and 40’s, YWCA offered fitness classes that included exercise, baton, dance, and swimming lessons. Females could also sign up for classes in knitting, handicrafts, bridge, and foreign languages. The YWCA also offered housing for female students attending ISU. In 1956, it housed over ninety students on the third floor. The facility also supported the WWII effort. The YWCA allowed USO (United Service Organization) to start a chapter using their facilities. USO trained women as air raid spotters and wardens.

In 1980, the YWCA left the Seventh Street building for a newer facility in Fairbanks Park next to the Wabash River. Sadly, the old building was demolished; causing a piece of Terre Haute history to be lost forever. In 2007, a parking garage was built over the old site.
In 2006, the Terre Haute YWCA and YMCA merged. The union of the two programs was for their economic survival. By combining administrative costs, utilities and insurance, both programs hoped to increase funds for programs. Although the building remained the same, the renamed Terre Haute Family Y could no longer claim the identity of YWCA. In a world of co-ed living, the business model for separate fitness facilities was outdated and obsolete.

The Evolution of the Terminal

Upon my arrival in Terre Haute, I was instantly intrigued by the Terminal. A building of immense grandeur, I was surprised to discover it was a bar. It is glaringly obvious that a bar was not this building’s intended purpose. This building, constructed in 1911, has not experienced a boring century of existence.

The Terminal was built by the Eastern Traction Company. It was the western headquarters for Indiana’s second largest interurban. Such an important hub deserved a sufficiently extravagant building. The trolleys transported people around Terre Haute and to Indianapolis. It closed in January 1940, because the abundance of automobiles made the track superfluous.

It sat vacant for nine years until the city of Terre Haute converted the old trolley station into the union bus station. For more than twenty years, citizens of Terre Haute caught the bus behind the Wabash entrance of the Terminal. It closed in 1972, but joined the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

In 1995, the Terminal transitioned into a bar. Officially titled the Terminal Sports and Spirits, it has two distinctly different sets of clientele. For lunch and early afternoon, it is commonly frequented by businesspeople and older adults. After the sun sets, college students from ISU make the place their own. The different generations of Terre Haute still find the allure of this historical building nearly one hundred years after its creation.