1800-1899 Life In Columbus/Bartholomew County

[RER]

Silence, Calm, Peaceful, Tranquil Friendly, Secure, Neighborhoods 1890s & Before
Horse & Buggy Days (no automobiles just sidewalks/dirt streets)
Columbus, Indiana

Comment: Notice, in these three pictures you will not find anyone walking, no horses and no wagons, just calm and friendly looking neighborhoods of the past. Look close at the dirt street floors and all the wagon wheel marks. It seems to be a winter or fall scene in each, which would mean the children probably would be in school and father working and the mother at home. The trees are very young in growth age, and have no leaves.

I wonder how many of these houses are still standing today?

- Chestnut Street
- Interstection Hutchins Ave & Maple Grove
- Pearl Street

[RER]

William J. Lucas Home 1890s
9th & Washington Street
Columbus, Indiana



Business: President of The First National Bank during 1882.

Mr. Lucas fought in the Civil War and was promoted to the rank of Captain during his military. He married Elizabeth Crump. After his death in 1901 his wife became the President of The First National Bank per board member Rhonda. According to George (board member) the house was torn down during the 1950s.







Comment: I searched all the pages of the Historical Message Boards and found infomation about Mr. Lucas but the pictures would no call up, so I am posting this in hopes the picture will stay retained herein.

Special Thanks: To Rhonda for providing her family history at another post herein. It is my understanding that Mr. Lucas was Rhonda's Great, Great Grandfather.

[Rhonda]

Can you believe they tore that wonderful home down to build a grocery store......which is now vacant?!

I believe I have posted, elsewhere on this site, 4 different photos of that home through the years. It changed drastically from the time it was originally built, until the day it was demolished. It was added on to several times making the home much larger, and changing the look greatly.

Tami Iorio is in the process of publishing a new book about Columbus. It will feature "then & now" photos of buildings. This home will be one of the features!

Thanks for posting the information.

[Rhonda]

The four photo versions are listed in the A&P Grocery portion of this message board. I believe we decided that was incorrect, as it was Standard Grocery that bought the property and built their store. I had the wrong store when I originally posted the photos quite some time ago. =)

[RER]

Rhonda: (Ref. William Lucas House)

The brief and the photo was taken from a non-copyright collection that was determined from an Iowa Library. All the information is public available for whatever they determine. There are no copyrights to the statements or the pictures that I posted.

The GAR booklet is not copyrighted and all within is free for use according to the lead information page to the booklet.

It is a shame that the house has been torn down.

Bob

[Deleted]

Rhonda........Yes, what a magnificent home the Lucas home was, having lived in that area of town in the 1940's, I had several Jefferson School friends living near the home and passed it many times on my way to their homes, some of them living on the west side of the railroad tracks which ran in the middle of Jackson St. starting at 9th St. and ran to the station at 7th. and Jackson. The home stood out about like Tipton Knoll at the time, it is a shame it was knocked down like several other fine homes in town.

[RER]

Some 1890s Business Advertisements
Columbus, Indiana

Comment: Talk about dangerous stoves using gasoline.......Wow.

[RER]

Orinoco Tanning Company
23rd Street & Highland Ave
Columbus, Indiana

UPDATE: I went to Google Earth and called up 23rd & Cottage Ave (former name Highland) and it looks like the building is still there. Now all those windows may have been bricked in and it is painted white. If someone happens to drive that way look at the building close. The long building is on the corner area.

Overview: During the 1890s and first part of the 1900s the tannery was operational. I remember the old buildings in that area during the 1950s, but not clear if they stand today.

Here are the management and administrative personnel that I found researching the early directories:

Management

-President: Arthur Overstreet
-Treasurer: Arthur Overstreet
-Secretary: Francis J. Crump

Administrative Staff

-Stenographer: Cora Barnstead
-Bookkeeper: Cora Johnson

Production Staff

-Foreman: Charles Barnstead
-Receiver: W. E. Springer

[RER]

Columbus Surgical Hospital 1880s & Early 1900s
733 Franklin Street (west side of street)
Columbus, Indiana

UPDATE: I went to Google Earth and the beautiful house has been torn down. The address above shows the Columbus Telephone Building and AT&T Swithchboard Building.

Brief: This house is such a beautiful brick structured home. As far as I know this house is still positioned on Franklin Street not far from the Columbus Visitor's Center. As you can see Mr. A. J. Banker, M. D. and W. T. Banker operated the medical facility.

I tried to find the nurses names and did find one that lived at 723 Franklin Street, but it didn't indicate where she worked. In search for nurses I only found 7 in the 1890s, but surely there may have been more but not listed.

Here are the 7 named Columbus nurses in the 1890s: Melissa Dillman, Lottie Dye, Sarah E. Allen, Walter Blakeman, Allie M. Sullivan, Clara J. Lacey and Elizabeth Sanders.

The Bartholomew County Directory (1903) indicated the title: Columbus Surgical Hospital



Question: Is this house still standing? Help! Richard, Rhonda and Rickey on this one.

[Rhonda]

I think 733 Franklin would have been across the street...east side...and is now part of First Pres. Even numbers are on the west side.

[Deleted]

The Sanitarium at 733 Franklin St. was on the east side of the street, and I believe some time latter it was a Surgical Hospital. I remember it being a apartment house for several years before the First Pres. church acquired the property.

