I think the recent paint job done to the Durbin Apt. is just awful, It was an eye sore prior to painting now its really an eye sore, I know there is a need for low income housing but this town would be better off if they just tore that old, falling apart building down. It sits right in the center of town, any one passing through has to see it and wonder why in the world such a pitful looking building would sit smack in the middle of town. Sure says alot about our town TRASHY !!!!

Compared to the way Rushville looked back in the sixties, the Rushville of today is a pungent cesspool of deterioration. Meanwhile over in Greensburg & Shelbyville, those cities are growing & prospering. While Rushville languishes in near destitution. But that’s the course that Rushville’s city leaders set for Rushville back in the fifties by adopting a non-growth policy. “Keep Rushville a small backwards farming community,” they said. Well, their vision of Rushville has come to fruition. Too bad they’re not around to enjoy the misery they bestowed on Rushville.

Okay, Vern, we get the idea (again and again and again....)

Yeah, I know. I'm stuck in a rut. Sort of like Rushville being stuck in the mud, the muck, and the beer. If Rushville can ever dig itself out of the hole it's stuck in -- or in Rushville's case, out of the bottom of a mine shaft -- then we can all have a little town we can be proud of.

So far, there's not much to crow about in Rushville especially if you've witnessed how far Rushville has gone down in the last 30 years. Rushville is a shell of its former self.

While I agree that Rushville has fallen since the 50's, I think just about every city has. While some have recovered, Rushville is too afraid too. Time and again we hear people say that is growth is scary, lets not change. It started when the owners of the Durbin and other city fathers in the 60's refused to allow I-74 to enter Rush County and it continues today. There have been momentary glimpses of growth, the last administration tried hard to bring Rushville kicking and screaming into the new world.

Be it the Shovel Ready Industrial Park to the Amphitheatre to actively petitioning the State to widen SR 3 through the County. But the voters like usual turned their backs on growth again and voted in the current administration from which we are still waiting on either the two men from Shelbyville we were promised or some form of economic development plan that the Mayor said he would unveil when he was elected. I mean what does it say about Rushville when the leaders cut the minimal funding to an organization like the Heart of Rushville which is dedicated to cleaning up the downtown and creating opportunities for community involvement?

As long as the locals feel we are good enough, and that growth is scary, then we will continue to languish where we are.

That said, there are plenty of things we can do, and that includes Vern, to make Rushville better in the short term. Plenty of Organizations need volunteers. The only way to make Rushville better is to work at it. Sitting on your rear and complaining on a website does little good. Actually working at making it better does.

I disagree that the Durbin should be torn down. While it is not the most lovely thing out there, it has potential. Same thing was said about the 201 building prior to Kevin Mandrell saving it. It was an eyesore, the rear wall was in danger of collapse, everyone said tear it down. But an out of towner fell in love with our town and that building and spent considerable amounts of money to restore it. Rushville now has a showplace for events such as weddings, parties and the like. In addition, we have a business incubator that is already paying off. As long as the Durbin, one of our only Historic Register buildings, is being minimally maintained, then he needs to stand.

While I am not sure the battleship grey and what appears to be a purple magenta trim is the best colors, the owners are at least trying to make it better. I give them credit for that. Of course a question would be, did the City make them and the other projects ongoing downtown go through the Historic Board as required by County and City Ordinance?

quote:

Originally posted by rushboy:
As long as the locals feel we are good enough, and that growth is scary, then we will continue to languish where we are.

Languish? I prefer calling it slogging in the sludge.

You’re darned tootin’ growth is scary to Rushvillains. Besides, with the continued stagnation of Rushville, I’m confident Rushville will not grow and will not change. And as part of the majority of Rushvillains that are against change, I want Rushville to stay small.

I don’t want growth, no new stores, no ICC road project, no factories or strip malls (no SuperWalMart; keep the state’s smallest Wal-Mart in operation) — just keep it a quiet little farming/retirement community.

Rushville doesn’t need and certainly can’t afford everything that goes along with growth: new schools (looks like we’ll get them even though we can’t financially afford them), new sewers and water mains, new roads; more crime and the accompanying added jail space required with more crime, and on and on — the list is endless.

And in addition, there’s got to be a place for people who desire a tired, little sleepy town in which to live. If you’re sluggish, unmotivated, and shiftless, you’ll find a home in Rushville. And that’s why I choose Rushville; I’m as sluggish as they come.

Let’s forget all of this foolish talk and leave Rushville alone — leave it the small, unassuming, backward little hick town it’s always been.

quote:

Originally posted by Hey Vern!:
[You’re darned tootin’ growth is scary to Rushvillains.
If you’re sluggish, unmotivated, and shiftless, you’ll find a home in Rushville.

Hey guys, you got me all wrong. While I don't want 'growth', I see no need to not do some things. The outdoor theatre is nice. I would like to see more river access, and more park-like atmosphere there. A few jobs would be nice, but we don't need no 'honda'.
Yep, I am somewhat of a couch potato- but I wouldn't call me sluggish. I'm a little old to be 'motivated'. I sure aint shiftless
I simply do not think every town needs to grow. Not every munincipality needs become a metropolis. If we did, where would we go to 'live it up'?
And yes, there must be some 'tired little towns' for us old farts [45 y/o!] to hang out in.
If you want big, go to a big one, if you want small, come here.
but don't farck up a nice little town for the rest of us. We came here, or are here, for what it is. If you want something else, go weomewhere else.
I can't say this enough. If you don't like it, don't change it, go to what you like.
sSome folks like it just fine, small, tired, whatever you want to call it.

