Madison County Historical Society

......To the Madison County Historical Society. MCHS was organized in 1884 and incorporated in 1926. From these humble and early beginnings, the Society has continued through the years with vigor, energy, and dedication on its mission to collect and preserve objects, artifacts, documents, and photographs pertaining to the history of Madison County, Indiana. Through research, education, and exhibition, we seek to interpret and prompt an awareness and appreciation for that history for the benefit of all generations.

At our home in downtown Anderson, there is a lasting record of a way of life preserved for all to see, treasure and enjoy. We welcome all who are interested in exploring our rich culture and social history. The earliest pioneers, seeking new homes and better farm land, came here when there were only Indian trails and buffalo tracks. They settled along the White River and small creeks in Madison County, encountering the Indians, clearing the timber and stayed because of the richness of the soil and the promise of prosperity.

Indiana was the cross roads to lands further west and many did pass through; however, those who remained, built homes, farms, businesses, churches, and communities. Our early history is interwoven with that of the Delaware Indians and those early pioneers who came to a new land. Their lives and courage should give us pause and inspiration to continue with the work we have set for ourselves and the Society.

"A NIGHT OF THE TITANIC"

Boarding begins: OCTOBER, 2023

7:00 p.m. at the

Museum of Madison County History

11 West 11th Street, Anderson, Indiana

Reservations Required IMMEDIATELY

Seating is limited. Contact the Madison County Historical Society

at 765-683-0052 NOW TO "BOOK" YOUR "PASSAGE"

on the world-renowned, "UNSINKABLE" TITANIC!

This will be a non-fee, AUDIENCE INTERACTIVE event.

(no one is required to even know how to swim!)

Presented by the Madison County Historical Society

BOARDING PASS

PERMISSION GRANTED TO

COME ABOARD THE

WHYTE STAR LINE'S

M.C.H.S. TITANIC

**If necessary, a second event will be held at a later date(to be determined) to accommodate all who are interested in attending.

Our little 500 Festival Hot Rod & Classic Car Show, Saturday, May 20th, was quite the success and so much fun!

The Madison County Historical Society puts on this event every 3rd Saturday in May to benefit our Museum of Madison County History.

We had "refreshing" weather, 101 registered vehicles -- classics, restored originals, survivors, hot rods, street rods, and former Little 500 racers. We also had good food, great tunes, lots of smiles and laughter and joyful mini-reunions. The public turned out in quantity to see the high-end, quality collector cars and trucks and the exhibits in the museum for this year's Madison County Bicentennial.

As president of the Society, I am always gratified by the 50 or so volunteers working inside or outside the building, who always make this car show operate smoothly or who greet the public in our state-of-art museum displays. THANK YOU, EVERYONE!!!!!

Some of this year's street scenes are left on this page. Enjoy!

Mel Hull, MCHS President

The first gas engine auto and driven in Anderson, Indiana was in 1891.

It appears only briefly in an old, grainy black and white film shot on Anderson's near east side around 1915. The camera's position is above the roof of the Buckeye Manufacturing Company's facility, once located at 1803-19 Columbus Avenue. As the west-facing camera lens pans over the expansive top of the building from left to right(south to north), a mysterious odd-shaped trestle comes into view for a few seconds before disappearing from view.

That trestle was one of several methods utilized by the company to test a new concept, the gear-less friction drive speed change transmission, which made its automobiles unique in the ever-growing mix of horse-less carriages sweeping across America.

The Buckeye firm was established on Columbus Avenue by John W. Lambert in 1904 and continued in business through 1917, reaching the height of its production from 1907 to 1910. The plant produced an average of 2,000 cars per year. Several different models incorporating different styling were offered.

Mr. Lambert came to Anderson in 1892 to establish a buggy manufacturing plant after having been in that business in Ohio City, Ohio. In 1895, his factory was between Third and Fourth streets on the west side of Sycamore Street. Five years later, it was a massive facility encompassing a two-city block area between Third and Fourth streets employing about 250 people.

While in Ohio, Lambert experimented with gasoline engines as the source of power for vehicles and built a three-wheeled single-cylinder automobile. Today, he is recognized by the authoritative magazine "Antique Automobile" for inventing and driving the automobile in 1891, the first gasoline-powered car in America.

By 1902, Lambert's concern was making gasoline engines and he established the Union Automobile Company in Anderson, with a subsidiary in Union City, Indiana. The automobile business began to increase, necessitating an expansion of facilities.

Finding five acres on Anderson's southeast side, he organized the Buckeye firm and, at the cost of $150,000, built the 300,000 square-foot plant on Columbus Avenue employing 35-400 workers. In the plant, his signature automobile, the eye-appealing Lambert, was produced. They sold for around $1,200 and could do up to 65 mph. Buckeye claimed its care could go as fast backward as forward.

