Jonesboro, Indiana Historical Society

05/03/2026

Watch this if you can you will be glad that you did.

04/13/2026

Saturday April 18th.

03/06/2026

Where was the triangle Park located?

The modern location most closely associated with the historical Triangle Park in Jonesboro is Jonesboro Community Park. This area was the site where the Jonesboro Flyers and the Jonesboro Triangles played their home games in the mid-1920s, including the legendary 1924 matchup against the Muncie Flyers that drew a crowd of over 3,000 people.
Jonesboro Community Park
This park serves as the primary recreational space for the town and is situated at the gateway to the community, likely deriving its historical "Triangle" name from its proximity to the three-way intersection of Main Street (SR 15) and Fairmount Avenue.
* Location: 708 Fairmount Ave, Jonesboro, IN 46938.
* Amenities: Features a playground, picnic areas, and a creek where visitors can relax.
* Accessibility: Offers wheelchair-accessible parking and entrances.
* Hours: Open 24 hours daily, making it easy for historical society members or visitors to stop by and envision the old football field.
Historically, the "Triangle" area was the heart of local athletic pride. For your page, you might note that while the park has been modernized, it stands as the same ground where NFL pioneers like Cooney Checkaye once competed in front of thousands of local fans.

03/06/2026

There has been recurring interest in the Jonesboro flyers football team history. Here is a summary of some of that information.

The "Flyers" era connects our small town directly to the chaotic, "Wild West" early days of professional football and the birth of the NFL.
Below is a detailed summary specifically formatted for the Jonesboro Historical Society page, followed by some specific archival details you can use for the museum’s records.
🏈 Facebook Post Draft
Headline: When the NFL Came to Jonesboro: The Story of the Jonesboro Flyers
Did you know that in the mid-1920s, Jonesboro was home to a professional football team with direct ties to the founding of the NFL? 🏟️
Meet the Jonesboro Flyers.
While they were known as the Muncie Flyers when they became one of the 14 charter members of the NFL (then called the APFA) in 1920, by 1925, this legendary "town team" had found a new home right here in Jonesboro.
The Move to Jonesboro (1925)
After struggling to find a consistent home field and fan support in Muncie, the team’s owner and legendary quarterback, Cooney Checkaye (a co-founder of the NFL!), moved operations to Jonesboro. For the 1925 season, they weren't just visitors—they were the Jonesboro Flyers.
A Winning Tradition
The Flyers played 9 of their 11 games that year on our local turf (most notably at Triangle Park). They were a powerhouse in the independent "bush leagues," finishing the 1925 season with an impressive 6–2–3 record.
Why it Matters
In an era of leather helmets and wool sweaters, these men played for the love of the game and a share of the "gate" (ticket sales). Seeing names like the Chicago Bears or Green Bay Packers today, it’s incredible to remember that a team with that same pedigree once called Jonesboro home.
The Flyers officially disbanded after an incomplete 1926 season, but their legacy remains a proud chapter of Grant County sports history.
Help us preserve this history! Do you have old photos, jerseys, or stories passed down from your grandparents about the Flyers or games at Triangle Park? Drop a comment below or visit us at the Museum!

📜 Archival Details for the Museum
If you are creating a physical or digital display for the Jonesboro Historical Society, here are the technical details to include:
1925 Season Snapshot:
* Official Name: Jonesboro Flyers (formerly Muncie/Congerville Flyers)
* Head Coach/Owner: Severin "Cooney" Checkaye
* Home Field: Triangle Park, Jonesboro, IN
* 1925 Record: 6–2–3
* Key Game: A notable 1924 precursor match saw the Flyers (still Muncie-based) defeat the local Jonesboro Triangles 27–0 at Triangle Park in front of 3,000 fans, which likely influenced the team's decision to move to Jonesboro the following year.
Historical Significance:
The Flyers' owner, Cooney Checkaye, sat on the running board of a Hupmobile in a Canton, Ohio, dealership in 1920 to help organize the league that became the NFL. Because the Flyers played in Jonesboro in 1925 and 1926, our town has a direct "two-degree" connection to the founding of the National Football League.
Would you like me to draft a more formal letter to the Grant County Chronicle to see if they have any specific 1925-26 game photos in their archives?

03/06/2026

🏛️ The J.C. Knight Time Capsule: A Final Report?
Since the demolition of our beloved J.C. Knight building last summer, the Historical Society has reviewed "elaborate remembrances" of buried treasure. We’ve done the detective work, and here is where the legend stands today.
🎓 The Class of 1972 (Case Closed)
The name most often brought up is Mr. Bob Bothwell and the Class of 1972.
The Logic: While a capsule was indeed buried when this class was in 8th grade, multiple witnesses (including JoAnn Maynard and Randall Hughes) have confirmed the truth.
The Conclusion: The class gathered during Senior Week in 1972 and dug it up together. This specific piece of history was retrieved over 50 years ago.
🌟 Credible Leads: What Might Still Be There
While the building is gone, we give high "credence" to several other accounts. Most importantly, because the Circle Drive remains largely intact, there is still hope for these three:
The Gold Capsule (1974): Bill Fern remembers a capsule painted gold, buried right in front of the main building.
The Class Project (1978–79): Matt Leisure recalls a massive class-wide effort to bury items during this era.
The Mrs. McCarty Capsule (1985–86): This is our strongest lead. Chrissy Schmerber and Josh Smith specifically remember burying a capsule in the Circle Drive.
📍 Our Logical Conclusion
The 1972 capsule is long gone, but the "insistence" from later classes carries weight. Since the demolition crews focused on the building footprint and left the Circle Drive area alone, it is very possible that the capsules from 1974, 1979, and 1985 are still resting right where they were left.
The building may be gone, but the ground still holds its secrets.

If you have anything that you could add to the story, please do.

02/20/2026

02/18/2026

The Jonesboro Historical Society would like to give a huge shout-out and a heartfelt "Thank You" to Sam Adams for hosting an incredible President’s Day event at our museum this past Monday!

Sam’s passion for history was on full display with his extensive collection of presidential memorabilia. From the unique Pez dispenser timeline to rare historical books and campaign artifacts, there was something to fascinate everyone.

The day was packed with:

Interactive Quizzes & Trivia that challenged even our local history buffs!

Engaging Presentations that brought the stories of our nation's leaders to life.

Fun Games for the whole family.

Events like these are what keep our community’s history alive and vibrant. We are so grateful to Sam for the countless hours of hard work he put into researching, organizing, and presenting this informative display.