New Richmond and O.W. Mason

This block of New Richmond housed The Knights of Pythias Hall (K. of P. Hall or Castle Hall), a dentist (back corner), the "Corn Exchange State Bank, probably a drug store (in the middle), and Mason's Hardware & Furniture (far corner).

photo taken from a postcard dated May 31, 1920.

Orlando Wilson Mason was considered one of Montgomery County's most highly respected citizens and the father of Edwin M. Mason, Supreme Scribe of the Tribe of Ben-Hur. O.W. Mason was engaged in the lumber business, farmed, owned property around New Richmond, served as trustee of Coal Creek Township for two terms, was an active member of New Richmond Christian Church, an ardent Democrat, and also a leader in the Knights of Pythias Lodge. Mr. Mason was born in August of 1860 at the old Mason home north of New Richmond. He married Clara Montgomery Quick in May of 1884.  The couple sadly both passed in early 1930.



The Crawfordsville District Public Library loves receiving photographs which help outline the history of the county. To contact the Local History Department call 362-2242 x 117.

Interurban construction near Mace

Ever wonder how the Interurban track was laid?  The below picture captures the true essence of hard work entailed to construct such a "system." This is the Indianapolis, Crawfordsville, and Western Line (Power House and Interurban) being assembled southwest of Mace (Indiana) with the overhead lines running to Linnsburg (Indiana).

Generous donation by Brent & Patricia Summers
(Fullerton, CA.)

From a marriage long ago...

How would a mention of your wedding show up in someone's database more than 150 years after the event?

In 2011 Gary Stellern loaned us a daguerreotype to digitize. The woman posed in this daguerreotype is Elizabeth Reynolds Gary, who married John W. Gary on June 24, 1851. She lived in Rising Sun, Indiana from 1857-1901. She was the mother of Wabash graduate Hugh T. Gary, who married Evangeline Binford of Crawfordsville in 1895. Mr. Stellern is the great-grandson of Elizabeth Reynolds Gary...and that's how we know about the marriage -- and how we can share this very old image with the world, thanks to the generosity of this loan. Remember that you can loan us items to digitize if you can't donate them. Just ask us!

Boys' Camp at The Shades, 1916

From June 20 to 30, 1916, any boy who was a member of the local Y.M.C.A., 12 years or over, could attend the Annual Boys' Camp. The camp was under the direction of Boys' and Physical Departments of the Y.M.C.A. Activities included swimming, fishing, baseball, camp fires, and Bible study. It was no easy vacation, however, because reveille was at 6:30 am, and lights out came at 9:30 pm! The boys were asked to act like Gentlemen at all times.

You can read the entire four-page brochure (.pdf) as well as the camp application.

Cummings Automobile Company

Cummings Automobile Company
115 East Pike Street, c. 1914

In April we received a donation of a few photographs from Randy Cummings, showing his grandfather's (Forest Cummings) automobile company on 115 East Pike Street in 1914. We blogged it, of course! This donation included the first view we have seen of Pike Street at that time, with St. Bernard's church in the background.

Mr. Cummings has discovered a few more photographs, including the interior of this company with rows of Model T cars parked along each wall. Note the sign that gives the prices of day storage (25 cents) and night storage (50 cents). But don't be deceived by those seemingly inexpensive charges. According to today's money value, 50 cents would be about $10. To get a tire filled would cost you 5 cents (about $1 today). Owning and maintaining a car has always been expensive!

We appreciate this and all donations, big and small, to our collection because our mission is to preserve our county's heritage. The generosity of donors helps us to build the collection and to share it with you.

You can view the entireCummings donation -- which includes how the dealership looked when it moved to East Market Street after 1916.

100 years ago Ingalls Field hosts State Track event

In 1914, 42 schools sent contestants to Crawfordsville's Wabash College for the State Championships. Shortridge (Indianapolis) sent 18 boys, Manual sent 12, and Wingate entered 15. CHS sent 9 men. On May 16, 1914 the Journal Review stated, "The weather was favorable and track promised much speed." Local lads made the city proud by impressing the crowds.

The IHSAA website lists the Individual State Champions (events no longer contested).

Wisehart (CHS) won the discuss at Ingalls Field with a heave of 105-4.5, Eagleson (CHS) won the Long Jump at 20 1/2, and McAlevy (CHS) earned a win in the 220 Yard Low Hurdles with a 28.3 time (McAlevy also won this event in 1912-1913 in 28 flat).

Earlier, in 1906-1907, Roy Conrad (Darlington) won the Long Jump, and Lester Morrison (Darlington) won the High Jump. In later years, Kennedy (CHS) won the 440 Yard Dash, Patterson (CHS) the 120 Yard High Hurdles, and Mile Relay teams from CHS won in 1912-1913, 1917-1918, and 1918-1919. The 1915 state meet was held at the Federal League Ball Park in Indianapolis on Saturday, May 15, 1915 and continued to be held in Indianapolis after this time.

