By Diana Vice       As a child, this writer's grandmother, Lorraine Egan Hanthorn, would take her to church at St. Ann's Catholic Church each week, where she and many generations of her Irish family worshipped since the church was first built.  I was especially enchanted by the beautiful stained-glass windows, and as I grew older and more curious, I set out to find out about the origins of the windows. "Who was the artist behind such beauty?" I wondered. One clue was found in the August 4, 1899, newspaper article from The Weekly Journal where a brief reference to the windows was made.     "The interior of the edifice is strikingly beautiful. The richly stained-glass windows and the handsome altars were contributed by different members of the congregation. The walls and ceilings are done in oil and the leading colors of pale green and cream blend harmoniously. It is one of the finest pieces of decoration to be found in the city and is exquisite i...

  St. Ann’s Catholic Church Dedicated, A Beautiful Edifice in Every Respect Impressive Services Attended by Thousands of People The Weekly Journal (Lafayette, Indiana) Fri, Aug 4, 1889          Sunday was a happy day for the people of St. Ann’s parish. It marked the completion and dedication of the handsome new church edifice erected by that congregation at the corner of Wabash Avenue and Green Street. The church was not erected in a day and its completion and dedication is the triumph of industry and generosity and fidelity of the members of the parish. The church was in the course of construction for several years and was built carefully and well. In addition to being sightly, it was substantial. It will stand for years as a monument to the liberality and enterprise of the people who built it. The people of St. Ann’s parish are not wealthy, but they are independent in spirit and progressive in character. When it was found that the time had come to ...

  The Exemplary Life of General Tootle By Diana Vice   This sketch by Artist George Winter was of a prominent Lafayette black man. Some historians believe this was General Tootle, who was the most popular African American during the time this was created. General Tootle Takes a Stand His name was General Tootle.   He lived up to that name throughout his life as a respected community leader and conductor on the local Underground Railroad. Indiana was a free state when it came to slavery, but the Slavery Act of 1850 made it possible for Southern slave catchers to enter free states to capture freedom-seekers who had escaped from bondage. The unwelcome law also made it illegal for anyone to assist runaway slaves, which included fines of $1,000 for officials caught disobeying the law.   General Tootle took a stand against the unfair Act and secretly helped many fugitives navigate their way through Lafayette, Indiana, and surrounding areas. One hot summer day in ...