Some historians say the actions of New Castle’s Omar Bundy in World War I saved Paris from a German takeover.

Gen. George Washington and saw Gen. Cornwallis surrender his sword.” l Today, more than 30 men who fought in the Revolutionary War are buried in Henry County.

Grose, whose stately New Castle home has been the site of the Henry County Historical Society for more than 100 years, lived up to his family heritage. The lawyer-and-legislatorturned-general served bravely in the Civil War and historians say “he was where the bullets flew the thickest” – places like Lookout Mountain, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, and Atlanta.

Less than six decades later, another New Castle general would come to the aid of his country.

Omar Bundy, born in New Castle the same year the Civil War started in 1861, would rise in the military ranks to general – one who didn’t always follow orders. During the battle of Belleau Wood in World War I, he refused a French commander’s order to retreat.

Some historians say Bundy’s action probably saved Paris from complete takeover by the Germans and represented a turning point for the U.S. in World War I.

LEARN MORE ABOUT NEW CASTLE & HENRY COUNTY HISTORY:

Henry County Historical Society and Museum

606 South 14th Street New Castle, IN 47362

765-529-4028 henrycountymuseum.org

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“We regret being unable on this occasion to follow the counsels of our masters the French,” Bundy said, “but the American flag has been forced to retire. This is unendurable and none of our soldiers would understand they’re not being able to repair a situation which is humiliating to us and unacceptable to our country’s honor. We are going to counterattack.”

New Castle has also been a place of flower power.

In 1901, brothers Myer and Herbert Heller created “the American Beauty Rose,” a flower that became a national status symbol with buds the size of goose eggs and petal counts higher than any other. The flowers were sold across the country and gave New Castle the title “Rose City.” At one time, because of the famous flower, more than 100 greenhouses operated in the city.

But a March 11, 1917, tornado swept through town, killing 21 people, and destroying many of the greenhouses. New Castle’s Rose City reputation faded from the forefront by the 1920s.

Henry County native Darrel Radford is a retired journalist, and spent his career writing and editing for various regional newspapers, including the Courier Times in New Castle. A longtime member and current co-executive director of the Henry County Historical Society, he is the official Henry County Historian appointed by the Indiana Historical Society.