Top row l to r: Coach Glascock, Remley Williams,
M. Grimes, Manson, Eagleson, Moon
Bottom l to r: Wisehart, G. Grimes, Nicholson,
Jones (captain) and McAlevy

Moose Lodge holds Queen contest

There were 17 young ladies vying for the Queen title in June of 1914. The Moose Lodge held a gigantic event during their Jubilee Week, including a circus with 18 acts by the K. G. Barkoot Company.
*As of  June 6, 1914 these were the standings of the participants in the contest.

 1. Miss Sue Simpson
 2. Miss Nannie Cook

Miss Sue Simpson, finished 5th
CHS graduate
Member of Trinity United Methodist
Saleslady & Bookkeeper
in the 1930s & 1940s

 3. Miss Violet Ellis
 4. Miss Mary Williams
 5. Miss Iva Michael
 6. Miss Iola Alward
 7. Miss Esther Masner
 8. Miss Vivian Schrader
 9. Miss Elnor Northcutt
10. Miss Eula Ramsey
11. Miss Hazel Carver
12. Miss Mary Bastion
13. Miss Gladys Hedge
14. Miss Verbie Gordon
15. Miss Erlies Kyle
16. Miss Sarah Widener
17. Miss Blanche Wisehart

On June 13, 1914 the voting closed and
Miss Iola Alward claimed the $100 diamond ring
awarded to the winner. The Crawfordsville Daily
Journal said, "Miss Alward proved successful
in leaving all of the other contestants far in the
rear. The diligent work of her many friends
was responsible for her success."

June 8, 1916 at the Music Hall

View the program (.pdf)

This booklet contains the program for the play, "The Man From Home." The play was performed by members of the Crawfordsville High School Class of 1916 at the Crawfordsville Music Hall (later Strand Theater). The play was most likely performed on 1916-06-08. The people mentioned in the booklet include: Booth Tarkington (writer of the play), Harry Leon Wilson (co-writer of the play), Mabel Coddington, Gordon Cumming, Paul Manson, Louis Spilman, Carter Henry, Royse Moon, Ray Harris, Lester Hunt, Leslie Widener, Forest Hall, Glen Snyder, Orda Plunkett, Katherine L. McCain, Lois Long, Elsa Otto, Sumner Burrows, Willard Dunbar, Frances Cadwallader, Mrs. Chapman, Mrs. Hessler, Mrs. Breckenridge, Mrs. Gilbert Wilson, Anna Caroline Crane, Darrell Pickett, Orville Klendworth, Simon Waldon, Ward Clark, Paul Champion, James Elliot, Kelly Hall, Irvin Poston, Lulu Herron, Mary Johnson, Fred Vance, Frank McNeeley, Harold Wert, Ralph Brothers (electricians), Filip Szwirschina, Leo Schweitzer (director). Businesses mentioned include: McWilliams-McCarthy Company, H. E. Daniels, Shaw Automobile Company, Warner & Peck, and Louis Bischof.

The Music Hall was a common venue for CHS events because of its size and its location. The community, the local schools, and even Wabash College used the Music Hall's comfortable and conveniently located facilities.

Do you know where it was located? ANSWER

HINT: If you remember where the Strand Theater was, before it was razed in 1999, you have the location of Crawfordsville's famous Music Hall (built in 1884).

99 years ago ... creek baptism in Montgomery County

Photograph loaned by Walter Terry

This photograph details a creek baptism on 6 June 1915. The Whitesville Church started in 1870 by Elders Oliver B. Wilson and Joel Ridge (from Ladoga Christian Church). These men went to Whitesville to help organize a group of worshipers. In 1871 the first Sunday School was led by Shepherd Buchanan and by 1874 there were 83 members on the roll. It is likely one of the men in the creek is Rev. Joseph E. Myers. Myers began at Whitesville in 1914.

Yountsville man helped others

Abijah O'Neall (II) was born 9 December 1798 in South Carolina. After moving to Ripley Township, Abijah purchased land and was known to be a conductor of the Underground Railroad by helping runaways escape. He was so secretive he never told his wife about his escapades (to ensure her safety). It was rumored he would just say, "Nellie, I need a basket of food."  O'Neall was known for hiding the escapees in the barn and then driving them on to the next location within a few days. O'Neall also owned the land where Yountsville Mill & Inn would eventually operate (later selling the property). O'Neall's home can still be seen on the corner of 425 West (S.R. 32) in Ripley Township.  The red brick home was built by bricks made on the property. Mary Elizabeth O'Neall (Abijah's daughter) married Wiley Kenyon who was a well-known photographer in Crawfordsville. Images by Kenyon can be viewed on the image database.  

Crawfordsville boys in WWI

US Marines, 96th Company, 6th Regiment Survivors photograph, taken in Germany sometime between May and July 1919. These are the survivors of the original company. This company was involved in the taking of Bouresches, France, on June 6, 1918. The 96th company included approximately 224 men, but by the time they had made their way to Bouresches, all but 21 were dead. In Bouresches, these few men drove back a German Machine Gun Company of 250 men, and took the town. This amazing feat is considered by some to be a turning point of World War 1. Troy Davis of Crawfordsville stands in the back row, seventh from the left. Noyes Moore is in the middle row, kneeling, third from the left. Davis was gassed June 14, 1918 at Belleau Wood, but survived.