Montgomery County playground fun

This playground is unidentified.  Does anyone recognize the playground or any of the teachers (or any student)?  There is a barn in the background and what appears to be a small building to the right of the photograph.  This winter scene is a typical, lovely Indiana day.  If you know where this photograph was taken, please advise the Reference Department at 765-362-2242 x 117.  Thanks.

Possibly from Hubble Family history: Anyone recognize men?

This image was received in 2008 but little information is known.  The picture was with other Hubble Family photographs so it is possible this was near Ladoga?  The rubble shows machinery, thus could this have been a mill?  Does anyone recognize the men or event (storm)? 

If you have any ideas or know anything about this picture, please call 765-362-2242 x 117.  Thanks.

You will probably not guess where this is!

Thanks to a recently received loan for scanning purposes, we have obtained some more interesting scenes from years ago. This photo was taken in 1939, on east College Street, behind Crawfordsville High School. Do you know where you are now?

Look below for the answer.








Don't recognize the school? That's because the school did not yet have its gymnasium. The "new" CHS had existed for decades, but the gymnasium wasn't added until 1940. The gym still exists as part of the Athena Sport and Fitness Center.

To see all the photos from this collection, check out the Krout folder on our Image Database.

M. V. Chapman 1878 photographer

M.V. Chapman photography

Moses V. Chapman (born in New York) was one of four photographers in business in Crawfordsville (Ind.) in 1878. Chapman was located "over" 10 East Main Street and resided at Pike and Walnut. In January 1888 Chapman absorbed the Willis Gallery. Prior to entering business in Crawfordsville Chapman was listed as a photographer in Fountain County (Ind.) in the 1870 census with wife Margret, daughter Ella, and son Harry.  Moses V. passed away in August 1905.

Unfortunately these children are unidentified but were taken in the M.V. Chapman studio. The picture was found with other items of the John H. Smith and Noah Fruits families.  If you can identify this photograph or others in the Image Database, please advise the Reference Department at (765) 362-2242 x 117. Thanks.

Niceley Photography began in 1901

Unidentified young man

W.O. Niceley purchased A.H. Champion's photograph studio in 1901.  The studio was located at 101 South Washington Street, Crawfordsville (Ind.).  Mr. Niceley had previously owned a business in Bloomington (Ind.). In the 1903 Crawfordsville City Guide, Niceley lived at 207 West Wabash Avenue with his wife, Ella. 

Unfortunately, this young man is unidentified. His photograph was found with other John H. Smith family and Noah Fruits family images.

If you can identify this photograph please call 765-362-2242 x 117.  Thanks for your help!

A.D. Willis photographer, Crawfordsville 1800s

These children are unidentified, but were received at the library with a bundle of other photos of the John H. and Cinderella (Balser) Smith Family and the Noah and Lenora (Susan/Sally Lewis) Fruits Family. The toddler (right photograph) appears to be the same child as the baby seated in the left photograph.

A.D. Willis was in business as early as 1870 in Crawfordsville (Ind.) possibly making these photographs over 140 years old.

Early 1900 manufacturing in Crawfordsville

Railroad (left) in the background and oven (right) for "baking"

This is possibly the Grimes Tile business, which was in Crawfordsville in at least 1922. The business would have been located near the railroad, but unfortunately neither picture has any information included.





Do you recognize any of the men?  Do you know the location/name of the business?
Call 362-2242 x 117 if you have any information.  Thanks.

1912 Crawfordsville Fish and Meat Market

William Sinkey ?, Fruits ?, Clarence Gilkey ?

The Central Fish and Meat Market of Sinkey and Gilkey is shown here and was located at 117 South Washington Street in Crawfordsville. Both of these men had been in business several years, but in 1912 they were in business together. William H. Sinkey (Mary Holloway) died in 1912, so the business name changed after this time. Sinkey had been in business in Crawfordsville for over 64 years and worked for or with O.W. Williams; Weil & Sons; T.E. Weil & Co., and Sinkey & Miller. Clarence Gilkey married Grace Fruits (daughter of Noah and Susan Lenora Lewis Fruits). The boy in the middle is possibly Grace's brother (son of Noah and Susan Fruits). 

If you have seen this photograph and have details, please advise the Reference Department at (765) 362-2242 x 117.

Early Montgomery County Theater

These photographs were received at the library.  It was thought these images were from New Richmond, but there is no prominent white stone decoration (circling the entire school, near the bottom window) like in the old New Richmond School.


Does anyone recognize any of the actors/actresses?
Is this possibly Waynetown?

Other photographs given at the same time as these contained family members from John H. and Cinderella Smith family and the Noah and Lenora (Susan/Sally) Fruits family.

Heroic Nurse Jolley "saves" Wabash from the influenza pandemic

Mary Elizabeth Jolley (front, 10th from left).  Miss (Sarah?) Brown possibly 8th from left.

Mary Elizabeth Jolley and Ms. Brown (probably Sarah who was a nurse at Culver Hosptial in the 1910 census) visited Mount Vernon in April of 1917 with several other nurses. One of these Montgomery County women is well known for her diligence. When six young men contracted high fevers on Monday, October 7, 1918 at the Crawfordsville college, campus fear crept through the ranks. Eleven more men were ill before the sun rose. One hundred twenty students had been ill, and the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity became the infirmary. Mary Elizabeth Jolley was the instrumental head nurse who also acquired influenza but remained steadfastly at her post to assist the ailing Wabash students. Sadly, Miss Ethel Newell had been sick with pneumonia and perished after assisting  Jolley, Miss May Huston, and Miss Edith Hunt. By October 24th the sickness was defeated and classes resumed.

Alamo (Ind.) Band

This photograph was recently donated to the library.  Unfortunately all of the men and the year are unidentified.  The drummer is possibly Grover Smith (?).  If anyone has any information about the Alamo (Ind.) band please contact the Reference Desk at the Crawfordsville Library (765) 362-2242 x 117.  The photograph was probably taken at Shades State Park.

What is this now?

This is the Crawfordsville Bank, pictured December 5 of an unknown year. The staff area is visible in the photograph, with adding machines and equipment. The Crawfordsville Bank no longer exists..but where was this bank? Its location is still a popular spot! Even if you don't remember the bank, you probably remember being in this building at some time.You may visit it again soon. Do you know where you are? Hint: You may be able to see a well-known Crawfordsville monument if you peek through the front window.



Give up? Take a look at the photograph below. Can you see the vault at the back of the room? You may have been in there...after the bank closed. If you still have not guessed, look for the answer below. (These photographs were loaned to the library for digitization in June 2012 by Dave Allen.)

ANSWER: This location is currently  Allen's Country Kitchen on the corner of Washington Street and Main Street.