Henry County Historical Society, Inc

Henry County Historical Society, Inc Open early March - December! We're always open by appointment! Call us at 765-529-4028 or contact Henry County Historian Darrel Radford at 765-524-0530.

Thank you for your support of the oldest, continuously operating historical society in Indiana! The HCHS Museum is housed in the 1870 Italianate mansion that belonged to Civil War general William Grose. HCHS has an outstanding local history & genealogy library, collections of local artists, quilts, coverlets & textiles of all kinds, military artifacts from all U.S. wars, pioneers rooms, exhibits o

f industrial history (Maxwell & Briscoe, Hoosier Manufacturing Co., Jessie French Piano Factory), and much more. A tour through the HCHS Museum gives one an excellent sense of Henry County's entire history and its many facets.

On this day in Henry County history, Aug. 31, 1865, The New Castle Courier reported the Taylor House, one of New Castle’...
08/31/2026

On this day in Henry County history, Aug. 31, 1865, The New Castle Courier reported the Taylor House, one of New Castle’s early hotels at the southwest corner of Main and Race streets, was under new management. Brothers George and James Taylor had assumed ownership and planned additional facilities for guests.

“We have often heard travelers express their astonishment at the excellence of this house and declare that a better house could not be found in the State,” the newspaper said.

Here is a lithograph showing what the Taylor House looked like. It was built in 1856 by Jeremiah Page and George Goodwin. From 1857 to 1870 it was owned by proprietor John Taylor. After various changes in owners, it became the property of Josiah Bundy and was known as "the Bundy House." There was a hotel at this location for more than a century until Aug. 17, 1962, when the Patrick Henry Hotel closed its doors for good.

DESTINATION HENRY COUNTY
This Day In Henry County History is brought to you by Destination Henry County Indiana. Discover slam dunk experiences at www.HoopsInHenry.com. Visit the page at https;//www.Facebook.com/VisitHenryCounty.com
HELP US PRESERVE COMMUNITY HISTORY
Please join the Henry County Historical Society with a $25 annual membership. Visit our website at www.henrycountymuseum.org
COME SEE US!
Come visit the Henry County Historical Society Museum at 606 S. 14th St., New Castle and see a 1911 Maxwell alongside a 1930 Chrysler. We're ANYTIME by appointment. Call 765-529-4028 or 765-524-0530 and leave a message.

On this date in Henry County history, Aug. 30, 1984, then U.S. Sen. Dan Quayle visited New Castle's Dana Plant and talke...
08/30/2026

On this date in Henry County history, Aug. 30, 1984, then U.S. Sen. Dan Quayle visited New Castle's Dana Plant and talked with employees. Quayle brought news of a new GM plant coming to Fort Wayne, which could mean business for Dana here.

DESTINATION HENRY COUNTY
This Day In Henry County History is brought to you by Destination Henry County Indiana. Discover slam dunk experiences at www.HoopsInHenry.com. Visit the page at https;//www.Facebook.com/VisitHenryCounty.com
HELP US PRESERVE COMMUNITY HISTORY
Please join the Henry County Historical Society with a $25 annual membership. Visit our website at www.henrycountymuseum.org
COME SEE US!
Come visit the Henry County Historical Society Museum at 606 S. 14th St., New Castle and see a 1911 Maxwell. We're open ANYTIME by appointment. Call 765-529-4028 or 765-524-0530 and leave a message.

On this date in Henry County history, Aug. 29, 1971, the Burr building at the northeast corner of Broad & Main streets, ...
08/29/2026

On this date in Henry County history, Aug. 29, 1971, the Burr building at the northeast corner of Broad & Main streets, was destroyed by fire.

The photos here was taken by Courier-Times photographer Ernie Klotsch. A firefighter battles the blaze from high atop a ladder.

Here are excerpts from stories by Lee House and Betty O'Neal Giboney published in the Aug. 30, 1971 edition of The Courier-Times.

LEE HOUSE STORY
"The worst fire in the city's history virtually destroyed the five-story Burr Building on the northeast corner of Main and Broad streets Sunday.

"Although heavily damaged by water and smoke, the north third of the building remains relatively intact.

"New Castle Fire Chief Joe Schuffman estimated damage from the building and contents of the stores and offices therein in excess of $750,000.

"The stores include Beall's Men's Wear and Morton's Apparel Shop on the ground floor, Broad Street side. Occupying upper floor offices were attorneys Dwight S. Beckner, Loys Green, Fred Hall and the firm of Edwards, Edwards and Edwards; also Dr. Arthur Burnett, opthamologist; Dr. Frederick Born, chiropractor; also the Princess and Hi Style beauty shops; and the offices of the Community Action Program.

