BAHS Photos

Transportation Passenger Depot A new line of rail to take the railroad out of the downtown was proposed to run one quarter mile south of the original line. The selection of the right-of-way presented some difficulty as the Fair Association owned part of the land of the proposed route. A compromise was struck by agreement to locate the new passenger depot near the entrance to the Fair Grounds. The new depot was built in late 1905 and the railroad itself finished in 1906. The last train to pass over the old railway road bed of 1852 passed through town on the morning of July 2, 1906.	Transportation Kaiser Livery William Wachsmann's livery barn on South Walnut Street was sold to John Lefler of Cincinnati in April, 1898. In March, 1899, Herman and Adolph Kaiser of Olean, Indiana, purchased the John Lefler livery barn. The Kaiser brothers also rented the Schlosser stable near the depot. They were the last livery men in Batesville continuing in business until the auto came some thirty years later, finally selling their auto-hack business to John Kappes and son in May 1929. The Kaiser brothers livery business had merged, by gradual changes into a taxi and motor-drayage business until it was displaced by motor-drawn vehicles exclusively.	Factories American Furniture Company The American Furniture Company was organized as a stock company after the dissolution of the Hillenbrand Brothers partnership in 1888. It had succeeded the Schrader Furniture Company at the death of Herman Schrader in 1882.
Factories Western Furniture Company The Western Furniture Company was established in 1892 as a stock company. It employed 28 men and paid $8,000 in wages. In 1905, H. C. Canfield sold his shares of stock and contracted to work as managing salesman in control of the entire output of the factory. The American Furniture Company bought the business in 1951.	Leisure Time Gibson Theatre Dr. C. W. Gibson built a new theatre in 1921 on Main Street with up-to-date plans for regular theatrical plays as well as moving pictures. It began bringing the most celebrated screen plays in production in 1922. "Talking pictures" were installed in 1929. Electrical pianos had long been in use following hand and player pianos. Victrolas, gramophones and local orchestras were all replaced by sound pictures.	Leisure Time St. Clair's Grove In the 1880's St. Clair's Grove, located on the west end of the city corporation, was a popular resort for young people. As a noted resort it drew excursionists from all over the area, including Cincinnati, to picnic. An item in the Batesville Budget on September 1, 1888 stated that "7 car-loads of excursionists came out (from Cincinnati) the preceding Sunday to enjoy an outing."
People Frederick W. Greeman was born in 1824 in Hanover, Germany, and came to Indiana via Cincinnati in 1863. Three years later he established the Batesville Carving Company, the first real furniture factory foundation company. Over a period of years it developed into the Greeman Brothers Manufacturing Company. Greeman had served in the Union Army during the Civil War where he was wounded. He came to Batesville with his five sons after regaining his health. Greeman was a painter by trade as well as a carver. His oldest son, William F. Greeman, succeeded him as active head of the carving company, and later the Bracket Manufacturing Company, and served as president of the Greeman Brothers Manufacturing Company. Frederick died in 1910.	People George W. Johanning was born in 1869. He was apprenticed at the Union Furniture factory at age 15. He worked three years as a cabinet maker apprentice. At age 18 he was given a clerkship in the office and became a stockholder when his father purchased shares for him. Eventually he reached he reached the position of secretary-treasurer until his sudden death in May, 1928. Johanning had also served as secretary of the Citizens' Savings and Loan Association, and as director of the Batesville State Bank.	People Harry C. Canfield came to Batesville in the late 1890's as an employee in the offices of the Western Furniture Company. He lived on Eastern Avenue until 1913 when he bought the Fred Morgan residence on South Mulberry Street. Canfield began his business career buying stock in the company. When Mr. William H. Schwier retired, Canfield took over the entire stock and reorganized the company. He was elected to Congress in 1922, and reelected for four succeeding terms. See our Biographical Sketch of Harry C. Canfield
Buildings H. H. Krome built his two-story concrete block store and residence building on the east side of Sycamore Street opposite the side entrance of the Behlmer Building in 1911. He moved his grocery store form the Hillenbrand Building at Main and Boehringer to the first floor of his new building, and his family to rooms on the second floor. H. F. Buck came to Batesville in May, 1914, as manager of the store on Sycamore and South Streets, and his family occupied one of the apartments on the second floor.	Buildings Gauck's Drug Store Druggists in 1893 included John Gauck and Emil Vogt who opened a new drug store on North Walnut Street on the Gauck property during the early spring. A prescription department was installed with T. E. Cain as pharmacist in December, 1897. John Gauck moved into the store building at the corner of Walnut and Boehringer in March, 1901, when it was vacated by Albert Zierer. Mr. Gauck put in a line of drugs, paints, glass, groceries, queensware, wooden-ware, dry goods, and notions, making it a first-class general store.	Buildings Behlmer Brothers The Behlmer Brothers, William and August, Builders and Contractors, built a cement block industrial and business building in March, 1909, on Sycamore and George Streets. The structure was three-stories high. The lower floor was used as a planing mill, store room and offices for building products and supplies. The second floor was used for various industries, including a shirt factory, while the third floor was rented to fraternal organizations.
