Land of Limestone
Oolitic is located about two miles north of Bedford, Indiana on State Highway
37. Once known as "Limestone," Oolitic has a population of about 1800.
For many years the main occupation of the people was the stone industry.
Early in the nineteen hundreds there were several stone quarries and mills.
Products of those quarries and mills can be seen locally in many private
homes and public buildings. Oolitic limestone has been shipped all over
the world and used in many of the most famous buildings known. Some of
the most famous are:
Department of Commerce in Washington, D.C. (1929)
The Empire State Building in New York City, N. York (1931)
The Pentagon in Washington, D.C. (The 1940's)
The Washington Cathedral- unit "A" (1948, addition 1952)
Proctor and Gamble in Cincinnati, Ohio (1955)
Proctor and Gamble East in Cincinnati, Ohio (1982)
Blue Cross/Blue Shield in Indianapolis, Indiana (1969)
Some other projects that Oolitic limestone has been used in include:
The National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.
The Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C.
The International Trade Center in Washington, D.C.
The Federal Triangle Building in Washington, D.C.
Jacob's Field in Cleveland, Ohio
The Cresent in Dallas, Tex.
The National Archives Building in Washington, D.C.
All of the area's limestone does not end up in buildings. Stonecarvers
of the past and the present have used their talents to turn blocks of limestone
into statues and monuments that now grace locations across the country.
Beautiful examples of their work can be found locally in many cemeteries.
Even waste blocks of stone have a purpose. Many are used as breakwater
in the Great Lakes. One project alone used 4,700,000 cubic feet of blocks.
The PMB Quarry, just north of Oolitic, in 1974.
School Pride
Oolitic is currently home to Dollens Elementary School and Oolitic Middle School. Prior to consolidation in 1975, teenagers from the town attended Oolitic High School. The high school building continued to be used as a
junior high until a new facility was built in 1986. The old high school
gym is currently used as a community center.
Some of the more "famous" graduates of Oolitic High School are:
Dorothy Duncan - local teacher and enthusiastic supporter
of students and athletics.
"Pete" Pritchett - girls' basketball coach that led his
teams to two state championships at Bedford North Lawrence High School
in Bedford, Indiana.
Danny Bush - local sports
legend. Danny led the small school of Oolitic to two sectional championships
and an undefeated regular season in 1968. Danny also coached the 1990 boys'
basketball state championship team at Bedford North Lawrence High School.
Doctor Claude Dollens - although not a graduate of Oolitic
High School, Doctor Dollens practiced medicine in Oolitic for over 50 years.
In 1958, he was given state-wide recognition when the Indiana Medical Association
named him as the "Doctor of the Year" in Indiana. Dr. Dollens delivered
nearly 4,900 babies in the Lawrence County community. Dollens Elementary
School is named in his honor.
This building was used as Oolitic High School until 1974,
and then as Oolitic Junior High until 1986.
This building was once used for the elementary grades,
but it also includes
the gym where many Bearcat teams fought for victories.
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