Indiana really is full of cool things to do if you really look. For this series, we will explore some of these things. Today, we will talk about the Strawberry Festival in Crawfordsville. The 2017 festival runs June 9, 10, 11.
The festival primarily takes place on the grounds of the home of Union General Henry S. Lane. There you will find fried deliciousness! I mean, a deep-fried funnel cake is not good on your heart, but they sire taste great! There are also crafts and venders and music. I LOVE live music, and it usually consists of gospel, country, folk, and traditional. There's a car show and antique tractor show as well.
If you are a sporty person, go check out the softball tournament at the Elston ball diamonds or the tennis tournament at Crawfordsville High School. Personally, I have a blast at the softball tourney, the car show, and the music.
The Strawberry Festival is a great event in a charming, very historic town. It is great to see the community come together for a weekend and enjoy each other's company. Also, take this time to go to the Montgomery County Visitor's Bureau just a block away and take a brochure and go on one of the many Crawofordsville walking tours! You will find it is a unique town!
Next time we will talk about the Covered Bridge Festival!
Monday, January 9, 2017
Thursday, December 29, 2016
Jungle Park Speedway
There is no doubt that auto racing plays a big role in Indiana's story. We are home to the world's most popular race track, the world's biggest auto race, and the home of many world-famous racers. Jungle Park Speedway, nestled in between Veedersburg and Rockville, has a history that could match all of these.
Earl Padgett built the track with his oldest son. He always wanted to make a "fun park" for people to go to and have a good time. He also loved racing, so he decided to build a race track. He looked at a big chunk of woods off of a dirt road, which is now Highway 41. When he saw the land he stated "This place sure looks like a jungle". He purchased the property and the work began. Padgett and his son got to work blowing boulders up, removing trees, and making the track bit by bit.
After a lot of work, Jungle Park Speedway and Resort opened in 1926. The property consisted of a 12 mile oval, if you can call it that, track with a tar and gravel surface and a four-tiered wooden grandstand. The Jungle Park Hotel and guest cabins were right next to the track. The cafe and filling station, which is designed to look like a windmill, and the garage sit about 1/4 mile down the road.
The track opened for racing on July 5, 1926. It was sanctioned by the Wabash Valley Racing Association and was won by Fred Roberts. After racers came, they became scared of the track. The racing surface always needed upkeep, and there were no walls besides the ones at the grandstands and a wood plank wall that divided the track from the road. If a racer crashed, they would either wind up in Sugar Creek or hit a tree, which often proved fatal.
The first fatality at the track came one year after it opened. On August 15, 1927, track manager Earl Parker was repairing a rut in the racing surface during parade laps before a race. Driver Don Peters was trying to catch up to the field and was going fast. Parker did not see the car coming, so he was not able to get out of the way. Peters struck Parker, killing him instantly.
The next death come on July 8, 1928. Spectators Charles Kiger and his wife decided to attempt to cross the track during a green flag run. Back then, this was common. Driver Howard King was not able to avoid them in time, and he struck them. Mrs. Kiger was killed instantly. Mr. Kiger survived, but suffered from two broken legs and five broken ribs. King's car flipped over, but he was not seriously hurt.
The first driver fatality was on September 2, 1928. Driver Walter Ax was attempting to pass Ira Hall when he lost control. His car skidded off of the track and hit the wood plank wall and landed in a ditch. He died instantly.
Russel Greneard, a driver was killed on June 5, 1930 when his car caught fire on turn two during the May 4 races. He jumped out, but died from his injuries on June 5.
Frank "Teenie" Johnson suffered what is probably the most gruesome death at the track. On July 27, 1930 his right spindle broke, causing him to careen off of the track. He crashed into trees and his car folded literally in half, right at the cockpit, causing him to die instantly.
Edward Leeper's fatal accident on August 28, 1932 has been called a suicide by many people. Before he got into his car for the warm up laps, he reportedly said "Nothing would suit me better than to go down there and end it all today". During the warm up lap, his car sped up in between the grandstands and turn one. His car ramped the embankment, causing him to wreck into trees, killing him.
The track went eighteen years without a fatal accident until October 1, 1950. Stock car races were being held on this day, which is different from the usual sprint cars. Driver Donald Salladay lost control of his car in turn three and it flipped and hit a tree, killing him instantly.
The final driver fatality came on September 28, 1952. Ralph Scott lost control of his car and flipped end over end into the infield.
