BROOKVILLE. Historic. Walking Tour At the Confluence of the Whitewater

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1 B Historic BROOKVILLE Walking Tour At the Confluence of the Whitewater 10th Street th Street 7 6 US 52/SR 1 - Main Street 8 7th Street 6th Street 5 5th Street 8th Street Church Street 9 Franklin Street 12 John Street High Street Welcome to Brookville, Indiana - Situated on a bluff and in the valley at the junction of the east and west forks of the Whitewater River, Brookville is one of Indiana s oldest settlements. It was situated in The Gore, a wedge of present Indiana that was originally part of the Ohio Territory. Becoming Franklin County s seat in 1811, the town boomed when a federal land office was located here in When the land office moved to Indianapolis in 1825, the town languished until the Whitewater Canal began construction in The town provided several early political leaders to Indiana, including four governors, and western U.S. territories. Later, the railroads sustained the local economy as the canal was discontinued. Located at the confluence of the Whitewater River s East and West Forks, Brookville s history of flooding led to construction of the Brookville Dam on the east fork in the mid-1960s. Wander up and down the hills, enjoy the architecture, learn about the notable state and national leaders from here, and visit the parks on the two forks in this charming, historic town th Street - SR W N E S

2 1. Governor Hammond Marker 371 Main Street/U.S. 52 A marker indicates that Abram Hammond, governor of Indiana , lived in Brookville as a boy in the old Yellow Tavern, now the site of the county jail. 3. Brookville Historic District Marker Courthouse Lawn Federally-designated in 1975, the marker recognizes Brookville s early contributions to Indiana s settlement and its efforts to preserve its historic structures. 5. Old Farmers and Merchants Bank 504 Main Street/U.S. 52 Built as the National Brookville Bank in , its Victorian Romanesque style is unique to Brookville. Later known as the Shirk and Goodwin Bank, it closed in 1939 and sold to the Franklin County National Bank. The Franklin County Farmers Mutual Insurance Company later occupied the building. Note the clock over the Main Street entrance. 2. Franklin County Courthouse 459 Main Street/U.S. 52 Originally constructed in 1852, it was remodeled in 1877, and again to its current structure in The clocktower is all that remains from the 1877 version. During its renovation in 1910, the Courthouse was converted into a Neo-Classical architectural style. It is now one of two government buildings in Brookville serving Franklin County. 4. Valley House 455 Main Street/U.S. 52 Built in 1852 to serve canal travelers, the Valley House replaced the Brookville Hotel which burned. Purchased by Peter Schaf in 1870, the Valley House gained a reputation for its hospitality. It changed hands many times through the years, but eventually the hotel closed while the restaurant and tavern stayed open. The Baths owned the establishment from It was restored a 1850s barroom and restaurant in the late 1970s but was unsuccessful. The Franklin County Citizens for Historic Preservation is pursuing a reuse for this great property.

3 6. Indian Trading Post Plaque North of 6th Street between second and third store#onts A marker placed by the local DAR Chapter marks the site of an early French trading post. 8. Howland-Goodwin-Strohmeier Home 813 Main Street/U.S. 52 Built in the 1850s by John Howland, and later owned by the Goodwins, a Brookville banking family. It now houses the Brookville Chamber of Commerce and the Franklin County tourism bureau. 7. Brookville Federal Land Office Plaque 766 Main Street/U.S. 52 A marker indicates the site of the land office The office accelerated Brookville s growth as land speculators and immigrants flocked into and through this gateway to the state s interior. 10. Old First Methodist Church 212 West 10th Street The church, the oldest in Brookville, was built by the Methodists in The church later became a Presbyterian and then a Lutheran Church. Later it was a Baptist Church and currently serves the Brookville Church of Christ congregation. 9. Governor James Ray House Southwest corner of Franklin and 10th Sts. Built in 1821, Ray was Indiana s 4th governor serving from Elevated at age 31, he was the youngest governor to serve. He was also the only Senate President Pro-Tempore to be governor. An early proponent of canals, he later switched allegiances to railroads. The house s Palladian window was thought to be too ostentatious and nearly cost him the gubernatorial election. See historical marker out #ont. 11. Old Brookville Cemetery East of the Old Methodist Church Many of Brookville s early settlers are buried here, including four Revolutionary War soldiers and a signer of Indiana constitution. See historic marker near entrance.