Uncle Saltmeister! Us slug-like creatures gotta stick together. And that’s why we call Rushville home. Though I don’t think we leave a slug trail anymore. But in our younger years, we left death & destruction in our wake wherever we traveled. But now in the autumn of our lives, it’s indolence all the way. We are sloth! Not three-toed sloth mind you. We’re just plain sloth. We’re fat, but no longer sassy. Just call us fat & slothy.

Uncle Salty,

I understand your comments, but as time has told, small towns do not exist in a vacuumn, they do not exist perfectly preserved decade after decade. As Rushville stagnates, it's housing stock and Historic Downtown slowly rot.

Luckily we have some business and homeowners willing to spend money to make some cosmetic improvements, and a few willing to do some structural repairs. But all too often, you have issues like Doug's Flowers where the building is literally leaning against a power pole in the alley. If not for the pole, that building would have fallen into the alley and the buildings to the north. When it goes, so does another beautiful piece of Rushville history. This is just one problem with stagnation.

I do not think I want a Honda, but I do see where Rushville could use some spinoff industries. Again, companies like Intat thrive for a while and then tend to move on as technology advances. We need more industry to replace these older ones as they leave. Without these kind of places, Rushville will continue to whither.

hey folks...Miss Mable here. I'd like to share my views for all it's worth. I happen to love Rushville and think of it a little different than most. Having lived here several years I've been blessed to have raised my sons here. They've been well educated through Rush County Schools and learned how to live a life of good values. However, I do agree with rushboy that we need businesses in order to create jobs. Rush County is struggeling at the moment and many families are barely getting by. This isn't just happening here in our small town, it's all over. The past eight years haven't been kind to us. Hopefully, a new administration will give us the boost we need. In regard to the Durbin, although I don't agree that it should be torn down, or think the color is very appealing (the colors are horrendous!) I really think it still could be a beautiful building. I remember the days when this place was so busy with travelers standing inside and outside chatting, the beautiful decorations and wonderful food, served on white table cloths, along with sterling silver flatware and piano music playing in the background. Those were the days. I only wish we could all enjoy that again. What a wonderful place. I wonder though if the new owners have the finances to bring this building back to the beautiful place it once was. What a joyous day that would be folks! With some direction and lots of money, we could see this building as the great historic building that it is. The owners appear to be trying to make improvements, which is good, but I really think it will take quite awhile before we see any great strides. For those of you that dislike our fair town, why do you stay here if all you care to do is complain about it? You obviously aren't going to give credit, and if all you're doing is complaining, then the least you could do is offer a "constructive solution" along with your "constructive criticism" Good Day!

I always enjoy Bill Ward’s homespun views of the past in his columns published in the Rushville Republican

And with the Christmas season just around the corner and Bill’s columns frequently pointing out the way things were in yesteryear, it would be nice if Bill would write a column about downtown Rushville the way it used to be during the Christmas season back in the '40s, '50s, and '60s.

You know, the hustle, the bustle; all the people shopping; all the busy retail stores that used to be in downtown Rushville. The Durbin Hotel looked like a Thomas Kinkade painting as festive as it became. The little Santa house was parked in the alley facing Main Street between 2nd & 3rd Streets with kids lined up to see Santa throughout December. The Salvation Army kettle with the volunteer ringing the bell was usually setup in front of Hayden Hardware and continued when Hayden's became Deprez-Scott. And on and on. The sights, the sounds; Rushville was alive!

But now look at Rushville.

It's been very sad to witness the extent of decline Rushville has experienced over the last few decades. The deterioration, the urban decay, the morass Rushville finds itself in. Rushville is not a pretty sight anymore. A column of Bill Ward’s recollections of when downtown Rushville used to be alive would be a good reminder to the young folks that at one time, Rushville was alive & kicking and not on life support.

Wished it were still as you described. I've heard similar stories and it sounds wonderful. We've lived here 20 years and the Durbin was a hazardous eyesore then. When we first came to town, Al "the past chief", told us it was a "fire trap and a tragedy waiting to happen and needed to be torn down".
It's good to be able to save historical land marks and keep memories alive, especially such glorious ones as you all remember, but not at the expense of losing human lives.
I do hope the new owners can find the funds to renovate the entire structure in and out. Are there government grants available for historical landmarks and would the Durbin qualify?

The Durbin would qualify for up to $500k if the owners were to dedicate part of the building to non-profit use. They were informed of this roughly a year and a half ago, and several suggestions made, such as a Wendell Willkie museum to provide a repository for materials which are now rather widely scattered and looking for a home.

In reply to Excellent

The Santa House originally was set up on the court house lawn. I remember going there when I was young and when my daughter was young. The Rushville Pharmacy was located by the alley between 2nd and 3rd Streets. After this was torn down, they made a place for the Santa House there. I did not move from Rushville until 1978 and it happened after that. But my parents and siblings still lived there so I came down every weekend to see my parents. I will always think of Rushville as my home in some ways.