October 9, 1960 would prove to be the final race day at Jungle Park. Spectator Annabelle Sigafoose was sitting in the infield on a picnic blanket watching the race, being held on the 1/4 track, which cut into the infield of the original 1/2 mile track. Arlis Marcum's midget car hit a rut and careened into the infield. Mrs. Sigafoose was struck and drug several feet under the car. She died at Culver Union Hospital in Crawfordsville. This accident shut down the track.
The track went into a state of disrepair. The racing surface quickly became overgrown and by the 1970s, all the grandstands were demolished besides one, an added fifth tier built in 1947. Today this section of grandstands, the original grandstand walls, and the outline of the track are still there. If you look very carefully at a patch of racing surface sticking through the grass on the front stretch, you can still faintly see the start/finish line.
The track operated from 1926-1942. Racing was banned during World War II. The track re-opened in 1945 and shut down again in 1955. It reopened for one race in 1960.
The track also hosted many Indianapolis 500 champions and racers including Crawfordsville native "Howdy" Wicox, Ira Hall, "Dutch" Baumann, Rex Mays, and so many more. Today, the Sentman/Chaplain family own the track. They host the "Rumble in the Jungle" in October, which is a big car show and a day to honor the track and its history. It was last held on October 9, 2016 which marked sixty years to the day that it shut down. The Indiana Memorial Racing Association (IRMA) unveiled a historical marker right outside the grandstands. The guest cabin is a private residence now. The cafe is shut down and in a state of disrepair. The garage is used as a private garage today, and the hotel burned down in 2005 during restoration.
This place is a very special place. I have been there three times and I still get goosebumps when I even just go by. If you are able to, pull over and take a good look at this place. Just ask for
permission to go past the gate! These photos are from October 2016, taken by me.
Earl Padgett built the track with his oldest son. He always wanted to make a "fun park" for people to go to and have a good time. He also loved racing, so he decided to build a race track. He looked at a big chunk of woods off of a dirt road, which is now Highway 41. When he saw the land he stated "This place sure looks like a jungle". He purchased the property and the work began. Padgett and his son got to work blowing boulders up, removing trees, and making the track bit by bit.
After a lot of work, Jungle Park Speedway and Resort opened in 1926. The property consisted of a 12 mile oval, if you can call it that, track with a tar and gravel surface and a four-tiered wooden grandstand. The Jungle Park Hotel and guest cabins were right next to the track. The cafe and filling station, which is designed to look like a windmill, and the garage sit about 1/4 mile down the road.
The track opened for racing on July 5, 1926. It was sanctioned by the Wabash Valley Racing Association and was won by Fred Roberts. After racers came, they became scared of the track. The racing surface always needed upkeep, and there were no walls besides the ones at the grandstands and a wood plank wall that divided the track from the road. If a racer crashed, they would either wind up in Sugar Creek or hit a tree, which often proved fatal.
The first fatality at the track came one year after it opened. On August 15, 1927, track manager Earl Parker was repairing a rut in the racing surface during parade laps before a race. Driver Don Peters was trying to catch up to the field and was going fast. Parker did not see the car coming, so he was not able to get out of the way. Peters struck Parker, killing him instantly.
The next death come on July 8, 1928. Spectators Charles Kiger and his wife decided to attempt to cross the track during a green flag run. Back then, this was common. Driver Howard King was not able to avoid them in time, and he struck them. Mrs. Kiger was killed instantly. Mr. Kiger survived, but suffered from two broken legs and five broken ribs. King's car flipped over, but he was not seriously hurt.
The first driver fatality was on September 2, 1928. Driver Walter Ax was attempting to pass Ira Hall when he lost control. His car skidded off of the track and hit the wood plank wall and landed in a ditch. He died instantly.
Russel Greneard, a driver was killed on June 5, 1930 when his car caught fire on turn two during the May 4 races. He jumped out, but died from his injuries on June 5.
Frank "Teenie" Johnson suffered what is probably the most gruesome death at the track. On July 27, 1930 his right spindle broke, causing him to careen off of the track. He crashed into trees and his car folded literally in half, right at the cockpit, causing him to die instantly.
Edward Leeper's fatal accident on August 28, 1932 has been called a suicide by many people. Before he got into his car for the warm up laps, he reportedly said "Nothing would suit me better than to go down there and end it all today". During the warm up lap, his car sped up in between the grandstands and turn one. His car ramped the embankment, causing him to wreck into trees, killing him.
