10/19/2023
With mixed feeling Melissa and Darren Rupnick as well as myself Jim and Cora Hendrix officially announce the sale of the Aimone Building and the Feed store buildings. The building located 739 and 749 North 9 th. street in Clinton In. The building 739 is presently home to the 9th Street General Store and the former 9th Street Feed Store. We purchased the 739 property in 2013 which had a large part of the roof literally falling in. The 749 property was purchased from the Swinford Family in 2003. Leland Swinford was the best framing Carpentar in Western Indiana in his day. Both properties required extensive repairs. The 739 Building required structural as well as some new sheeting and new Metal roofing. Both building required new plumbing updates, insulation and drywall plus new heating systems or updates. For the Historical followers the 739 building was home to Aimone 's Brothers Dairy processing Plant. The plant produced Ice Cream, Milk and Cottage Cheese which advertised (Like Mother Made). Cora, I and our family have been involved in the renovation of 58 residual properties.
In 1978 we purchased the building South of the Terra Villa Restuarant from Herman and Opal Wright. The North Building was Herman Wright's Cabinet shop. On the second floor above the Cabinet shop there had been apartments in the early 1910 -1930s but were empty in 1978. The second small room was Herman's Gun Sales and Trading shop as well as Pawn Shop. All the old Hunters Harry Truitt, Bill Cogen, Roscoe Pulman and Alvin De Borge and more would come and trade guns and Hunting stories. But we never embellished our adventures. Herman's Gun Shop had originally housed the Ice Cream Shop when the Wabash Theater was operating. The third build from the North was the closed Wabash Theater. I regret not saving the old movie projectors and tapes when we went in and ripped out the inside of the old building to be remodeled. The Fourth Building from the North housed Bob and Fred Daniels Barbers shop and Al and Marge's Tavern. We bought that building after the fire and tore it down and salvaged several hundred Clinton Road Pavers to be repurposed for patio and decks. While I am here, I would be remised not to mention at that time Mr. Bello's shoe repair store across the street.
Last night the new Owners came in and purchased the remaining inventory and shelving. If you have items on Lay away or have purchased items and are waiting to pick them up, please come by the store before10-23-2023 to pick up your merchandise. The store will be open daily 9am-5Pm through 10-23-2023 except on Sunday the 10-22-2023. Store Phone Number 765-505-5055.
Cora and our family wish to sincerely thank the 9th street General Store customers and supporters. Many people donated items to be sold during the supply chain problems. Some people went above and beyond by helping advertise for the store to increase sales. I want to thank John Griffin, our two sons Jim and Brett and our daughter Mellissa and her husband Darren Rupnick for their hard work and commitment to working on the store and operating the
store.
We want to thank the Mayor, Cindy Yates and all the Clinton City employees for the outstanding performance on everything from removing the treetops to snow removal and road repairs. The Clinton Police Department has been responsive when I have called 765-832-3232 with an emergency regardless of if we are in Florida or at home here in Indiana.
We want to thank the First Financial Bank and their professional employees for their support in our projects over the years.
October is a special month this year. We will close on the sale of the store. Melissa's Birthday, our Son Jim's Birthday and Cora and I will have been Married 55 years on October 25.
I have to make one political statement before leaving, Please don't let the slick talking fancy dressing SV School Corp. Superintend and the SV. School Board close the Central Elementary School in Clinton and move it out to the High School location. My Dear deceased Mother always told me Jim give me three reasons why you have to do something. I can give you several reasons not to build a new 50-million-dollar School. First for a fraction of the cost the Central School could have a new roof and the existing building with the exception of one bathroom appears in as good as condition as it did when we completed the renovation in 1988. Why spend 50 million when an Est.10 million at the present Central location will provide our Great Grand Children and your children a better education. The Central School is a community School that brings joy, bonding and a good education to SV. Elementary students. Parents and Grand Parents enjoy driving by the Central School and watching and listening to all those little people talking and playing. South Vermillion Students and our wonderful, talented and dedicated teachers not a new 50 million dollars school are our most important assets. How many people can afford higher taxes for a new school with the high inflation and other cost out of control.
May God Bless each every one of you and America our truly amazing country. America.