Buildings The Big Four Joseph Hartman built a brick building on the northeast corner of Depot and Broadway (now East Pearl Street) in 1856. It was three stories in height and became known as Mechanics Hall, and later as the Big Four. At various times it housed the Herald Publishing and Manufacturing Company, the Permanent Building and Loan Association, and John Bosse's general store. It was the town's social center with its third floor hall being used for lodge meetings, dances and parties, as well as concerts and comedy and opera. An ad in the Herald on August 6, 1892, stated: "Big Four Saloon, Aug. Bloemer, Prop. Fine whiskies, cigars & tobacco. Headquarters of the German Landwehr Verein and Cleveland Club. Two good pool & billiard tables."	Churches and Schools Wesley Chapel The English Methodists used Union Hall for their church and Sunday School for several years prior to the building of the Wesley Chapel. The non-German Methodist people raised money during 1893 to build a church for the English-speaking people of Batesville. It was christened a few years after its organization as "Wesley Chapel," but was popularly known as "the little white church on the corner."	Churches and Schools Bethany Church A new church was built at East Catherine and Sycamore Streets in 1909. It was christened Bethany Church and dedicated in 1913. The church was built in the Norman style, with crenelated tower, stained glass, and square windows, an unusual type for somewhat rural churches.
Churches and Schools South Street School The old frame school building became inadequate for school needs and was moved in 1875-76 to make room for a new brick building which met Batesville's school needs for the next 25 years. In 1888 a brick addition was added. This school was located on South Street.	Churches and Schools Public School In September 1895, there were 205 children attending public school in Batesville. The new grade and high school building on West Pearl and Mulberry was dedicated on November 15, 1895. An addition was built in 1910 and the two parts were connected by a wide hall with double entrances at either end on the east and west sides. The double front entrance and hall made three entrances.	Organizations Post Office Before the town was laid out in November, 1852, mail was carried over the Napoleon-Brookville Road. All mail was received through Oldenburg or Napoleon and carried to and from Cincinnati. Batesville's first postmaster was appointed in 1853. Batesville's post office was located in stores during its early existence until the current structure was built in 1936. Rural Free Delivery was established in 1901 marking the beginning of the system in the U.S. Parcel Post service was established in 1913. Free city mail delivery was begun in 1917.
Organizations Water Tower (168'10" high, 150,000 gal capacity) Early Batesville's water needs were supplied by cisterns and wells located on the property of citizens and businesses. A canal was dug at the Fair Grounds (Liberty Park) in 1910 but was deemed inadequate by 1915 by the Water Works Company. More reservoirs were dug and in 1926 a new water tower was erected at the Water Works Plant on East Pearl Street. The plant was bought by the city from the Hillenbrand Company in 1926.	Structures Liberty Park entrance Mr. & Mrs. George M. Hillenbrand purchased the old Fair Grounds during 1920 and presented it to the City of Batesville as a gift. It was to be called "Liberty Park." An Armistice Day program in 1929 dedicated the entrance gateway and flagpole. The entrance is through a beautiful arch of Bedford stone with connecting walls and pillars. Just within the entrance, the flagpole rises from a four-square base which carries bronze tablets bearing the names of WWI servicemen from six townships including and surrounding Batesville.	Structures Liberty Park In January 1921, C. L. Burkholder of Purdue University laid out a tree-nursery, walks and drives at Liberty Park. The baseball team built a new grandstand there in April of that year. A tourist camp was established with the completion of Highway 46 during the summer of 1923. The camp opened to the public in March 1925. Signs were posted showing the camp's location to tourists traveling the new state highway. In 1928 the Board of Health condemned the open well drinking water supply, and drinking fountains were installed to furnish filtered water.
Miscellaneous Railroad Signal Tower Depot Square was Lot #30 in the original town plat, located "catty-corner" from the Big Four Tavern. The first depot was built there in 1853. By 1880 that depot had been moved two squares west to the corner of Main and East Pearl Streets. That building burned and was rebuilt in 1887. A new railway switch tower was built in 1898 east of the depot.	Businesses 5 & 10 Cent Stores In 1910, Andrews' 5 & 10 set up business in the corner room of a building on the southwest corner of Main and George Streets. McFarren's 5 & 10 opened in 1914, later becoming the Lockwood 5 & 10 and moving further west into the brick Walsman building. IN 1922, C. E. Studebaker and A. V. Trumper bought the store. Eventually it became known as The Fair Store.	Businesses Service Coal & Concrete Products Service Coal & Concrete Products Company built new warehouses at its loading station at East Pearl Street and Western Avenue in 1922. A branch of this company, known as the Batesville Lumber Company, built a large concrete warehouse and became known as the Steinkamp Company.
Huntersville General Store Huntersville had been platted in July 1848 by the Lutheran pastor. Huntersville's heart centered in the church and at a general store located just across the street. Built in the 1850s, the store sported iron hitching posts which are still present in front of the building.	Huntersville Huntersville School According to church records, in 1842 the first Huntersville school was conducted in the parsonage. A larger log school was built in 1846. In 1870 a brick school was built which measured 58' x 28'. It cost $2,300 and is still in use today.

?? Can you help? ?? Click on a photo for an enlargement.	If you can help us with any information about either of the two photos below, please e-mail Denean Williams at: genealogy@ebatesville.com. Thanks!
Who were Hornbach & Hillenbrand? Where were they located? When did they operate? Who is the man in the hack? What building is in the background?	Where was this rifle range on State Road 229? When did it operate? Who owned it? Was it public or private?
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