There is a marker on front side of large concrete base holding the original Curfew Bell, at the South Entrance to Hub Park in Veedersburg. Marker is at or near this postal address: 511 West Fifth Street, Veedersburg IN 47987.
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Marker Text:-
Erected by Town of Veedersburg
In memory of
Cal Scherer
who used old Curfew Bell over 30 years
Board of Trustees:
Leon L. Ewbank,
L.R. Owens M.D.,
Leon Wiggins.
Ludlow and
Helms-Builders
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Calvin H. Scherer (called “Cal” by all the townspeople) was the night policeman, the cop, for the railroad Town of Veedersburg, Indiana; its turn-of-the-Century law man.
Veedersburg was a railroad hub with both north/south and east/west railroads. During its heyday there was a passenger train every hour day and night with two train depots serving the public.
“Ole” Cal Scherer, as night cop, had a kind heart but a firm hand with locals and travelers. It was even known by “the boys” in Chicago to mind youself in Veedersburg. The Town lock up housed those (locals and travelers alike) that had social problems.
During his night duty Cal would rattle every door twice each night making sure they were locked. He took mail to the night trains—and delivered to the Post Office the incoming mail. He escorted home “damsels” of all ages, who arrived alone on the late trains.
At 9:00 P.M. each night he rang the Curfew Bell. Young people were moved along home. Slow movers would get his personal attention—right to their front door. He never lost a bent ear in the process.
The “Curfew Bell” rang for the last time at his funeral in 1935. Thereafter it hung mute over the Veedersburg Town Office.
In the 1940’s the town trustees (Leon L. Ewbank, L. R. Owens M.D., and Leon Wiggins) and the citizens of Veedersburg honored Ole Cal by the building of the concrete base and mounted the Curfew Bell at the entrance of Hub Park. (
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Veedersburg is the only town in Van Buren Township, Fountain County, Indiana, United States. The population was 2,180 at the 2010 census. (
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Van Buren Township is one of eleven townships in Fountain County, Indiana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 2,972. (
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Fountain County lies in the western part of the U.S. state of Indiana on the east side of the Wabash River. The county was officially established in 1826 and was the 53rd in Indiana. The county seat is Covington.
According to the 2000 census, its population was 17,954; the 2010 population was 17,240. The county has eight incorporated towns with a total population of about 9,700, as well as many small unincorporated communities; it is also divided into eleven townships which provide local services. An interstate highway, two U.S. Routes and five Indiana state roads cross the county, as does a major railroad line.
The state of Indiana was established in 1816. The first non-indigenous settler in the area that became Fountain County is thought to have been a Mr. Forbes, who arrived here in early 1823 and was soon followed by others. Fountain County was officially created on December 30, 1825, the act taking effect on April 1, 1826; the boundaries of the county have not changed since that time. It was named for Major James Fontaine of Kentucky who was killed at Harmar's Defeat (near modern Fort Wayne, Indiana) on October 22, 1790, during the Northwest Indian War.
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