The track went eighteen years without a fatal accident until October 1, 1950. Stock car races were being held on this day, which is different from the usual sprint cars. Driver Donald Salladay lost control of his car in turn three and it flipped and hit a tree, killing him instantly.
The final driver fatality came on September 28, 1952. Ralph Scott lost control of his car and flipped end over end into the infield.
October 9, 1960 would prove to be the final race day at Jungle Park. Spectator Annabelle Sigafoose was sitting in the infield on a picnic blanket watching the race, being held on the 1/4 track, which cut into the infield of the original 1/2 mile track. Arlis Marcum's midget car hit a rut and careened into the infield. Mrs. Sigafoose was struck and drug several feet under the car. She died at Culver Union Hospital in Crawfordsville. This accident shut down the track.
The track went into a state of disrepair. The racing surface quickly became overgrown and by the 1970s, all the grandstands were demolished besides one, an added fifth tier built in 1947. Today this section of grandstands, the original grandstand walls, and the outline of the track are still there. If you look very carefully at a patch of racing surface sticking through the grass on the front stretch, you can still faintly see the start/finish line.
The track operated from 1926-1942. Racing was banned during World War II. The track re-opened in 1945 and shut down again in 1955. It reopened for one race in 1960.
The track also hosted many Indianapolis 500 champions and racers including Crawfordsville native "Howdy" Wicox, Ira Hall, "Dutch" Baumann, Rex Mays, and so many more. Today, the Sentman/Chaplain family own the track. They host the "Rumble in the Jungle" in October, which is a big car show and a day to honor the track and its history. It was last held on October 9, 2016 which marked sixty years to the day that it shut down. The Indiana Memorial Racing Association (IRMA) unveiled a historical marker right outside the grandstands. The guest cabin is a private residence now. The cafe is shut down and in a state of disrepair. The garage is used as a private garage today, and the hotel burned down in 2005 during restoration.
This place is a very special place. I have been there three times and I still get goosebumps when I even just go by. If you are able to, pull over and take a good look at this place. Just ask for
Monday, December 19, 2016
Gary Union Station
The old Gary Union Station lived a very short life. It was constructed in 1910 by architecture M.A. Lang. It is in the Neoclassical architecture style. The outer shell is made from concrete that was meant to look like stone when it settled an dried. It served the B & O and Michigan Southern railways. The building is almost invisible until one rolls right up on it because it has two tracks on each side, and they are elevated.
The station was abandoned around 1950. Because of the exterior being concrete, it has held up well. Of course the windows have been busted out. The once-grand two-story lobby now sits unrecognizable. It is not safe to go in. The only remnants of its past is a message painted on a column in the front that reads "No parking, cabs only". The old station is now on Indiana's "10 Most Endangered" list. Today, Norfolk Southern trains fly on by on the elevated tracks, not even giving the old station a second look.
Since its abandonment, the station has been used in the filming of two movies. The first was the 1951 crime film "Appointment With Danger". The station was shut down for only months when it was used for the filming of this movie, so it was still in near perfect condition. It was also used the 1996 film "Original Gangstas". It was pretty much destroyed by then, so it served as a hideout and drug den for a gang. It was also featured on the History Channel show "Life After People".
Gary Union Station lived a very short life and it is quite sad to see a grand piece of Indiana, American, industrial, and railway history ingloriously crumble away.
I would love to see this place, but Gary is not a city I have any desire visiting, so I will stick to the photographs I see on other sites.
CHECK OUT:
https://lostindiana.net/2001/05/01/union-station-gary/
The station was abandoned around 1950. Because of the exterior being concrete, it has held up well. Of course the windows have been busted out. The once-grand two-story lobby now sits unrecognizable. It is not safe to go in. The only remnants of its past is a message painted on a column in the front that reads "No parking, cabs only". The old station is now on Indiana's "10 Most Endangered" list. Today, Norfolk Southern trains fly on by on the elevated tracks, not even giving the old station a second look.
Since its abandonment, the station has been used in the filming of two movies. The first was the 1951 crime film "Appointment With Danger". The station was shut down for only months when it was used for the filming of this movie, so it was still in near perfect condition. It was also used the 1996 film "Original Gangstas". It was pretty much destroyed by then, so it served as a hideout and drug den for a gang. It was also featured on the History Channel show "Life After People".
Gary Union Station lived a very short life and it is quite sad to see a grand piece of Indiana, American, industrial, and railway history ingloriously crumble away.
I would love to see this place, but Gary is not a city I have any desire visiting, so I will stick to the photographs I see on other sites.
