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E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center

42 Contributed Events:

Oct 15, 2025

Wednesday

  • E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center The Madness of John Terrell: Revenge and Insanity on Trial in the Heartland 6pm to 7:30pm @ E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center 400 N. Minnetrista Blvd., Muncie, IN 47306
    E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center

    Wednesday, October 15, 6 - 7:30 p.m.
    Held at the E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center
    No Charge—Reservations Required
    Please register online at: https://commerce.cashnet.com/BALL_EMS057   (under “History”)

    In early 1900s Indiana, John Terrell was the wealthiest man in Wells County, thanks to oil discovered on his farm. But when his youngest daughter, Lucy, became pregnant and was forced into marriage with the abusive Melvin Wolfe, Terrell’s life and fortune began to unravel in a tumultuous spiral of murder, a dramatic trial, and madness.

    On a summer Sunday afternoon in 1903, Terrell ambushed Wolfe along a roadside. He then followed the wounded man to a doctor’s office, broke into the operating room, placed a shotgun to Wolfe’s head, and pulled the trigger. The next day, the murder made headlines in hundreds of newspapers across the country, including the front page of The New York Times.

    But the murder was only the beginning. Over the next decade, the case divided a community and drew in five judges, two Indiana governors, a prominent priest, and the Indiana Supreme Court.

    Presenter: Stephen Terrell is a retired Indianapolis lawyer and Muncie native who now lives and writes in his hometown. A graduate of Muncie Central and Ball State University, he is the author of The Madness of John Terrell: Revenge and Insanity on Trial in the Heartland (Kent State University Press, 2024), as well as three novels, including two legal thrillers and Last Train to Stratton, an excerpt of which will appear in the 2025 edition of So It Goes, the Kurt Vonnegut Library’s literary journal.

    Stephen’s short stories appear regularly in Speed City Sisters in Crime anthologies. His work has earned honors including a place on the Best Mystery Stories of the Year Honor Roll, the Manny Award for short fiction, and induction into the Indiana State Bar’s General Practice Hall of Fame. He also writes the column On Second Thought for the ABA’s Experience Magazine.

Dec 3, 2025

Wednesday

  • Ball State Alumni Center Snowflakes and Storefronts: Holiday Shopping Magic in Muncie 6pm to 7:30pm @ Ball State Alumni Center 2800 W. Bethel Ave.
    Ball State Alumni Center Ball State Alumni Center

    Wednesday, December 3, 6 p.m.
    Held at the Ball State Alumni Center
    No Charge—Reservations Required
    Please reserve your space at https://commerce.cashnet.com/BALL_EMS057
    Refreshments served after presentation

    For generations, holiday shopping in Muncie was more than a seasonal task—it was an experience filled with tradition, excitement, and community spirit. Downtown once sparkled with festive lights, and families crowded the sidewalks to admire elaborate window displays at Ball Stores and other local retail establishments. This program explores the history and experiences of holiday shopping in the “Magic City” through the combined resources of the Ball State University Libraries, Delaware County Historical Society, and the Muncie Public Library.

    Presenters:
    Melissa Gentry, Supervisor, Map Collection, Ball State University Libraries
    Cody Sprunger, Archivist for Architectural and Design Records, Ball State Estopinal College of Architecture and Planning
    Sara McKinley, Carnegie Library Manager and the Archivist for Muncie Public Library
    Karen Vincent, Executive Director, Delaware County Historical Society and Delaware County Historian
    Susan Smith, Archivist, Minnetrista Museum & Gardens

Feb 24, 2026

Tuesday

Mar 3, 2026

Tuesday

Mar 10, 2026

Tuesday

Mar 17, 2026

Tuesday

Mar 24, 2026

Tuesday

Mar 27, 2026

Friday

Apr 3, 2026

Friday

Apr 15, 2026

Wednesday

Apr 21, 2026

Tuesday

Apr 24, 2026

Friday

Apr 29, 2026

Wednesday

May 6, 2026

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May 12, 2026

Tuesday

May 19, 2026

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May 26, 2026

Tuesday

May 28, 2026

Thursday

May 30, 2026

Saturday

  • Beech Grove Cemetery Civil War Veterans Walking Tour 10am to 12pm @ Beech Grove Cemetery 1400 W Kilgore Ave., Muncie, IN
    Beech Grove Cemetery Beech Grove Cemetery

    Saturday, May 30, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
    Beech Grove Cemetery
    No charge; Reservations required
    Please register online at https://commerce.cashnet.com/BALL_EMS057

    Join Indiana resident and author, Kevin Yaney, as he leads a tour of some of the graves of Civil War veterans who were laid to rest at Beech Grove Cemetery. This casual history tour will focus on residents of Delaware County who took part in the war, as well as Indiana’s involvement in the war.

    The event will start and end at the cemetery office located at 1400 W Kilgore Avenue, in Muncie.

    About the Author:
    Kevin Yaney is the author of "The Fourth of July", a trilogy of historical fiction books set during the Civil War. The three books tell the story of Louisa McLain and her two sons, George and Will from Delaware County. Sixty years after the war, on the Fourth of July, Louisa is in a nursing home, reading letters her sons sent her during the conflict. As the story unfolds, it is discovered that both George and Will were recruited as Union spies. They were sent perilously behind enemy lines, dressed as Confederate soldiers. They also became part of the abolitionists’ movement through the Underground Railroad, running slaves out of the South to freedom.

    Mr. Yaney will have his books available at the event. For more information on his books, visit www.FourthOfJulyBook.com.

Jun 2, 2026

Today

  • E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center Writing Your Life: Leave Your Legacy 2:30pm to 4pm @ E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center - Ball State University 2nd floor 400 N. Minnetrista Blvd., Muncie, IN 47306
    Cost: $55
    Ages: 18+
    E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center

    Three Tuesdays, June 2, 9, 16: 2:30-4 p.m.
    Cost $55
    Limited to 12 students
    Reservations required
    Please register online at: https://commerce.cashnet.com/BALL_EMS057

    This class is for anyone looking to preserve their memories, whether for personal reflection, to share with loved ones, or to publish. It's ideal whether you've already begun a memoir or are just starting to explore writing about your life.

    You'll create a series of vignettes, short scenes or snapshots from your life, written in whatever style speaks to you: prose, poetry, dialogue, or even playwriting. No matter the form, the focus is on translating your thoughts into words, and this class will help you build that essential skill. Over three sessions, you'll respond to writing prompts designed to help you "capture your life" on the page. You'll also have the chance to share your writing, ask questions, and exchange feedback and discoveries with the group.

    This class is best suited for beginning and intermediate writers. Each class is designed to be repeatable, offering new prompts and insights each time you take it.

    Instructor: Lylanne Musselman is an award-winning poet, playwright, and visual artist whose work spans poetry, drama, and creative nonfiction. Drawing on personal experience, memory, and emotional resilience, she explores themes of caregiving, relationships, and Midwestern life. She is the author of several poetry collections and chapbooks, including "It's Not Love, Unfortunately, Paparazzi for the Birds, Staring Dementia in the Face, and Open Up to Poetry: A Memoir and Manual", with a new collection forthcoming in 2026. Her work has appeared in respected literary journals and anthologies and has earned multiple Pushcart Prize nominations. She serves on the executive board of the Midwest Writers Workshop, teaches at Indiana institutions, and leads workshops and readings across the state.