Handbook N-P - Fulton County Public Library

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Located at Dead River, a point on Tippecanoe river E of Old US-31. The dam was across
the river about two city blocks up from the Dear River’s outlet. There is where the water wheel
and buildings were. The slag from the smelter was dumped on what now is the island in its low
ground. They are about room size and four feet high with a lot of weeds on them. The slag is every
bit as hard as the iron it was made from.
OLD FORGE PROPERTY [Richland Township]
For Sale. The Old Forge Property, two and a half miles North of Rochester, at the
Tippecanoe River Bridge . . . nine acres of land, the water right and right of way . . . The location
is very good for lumbering, or suitable for any other manufacturing purpose . . . nothing better
need be desired by those wishing to engage in Milling . . . Those wishing to purchase can confer in
person, or by letter, with the proprietor, at Mill Ark, six miles southeast of Rochester, Fulton
County, Indiana. H. D. Hoover. Mill Ark, Sept. 28th, 1868.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, October 1, 1868]
OLD HELICON [Rochester, Indiana]
See: Rannells, William W.
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NEWS OF THE DAY
Manager Frank Crim, of the Citizens band took “Old Helicon” to the C. G. Conn horn
factory at Elkhart, today, where it will be thoroughly repaired. When it returns Wm. Rannells will
again play the instrument that has made music in Rochester for so many years.
[Rochester Sentinel, Tuesday, June 1, 1909]
NEWS OF THE DAY
Old Helicon, the monster tuba recently taken to the Conn horn factory at Elkhart to be
repaired and refinished, has been returned to this city. The instrument is as good as new and may
be seen in Wolf’s and Howard’s show window.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, June 12, 1909]
VAL ZIMMERMAN SEEKS HOME FOR ‘OLD HELICON’ PRIDE OF 60’s
“Old Helicon” wants a home!
Preferably a home where he can have a voice in the affairs of the family.
Most of all, “Old Helicon” prefers residing with someone having a lineal descent from
his master, or at least his master’s associates. “Helicon” is timid around strangers, but among
friends he’s a hale fellow well met and his deep, sonorous voice bespeaks of latent powers lying
deep within his gold plated veins.
“Old Helicon,” who needs no introduction to a handful of music lovers of yesteryear and
years and years, first saw the light of ye town of Rochester in the year 1868. His master, Mack
Ashton, purchased him in Cincinnati in that year. And now, to those of more recent eras who as
yet may not know the true identity of “Old Helicon,” it may be said that he is one of the finest,
rootin-tootin/, silver-plated, gold lined tuba horns of the 60’s vintage that ever headed a political
parade or dished up the bass for a funeral dirge.
For the past decade or more “Helicon” has been confined to the second floor of the Val
Zimmerman furniture store. The big horn, which has been the property of various Rochester
bands since the later 70’s, disappeared about 15 years ago. A few years later, the late Viv Essick
was passing one of Lake Manitou’s taverns from whence some “wicked bass” from a pseudo
“Dutch band” came wafting through an open window. Viv investigated and you’re right, sir, those
deep vibrant tones were emitted from the golden throat of “Old Helicon.”
With a minimum of “quibbling” the “pet” of the Rochester bands was again taken into
custody by Viv and Val Zimmerman. Mr. Zimmerman is desirous that someone who has a ”sort