Lula Desse Rudder

Lula Desse Rudder - first licensed female pharmacist in the State of IndianaBorn on a farm, in Howard Township, in 1881, her family moved to Salem, in 1885, after her father was elected sheriff. In 1891, he established the Rudder Drug Store, in the Lyon Block of the Salem Public Square, where "Desse" as she was familiarly known, became fascinated with the pharmacists position. After graduating from the Salem-Washington Township High School, she enrolled in the Purdue University School of Pharmacy, becoming one of their first female graduates, in 1903.

Returning to Salem, as the first licensed female pharmacist in the State of Indiana, she assumed that position in her father's drug store. Inevitably, her and two of her brothers, inherited the drug store's operation. It then became the William Rudder Drug Company, where Desse loyally and faithfully served our community's pharmaceutical needs, frequently in cases of emergency, for over 50 years. Even continuing in the position, through a transition of ownership in 1949, when her brother sold out and the store became Apple Drugs.

Desse maintained her state pharmacist license, annually, until she was 88 years of age. When she passed away in August of 1981, she was mere than a month past her 100th birthday She was buried in Salem’s Crown Hill Cemetery.

 

Photo of John Milton HayWho was John Hay?

Statesman, Author, Ambassador

John Hay was a great American statesman, diplomat, author and poet, whose political career spanned over 50 years.  He was born in a small brick home in Salem, Indiana, on October 8, 1838.

After John displayed considerable potential in his schooling, his Uncle Milton Hay, who was a practicing lawyer in Springfield, Illinois, took a special interest and sent him to Brown University, where he graduated in 1858. 

In 1860, when John Hay’s childhood friend, John Nicolay, was appointed Abraham Lincoln’s presidential campaign secretary, he was brought on board to assist with the enormous amount of correspondence. 

Hay grew to adore President Lincoln for his goodness, patience, understanding, sense of humor, humility, magnanimity, healthy skepticism, sense of justice, resilience and power, love of the common man and mystical patriotism. Many later noted that Lincoln too, loved Hay as a son and was very attached to him.

In 1903, after years of negotiating treaties, Hay successfully passed legislation that afforded the United States the opportunity to start construction on the Panama Canal. 

Brown University’s John Hay Library was named in his honor, as was the John Hay Air Base, in the Philippines and both his birth home, in Salem, Indiana and his summer estate, The Fells, in New Hampshire, have been historically conserved. 

John Hay Center Hours of Operation

Thursdays - 10:00am – 5:00pm
Fridays - 10:00am – 5:00pm
Saturdays - 10:00am – 5:00pm

Tour Pricing

Self-Guided Tours

Adult (Age 18+) - Donation
Child (Age 6-17) - Donation

Guided Tours

Complete Comprehensive Tour
(Museum,Pioneer Village, The Depot)
Adult (Age 18+) - Tour Price  $20.00
Child (Ages 6-17) - Tour Price $10.00
Guided Tours - Free to Members

Steven's Museum Guided Tour
(Approximate 2 hour Tour)
Adult (Age 18+) -  Tour Price $7.00
Child (Ages 6-17) - Tour Price $4.00
Guided Tours - Free to Members

Pioneer Village
(Approximate 1 hour Tour)
Adult (Age 18+) - Tour Price $7.00
Child (Ages 6-17) - $4.00
Guided Tours - Free to Members

The Depot Railroad Museum
(Approximate 1 hour Tour)
Adult (Age 18+) - $7.00
Child (Ages 6-17) - $4.00
Guided Tours - Free to Members

School Tours

Private & Public School Tours: $3.00 per student/parent (Teachers free & 10 student minimum)

Private Tours

Scheduled Private Tours (More than 5 Guests) (Minimum $50)

Additional Information

*All regular tours are free for Life Members
*Children under 5 are free

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