Founding of New Albany

Founding of New Albany. . , As early as 1808, the area we know as New Albany was considered a good location for a settlement near the Ohio River and The Falls of The Ohio. The original 826 ½ acre tract of land , part of Clark’s grant , was between the Grant line and the foot of “the knobs.” , The Scribner brothers , Joel, Abner, and Nathaniel, purchased the land in 1813 to lay out a town they called New Albany. The Scribner brothers posted advertisements to entice settlers to the area. “This town is just laid out with spacious streets, public squares, markets, etc. It is situated on the banks of the Ohio River… about two miles below the falls, in the Indiana Territory, and affords a beautiful and commodious harbor.”, Scribner House and Gardens , The Scribner House was built on this site by Joel and Mary Scribner in 1814. This simple wood-frame and brick Federal structure is the oldest building in New Albany. The 2 ½ story house with its two level rear porch offered a spectacular view of the Ohio River for many years. It was home to three generations of Scribner’s until sold in 1917 by Harriet Scribner to the Piankeshaw Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. The DAR has since maintained the house for meetings and as a museum honoring the Scribner Family and give historical tours of the home. The Scribner Gardens are a reminder of the city park the family contributed for the residents of New Albany. , Education , The Scribner family valued education from the beginning of the young settlement. They advertised that one-fourth of the sale of lots would be deposited into an education fund to be used for the schools in New Albany forever. This fund helped built the first public high school in Indiana and continues to provide scholarships to New Albany High School students to this day. The first school was taught by Mrs. Scribner and her daughter, who gathered the children for lessons in the Scribner house until a school was built. A large log building was erected for a school house and other meeting on the public square. , Religion , Religion was important to the Scribner Family and they served as leaders in organizing the First Presbyterian Church, the first church to be established in New Albany. Initial meetings of the church were held in the Scribner home on this site until the log school and meeting house could be built. The Scribner family also provided a number of lots for the future building and support of church. Their faith in God was evident by their involvement in church, but their faith in humanity would shine through their commitment to the people who settled the new town of New Albany. , Leadership for a Young Settlement , The plan for the city was platted by surveyor John Graham, who created a regular grid pattern design oriented toward the river. High Street, later renamed Main, was the major business and residential artery, paralleled by Market, Spring, Elm and Oak Streets. All five streets were bisected by State Street. The Scribner’s provided four squares for public buildings as State and Spring Streets. They also laid out a square as a public park. Nathaniel petitioned the new state legislature in Corydon to create a new county, (Floyd) from Clark and Harrison Counties and name New Albany the county seat. Joel served as the first postmaster and clerk in county court. Abner focused on industry by building a steam lumber and grist mill. By 1850, New Albany grew to be the largest city in Indiana, the center for commerce and industry the brothers had envisioned. Scribner descendants continued to be leaders in public affairs, business, medicine, education, music and the military.