Noblesville in Hamilton County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Noblesville's Last Brick Alley
Photographed By Joel Seewald, July 24, 2023
1. Noblesville's Last Brick Alley Marker
Inscription.
Noblesville's Last Brick Alley. . A crowd of fascinated residents gathered to witness the construction of the first brick street in the town of Noblesville , then an exciting modern innovation. Although this photo of the square being paved is dated 1892, there is no evidence that any work was done before 1894 when the city council passed a resolution to pave 8th Street and streets around the square with brick. In March of 1898, another report recommended that all the alleys around the public square be bricked. Today, only a few of those original brick byways remain. Most have been paved, but those that remain are treasured reminders of our rich heritage. They, like all the lovingly restored historic homes, commercial venues, and public buildings are cherished because they are essential to the unique and enduring charm of our beautiful city. Remarkably, Noblesville has managed to evolve into a thriving city without losing its historic appeal. Understanding that progress and preservation need not be mutually exclusive, its citizens, civic organizations, and members of local government have worked together to preserve as much as possible of our past treasures. Though much has already been lost, much continues to be preserved , including, in 2021, a portion of the last brick alley. Recognizing that the last brick alley was of historic merit, members of the administration of Mayor Chris Jensen requested input from the Noblesville Preservation Alliance (NPA) rather than following the established practice of pavinf over brick roadways in disrepair. All recognized the value of preserving this last important vestige of our City's past. Members of the city council, engineering department, and NPA devised a plan to preserve as much as possible of the original brick while allowing for essential repairs and correction of drainage issues. This alley is now safe and functional, but still a beautiful remnant of Noblesville's bygone horse and buggy days, preserved for present and future lovers of history.
A crowd of fascinated residents gathered to witness the construction of the first brick street in the town of Noblesville — then an exciting modern innovation. Although this photo of the square being paved is dated 1892, there is no evidence that any work was done before 1894 when the city council passed a resolution to pave 8th Street and streets around the square with brick. In March of 1898, another report recommended that all the alleys around the public square be bricked. Today, only a few of those original brick byways remain. Most have been paved, but those that remain are treasured reminders of our rich heritage. They, like all the lovingly restored historic homes, commercial venues, and public buildings are cherished because they are essential to the unique and enduring charm of our beautiful city. Remarkably, Noblesville has managed to evolve into a thriving city without losing its historic appeal. Understanding that progress and preservation need not be mutually exclusive, its citizens, civic organizations, and members of local government have worked together to preserve as much as possible of our past treasures. Though much has already been lost, much continues to be preserved — including, in 2021, a portion of the last brick alley. Recognizing that the last brick alley was of historic merit, members of the administration
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of Mayor Chris Jensen requested input from the Noblesville Preservation Alliance (NPA) rather than following the established practice of pavinf over brick roadways in disrepair. All recognized the value of preserving this last important vestige of our City's past. Members of the city council, engineering department, and NPA devised a plan to preserve as much as possible of the original brick while allowing for essential repairs and correction of drainage issues. This alley is now safe and functional, but still a beautiful remnant of Noblesville's bygone horse and buggy days, preserved for present and future lovers of history.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1898.
Location. 40° 2.685′ N, 86° 0.777′ W. Marker is in Noblesville, Indiana, in Hamilton County. Marker is on Maple Avenue west of South 9th Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 942 Maple Avenue, Noblesville IN 46060, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 13, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 13, 2023, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 65 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on September 13, 2023, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. Better photo of the alley; it's partially cut off in the current photo of the marker's surroundings. • Can you help?
