Early malaria epidemic in Indy, plus past visions for city's future

<p dir="ltr">As <strong><a href= "https://indyturns200.com/">the city of Indianapolis celebrates its 200th birthday</a></strong> - and on the eve of what was supposed to have been a mass, public kickoff event for the Bicentennial era of the Hoosier capital - Hoosier History Live will explore a malaria epidemic during the early 1820s that almost wiped out the city just as it was getting underway.</p> <p dir="ltr">We also will look back on the city's history at various proposals for its improvement, including some ideas that fizzled or needed to be reworked.</p> <p dir="ltr">A Bicentennial era (2020-2021) launch had been planned for early June that involved a major public community gathering on <strong><a href= "https://www.visitindy.com/indianapolis-soldiers-sailors-monument-monument-circle">Monument Circle</a></strong>. Instead, as our guest <strong>Deputy Mayor Jeff Bennett</strong> explains, civic leaders have been conferring to come up with a celebratory kickoff scheduled for June 28 that can happen amid COVID-era public health guidelines. Jeff will share more details during our show.</p> <p dir="ltr">And listeners are invited to call in to share their visions and dreams for Indianapolis during the next 200 years. The phone number of the <strong>WICR-FM</strong> studio is 317-788-3314; Nelson will open the phone lines early during the show.</p> <p dir="ltr">The coronavirus pandemic certainly isn't the first public health crisis Indianapolis has faced. During the summer of 1821, the new city confronted a devastating malaria epidemic that killed 72 men, women and children, according to <strong><a href= "https://www.amazon.com/Indianapolis-story-city-Ed-Leary/dp/B0006CAK34/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Indianapolis%3A+The+Story+of+a+City&qid=1590668705&sr=8-1"><em>Indianapolis: The Story of a City</em></a></strong> by <strong>Edward A. Leary</strong>. Dozens of terrified residents packed up and left.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src= "http://hoosierhistorylive.org/images/Dr-Isaac-Coe.JPG" alt= "Dr. Isaac Coe (1782-1855),