131 year old Wabash College graduation program

The Wabash College class of 1883 graduated June 13 of that year. Music was provided by three from Crawfordsville and one from Linden: W.P. McKee, A.E. Reynolds, F.R. Rosebro, and Thomas Wilkins. President Joseph F. Tuttle addressed the class and presented the degrees.  

The entire graduation program can be viewed here.

Other Wabash College images can also be viewed.

Crawfordsville barber 1920s until the 1950s

Herman LeRoy Douglas masterminded a great way to get his business noticed -- he advertised his business on a comb. This is rather clever considering he was a barber. Herman was born to William H. (farmer) and Laura Bean in August of 1901. H.L. Douglas was listed in the Crawfordsville City Directories from 1928-1958 as a barber. His business was located at 132 E. Market Street. When he began his career he lived at the Hotel Ramsey and later resided on Elston Avenue. Mr. Douglas married Mable Marie Lewellen. Mable was the daughter of Thomas (coal dealer) and Francis Moon Lewellen and was born in September 1904. Herman and Mable married in February of 1925. Mr. Douglas died in June of 1959.

Great advertisement!

This item was recently donated to the library and will find a permanent home in the library's Carnegie Museum of Montgomery County! We appreciate all such donations and will always strive to protect the county's history and heritage.

1869 receipt for cattle purchased by butcher in Crawfordsville

Fred "Fritz" Hartung was considered a pioneer of the city. Mr. Hartung was born in Saxony, Germany on 9 July 1842. By 1853 his parents came to Lafayette, but moved to Crawfordsville a short time later. Butchering was his trade per the 1880 census and Crawfordsville City Directory. The 1878 City Directory showed Fred living at 64 North Washington Street. In 1891, it states Fred "Fritz" worked for George Keller at 111 E. Market Street in a Meat Market and lived at 111 West Spring Street. In August 1870 Hartung married Mary Anna Lynch who passed in May of 1889 after giving him eight children (seven survived).

This receipt shows Fritz Hartung purchasing cattle.
His son (Charles Fred) also went by the name Fritz.

Howdy Wilcox and the Indianapolis 500

Wilcox is sitting in his car, holding the steering wheel

Did you know that a local boy once won the Indianapolis 500? Howard "Howdy" Wilcox, a Crawfordsville native, is pictured in 1919 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway either before or after winning the 1919 Indianapolis 500 on May 31, 1919.. For the race, he started in the 2nd position and led the last 98 laps.

Wilcox was born in Crawfordsville on June 24, 1889. In his short career, he was a race-car driver during the early years of this dangerous sport. Wilcox unfortunately was killed in a crash on September 4, 1923 at Altoona Speedway board track in Tyrone, Pennsylvania. He was buried at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis.

St. John's Episcopal Bell Tower

St. John's Episcopal held their first service in an old log courthouse at the corner of Water and Market (1837) with Major Ambrose Whitlock gifting the land and beginning funds for the first Episcopal Church of Indiana. This location was utilized until a lot was purchased at Pike and Green. The building was intended to be moved in winter 1872 after the land was purchased, but the ground was too soft and the church was left sitting in the middle of Water Street until spring 1873.

*Below is the receipt for the bell purchased in November 1867. This bell weighed 621 pounds and cost $279.45. There is also a $40 charge for mountings. Payment was received by E. A. Meneely on 1 January 1868.

Isaac Augustus Hagar was the Episcopal Priest.
Hagar was born 5 September 1834 and died
27 June 1870 and is buried in Oak Hill (Union).
Hagar was a member of Crawfordsville's Lodge 223 I.O.O.F.
The Lodge wore the badge of mourning for 30
days to remember their friend.

*The Meneely Company was founded in 1826 in West Troy (originally Gibbonsville -- but now called Watervliet) New York, thus, the bell traveled over 800 miles.

Early Alamo School

James. B. Elmore, the Bard of Alamo, owned this photograph of a Ripley Township School. The children are happy to be playing outside of the classroom. Unfortunately, it is unclear where exactly this photograph was taken or what year.

If anyone can help date or identify this photo, please call 362-2242 x 117.

On this day in local history

May 15, 1914

On the back of this photograph is written: "Jessie speaking for Cora, Ruth Remley, Edith Douglas & Brownie." Who were these girls, and how did we get this picture?

The Reference and Local History Department was loaned a family scrapbook by Walter Terry several years ago for scanning. This scrapbook proved to be an invaluable historical record of the Busenbark family during several decades at the beginning of the 20th century. Of the scrapbook's 600 photographs, 141 images were added to our image database; most photographs are from Montgomery County, near Whitesville, and show the family in everyday activities. You can look at a photocopy of the entire scrapbook in CDPL Local History.