"Three offices on the ground floor level, Main Street side, had only water and smoke damage. They include The News Republican, Linda's Beauty Shop and Tomiko Brenner, seamstress.

"There was some water and smoke damage to the adjacent building on Broad Street occupied by Smith's Jewelers; also excessive water in the basement of the adjacent building occupied by Charles Brown, attorney.

"Cause of the fire has not been determined, but is believed to have been started in the basement of Morton's.

BETTY O'NEAL GIBONEY STORY
"Water showered down this morning through the charred ruins of what had been until early Sunday morning a New Castle landmark, the Burr Building.

"The name it bore related to a family prominent in the early history of New Castle, but had nothing to do with its present owners.

"The Burr Building was completed in 1905 and had been built by Lycurgus Lorenzo Burr and Horace L. Burr."

"Some time between 1910 and 1912 -- dates are not certain -- first the third floor was added and then the fourth floor was constructed on top.

"Lloyd Beall opened his men's store, presently owned by Dale Biddinger Jr., about 1933. Nathan Dann, owner of Morton's Apparel Shop, came the same year. "

GREAT FIRES IN NEW CASTLE HISTORY

The Courier-Times reported "with an estimated loss of the building at $750,000, the Burr Building fire is by far the most costly in New Castle history. Nearest contenders at that time were:

2. Sears Roebuck fire of June 24, 1969, damage estimated at $350,000;

3. New Castle Structural Steel of March 8, 1967; damage estimated at $350,000;

4. The Coliseum Building of April 20, 1943; damage estimated at $250,000

5. Jennings Lumber Co. of Aug. 7, 1955; damage estimated at $175,000
Going much further back, these fires proved devastating to people and property:

A. Bundy Hotel, 1899;

B. Burr Building, 1900;
C. Grand Theatre, Feb. 1916 (fireman George Conduitt died from injuries received in that fire).

Do you remember Burr Building fire or any of the others?

DESTINATION HENRY COUNTY
This Day In Henry County History is brought to you by Destination Henry County Indiana. Discover slam dunk experiences at www.HoopsInHenry.com. Visit the page at https;//www.Facebook.com/VisitHenryCounty.com
HELP US PRESERVE COMMUNITY HISTORY
Please join the Henry County Historical Society with a $25 annual membership. Visit our website at www.henrycountymuseum.org
COME SEE US!
Come visit the Henry County Historical Society Museum at 606 S. 14th St., New Castle and see a 1911 Maxwell. We're open ANYTIME by appointment. 765-529-4028 or 765-524-0530 and leave a message.

On this date in Henry County history, Aug. 28, 1983, an expansion project was under way at Middletown’s Liebhardt Mills,...
08/28/2026

On this date in Henry County history, Aug. 28, 1983, an expansion project was under way at Middletown’s Liebhardt Mills, Inc., thanks to a $10,000 industrial development infrastructure program grant from the state. The grant’s purpose was to extend municipal water service westward. Henry County Historian Darrel Radford was editor and publisher of The Henry County News Republican then and covered this story for that paper.

Pictured here is an aerial view of the plant when it was Liebhardt-Mills.

Once the nation's third-largest pillow manufacturer, Liebhardt-Mills was a part of the Middletown community for more than a century.

In 1848 Middletown’s Liebhardt family founded Liebhardt Woolen Mills there, later to become Liebhardt Mills, which made a name for itself selling pillows and bedding.

From a March 2, 2007 story in the Anderson Herald-Bulletin written by Lee Noble:
John Liebhardt was born in Strasbourg, France, in 1814 and came to America at the age of 19. In 1848 he moved to Middletown and soon purchased the grist mill on Deer Creek. Liebhardt stopped using the mill as a grist mill and created a woolen mill, making mostly socks and blankets. Thus Liebhardt founded the Leibhardt Woolen Mills.

The woolen mill was the first of its kind in the area. Settlers came from near and far to sell or buy wool or to have it washed, combed and dyed so that it was ready for socks, mittens and other clothing.

A large water wheel provided power for the mill. It was moved in 1885 to South Eighth Street, where steam provided the power.

It eventually changed faces, as the company expanded operations, building five additional facilities around the country and narrowing down its product line.
After becoming a pillow factory, Liebhardt Mills Inc. was known for having sold pillows and quilts to prominent Hollywood stars, including Mary Pickford. Pickford, a silent movie star, helped establish Paramount Studios as an industry leader.

Although she was not the first female performer to achieve star status, Pickford was often considered the movies’ first superstar. Thirty-five quilts were also delivered to the queen of Romania.

It operated under the Liebhardt name until 1998. WestPoint Stevens bought the business and operated it until 2005.

What are your memories of Liebhardt Mills?

