Lustron houses were early modular homes built entirely of enameled steel. I wrote about a pair of them in Anderson, Indiana, last week, unsure of any more nearby. Sure enough, I was alerted to a third mere minutes after the post went live! I’m glad that Cunningham’s Law still rings true.
Continue reading “Another Anderson Lustron”
I work on the southeastern side of Anderson, Indiana. My commute takes me straight past the Madison County Government Center, built in 1972 to replace a landmark courthouse in the heart of downtown. It’s a striking structure, but my thoughts always turn to Clinton County as I pass. That’s because the old building’s twin still holds court in Frankfort.
Continue reading “The Clinton County, Indiana Courthouse (1884-)”
I love looking at Christmas lights. Seeing them today evokes a sense of nostalgia and tradition, but their appearance prompted a feeling of wonder when I was a kid. It was always better when companies got in on the action by making festive landmarks out of their facilities, and few did it better than Guide Lamp in Anderson.
Continue reading “Christmas at Guide Lamp”
After more than a century, Valley Grove Elementary School in Madison County, Indiana, continues to use the name of its progenitor. It’s a modern structure, but the original Valley Grove schoolhouse standing nearby is the only surviror of six common institutions in Union Township1.
Continue reading “Union Township’s Valley Grove schoolhouse in Madison County”
Information about Richland Township’s District 6 schoolhouse in Madison County is hard to come by. It’s visible on an 1880 map of Madison County1 but it appears as though the present structure was built around 18992.
Continue reading “Richland Township’s Connor schoolhouse in Madison County”
We live in an evolving entertainment environment where many of our favorite movie theaters have been repurposed for other uses. Where I live, old cinemas are home to bingo halls and plumbing supply stores! Anderson’s Applewood 9 may have closed fifteen years ago, but its building has come back from the dead: today, it’s a haunted house!
Continue reading “Back from the dead: Anderson’s old Applewood 9”
Although Lafayette Township’s extant District 4 schoolhouse was built in 18841, an earlier frame building was situated at the same spot when the Kimerling family owned its land2. Locals called both schools Beech Grove.
Continue reading “Lafayette Township’s Beech Grove schoolhouse in Madison County”
Originally called Funk’s Station thanks to its place on the railroad1, the community of Linwood grew enough to necessitate a schoolhouse by 18922. Designated as Lafayette Township’s District 11, the first schoolhouse still stands about a quarter of a mile east of the train tracks that dominate the community.
Continue reading “Lafayette Township’s Linwood schoolhouse in Madison County”
The Salem schoolhouse in Lafayette Township is one of Madison County’s most unique. The Elwood Daily Record trumpeted it as “by far the handsomest country school in the county1. I haven’t seen another nearby that matches its design!
Continue reading “Lafayette Township’s Salem schoolhouse in Madison County”
Originally known as Clark’s Station, Florida Station sprung up as a stop on the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, & St. Louis Railroad and was established in 1856. It was given its unusual name due to its swampy nature: its founder, Tom Clark, paddled his way to the area from Anderson in a canoe. With its abundance of water lilies and dog roses, the marshland reminded Clark of Florida1.
Continue reading “Lafayette Township’s Florida Station schoolhouse in Madison County”