CHECK OUT:
https://lostindiana.net/2001/05/01/union-station-gary/
Friday, December 16, 2016
Stadium Lofts
Another great adaptive re-use project is also one of, if not the most unique, in Indiana and perhaps the United States. I am talking about Stadium Lofts on 16th St. in Indianapolis. It is so unique because it was a baseball stadium and now it is loft apartments.
Perry Stadium, named after Indianapolis Indians club owner Norm Perry, officially opened its doors with a baseball game on September 5, 1931. To support the war effort, Perry Stadium was re-named Victory Field in 1942. When Indianapolis native and former MLB player Owen J. Bush became the manager of the Indians in 1967, the stadium was re-named Bush Stadium.
The stadium was built by Pierre & Wright, and Osborn Engineering Company. Osborn Engineering Co. is well-known for its other ballparks that it helped build. The list includes the original Yankee Stadium, Fenway Park, and Tiger Stadium in Detroit. Bush Stadium and Fenway Park are the only two still standing.
Throughout its life, the stadium was the home to several teams including the Indianapolis Clowns and ABCs of the Negro League, the Indianapolis Indians AAA Minor League ball club, and the Indianapolis Capitols of the Continental Football League. Henry "Hank" Aaron played inside the confines of the stadium with the Clowns. We all know what lied ahead for him... Other famous players such as Harmon Killebrew, and Al Lopez. Many players from the Cincinnati Reds' "Big Red Machine" played here.
The stadium was quirky, like many old ballparks. The lights, in my opinion, were awesome. They were not the conventional poles (Ref. ballparks.phanfare.com). There was a tepee in the outfield, an old manual scoreboard, and even wooden "cheap seats". Ivy grew on the outfield wall. Does that sound familiar? Wrigley Field liked the look so much that they copied it. All of this old park charm was enough for producers to decide to film "Eight Men Out" here in 1987.
Of course, all good things have to come to an end. The park was literally crumbling in its final years. Midway through the 1996 season, the Indians moved to a brand new park, which was named Victory Field. In 1997, Indianapolis Motor Speedway president Tony George bought the empty stadium and converted it into the 16th St. Speedway. The manual scoreboard was removed, the ivy on the walls was ripped off, and the tepee had to go. Tony Stewart raced here. The track brought in good revenue for the first couple years, probably because it was just down the road from IMS. It shut down as 16th Street Speedway in 2001.
The stadium sat abandoned, with the exception of vandals and urban explorers. In 2010 and 2011, it was used as a junk yard for the "Cash for Clunkers" program. In 2012, Core Redevelopment purchased the dilapidated stadium and went to work. They construed "Stadium Lofts", using the existing infrastructure and adding apartments where the seats would have been. They kept the press bo, the light fixtures on the roof, and the electronic scoreboard which now looks like a manual scoreboard. A dirt colored concrete diamond was stamped in the exact spot where the original was.
When you walk up to it, it still looks like a ballpark in the front. The limestone art-deco entrance still looks like it is ready to greet you for a ball game. The only issue I have is the fact that about 3/4 of the brick outfield brick wall was demolished and replaced with a black chain-link fence. Nonetheless, Stadium Lofts has given arguably the most famous Minor League park of all-time a new lease on life. Perhaps you can say Core Redevelopment hit a home run!
CHECK OUT:
http://ballparks.phanfare.com/2414556
http://ballparks.phanfare.com/2414556
Bob Busser, who is the creator of ballparks.phanfare is a pretty cool guy and fun to talk to. Go check out his amazing website.
Perry Stadium, named after Indianapolis Indians club owner Norm Perry, officially opened its doors with a baseball game on September 5, 1931. To support the war effort, Perry Stadium was re-named Victory Field in 1942. When Indianapolis native and former MLB player Owen J. Bush became the manager of the Indians in 1967, the stadium was re-named Bush Stadium.
The stadium was built by Pierre & Wright, and Osborn Engineering Company. Osborn Engineering Co. is well-known for its other ballparks that it helped build. The list includes the original Yankee Stadium, Fenway Park, and Tiger Stadium in Detroit. Bush Stadium and Fenway Park are the only two still standing.
Throughout its life, the stadium was the home to several teams including the Indianapolis Clowns and ABCs of the Negro League, the Indianapolis Indians AAA Minor League ball club, and the Indianapolis Capitols of the Continental Football League. Henry "Hank" Aaron played inside the confines of the stadium with the Clowns. We all know what lied ahead for him... Other famous players such as Harmon Killebrew, and Al Lopez. Many players from the Cincinnati Reds' "Big Red Machine" played here.
