Since its founding in 1821, Columbus, Indiana, has changed greatly—from an early agricultural town to a small modern city with varied business and industry. Today Columbus is most famous for its architectural gems from the past half century, but many historic buildings from early Columbus still exist. As Columbus has changed, its buildings have changed as well. Tamara Stone Iorio is a pediatrician and longtime resident of Columbus with an interest...

"Not since the construction of the Columbus courthouse had one man and his vision received as much publicity from local newspapers as John Crump and his theater, designed and built by architect Charles Sparrell in 1889. This is the story of the passion, struggles and triumphs that created the first true cultural artscenter in this small town and the legacy that continues to inspire the community over a century later to protect this local landmark....

Founded in 1870, historic Irvington serves as a time capsule to the bygone days of the Victorian and Edwardian eras. The once autonomous community along the Pennsylvania Railroad and U.S. Route 40 has a history as rich and spellbinding as the legendary tales of its namesake, Washington Irving. Featuring plenty of architectural diversity and notable citizens, Irvington served as the original home to Butler University and became known as a cultural,...

Join historian Julie Young on this nostalgic look at the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) of Central Indiana, from football jamborees at CYO Stadium to fun times at camps Rancho Framasa and Christina. Share in the recollections of senior members who matured and found their voices and often their future spouses through their CYO experiences. Pull the award-winning apple pie from the oven and give the kickball a good boot in this spirited celebration...

More than banquet halls, golf courses, and swimming pools, social clubs were a haven for businessmen, politicians, and community leaders, offering respite from public scrutiny. Defining Indianapolis, the clubs were stoic agents of power and segregation, providing clear historical snapshots of Hoosier pomp and circumstance. The clubs did more than produce Olympic swimmers, world-class golfers, and tennis professionals; they were Indianapolis's multigenerational...

During the heyday of spas, two luxurious hotels, owned by flamboyant competing visionaries, attracted the rich and famous to southern Indiana. Hotel guests came from throughout the United States in search of cures and pleasure. Among the many noted celebrities visiting the French Lick Springs and West Baden Springs Hotels were Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Al Capone, Joe Lewis, and professional golfer Walter Hagen, and the West Baden Springs Hotel was known...

Based on extensive interviews and archival research, this book traces the career of Orville Redenbacher, the "popcorn king," from his agricultural studies at Purdue University to his emergence as an American advertising icon. Born in Brazil, Indiana, in 1907, Orville began his lifelong obsession with the development of new strains of seed at Purdue where he earned a degree in agronomy while also playing in the All-American Marching Band. After experimenting...

A series of stories about Cress Delehanty and how she grew her teen years--a sort of feminine Penrod. A sensitive romantic child, she goes through episodes that add to her understanding of herself and others and with her, we share them all. Cressy is a funny, intelligent, alive child.

The 1950s and early 1960s are considered by many to be the Golden Era of Racing at the Indianapolis 500, and photographer Ben Lawrence was on hand taking photos of the Greatest Spectacle for the Indianapolis Times. During that era, Ben captured many images of the race and race events that surrounded the Indy 500. He was there when Bill Vukovich met his fate in 1955. He photographed the first Indianapolis 500 Parade, which has become an annual event....

The Lincoln Highway across Indiana explores Indiana's unique role in Lincoln Highway history and celebrates Indiana's place in early automotive and road-building history. Once known as the "Main Street of America," the Lincoln Highway route was established across northern Indiana in 1913, linking larger cities—Fort Wayne, Elkhart, Goshen, South Bend, LaPorte, and Valparaiso—to smaller communities. Most Lincoln Highway towns renamed

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