DESTINATION HENRY COUNTY
This Day In Henry County History is brought to you by Destination Henry County Indiana. Discover slam dunk experiences at www.HoopsInHenry.com. Visit the page at https;//www.Facebook.com/VisitHenryCounty.com
HELP US PRESERVE COMMUNITY HISTORY
Please join the Henry County Historical Society with a $25 annual membership. Visit our website at www.henrycountymuseum.org
COME SEE US!
Come visit the Henry County Historical Society Museum at 606 S. 14th St., New Castle and see a 1911 Maxwell. We're open ANYTIME by appointment. Call 765-529-4028 or 765-524-0530 and leave a message.

We had a great time at the “Our Towns” book-signing event Thursday. Thanks to Kyle and Shannon Hannon of Filibuster Pres...
08/28/2026

We had a great time at the “Our Towns” book-signing event Thursday. Thanks to Kyle and Shannon Hannon of Filibuster Press, LLC for their help. You can now order the new book by mail. Go to https://filibusterpress.com/our-townshtml

TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT!Come join us at the Henry County Historical Society, 606 S. 14th St., New Castle, for a book-signing...
08/27/2026

TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT!
Come join us at the Henry County Historical Society, 606 S. 14th St., New Castle, for a book-signing event featuring Henry County Historian Darrel Radford's "Our Towns."

At 7 p.m. Darrel will give a short PowerPoint presentation about the new book. Then, light refreshments will be served and Darrel will sign books for purchasers.

Both credit cards and cash will be received tonight, thanks to Kyle and Shannon Hannon of Filibuster Press, which published the book. Also thanks to our friends from Mitchell-Fleming Printing in Knightstown, which did an excellent job printing the book. Thanks as well to sponsors Duke Hamm, Josh Estelle and Hubler Automotive for their support through advertising along with Historical Society Board President Richard McKnight.

The book contains more than 350 photos of Henry County's yesteryears, thanks to the photos of Doug Magers and digital files of the late Mike Bertram. It is a MUST for any local history enthusiast's collection.

Hope to see you tonight. For more information, call Darrel Radford at 765-524-0530.

On this date in local history, Aug. 27, 1913, the New Castle Daily Times had the headline "Trained Nurse Starts Hospita...
08/27/2026

On this date in local history, Aug. 27, 1913, the New Castle Daily Times had the headline "Trained Nurse Starts Hospital. Mrs. Thomas C. Baker leases Butler Hospital Property on S. 11th Street.

Here is an image of the front page headline. The article read:

Mrs. T.C. Baker, a trained nurse residing on South 15th Street, has closed a lease with the owners of the Butler hospital and will take charge early next week as soon as the building is vacated, and will equip it with hospital appliances and expects to open it about the middle of September. In her undertaking, Mrs. Baker has the support of practically every physician in the city.

The institution will be known as the New Castle Hospital and will be open to the practice of surgery and medicine to all physicians. Trained nurses will be in charge of the patients at all times.

Mrs. Baker has had a number of years' experience as a trained nurse. She has served in some of the largest hospitals in the country and is eminently well equipped for the work before her.

Mrs. Baker proposes to have the building thoroughly renovated and decorated, and will have the latest appliances installed in the operating room. New Castle has long needed just such an institution and this may prove to be a stepping stone to something of a more elaborate character, for a hospital movement is on in New Castle just now but it has been laying dormant for some time.

DESTINATION HENRY COUNTY
This Day In Henry County History is brought to you by Destination Henry County Indiana. Discover slam dunk experiences at www.HoopsInHenry.com. Visit the page at https;//www.Facebook.com/VisitHenryCounty.com
HELP US PRESERVE COMMUNITY HISTORY
Please join the Henry County Historical Society with a $25 annual membership. Visit our website at www.henrycountymuseum.org
COME SEE US!
Come visit the Henry County Historical Society Museum at 606 S. 14th St., New Castle and see a 1911 Maxwell along with a 1930 Chrysler. We're open ANYTIME by appointment. Call 765-529-4028 or 765-524-0530 and leave a message.

What does this beloved Blue River Valley English, Latin and drama teacher have in common with famous author Ross Lockrid...
08/26/2026

What does this beloved Blue River Valley English, Latin and drama teacher have in common with famous author Ross Lockridge Jr.? Find out by purchasing a copy of "Our Towns," a new book by Henry County Historian Darrel Radford.

A book-signing event is planned 7 p.m. Thursday at the Henry County Historical Society, 606 S. 14th St., New Castle. Both credit cards and cash will be accepted. The book is priced at $24.95, with virtually all proceeds going to the museum, a fixture in 'our town' since 1902.