In this photo, Jessie Busenbark is standing on the tree stump on which the girls play teeter-totter as seen in picture 20110815-1026. Jessie (Busenbark) Foster and Cora (Busenbark) Terry were friends.

You can see the rest of the photos that we gave scanned from this scrapbook on our image database.

Even if you can't donate an item to us, we can still scan or photograph almost anything -- because our mission is to preserve the heritage of Montgomery County! Talk to us. We are interested in what you have to say!

Ladoga area family over 100 years ago

At Hubble home in Ladoga (1905). Far right is Jermie B.
Leonard and Priscilla (Clark) Hubble are seated.

The Leonard and Priscilla (Clark) Hubble family lived in the Ladoga vicinity and also in Crawfordsville. Priscilla's obituary stated she had nine children, six had preceded her in death (June 1944). Surviving were: Jermie B. (Lafayette), William (Bridgeton), and Roy (Ladoga).

Taken at 911 Tuttle Avenue (October 1913)
Jermie B (far right)
Leonard and Priscilla (Clark) Hubble are seated

Jermie B's WWI draft card states he was an engineer with the Ed Lee & Sons Elevator, had blue eyes and black hair. William was listed as a fence builder and a Veteran in the 1930 census. Roy worked on a farm while living in Clark Township.

1913 CHS Athenian Athletes: C-Men

Top row, left to right: Meadows, Gould, Gray, Hunt, Wilson,
Slattery, Greene, Grimes, Coach Clascock.
Bottom row: McAlevy, Rudy, Shaw, Jones, Clements, Nicholson.

1913 was the first year the C-Men were shown in a CHS yearbook for "earning" a letter.  But, before these men could earn such honors, athletics took an overhaul!

In 1899 there was no High School Athletic Association. Since there were "no rules," athletes were "brought in" to gain the most wins/honors for a school. At this time, it was noticed that athletics was "in a precarious condition." According to the 1904 Athenian (Crawfordsville High School Yearbook), the mistakes were recognized, and a brighter future was desired. It is noted that "the first days of the Association were trying ones, but by the faithful, hard work of the officers in charge, the storm was withstood and from that time on, there has been an improvement."

The yearbook mentioned that every student should take an active interest in some branch of athletics because it teaches prompt action, obedience, and self-control. It is also noted that "brain is as great a necessity in the make-up of a team, as brawn."

Officers listed for the Association in 1904 were:

• President Pierce
• Vice-president Johnson
• Secretary Jennison
• Treasurer Shephard

Waynetown ... 1880s school

If anyone has this photograph with others identified please
call the Reference and Local History Department 362-2242 x 117.

This school building was in the Waynetown area in the 1880s. Fred S. Remley is the only one identified (back row center, with arrow). Notice how uncomfortable (and hot) this clothing surely was while trying to learn.

Fred S. Remley married Nellie A. Brown in November 1894 and was a farmer in Wayne Township.

Alamo Christian Church ... many changes

"Early" Alamo Christian Church

The Reference & Local History Department recently received this image of the Alamo Christian Church. Four names of children were written on the back of the photograph: Annie Titus, Cyrus Titus, Elbert Gillis, and Anna F. Titus. Unfortunately, it is unclear which children these four are in the picture. There was not a year written on the image, but, in the 1880 census, Gillis was 15, Anna F. Titus would have been 6, and Cyrus Titus was 10. This picture was likely taken around the 1880.






The more recent photo of the Alamo church below shows an addition, as well as another change to the entrance and bell tower -- but, notice the back portion;  it is the same church as the original two.

The Alamo Church in later years, view looking North

Alamo Church, 1970s

Adair Meat Market in 1902

In this photograph William "Otis" Stephens is 14 years old. Stephens was born in 1888, and thus the photograph would have been taken around 1902. He is the smaller young man (without apron) and worked at the C.H. (Comodore H.) Adair Meat Market. In the 1900-1901 City Directory, C.H. Adair is listed as a clerk living at 407 South Walnut. The Moffett Drug Store (the building connected to the meat market in the picture) is at 125 E. Main Street. Unfortunately, Thomas Moffett passed away in May 1902, and the meat market is listed at the new location of 603 East Market Street in the 1903 City Directory.

*On the back of the photograph it states the meat market was located at the corner of Main & Oak which is likely across or diagonal from Turtle Park (Dari-Licious).

C.H. Adair Meat Market, Crawfordsville (Ind.)

Montgomery County Underground Railroad

James B. Elmore used this picture in his book
Twenty-Five Years in Jackville (pub. 1903).

This house was used by Joab Elliott for the purpose of assisting runaway slaves. The home was  built in 1830 and located 1/2 mile north of Alamo in Ripley Township. After this "stop," Abijah O'Neal [Yountsville area] would help before John Speed and Fisher Doherty [Crawfordsville area] would foster those seeking freedom.