Calendar Girls in it for Courthouse

By JOY LEIKER
jleiker@muncie.gannett.com

FARMLAND — Amid all the buzz over seven Farmland bridge players baring it all for a fund-raising calendar, it’s gone unnoticed that six of the women are single. Are they looking for a cure to save the endangered Randolph County Courthouse, or are they really looking for love?

It’s all for the courthouse, they insist with a roar of laughter. No marriage proposals yet, though one man did buy them all ice cream the other day at The Chocolate Moose. “It’s been quite a thing,” said 81-year-old Wanda Grove, one of the models. If anything, it’s been just what local organizers hoped for. A single newspaper story on June 29 hit the Associated Press news wire the same day.

Within a couple of days, the story had criss-crossed the country, appeared in dozens of newspapers and even jumped the ocean into a few more. Television stations have followed suit with their own reports, and now people all over the country are talking about the calendar. But more important to the seven women who posed for their calendar shots Thursday, people are talking about the courthouse.

These women aren’t happy that the Randolph County Board of Commissioners voted to tear down the courthouse. The structure was built to anchor the downtown square in nearby Winchester. They decided to take matters into their own hands and pose nude — covered only by miniature courthouse collectors buildings — in hopes of raising money to stop the demolition.

At age almost 94 — her birthday is July 18 — Ermel Gordon is the oldest of the models, but that doesn’t bother her. When she found out that her six card-playing pals had all committed to the project, she didn’t have the heart to say no. “I like all these girls,” she said as she prepared for the final photo shoot, a series of five group shots. “It’s just something to do together and it’s a good cause. I’m really concerned about the courthouse.”

But that’s where the concern ends. None are worried what their neighbors might say, or what the preacher might say, or what their late husbands would say. Gordon said, “They want us to be ashamed or something.” Eileen Herron, 86, isn’t ashamed of herself. She’s not going to hide the calendar from anyone. “Not a soul. At this age, what’s the difference?” she said. “It’s a fun protest.”

Iraida Davis-Leitch, the only married woman in the bunch, said she can’t believe all the attention the calendar has received. “I’m overwhelmed,” she said. She and the others are getting used to the cameras and reporters, and Davis-Leitch’s favorite answer to the often-asked question of if she’s ever modeled before is, “Not for publication.” Her response always leaves a funny look on the reporter’s face, she said.

The women are all members of a Farmland bridge club, a card club that dates back to 1933. Three calendar models, Garneta Amburn, 85, and Mary Ellen Talley, 85, and Herron are all original members. Talley and Amburn learned to play cards and joined the group when they were in the eighth grade.

The other 85-year-old of the group, Frances Hensley is the shy one. Even after her individual photo shoot with photographer Mary Ellen Bertram in the morning, by mid-afternoon she was still uncomfortable with the thought of being naked in front of the camera — even with the strategically-placed miniature courthouse buildings in front of her. In the back of her mind she isn’t so sure this is a great idea.

Her daughter didn’t think it was either. “She says no,” Hensley said. But then her daughter went off to Florida on vacation. By the time she returns, the photos will be in calendar form and in the hands of a printing company.

Contact Henry and Randolph county reporter Joy Leiker at 213-5825.

Meet the Courthouse Girls

Garneta Amburn, 85

Ermel Gordon, 93

Wanda Grove, 81

Frances Hensley, 85

Eileen Herron, 86

Iraida Davis-Leitch, 77

Mary Ellen Talley, 85

Granting wishes?

The new NBC show Three Wishes is trying to solicit wishes from the Randolph County area in response to debate over the fate of the county courthouse.

The program, hosted by singer Amy Grant, will spotlight inspiring or touching stories, and will grant wishes for deserving individuals and communities, according to a press release.

Nominations/information: http://www.nbc.com/nbc/footer/Three_Wishes.shtml

Special Thanks to the Star Press for their continued coverage of "The Courthouse Girls"!