Continued.......

The dedication of the new Town Hall addition took place in late January 1978 a few days after the BIG BLIZZARD which tied up the entire area in deep snow, bitter cold, and nearly impassable roads.

It was at this time that Paul Poast (my husband), who was a member of the Planning and Zoning Commission died, just the day before the storm. His funeral had to postponed because it was impossible to drive into the Poasttown Cemetery, the snow was so deep.

About this time the Society for Handicapped Children had decided to build a school on Fairview Drive east of the old house that had been used by the handicapped folks. Since then a new addition has been built on to the school and Residence Hall making a vastly improved facility for all of their students, residents and personnel.

Following Mr. Reese, Kelly Borad became Mayor and during his term the long talked about "sewers for Carlisle" was brought to accomplishment after much discussion and many complaints about the cost. Comments like "you can't get there from here", due to the bad roads and detours, were often heard. All was forgotten when road repairs were made and it was realized that property values had increased and septic tanks were a thing of the past.

The Carlisle Industrial Park was organized and eventually, with the help of Bernie Eichholz bringing small businesses to the park, has become successful.

The Police Department and Maintenance Department are now housed in a facility on Fairview Drive. This was formerly the Baker Brothers Contractors business place.

Patrick D. Long followed Kelly Borad as Mayor. For years there had been talk of a new bridge across the Miami River. Finally the location for the bridge was decided on - at State Route 123 and Dayton Oxford Road on the west, over to Arthur Avenue in north Franklin - to the Dixie Highway Old US 25. State Route 123 was redirected over this new bridge and thru Carlisle as was before.

The dedication for the new bridge was held in December 1987 and opened for traffic before Christmas. It has greatly reduced the traffic congestion at the old Second Street bridge going into Franklin.

Mayor Long and the council had been concerned about the possible merger of the City of Franklin and Franklin Township into one unit. This was voted on by the people of the two entities and the vote carried which allowed for the formation of a Merger Commission who will study and recommend to the voters a proposed charter. If the merger becomes a fact in three years the expansion of Carlisle will be limited to the northern boundaries of the town. All else will be considered Franklin.

In 1987 the residents of Carlisle adopted a "homerule" charter that changed the form of the government from a Mayor/Council form to a Council/Manager form. As mentioned earlier Mr. Jeffrey E. Repp, who was hired on as Carlisle's first Village Manager.

In the past year the services of the Local Branch of the Huntington Bank at Central and Jamaica were discontinued and Carlisle area folks must do their banking elsewhere. It is hoped another bank will come into the Carlisle community in the near future.

There have been improvements at the railroad crossings. New gates and warning lights have been installed making it safer to travel over the many crossings in the Carlisle area. Much freight is carried over the railroad lines and this is important, but the transport of toxic materials has become a concern for this and other communities.

The Old Homestead of Richard Vanderveer was left by him to the Carlisle Area History Society. The house is on Park Drive and is being prepared for a Museum.

The Carlisle School System consists of four buildings-Primary, Intermediate, Junior High, and High Schools. With the recent passage of a levy the schools manage to keep up with inflation. The Carlisle High School Alumni was organized in 1900 and is still holding its annual dinner meetings in June. Some of the Alumni members are or have been teachers and principals in the school system.

There are a variety of organizations in Carlisle, as well as a number of churches throughout the area. The Carlisle Lions Club and the Lioness group, the Senior Citizens group, Silver Rails, meets monthly at the Lions Building. The Wimadausion (meaning wives, mothers, daughters and sisters) Club, a ladies group, has been meeting since 1900. The Carlisle Ramblers Garden Club will celebrate its 50^th year in 1988.

Now with the New Year January 1988 a new era comes to Carlisle, Sharon Byrd was inaugurated as the first woman Mayor. She had been on council for several years. At this time there are 4,300 people in Carlisle. There are new homes and old homes. Some of the older homes date back into the early 1800's.

With the year 1988 there are at least three anniversaries to keep in mind. Carlisle's Town Hall was built in 1859 and celebrates it’s 132 birthday. The Incorporation of Carlisle was in 1958 which was 30 years ago. And the dedication of the "new" Town Hall addition was in 1978 which was 10 years ago. We must also remember the opening of the new bridge in 1987.

It has been sold "life is what's happening to you while you make other plans". We need to remember some of the happenings in our lives, as well as the progress in the community.

Sometime ago Pat Long wrote an article for the Franklin Chronicle giving his thoughts about the good qualities of Carlisle. I told him, "That would be a fine tribute to include in the new book. Remember, these are the "Good Old Days" that will be talked about in the future.

The first Carlisle History Book was written by the Carlisle residents, and edited by Harriet Foley, Carlisle School Librarian. It's title is "Carlisle, The Jersey Settlement 1800-1980.

Several hundred copies were published and all were sold. It is an excellent record of Carlisle since the earliest settlers came, and up to 1980.

This report gives a summary of the years and events up to 1988. May the coming years continue to record a progressive and friendly Carlisle.

Rose Poast

Village Historian

Special Thanks to Bob Flischel and Jeff Repp for helping prepare this paper.

Literary Assoc.-Town Hall
built 1856

Carlisle School
1932

Matt's Service
circa 1925

Post Office
March 1948