[Gregg]

Bob,
Without referring to Google, I recall that the largest industrial building at the corner of 23rd and Cottage Ave. when we were growing up was the Vernco factory, owned by the Sprouse family. It may have evolved from the Orinoco Tannery.

[RER]

In reference to the last three posts by George, Rhonda and Gregg.

First: The address and names of the businesses (at 733 Franklin Street) were taken from the ad posted; and the Surgical Hospital name of the address was taken from the 1903-1904 Bartholomew County Directory. The side of the street was shown on Google Earth, with a colored square at the areas mentioned. It is obvious that you folks know the address of East or West side better than myself, and I thank you for the correction.

Second: Gregg you are probably correct on the building being used for the business of Vernco Company mentioned, during the 1950s and 1960s. The add related to the Orinoco Tanning Company (1890s) was also researched for an address in the 1903-1904 Bartholomew County book. The book revealed what I posted. The county book revealed 23rd Street and Highland Avenue. However, over the many years since the 1890s, apparently Highland Avenue was renamed to Cottage Avenue. The shape of the building on Goggle Earth does appear to be almost the same shape, but a side view looking for the many windows could not be seen.

Thank you all for adding to the comments, and the correction of the side of the street of the long gone beautiful facility of the past.



Researched References: Souvenir and official program: 19th annual encampment, Grand Army of the Republic, Department of Indiana and auxiliary societies, Columbus, In., May 17-20, 1898. The 1903-1904 Bartholomew County Directory. Pictures from booklet mentioned. Address and building search Goggle Earth 2009.

[RER]

Park Roller Mills
C. F. Schaefer Company
Located 903 3th Street & California St. Corner (East)
Columbus, Indiana

The mills was located close to the present Cummins Engine Company. The mill is long gone. There was a conflict of the address of this mill. The 1903-1904 Bartholomew County Directory said 4th Street, but I believe it was 3rd & California Streets. The mill operated until around 1968.

Owners/Management (years 1890s):

-Charles F. Schaefer
-John H. Schaefer
-George G. Schwartzkoph

Note: Charles during some period of time sold his interest to son John H. Schaefer and son-in-law George G. Schwartzkoph.

Employees Late 1890s and Early 1900s:

-Edward M. Miller
-Charles Stucker, Lab
-Geroge W. Stucker, Lab

Comment: I don't know what a position of Lab at the mill would mean as far as a job. Below is the mill in the 1890s and the picture after it is through the windows of Westermeier Hardware Store duing 1950.

1890s

1950s & 1960s


References: Souvenir and official program: 19th annual encampment, Grand Army of the Republic, Department of Indiana and auxiliary societies, Columbus, In., May 17-20, 1898. The 1903-1904 Bartholomew County Directory.

[BobLane]

This picture was taken from inside Westermeir's (SP?)hardware store on the corner of third & California st. The mill burned down sometime in 1946 or 47, not sure. I used to lay down in the weeds by the railroad track and put a penny on the rail to get it smashed. Dad would have taken the hide off me had he known. Bob Lane

[jimloesch]

RE: Orinoco Tanning at 23rd and Highland

The 1907 Columbus Directory indicates Cottage Ave. from 6th St north to 14th and Highland from 14th north to 25th St. Thanks for sharing.

[RER]

Nov 9, 2009 19:29:51 GMT -5 jimloesch said:

RE: Orinoco Tanning at 23rd and Highland

The 1907 Columbus Directory indicates Cottage Ave. from 6th St north to 14th and Highland from 14th north to 25th St. Thanks for sharing.

Hi Jim:

Ok.......I just re-read what you are saying Jim and that makes sense. So, the address below for the tanning company is correct and Cottage was extended, at some point. The the word Highland was deleted. Jim that solves the question on names of avenues.

I may be wrong but I think the original building is still there; but the windows may be bricked up and the building painted white, with a black roof. Thanks Jim for your additional clarification.

[RER]

Business Advertisements During 1890s
Columbus, Indiana

[RER]

Central School 1895
6th & Pearl Streets
Columbus, Indiana

Comment: This picture may create a few comments here; (on the boards) because this is the first picture many of us have observed for the titled Central School. The source is written and pictured in an 1890s presentation throughout. The below brief reveals 7 schools in Columbus during the 1890s. Further, research revealed 66 teachers for all the schools, including high school. Additionally, there was a total of 1,600 students in all those schools.



School Teachings: "The teaching of patriotism has a prominent place in our schools. It is policy to foster and encouraged the spirit of loyalty to America and her institutions."







Note: The last reference below states the colored school was behind the Central School.


Sources: Souvenir and official program: 19th annual encampment, Grand Army of the Republic, Department of Indiana and auxiliary societies, Columbus, In., May 17-20, 1898 No copyrights apply because of the age of the picture and booklet. Also, the address of this school was confirmed in the 1903-1904 Bartholomew County Directory.

[RER]

Ulrich Grocery & Bakery From 1852 Through Early 1900s
4th & Franklin Streets and 702 Chestnut Street (corner of 7th & Chestnut Street)
Columbus, Indiana



Note: This picture was taken today on the Google Street view and the building is still standing today. I remember riding my bike by this 7th Street store. They had two locations of business. Fred Ulrich and wife Ida Ulrich. The Bartholomew County Directory of 1903-1904 for businesses in the 1890s shows both addresses.

This picture is taken across from the new school on 7th Street year 2009.

Historic Ulrich Building