Greensburg in Decatur County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Wilder Building

Photographed By J. J. Prats, September 19, 2022

1. Wilder Building Marker

Inscription. 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. Mary’s Little Hoosiers.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Architecture. 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. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Greensburg IN 47240, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Bracken Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Donnell -V.- State, 1852 (within shouting distance of this marker); Carl Fisher (within shouting

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distance of this marker); Colonel Thomas Hendricks / Elizabeth Trimble Hendricks (within shouting distance of this marker); The Naegel Building (within shouting distance of this marker); White Building (within shouting distance of this marker); The Erdman Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Decatur County All Wars Memorial (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Greensburg.

Also see . . . Wikipedia entry for John Thomas Wilder.

John Thomas Wilder (1830–1917) was an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War, noted principally for capturing the key mountain pass of Hoover’s 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 the cost. The victory at Hoover’s Gap was attributed largely to Wilder's persistence in procuring the new rifles, which totally disoriented the enemy.

... In 1857 ... Wilder moved to
Photographed By J. J. Prats, September 19, 2022

2. Wilder Building Marker
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.

(Submitted on October 5, 2022.)

Wilder Building, left image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, September 19, 2022

3. Wilder Building, left

Marker is on the thin center post between the two storefronts.

Brevet Brigadier General John T. Wilder (1830-1917) image. Click for full size.

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 October 5, 2022. It was originally submitted on October 5, 2022, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 163 times since then and 39 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 5, 2022, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.