I graduated high school in 2009. That summer, I celebrated my achievement by embracing the freedom to wander. With a crappy car, a crappy camera, and little to do before I went away to college, I drove around to see what I could find! One trip led me to New Castle’s Skyvue Drive-In.
Continue reading “Forgotten photos of the Skyvue Drive-In”
Art Deco architecture originated in France before World War I. To me, the style epitomizes luxury, glamour, and exuberance. Unfortunately, the Hoosier State isn’t known as a hotbed for it unless you go out of your way to, say, the Fountain County Courthouse in Covington. Stumbling across an Art Deco building in a rural town is surprising!
Continue reading “The Fountain County, Indiana Courthouse (1937-)”
Named after a Seminole Indian, the community of Osceola was laid out in 1855. Soon, several businesses like a general store, a blacksmith, and a cobbler sprung up. Unfortunately, the Nickel Plate Road bypassed Osceola in favor of nearby Orestes1. A post office was discontinued in 18592 and the town floundered.
Continue reading “Monroe Township’s Osceola schoolhouse in Madison County”
It’s been four years since I learned about two flowing wells near Middletown, Indiana. I posted about them in June, and a variation of “Cunningham’s Law” led me to a third just a thousand feet away from the first. A Facebook friend reminded me about it during those dreary days after Christmas, and I finally decided to go out and see it.
Continue reading “A third flowing well near Middletown, Indiana”
AT&T built thousands of microwave relay towers in the 1950s and 60s as part of its transatlantic telecommunications system called the Long Lines network. It’s been forty years since they were used for in that capacity, but many still stand. Here’s one near Warren, Indiana.
Continue reading “Warren’s old Long Line tower”
I did so many stupid things during my first year of college that it’s hard to believe those foolish and formative days once represented the entirety of my world. Fortunately, I get occasional reminders of something smart I did back then, like finding photos I took of Fort Wayne’s old Elmhurst High School. I’m glad I took them, because the building no longer exists.
Continue reading “Forgotten Photos of Fort Wayne’s Elmhurst High School”
The hamlet of Millville was platted in 1855. Situated halfway between New Castle and Hagerstown on the old Panhandle Route of the Pennsylvania Railroad1, the community was home to a graded schoolhouse as early as 18802. The first iteration of the present school was built in 18933.
Continue reading “Liberty Township’s Millville schoolhouse in Henry County”
I always thought one-room schoolhouses were relics of an ancient era. It surprised me to learn that some in Blackford County operated through the 1950s and 60s! Today, a pair of elementary buildings that succeeded the one-room schools of Licking and Jackson Township have been consolidated as well. I guess time marches on.
Continue reading “Two consolidated schools in Blackford County that got consolidated themselves”
AT&T went crazy building an assortment of microwave relay towers as part of its Long Lines network in the 1950s and 60s. Many of them still stand, but some don’t. The completionist in me couldn’t resist taking a photo of the site of a demolished tower just north of Marion, Indiana.
Continue reading “Marion’s ex-Long Line tower”
I’ve been to about two hundred and fifty old schoolhouses around East Central Indiana. My trips have taught me that most of them have been repurposed into homes, churches, corn cribs, and sheds! I’m glad so many have been saved, but the abandoned schoolhouses are the ones that truly speak to me. I hesitate to call them my favorites, but here are ten of the most compelling schoolhouse ruins I’ve found thus far.
Continue reading “Ten ruined schoolhouses in East-Central Indiana”