The stadium was quirky, like many old ballparks. The lights, in my opinion, were awesome. They were not the conventional poles (Ref. ballparks.phanfare.com). There was a tepee in the outfield, an old manual scoreboard, and even wooden "cheap seats". Ivy grew on the outfield wall. Does that sound familiar? Wrigley Field liked the look so much that they copied it. All of this old park charm was enough for producers to decide to film "Eight Men Out" here in 1987.
Of course, all good things have to come to an end. The park was literally crumbling in its final years. Midway through the 1996 season, the Indians moved to a brand new park, which was named Victory Field. In 1997, Indianapolis Motor Speedway president Tony George bought the empty stadium and converted it into the 16th St. Speedway. The manual scoreboard was removed, the ivy on the walls was ripped off, and the tepee had to go. Tony Stewart raced here. The track brought in good revenue for the first couple years, probably because it was just down the road from IMS. It shut down as 16th Street Speedway in 2001.
The stadium sat abandoned, with the exception of vandals and urban explorers. In 2010 and 2011, it was used as a junk yard for the "Cash for Clunkers" program. In 2012, Core Redevelopment purchased the dilapidated stadium and went to work. They construed "Stadium Lofts", using the existing infrastructure and adding apartments where the seats would have been. They kept the press bo, the light fixtures on the roof, and the electronic scoreboard which now looks like a manual scoreboard. A dirt colored concrete diamond was stamped in the exact spot where the original was.
When you walk up to it, it still looks like a ballpark in the front. The limestone art-deco entrance still looks like it is ready to greet you for a ball game. The only issue I have is the fact that about 3/4 of the brick outfield brick wall was demolished and replaced with a black chain-link fence. Nonetheless, Stadium Lofts has given arguably the most famous Minor League park of all-time a new lease on life. Perhaps you can say Core Redevelopment hit a home run!
CHECK OUT:
http://ballparks.phanfare.com/2414556
http://ballparks.phanfare.com/2414556
Bob Busser, who is the creator of ballparks.phanfare is a pretty cool guy and fun to talk to. Go check out his amazing website.
http://www.coreredevelopment.com/apartments/stadium-lofts/
http://www.stevehardin.com/htm/16thst.htm
Wednesday, December 14, 2016
Historic Whitlock Place
Historic Whitlock place is a perfect example of re-using a once-abandoned building to help the community once again. The property sits on Binford St. just outside of downtown Crawfordsville. The building started off as a public service building and then was abandoned for nearly thirty years before being an asset to the community once again.
Historic Whitlock Place started off as the Culver Union Hospital in 1902. The idea to open up a hospital in Montgomery County was first conceived in an 1897 meeting of the Women's Union. They decided to act upon this idea. The first donation, $12 to fund the hospital was received on Thanksgiving day, 1898. On April 1, 1901 a donation of $10,000 was awarded to the Women's Union from Mrs. Mary Culver of St. Louis in honor of her late husband, L.L. Culver. This is how the name of the hospital came to be. The hospital officially opened on November 27, 1902.
In 1927, the hospital duties were shifted from the Women's Union to Montgomery County. Shortly after, construction of a new building began. A new building, in the Colonial revival architecture style was opened on May 12, 1929. It could hold forty-five patients. The old building became the nurse's quarters. In 1939, construction began on a wing to connect the old and new buildings. It opened in 1942.
The original building, turned nurses' quarters was demolished in 1950 per orders of the fire marshal. Its basement was able to still be used. This section of the property remained empty until 1966 when a new wing was constructed there. It is in the office-industrial architecture style. There were a couple more additions added on throughout the years. There are tow additions on the rear of the building dating back to 1971 and 1977, also in the office-industrial style.
In the later years of the hospital's operation, it also was home to the Social Security office, a food pantry, and the assistance office. In 1983, a new hospital was completed on Highway 231 and all patents were moved to the new facility and Culver Union Hospital closed its doors. The Social Security office, food pantry, and assistance office remained for a few years but all eventually moved out as well.
The facility was sold to American Medical International for re-use for medical purposes, but this never worked out. The building slipped into further and further decay in nearly thirty years of abandonment. It became a major issue in Crawfordsville. It brought property values in the neighborhood down, and it was a hot spot for illegal activity such as drug use, graffiti tagging, vandalism, and unauthorized "paranormal" investigations. It really brought its neighborhood down.
