Man's book collects oddities from old newspaper stories

(By Kevin Cullen/Journal and Courier) Harold Long is the author of a new book of newspaper stories from Fountain and Warren counties.

If you go A book signing will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 10 at the Attica Public Library, 305 S. Perry St. Price for Long's book will be $25, with $5 going to the Attica Foundation's library fund.

ATTICA -- Old newspapers are loaded with unique and fascinating information ... most of which will never be read again.

Harold Long's new book, Diurnis (that's Latin for "Of the Day") taps that gold mine by reprinting local news stories forgotten for decades.

"They are stories about people who were once part of this community, stories that people once read in the paper," says Long, 74. "They are stories of the day. I thought it would be interesting to put them in book form so they wouldn't just wither away."

Priscilla Davis, a librarian at the Attica Public Library, calls it a book "that not only people that relish local history will enjoy; it's also for those that are hunting for insight into human nature, good and bad."

"There is nothing like this book that I am aware of," she says. "People would have to scroll through years of microfilm to find these wonderful news articles."

Long moved to Attica in 1971. He was a school principal for years, and mayor from 1988 to 2000. He enjoys historical research and genealogy.

Since the 1980s, he has read microfilmed copies of old Fountain and Warren county newspapers to compile a list of deaths. The inventory begins in 1863 and he's up to 1940.

He made copies of intriguing articles that he stumbled upon. Diurnis, with 424 pages, contains 41 of those accounts, including 11 sensational murders.

Others include:

The 1925 car-train crash in Williamsport that killed a young mother, four of her children and her cousin.

• John Evans, an Attica physician who became a U.S. senator, governor of Colorado Territory, and founder of Northwestern University. Evanston, Ill., is named after him.
• Helen Morgan, the 1920s torch singer, Broadway star and movie actress. When she lived in Attica, her name was Helen Riggin.
• A local carriagemaker, Marshal Reuben Beamer, who served in the Civil War at age 13.
• A Hillsboro farmer who hosted his own funeral service in 1919, with hymns, flowers and a eulogy. "Funerals are of little good after death," he explained.
• George Dewey Hay, the Attica native who founded the Grand Ole Opry radio show and launched Nashville's country music industry.

  Each report is reprinted verbatim, providing a "you are there" freshness and vitality.

  This is Long's third book. He says he has enough material for two more.

  Davis calls him "a great community servant."

  "It's wonderful," she says, "that he is willing to share it with us all."

  Each week, reporter Kevin Cullen visits interesting people, places and things outside Greater Lafayette. To share a story idea, call him at (765) 420-5202 or (800) 407-5813 or write him c/o Journal and Courier, 217 N. Sixth St., Lafayette, IN. 47901. His e-mail address is kcullen@journalandcourier.com