2020 Mayor For A Day
- Ted Bartley -
Born on a farm south of the Bretzville Junction and then later moving into Ferdinand at the age of 8, where he completed schooling through the 8th grade, Ted Bartley would find himself landing in Ireland, IN. The town of Ireland was blessed by Ted’s arrival around the year of 1941 ---- a time when he followed some family members to help with what then was the “Bartley Feed Store”—located in the center of Ireland.
At the store, Ted hauled feed and caught chickens in a time when there was a very high demand for those items. He made lots of friends during this time but had to part with them when he turned 18 and had to register for the Army (1945) during WW11. He came out of the service in 1947 and returned to Ireland to work at the Bartley Feed Store. Soon after his return-- Ted’s brother-in-law, Denny Schuetter and Ted rented a shop from Levi and Floyd Leinenbach.
In 1948, the demand of gasoline was high and Ted’s future father-in-law, Martin Hopf along with Ted, had a gas station built where the location of today’s current Texaco Station sits on the corner of Hwy 56 and 500N (at the stoplight in Ireland) — The building was built in 30 days and the original structure still stands today and was recently purchased by Bret Voelkel, who transformed the building into a vintage Texaco Station.
Ted and Martin ran their business until 1953--a time when it was difficult to keep up with the bigger automobile industries. It was at that time, that Ted became a salesman at Ruxer Ford in Jasper. He went through a 16 week Dale Carnegie course to enhance his education in the business world. He ended up in “heavy truck” sales and retired in 1992 but still remains on the payroll at Ruxer Ford. Ted and his family continue this day to be good patrons of the company.
Ted was married to Dorothy Hopf in 1948 and they had 5 children—Sandy, Marla Jane (died in infancy), Kurt, Kevin and Keith. Dorothy passed away in 1988 and he later married Mary Jane Padgett in 1991 and she passed in 2010. He has 11 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.
Ted has been a past or current member or the Ireland K of C (was one of the first members of the Ireland K of C in 1965), the Ireland Sportsman Club, the Ireland Lion’s Club (past president), St Mary’s Ireland church serving in post officer positions, the VFW and the American Legion. In his spare time he enjoys golfing, boating at Beaver Lake and playing cards.
Submitted by Kay Hall, February of 2020
At the store, Ted hauled feed and caught chickens in a time when there was a very high demand for those items. He made lots of friends during this time but had to part with them when he turned 18 and had to register for the Army (1945) during WW11. He came out of the service in 1947 and returned to Ireland to work at the Bartley Feed Store. Soon after his return-- Ted’s brother-in-law, Denny Schuetter and Ted rented a shop from Levi and Floyd Leinenbach.
In 1948, the demand of gasoline was high and Ted’s future father-in-law, Martin Hopf along with Ted, had a gas station built where the location of today’s current Texaco Station sits on the corner of Hwy 56 and 500N (at the stoplight in Ireland) — The building was built in 30 days and the original structure still stands today and was recently purchased by Bret Voelkel, who transformed the building into a vintage Texaco Station.
Ted and Martin ran their business until 1953--a time when it was difficult to keep up with the bigger automobile industries. It was at that time, that Ted became a salesman at Ruxer Ford in Jasper. He went through a 16 week Dale Carnegie course to enhance his education in the business world. He ended up in “heavy truck” sales and retired in 1992 but still remains on the payroll at Ruxer Ford. Ted and his family continue this day to be good patrons of the company.
Ted was married to Dorothy Hopf in 1948 and they had 5 children—Sandy, Marla Jane (died in infancy), Kurt, Kevin and Keith. Dorothy passed away in 1988 and he later married Mary Jane Padgett in 1991 and she passed in 2010. He has 11 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.
Ted has been a past or current member or the Ireland K of C (was one of the first members of the Ireland K of C in 1965), the Ireland Sportsman Club, the Ireland Lion’s Club (past president), St Mary’s Ireland church serving in post officer positions, the VFW and the American Legion. In his spare time he enjoys golfing, boating at Beaver Lake and playing cards.
Submitted by Kay Hall, February of 2020
Mayor History
2010- Tommy Hohler
2011- Sam Schwenk
2012- Kevin “Hootie” Eisenhut
2013- 1963 Ireland Spuds Basketball team
2014- Kay Hall
2015- Allen Brescher
2016- Junie Wigand
2017- Clara Mae Braunecker
2018 - Richard & Betty Edwards
2019 - Ireland Lions Club
2020 - Ted Bartley
2010- Tommy Hohler
2011- Sam Schwenk
2012- Kevin “Hootie” Eisenhut
2013- 1963 Ireland Spuds Basketball team
2014- Kay Hall
2015- Allen Brescher
2016- Junie Wigand
2017- Clara Mae Braunecker
2018 - Richard & Betty Edwards
2019 - Ireland Lions Club
2020 - Ted Bartley
The “Mayor for a Day” is celebrated every year in March during the Ireland St. Patrick’s Celebration. The annual event originated in 2010 and began as a contest between selected candidates who vied for the “key-holder to the town” by means of fund-raising. Since then, the event has transpired into an event in where an honorary mayor is selected. The mayor selection is based upon an individual/s who has “given back” to the town of Ireland. The selected individual must currently reside in the Ireland area or have been a past resident of Ireland. The mayor is recognized at the annual “Mayor for a Day Kick-Off Party” at the Chicken Place in Ireland. The event takes place the first weekend of March and is celebrated by the reigning mayor “lighting up the town of Ireland” in green by flipping a giant-sized light switch.
For additional information on the “Mayor for a Day” or to submit an individual/s for the title, you may notify
Kay Hall @ 812-630-4259 or Anita Lemond @ 812-661-8378
You may also email your suggestion to Kay Hall @ kay_hall_rn@yahoo.com with a brief message of why you feel your suggested individual/s is deserving of the title.
Kay Hall @ 812-630-4259 or Anita Lemond @ 812-661-8378
You may also email your suggestion to Kay Hall @ kay_hall_rn@yahoo.com with a brief message of why you feel your suggested individual/s is deserving of the title.