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.

MCHS will once more host the annual Little 500 Festival Hot Rod & Classic Car Show as a part of the BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.

The 2023 show will be held on MAY 20, 2023, down Meridian Street between 10th and 13th Streets.

This annual event has proven to be very popular with classic car enthusiasts from central Midwest. Historically, we have had 115-125 registered cars from all over Indiana, as well as Michigan, Illinois, Kentucky and Ohio. In addition, the Model A Club brings seven to ten of their Model A vehicles as a special display in support of this event.

MCHS has several of its volunteers who bring their personal classic cars to exhibit.

Awards are presented to the top 30 vehicles. There are awards presented to the "Best in Show," "President's Choice," "County Historian's Choice," "Best Classic," and "Best Hot Rod."

All proceeds benefit the Museum of Madison County History. The Museum will be open for viewing of the BICENTENNIAL EXHIBITS from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. We are on the corner of Meridian and 11th Street. All guests are welcome to visit us during the show.

The car show is a wonderful time for "all in the family" activity. Bring your family and a friend!

"The Allison"

Raffle tickets are still available for The Allison dollhouse pictured on the right. The drawing will be held at the Museum during the Little 500 Hot Rod & Classic Car Show on MAY 20, 2023.

Tickets are priced at 1 for $5.00 or 3 for $10.00. You need not be present to win the dollhouse. Please note that the dollhouse will have to be picked up in person at the Museum. Arrangements will be made to facilitate that.

Tickets may be secured by coming to the Museum on M-W-F from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For mail order, please submit your name, address, phone number with your check for the number of tickets you want. Tickets will be held in the office for the drawing. First come, first serve.

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.

FIRST SUNDAY PRESENTATIONS

THE HISTORY

OF

May 7, 2023 - Monroe Township

June 4, 2023 - Lafayette Township

July 2, 2023 - Van Buren Township - July 4th weekend

August 6, 2023 - Boone Township

September 3, 2023 - Duck Creek Township - Labor Day Weekend

October 1, 2023 - Stony Creek Township

November 5, 2023 - Madison County - November 10, 2023 - 200 years

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.