BROWNSTOWN
Standing at the corner of Elm and Bridge streets in Brownstown, a lot of what you can see from there is thanks to Carl Shake.
Through his generosity as co-founder of Brownstown Electric Supply Co. Inc., he provided lighting for the Brownstown Central High School tennis courts, baseball field and practice football field. He also helped the school’s weight room and locker room facility become reality.
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In the nearby Brownstown Park, he’s responsible for the lights that shine at the softball and baseball fields and basketball and volleyball courts, and he helped with the renovation of the Brownstown Pool.
Also in town, he helped with lighting for the softball field at the elementary school, underground electric at the Jackson County Courthouse for the Watermelon Festival and lighting at Heritage Park.
His generosity resulted in Brownstown Town Council President Gregg Goshorn proclaiming Friday, Sept. 25, 2020, as Carl Shake Day in the town. Shortly after, a street sign reading “Carl Shake Drive” was unveiled, honorarily naming the section of Elm Street from Bridge Street to Highview Drive after him.
“Oh, wonderful,” Shake, 86, said of the honors bestowed upon him during Friday’s ceremony. “I’m just happy to see everybody. I knew there would be a lot of people I haven’t gotten to see for a while.”
Since Shake has given so much to Brownstown, the honors allowed the town and Brownstown/Ewing Main Street to give him something back.
“It just makes you feel good,” Shake said. “I appreciate it. My family appreciates it. Any time you get the family together or get the area together like this, that grows you together.”
He was quick to give credit to others who jumped in and helped with the various projects.
“Just to show other people that they can help,” Shake said of why it’s important as a businessman to support his community. “If they just get in there, they can help.”
Goshorn said when Luke Nolting with Brownstown/Ewing Main Street shared the idea of honoring Shake, he couldn’t think of a more fitting time to do so than the day Brownstown shows its most pride: The Jackson Bowl football game against county rival Seymour. On Friday night, that was played at the nearby Blevins Memorial Stadium.
“One would be hard-pressed to find someone who takes more pride in Brownstown than Carl,” Goshorn said. “He loves Brownstown, and he loves to help.”
In the days leading up to Friday’s ceremony, Goshorn said people in the community shared stories of Shake’s generosity — how he helped them, someone they knew, businesses or organizations in a time of need.
“It was done with no fanfare and at his request kept private,” Goshorn said. “I’m not real sure how many know the full scope of his philanthropy. The town of Brownstown is proud to be home to such a generous, honorable and humble person who represents this town with dignity and class.”
Nolting said when he started working at Spurgeon Funeral Home in Brownstown a few years ago, Shake was one of the first people to stop by to thank him for becoming involved and getting the younger generation engaged in the community.
“His words of encouragement and support mean more than he will ever realize,” Nolting said. “Brownstown/Ewing Main Street as well as other organizations that have meant so much to Carl, including the Jackson County Fair, Brownstown Central schools, the town of Brownstown and many others, will never be able to say ‘thank you’ enough for your generous gifts and involvement you have shown this community.”
Nolting said Shake has been a pillar of the community for decades.
“Your generosity and community-driven support have helped shape Brownstown into the community we are today,” Nolting said. “You have made your mark on Brownstown in a way that will be remembered for generations.”
He also thanked Shake’s family, including his wife, Jenny; daughters, Rhonda, Jodi and Kelly; grandchildren; and great-grandchildren.
“Thank you for sharing Carl with this community, his work family and his friends for all of these years,” Nolting said. “Thank you, Carl, for being someone that we each strive to be like every single day.”
Jim Plump, executive director of Jackson County Industrial Development Corp., was the ceremony’s final speaker. Shake served on the JCIDC board for eight years.
“As a young guy starting trying to build relationships between Seymour and Brownstown and Jackson County and Bartholomew County, it was a challenge,” Plump said. “But I’ll tell you, there was always one person that I could always talk to and say, ‘I’m having a little difficulty with this. What do you think?’”
That person was Shake.
“All I can say is, Carl, it has been my great honor to know you, to work with you, have a little fun with you at a few sporting events and I’ll never forget it,” Plump said. “Congratulations, Brownstown/Ewing Main Street, for recognizing Carl. This is very long overdue.”
Goshorn and fellow council members Sharon Koch and Mark Reynolds then presented Shake with gifts, including a batting helmet from the Brownstown Baseball Association, autographed footballs from the Brownstown Central football team, an autographed volleyball from the Brownstown Central volleyball team and a framed copy of the Carl Shake Day proclamation from the town.
The ceremony concluded with Shake’s great-grandchildren helping unveil the new street sign perched on top of a stop sign on the northwest corner of the intersection.
Shake was born in Farmersburg and grew up there until enlisting in the U.S. Air Force in 1952 and serving in Korea and Japan.
He started his work in the electric utility industry as an electric lineman for Public Service Indiana. After leaving PSI, he went to General Electric Co. as a salesman catering to the electric utilities in Indiana.
Shake joined Earl Hobbs in May 1970 to form and start Brownstown Electric Supply Co. and has lived in Brownstown ever since.