Historic Indianapolis: Then And Now

It has been a trend for a few years to do time-lapse photo comparisons -- for example, look at a photo of your childhood home, and take a new picture from the same angle in present day to see what has changed. It's fascinating how places change over the years.

I found this article from Historic Indianapolis interesting, as well as sad. It illustrates how many once-prosperous Indianapolis neighborhoods have changed and declined over the years, and also how little we in modern days appreciate the beauty of spaces like this:

http://historicindianapolis.com/indianapolis-then-and-now-fletcher-triangle-park-brookside-and-arsenal-avenues/

We've created a few then-and-now comparisons of Franklin Township properties, which have been on display in the Meeting House in the past, but we're always looking for more historic photos. If you have pictures or sketches of local property in bygone days, we'd love to see them!

Spring Cleaning

A group of six FTHS board members met this morning at the Meeting House to do some much-needed cleaning and maintenance on the building. In addition to preserving Franklin Township's heritage through artifact preservation and education, part of our mission is to care for the former Big Run Baptist Church, built in 1871. The building was donated to the Society when the church formally dissolved in 1977, and is now included in the National Register of Historic Places and the Indiana Register of Historic Sites and Structures

If you would like to be involved in future restoration, gardening or cleaning work, please contact us at franklintownshiphistory@gmail.com or via our Facebook page.

Dressed for work!

Diana H. and Alena V.A. cleaned and polished the antique wooden pews. The handmade pew cushions also received an airing-out on the sunny lawn.

Marlena L. vacuums the vintage rugs that line the walkways of the building. These rugs date to the time when the building was used as a church.

Carolyn C. cleans some of our antique kitchen items.

2012 Special Events

Open Hours have begun for 2012! We held our first Open Hours at the Meeting House this past Saturday and welcomed several new guests. Open Hours are from 1 to 4 p.m. on the first Saturday and third Sunday of each month from March through October.

We also have a full year of events planned! Some are even scheduled at the Meeting House during Open Hours, so in addition to touring the Meeting House or Big Run Cemetery, you can enjoy special exhibits.

Here's a list of some of the special events we'll be hosting and community events we'll be participating in this year:

April 15 - Vintage Toy Display at Open Hours

May 20 - Croquet Tournament on Meeting House lawn

June 2 - Antique Postcard Display at Open Hours

June 24 - Old Settlers Day in Wanamaker

July 7 - Outsider Art Show at Open Hours

August 19 - Membership Open House and Ice Cream Social

September 16 - Big Run Cemetery Tour

October 21 - Ghost Stories at Open Hours

October 27 - Harvest Dinner and Annual Meeting

November 3 - Acton United Methodist Church craft fair

December 1 - Christmas in Wanamaker community fair

December 16 - Old Fashioned Christmas Celebration at Meeting House

There are three or four more big events in the works, and we'll announce dates for those as soon as we have confirmation. Check your membership newsletter for updates!

And if you're not a member -- or if you haven't yet renewed your membership for 2012 -- you can be a part of all this and more for only $10 per year! For more information on joining the FTHS, please visit this page.

Open Hours today!

Today kicks off the first Open Hours of the year! The Meeting House will be open from 1 to 4 PM. Stop by for a visit and see the new items in our collection!

Free Admission at IHS March 31

On March 31, the Indiana Historical Society will be offering free admission for their Eleventh Annual Circus Day. Special events include circus acts, live animal shows, clowns, magicians, jugglers, carnival games, face painting, balloon sculptures and crafts.

For more information, visit this link: http://www.indianahistory.org/events/circus-day