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History Of The Willenette Village Neighborhood Association
Neriah Barnes purchased various lands from the School Commissioner of Vanderburgh County in December 1839. This later became
known as "Little Farms". Keck Avenue formed the southern boundary, the entire length of "Little Farms". In 1940, a portion of "Little
Farms" became Willemette Village.
In 1942 Willemette Village was sold to Bradford Homes (Gale Bradford). Bradford Homes and Bradford Lumber built most of the homes in Willemette Village during 1942
and 1943. (The Bradford Lumber Yard at one time sat on property on North Weinbach Avenue close to the railroad tracks, between
Division and Morgan Avenues. Homes were built by both Gale (with a basements) and his father, Bill Bradford (without basements). Many
of the people who bought these homes worked in the nearby Chrysler and Republic Aviation plants.
The deed to Poultry Acres dates back to 1840. A Dr. Owens left his land to his daughter, one of which was married to William Garrison. The Garrisons built the home presently at the corner of Maxwell and Oakland (1801 Oakland). In the
1920's Mr. Garrison built several of the Bungalow houses on the original Poultry Acres property. At one time the county fair
was held on this undeveloped property (1924-1926), and it was also the home of an early airport.
In June of 2000 the first preliminary neighborhood association meeting was held on Hercules Street. Brenda White of Vista suggested forming a neighborhood association. Block captains formed.
In July of 2000, a meeting site was found, Keck Baptist Church. Randy Matthews, CPO from the east sector, began giving month crime reports.
In August of 2000, officers were elected. Karla Effinger, president, Doris Jones, vice president, Chris Lang, treasurer, and Robin Stuard, secretary.
A name for the association, Willemette Village Neighborhood Association, was selected at the September 2000 meeting. A by-laws committee was formed and a refreshment coordinator
was found.
In October of 2000, a permanent meeting date, the second Thursday of each month, at 6:30 p.m. was established. Dues of $10.00 per
year, per family, was established, and an historian, Luan Greubel, was found.
At the November meeting by-laws were approved.
At the December 2000 meeting registration paper were sent to the Department of Metropolitan Development.
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