The friction disk drive was one of the critical features of the Union and Lambert automobiles. In Lambert's own words: "In practice I have found that this combination of aluminum and fiber bearing surfaces gives the maximum degree of friction and durability, thereby especially adapting the gearing for use on motor vehicles of the heavier kind, where the friction surfaces are at times subject to great strains, and must, therefore, have a frictional contact of a high degree of efficiency in order to avoid slipping".

"It will be observed that the aluminum is advantageous also, because it will not tarnish or rust appreciably, but will always present a smooth, clean surface to the fiber periphery, so that wear will be reduced to a minimum."

To test the performance and durability of the friction disk drive, unique test tracks were needed, ones that each automobile had to pass successfully before be sold. Three testing facilities were built on vacant lots on both sides of the East 19th Street property, immediately west of the manufacturing plant. Note: Watch what is coming in October......"With assembly complete, the cars would be driven out of the plant and then............

The Madison County Historical Society wishes to advise the public and our members that the society will once again be honoring our local veterans in an advertisement in the Madison Life & Times magazine winter edition 2022. If you would like to honor your veteran, please contact the Madison County Historical Society by email at madisonchs10@gmail.com, or by phone at 765-683-0052, or go to our Facebook page.(www.facebook.com/madisoncountyhistoricalsociety)

You may wish to attend our next monthly meeting at the Museum of Madison County History at 11 West 11th Street, Anderson, Indiana. The meeting will be on Monday evening, April 25, 2022 at 7 p.m.. Enter at the double doors of the building.

VOLUNTEERS ARE WELCOME

The Museum of Madison County History is a place that you can definitely use most and/or all your skill set. We love to welcome volunteers to our Museum and its many and varied departments and projects. There really is no job that is too small, too large or too mundane. If you have a couple of hours a week, you may want to spend that time with us. Please consider coming in to speak to someone about volunteering. We are conveniently located in downtown Anderson on the corner of Meridian and 11th Street. Please visit on Mondays, Wednesdays, or Fridays from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. or call for more information at (765) 683-0052.

Anna Epperly, Assistant Professor of Education, Anderson University wrote in an email the following:

"I am currently supervising thirteen EDUC 4120 and EDUC 4710 students in their senior classroom management courses. With Covid-19 restrictions in local schools regarding visitors and volunteers, we had to think creatively in terms of providing our AU students with authentic access to mentor teachers and "real, live students" this semester. As a volunteer at the Museum of Madison County History, operated by the Madison County Historical Society(MCHS), I was able to seek and receive approval from MCHS for AU students to virtually instruct Frankton 4th, 5th, and 8th grade students from temporary "broadcast studios" within the museum. AU students are currently teaching live lessons virtually, on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, using various museum exhibits and artifacts. This partnership has required much collaboration among AU students and faculty, local historians, and Frankton classroom teachers and administrators, providing multiple benefits to all concerned."

During a recent Zoom meeting of Indiana County Historians, Indiana Historical Society, and Indiana Historical Bureau staff, I shared this joint project of how a successful collaboration between the two Anderson, Indiana, educational organization/institutions has overcome the Covid crisis negativity by creating a positive that benefits our local schools. Needless to say, it was greeted with much enthusiasm and with discussion to expand to other counties with institutions of higher learning.

The following is a listing of the Madison County HISTORICAL PRESENTATIONS for the year at the Anderson Public Library by County Historian Stephen Jackson. All programs will begin at 10:30 a.m. in the Chief Anderson Room on the third floor of the library. The presentations will last about an hour and are free and open to the public.

July 11, 2023: "The Historic Bridges of Madison County"

August 8, 2023: "Old Township School Houses of Madison County -- The Survivors"

September 12, 2023: "An Electrifying Era -- The Interurban"

October 10, 2023: "Anderson's Five Original Churches"

November 14, 2023: "Welcome to Madison County, Mr. President"

Other dates and events

Bicentennial Exhibits at Museum

The Museum of Madison County History has newly installed exhibits specifically relating to the county's bicentennial. Exhibits include "Made in Madison County," "Pioneers and Prehistory," "Veterans Hall of Honor," and "Arena of Champions."

Exhibits are open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Holiday BookFest

This event will take place in the Bowman Room at the Museum at a date to be announced. This is an opportunity to pick up gently used books at discount prices. Local authors will be on hand for autographs. Gift baskets will be raffled during the event.

Sometime in the 1830's it is believed a log cabin was built west of Pendleton. Also, it is believed, the cabin was moved sometime around 1940 to Mill Street in Pendleton where it was occupied, on occasion, by local persons.

It sat vacant for a number of years until being acquired by the Town of Pendleton about two years ago with the idea to place it within Falls Park.