Greensburg in Decatur County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Wilder Building
Photographed by J. J. Prats, September 19, 2022
1. Wilder Building Marker
Civil War hero Col. John T. Wilder built this Italianate structure in 1865. The mansard roof and decorative trim added a year later reflected the newly-popular Second Empire architecture., making it the first 3-story building in Greensburg. The First National Bank resided here circa 1886. Beginning in 1924 the building was purchased by the local Oddfellows fraternal order (I.O.O.F.103). For over 100 years, ending in 1968, this site housed numerous drugstores for the residents of Greensburg.
Erected by the Decatur County Community Foundation, the Indiana Humanities Council, Historical Landmarks Foundation of Indiana, Decatur County Alliance for Preservation, Historical Society of Decatur County, Students of Greensburg Elementary School fifth seminar, and the St. Marys Little Hoosiers.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Fraternal or Sororal Organizations • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1865.
Location. 39° 20.262′ N, 85° 28.981′ W. Marker is in Greensburg, Indiana, in Decatur County. It is on E Washington Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Greensburg IN 47240, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Bracken Building (within shouting distance of this marker);
this page online
Also see . . . Wikipedia entry for John Thomas Wilder.
John Thomas Wilder (18301917) was an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War, noted principally for capturing the key mountain pass of Hoovers Gap during the Tullahoma Campaign in Central Tennessee in June 1863. Wilder had personally ensured that his Lightning Brigade of mounted infantry was equipped with the new Spencer repeating rifle, though he initially had to appeal to his men to pay for these weapons themselves, before the government agreed to carry(Submitted on October 5, 2022.)the cost. The victory at Hoovers Gap was attributed largely to Wilder's persistence in procuring the new rifles, which totally disoriented the enemy.Photographed by J. J. Prats, September 19, 20222. Wilder Building Marker
... In 1857 ... Wilder moved to Indiana, first to Lawrenceburg and then to Greensburg, where he married Martha Jane Stewart and raised a large family. He established a small foundry of his own, which rapidly became a success. Wilder invented many hydraulic machines that he patented, and he sold equipment, as well as building mills and hydraulic works in many of the surrounding states. He also became nationally renowned as an expert in the field of hydraulics, patenting a unique water wheel in 1859.
Photographed by J. J. Prats, September 19, 2022
3. Wilder Building, left
Marker is on the thin center post between the two storefronts.
U.S. Library of Congress Civil War Photographs Collection, photographer unknown, circa 1965
4. Brevet Brigadier General John T. Wilder (1830-1917)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 10, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 5, 2022, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 509 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 5, 2022, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.
