White County Indiana Historical Society

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White County Indiana Historical Society 101 South Bluff Street Monticello, Indiana, 47960; (574)-583-3998; Open Wed. through Friday. 10 AM to 4 PM. Email: [email protected] Come in and visit.

Founded in 1911 the White County Historical Society is a not-for-profit Society established to bring together those who share a common interest in White County Indiana's history. The Society has a Museum that has many displays recently reworked for public viewing and a variety of programs for our community. Our new remodel building interior provides the public an opportunity to research and to share their research with others. The current WC Genealogy Society is housed on the main floor. Between the two societies there are many historical files available for your research needs. We also have research services available.

Earlier in the week I posted an article about Twin Lakes School printed in the WHERE magazine. This is an article from W...
10/16/2026

Earlier in the week I posted an article about Twin Lakes School printed in the WHERE magazine. This is an article from WHERE dated July 1974 regarding the 1974 tornado. The 1974 tornado caused significant damage: $4.7 million in physical damages and $600,000 in contents damage.
Roosevelt Junior High suffered $1.7 million in physical damages and $150,000 in contents damage. Meadowlawn Elementary had $1 million in physical damages and $108,000 in contents damage.

Miss Indiana (India) Roberts was born in 1871 to Robert & Susan Scowden Roberts. She was named after the great state of ...
10/15/2026

Miss Indiana (India) Roberts was born in 1871 to Robert & Susan Scowden Roberts. She was named after the great state of Indiana. India married William R. Beeman in 1918. She passed away in 1921.
India was a 1889 graduate of Monticello High School and began her teaching career in 1890 at the Gleason School in Newton County.
In 1891 she moved to the West Point School, West Point Township, White County. She taught at many White County Schools including Seafield, Brown Edge, Clear Springs, Wolcott, Fair Oak or Popcorn, Pike Creek, and Reynolds. India's career ended in 1917 at the Union Brick School in Union Township, White County.
Her scrapbook includes many details of her teaching career including student names and a few photos.
A scanned copy of India's scrapbook was gifted to the WCHS by Eli Tribbett.
Following are a few of her entries.

The following appeared in the August 1973 edition of the WHERE on Lakes Shafer and Freeman.The issue also included an ar...
10/14/2026

The following appeared in the August 1973 edition of the WHERE on Lakes Shafer and Freeman.
The issue also included an article entitled, "Monticello Twin Lakes School Corporation Has Finest Facilities for Its Size in The Entire State" written by John L. Fisher. It states, "The school corporation is wealthy for its size with 43 million dollars in assessed valuation behind it...Among the many features in the high school is a 720-seat walnut paneled theatre...Earlier this month, the Twin Lakes School Corporation for the first time ever was given a "First Class" rating by the State Board of Inspectors.

09/28/2026

Join us September 29th at 6 PM for a intriguing look back at one of the most solemn and significant journeys in American history – the funeral train of President Abraham Lincoln.

Following Lincoln’s assassination in April 1865, his funeral train traveled from Washington, DC to his final resting place in Springfield, Illinois, stopping in communities along the way so grieving citizens could pay their respects. Among those communities was Reynolds, Indiana where local residents gathered to witness this historic moment.

This program offers a unique opportunity to discover a remarkable chapter of White County history and the community’s connection to one of the most memorable events in the Nation’s past.

Thank you, Paige Gutwein for filling the planters at the WCHS to welcome in the Fall Season! Your thoughtfulness has add...
09/28/2026

Thank you, Paige Gutwein for filling the planters at the WCHS to welcome in the Fall Season! Your thoughtfulness has added a warm and welcoming touch to the Museum.
Happy Fall to all of our members and friends! We appreciate your support very much.

Thank you to Linda Newman Brown for the COLONEL RALPH NEWMAN, US Air Force, collection donation. The donation includes p...
09/25/2026

Thank you to Linda Newman Brown for the COLONEL RALPH NEWMAN, US Air Force, collection donation. The donation includes photos, a model of the F105 airplane he flew in 1959-61, and other personal items.
And thank you to Belinda Gutwein for preparing the exhibit.

Thank you to GWEN GUTWEIN who gifted the museum her original oil painting of the Kitchen/DuVall round barn located near ...
09/17/2026

Thank you to GWEN GUTWEIN who gifted the museum her original oil painting of the Kitchen/DuVall round barn located near Buffalo, Indiana. The painting appears in Heritage Barns of Indiana, Paintings by Gwendolynn Gutwein, published by M. T. Publishing Company, Inc.
The barn was built by Elizabeth Kitchen in 1906 shortly after her husband's untimely death. It was built of oak harvested from the farm. It is 60 ft in diameter with a spectacular roof structure. The hay mow could hold over 100 tons of hay!
James Malone of Buffalo was the architect and builder.
Pictured is Gwen and her beautiful painting, as well as a photo of Elizabeth Kitchen and son Paul shortly after construction was finished and a photo of the roof structure.

Does anyone know the location of this photo?
09/16/2026

Does anyone know the location of this photo?

CHALMERS, INDIANA Chalmers originally known as Mudge's Station owned by Gardner Mudge who donated land to the Louisville...
09/16/2026

CHALMERS, INDIANA
Chalmers originally known as Mudge's Station owned by Gardner Mudge who donated land to the Louisville, New Albany & Chicago Company in 1854. A small depot was built there.
Mudge's Station included a few small businesses and a few dwellings.
In 1873 Jacob Raub (his wife, Sallie Cole Reynolds was the daughter of early settler Benjamin Reynolds) platted the town of Chalmers on what was the Ross Farm. Chalmers had 103 lots.
One of the first gravel roads in the county passed through the town enabling farmers to get their produce to Chalmers easily and safely.
Chalmers had three churches - Methodist, Baptist and Presbyterian.
Below are photos of Chalmers circa 1912 and today. Also is a picture by Manden Lucas of Chalmers

Address

Monticello, IN

Opening Hours

Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+15745833998

Website

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