4 12. Old Brookville High School and Brookville College Marker 1010 Franklin Avenue A marker on the southwest lawn of the old Brookville High School indicates the site of the College established in 1852 and run by the Methodist church until closing in The town purchased it for use as a school until it was razed for the current building in The school was home to the Brookville Greyhounds until 1988 when it merged with Laurel High School to create Franklin County High School. It was converted to a county government building in Brookville Carnegie Library 919 Main Street/U.S Hubbard Residence 904 Main Street/U.S. 52 Milford P. Hubbard built this house at the corner of Ninth and Main Streets in Hubbard was a lawyer and the second president of Dedicated in 1912 and starting with approximately 600 books; collections and services have expanded to meet needs of local patrons. One of 1,679 libraries built in U.S. with funds from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. Indiana built more Carnegie libraries than any other state. the Franklin Co. Bank. The house became the residence and office of Dr. Perry Seal in Dr. Seal served the Brookville area for 47 years. He died in O Byme House 912 Main Street/U.S. 52 Built ca. 1840, was once the home of Estella Armstrong O Byrne who helped organize the Twin Forks Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. In 1947 she was elected President General of the NSDAR, the third lady from Indiana to achieve that office. 14. William W. Butler House 908 Main St./U.S. 52 The house has also been called the House of Judges, since it was the home of four Franklin County judges over the years. Built ca for William W. Butler. William was the son of Amos Butler who was the first settler in the area in 1804 and founder of the town of Brookville. Although not strong physically William successfully managed his father s interests and investments. William s son, Amos W. Butler, was founder of the Brookville Society of Natural History, the Indiana Academy of Science, and the Indiana Audubon Society.

5 Brookville Lake SR 101 north of Brookvi%e The Valley beckons to artists The 5,260-acre lake is the centerpiece of the 16,000+ acres along the Whitewater River East Fork. There are two state recreation areas, over 30 miles of trails, and miles of pristine shoreline. Brookville is on the lake s southern end with the flood-control dam. Indiana artist T.C. Steele and fellow artists in the Hoosier Group were drawn to the beauty of Whitewater River Valley. Steele purchased a beautiful home and his wife named The Hermitage. It became a haven for artists J. Ottis Adams, William Forsyth and Otto Stark. The Hermitage is a 17- room house with a 100-foot long front porch and and several skylights. Steele sold the house to Adams in 1907 and migrated to Brown County, Indiana. Cradle of Pioneer Leaders Brookville was founded by the Amos Butler and Jesse Thomas, the latter went on to become a US senator from Illinois and wrote a portion of the Missouri Compromise of home to the Noble Family - Ben, a physician and state representative; Lazarus, Federal Land Office director; James, state legislator and US senator; and Noah, Indiana governor. Other Indiana governors include Abram Hammond, James B. Ray, and David Wallace. Wallace s son Lew Wallace earned fame as a Civil War general and author whose works included Ben Hur. James Noble Tyner served as postmaster general under President Ulysses S. Grant. Today, it is operated as a bed and breakfast. Thank you for visiting Brookville, one of Franklin County s many historic communities. The Brookville Walking Tour is one of many walking tours of cities and towns located on the Whitewater Canal Scenic Byway and the Presidential Pathways Scenic Byway in southeastern Indiana and southwestern ohio. We encourage you to explore the many sites along the Byways two main routes and three loop routes in the Whitewater River valley. Funding for this project came from an Indiana Humanities Grant to the Whitewater Canal Byway Association. For more information, please visit