All this changed in 2012 when Flaherty & Collins Properties began an adaptive reuse project on the site, which would be called Historic Whitlock Place. The company gutted the building and rebuilt the inside, recreating many original features of the building including bull-nose corner walls, terrazzo floors, and ornate wood stenciling in the hallways. Historic Whitlock Place is now affordable housing that features studio, 1 bedroom, and 2 bedroom apartments.
OPINION:
I remember going by the old hospital as a kid and being terrified of it. It is a massive, sprawled-out building that at the time was covered in ivy and almost every window was busted or boarded up. I drove around it again in September and the change is amazing. The building built in 1929 looks stunningly beautiful again, but the additions from 1966, 1971, and 1977 take away from it. There are at least three different brick styles used to construct the building, which clash horribly. The office-industrial style additions also do not go very well with a Colonial revival building. Nonetheless, Historic Whitlock Place is starting to bring its neighborhood back and the trouble is starting to make its way out. This building is a useful part of Crawfordsville again and it proudly serves the community once again. It's grand re-opening was held on November 18, 2016. This national landmark has been "healed" and is back better than ever!
*Check out Wabash Paranormal Research Society's Facebook page to check out interior and exterior pictures from 2012, just weeks before work began. Also, check out flco.com/company-properties/historic-whitlock-place/
Historic Whitlock Place started off as the Culver Union Hospital in 1902. The idea to open up a hospital in Montgomery County was first conceived in an 1897 meeting of the Women's Union. They decided to act upon this idea. The first donation, $12 to fund the hospital was received on Thanksgiving day, 1898. On April 1, 1901 a donation of $10,000 was awarded to the Women's Union from Mrs. Mary Culver of St. Louis in honor of her late husband, L.L. Culver. This is how the name of the hospital came to be. The hospital officially opened on November 27, 1902.
In 1927, the hospital duties were shifted from the Women's Union to Montgomery County. Shortly after, construction of a new building began. A new building, in the Colonial revival architecture style was opened on May 12, 1929. It could hold forty-five patients. The old building became the nurse's quarters. In 1939, construction began on a wing to connect the old and new buildings. It opened in 1942.
The original building, turned nurses' quarters was demolished in 1950 per orders of the fire marshal. Its basement was able to still be used. This section of the property remained empty until 1966 when a new wing was constructed there. It is in the office-industrial architecture style. There were a couple more additions added on throughout the years. There are tow additions on the rear of the building dating back to 1971 and 1977, also in the office-industrial style.
In the later years of the hospital's operation, it also was home to the Social Security office, a food pantry, and the assistance office. In 1983, a new hospital was completed on Highway 231 and all patents were moved to the new facility and Culver Union Hospital closed its doors. The Social Security office, food pantry, and assistance office remained for a few years but all eventually moved out as well.
The facility was sold to American Medical International for re-use for medical purposes, but this never worked out. The building slipped into further and further decay in nearly thirty years of abandonment. It became a major issue in Crawfordsville. It brought property values in the neighborhood down, and it was a hot spot for illegal activity such as drug use, graffiti tagging, vandalism, and unauthorized "paranormal" investigations. It really brought its neighborhood down.
All this changed in 2012 when Flaherty & Collins Properties began an adaptive reuse project on the site, which would be called Historic Whitlock Place. The company gutted the building and rebuilt the inside, recreating many original features of the building including bull-nose corner walls, terrazzo floors, and ornate wood stenciling in the hallways. Historic Whitlock Place is now affordable housing that features studio, 1 bedroom, and 2 bedroom apartments.
OPINION:
I remember going by the old hospital as a kid and being terrified of it. It is a massive, sprawled-out building that at the time was covered in ivy and almost every window was busted or boarded up. I drove around it again in September and the change is amazing. The building built in 1929 looks stunningly beautiful again, but the additions from 1966, 1971, and 1977 take away from it. There are at least three different brick styles used to construct the building, which clash horribly. The office-industrial style additions also do not go very well with a Colonial revival building. Nonetheless, Historic Whitlock Place is starting to bring its neighborhood back and the trouble is starting to make its way out. This building is a useful part of Crawfordsville again and it proudly serves the community once again. It's grand re-opening was held on November 18, 2016. This national landmark has been "healed" and is back better than ever!
*Check out Wabash Paranormal Research Society's Facebook page to check out interior and exterior pictures from 2012, just weeks before work began. Also, check out flco.com/company-properties/historic-whitlock-place/
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