If you can't make it or live out of the area, you can purchase one here:

https://filibusterpress.com/our-towns.html

On this date in Henry County history, Aug. 26, 1907, the New Castle Courier reported that "Kennard was all torn up" but ...
08/26/2026

On this date in Henry County history, Aug. 26, 1907, the New Castle Courier reported that "Kennard was all torn up" but for an exciting reason.

The short front page notice read:

"Interurban activity in this section of the county is attracting attention. Steel rails are being laid through the corporation and the streets are badly torn up. The residents, however, gladly welcome the work, for they realize what it will result in after a while."

Pictured here is an interurban car from the past, coming down Lincoln Avenue in New Castle, courtesy Doug Magers files. Do you have any memories associated with the interurban in Kennard? Perhaps a relative who talked about it at one time?

DESTINATION HENRY COUNTY
This Day In Henry County History is brought to you by Destination Henry County Indiana. Discover slam dunk experiences at www.HoopsInHenry.com. Visit the page at https;//www.Facebook.com/VisitHenryCounty.com
HELP US PRESERVE COMMUNITY HISTORY
Please join the Henry County Historical Society with a $25 annual membership. Visit our website at www.henrycountymuseum.org
COME SEE US!
Come visit the Henry County Historical Society Museum at 606 S. 14th St., New Castle and see a 1911 Maxwell. We're open ANYTIME by appointment. Call 529-4028 and leave a message.

On this day in history, Aug. 25, 1929, the doughboy memorial was dedicated in Henry County Memorial Park by the Henry Co...
08/25/2026

On this day in history, Aug. 25, 1929, the doughboy memorial was dedicated in Henry County Memorial Park by the Henry County Chapter of the American War Mothers. The Phyllis Whitworth painting here shows the doughboy's original location.
The statue was placed in honor of soldiers who served during World War I between 1917 and 1918. On July 19, 2017, The Courier-Times reported on plans to restore the doughboy statue. A month later, the Henry County Memorial Park Board accepted a plan that would move the restored statue in front of the W.G. Smith building.

Not everyone was happy with the plan. Traditionalists didn't argue with the need for restoration, but wanted the statue returned to its original spot. County officials stressed American Disability Act concerns prohibited that. Once the doughboy was restored, it had to, by law, be in a place that met ADA standards. Its original site was not conducive to that, officials said.

On Nov. 14, 2017, the statue was removed and shipped away for repairs. The refurbished doughboy was dedicated in its new spot by the W.G. Smith Building on Nov. 11, 2018, the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I.

According to Wikipedia, Doughboy as applied to the infantry of the U.S. Army first appears in accounts of the Mexican–American War of 1846–1848. A number of theories have been put forward to explain this usage:

Cavalrymen used the term to deride foot soldiers, because the brass buttons on their uniforms looked like the flour dumplings or dough cakes called "doughboys" or because of the flour or pipe clay which the soldiers used to polish their white belts.
Observers noticed U.S. infantry forces were constantly covered with chalky dust from marching through the dry terrain of northern Mexico, giving the men the appearance of unbaked dough or the mud bricks of the area known as adobe, with "adobe" transformed to 'dobies' and then further into "doughboy".

Another theory was doughboy originated from the soldiers' method of cooking field rations of the 1840s and 1850s into doughy flour-and-rice concoctions baked in the ashes of a camp fire. This does not explain why only infantrymen received the appellation.

One explanation offered for the usage of the term in World War I is that female Salvation Army volunteers went to France to cook millions of doughnuts and bring them to the troops on the front line, although this explanation ignores the usage of the term in the earlier war.

One joke explanation for the term's origin was that, in World War I, the doughboys were "kneaded" in 1914 but did not rise until 1917.

According to the Henry County Veterans Office, 1,186 Henry County men served in World War I. There are 25 names of county soldiers who died in World War I on the big monument at Memorial Park.

DESTINATION HENRY COUNTY
This Day In Henry County History is brought to you by Destination Henry County Indiana. Discover slam dunk experiences at www.HoopsInHenry.com. Visit the page at https;//www.Facebook.com/VisitHenryCounty.com
HELP US PRESERVE COMMUNITY HISTORY
Please join the Henry County Historical Society with a $25 annual membership. Visit our website at www.henrycountymuseum.org
COME SEE US!
Come visit the Henry County Historical Society Museum at 606 S. 14th St., New Castle and see a 1911 Maxwell. We're open ANYTIME by appointment. Call 765-529-4028 or 765-524-0530 and leave a message.

Address

606 S 14th Street
New Castle, IN
47362

Opening Hours

Thursday 1pm - 4pm
Friday 1pm - 4pm
Saturday 1pm - 4pm

Telephone

(765) 529-4028

Website

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