John G. Heinl

Wabash Valley profiles : a series of tributes to hometown people and events that have shaped our history

Description:	One typed page including photograph; biography of John Gradl Heinl, local horticulturist and owner of Stiffy Green. ABASH VALLEY WP R O F I L E SA series of tributes to hometown heroes who have made a difference.John G. HeinlA native of Westphalia, Germany, Heinl came to America in 1854 with his parents, Anton and Marie (Gradl) Heinl, and brothers George, Lawrence and Joseph. The family first resided in Toledo, Ohio, where the Heinl boys worked for a florist. All four boys became horticulturists. George stayed in Toledo while Joseph located in Jacksonville, Ill. In 1863 at age 19, John came to Terre Haute with older brother Lawrence. For a few years the pair were business partners with greenhouses at 15th and Washington streets. However, before John married Marie Marguerite Mary Debs, an older sister of Eugene V. Debs, in 1870, he established his own 1865 photo courtesy of Ron Wolverton business at Eighth and Cherry streets. John and Mary resided successively at 21 N. Eighth St. and 204 N. Eighth St. Significantly, a decorative stone bulldog was perched on the porch of the two residences, where sons Fred and Robert Debs Heinl were raised. Eventually, John built Floral Hall, five greenhouses at Eighth and Cherry consisting of 45,000 square feet, heated by steam and hot water, where he specialized in the wholesale and retail production of camellias, Parisian lilacs, orchids, ferns and African violets. Son Fred joined the business in 1896 and John G. Heinl & Son soon relocated to 129 S. Seventh St., where it remains today. New greenhouses were erected at 21st and Spruce streets. Robert Debs Heinl moved to New York, becoming a nationally-recognized journalist with Leslies Illustrated. He later sold Heinl News Service to the Washington Post and joined the staff. John and Marie enjoyed traveling. When Fred became active in the floral shop, John opened an agency to handle bookings for trans-Atlantic steamship passengers. A man of unquestioned integrity, Heinl was president of the Rose Dispensary, vice president of the Rose Orphans Home, organizer and president of Fort Harrison Savings & Loan Association, president of Morris Plan and vice president of J.W. Davis Gardens. He served on the boards of the those businesses as well as the Terre Haute Water Works Co. and Indiana Savings & Loan Association. A lifelong Republican, Heinl was also elected to several terms on the Terre Haute City Council. His efficient service as president of the local Morris Plan bank was lauded nationally. Heinl died at his residence on Dec. 31, 1920, at age 76. When he was interred in the Heinl mausoleum at Highland Lawn Cemetery, the stone bulldog with green glass eyes that graced Heinls porch--and stood silent witness to the history touching the Debs and Heinl families--was placed there with him. The legend of Stiffy Green soon arose, asserting that the dog once was alive and stuffed after death. Mary Debs Heinl, who died at age 85 on Nov. 6, 1936, is also interred in the mausoleum. For many years Stiffy Green may have been the most popular denizen of Highland Lawn. A frequent target for vandals, the stone dog was removed from the mausoleum in 1983 and now is a feature attraction at the Vigo County Historical Society Museum. surrounds florist John T heeilegend thathis local prominence. Gradl H nl masks 238-6000 MEMBER FDICAlways Close to HomeHO HO HO! Join ourMember FDICChr ist mas Club for Holiday DoughOpen your account today at any First banking center -- and have more dough for holiday spending next year!File name: John G. Heinl profileDate Published: Nov. 17, 2005
Origin:	2005-11-17
Created By:	McCormick, Mike
Publisher:	Terre Haute Tribune-Star
Source:	http://indianamemory.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/vchs/id/656
Collection:	Vigo County Historical Society
Rights:	http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/UND/1.0/
Copyright:	Copyright Undetermined
Subjects:	Heinl, John Gradl, 1844?-1920 Florist shops Horticulture Famous Hoosiers Business & Industry People

Further information on this record can be found at its source.