Putnamville in Putnam County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Putnamville

Photographed by Jason Voigt, October 30, 2024

1. Putnamville Marker

Inscription. James Townsend laid out the town in 1830 on land he purchased from the original owner, Edward Heath. He received the rights of "running any water pipes underground to any part of the town". Perhaps the first hint of a water works system in Indiana. Through the work of Townsend, Daniel w. Layman, and Archibald Cooper, the town soon became a thriving community; it became the major stagecoach connection in the county. The growing community came to have about 50 buildings, including Bowen's general stores; the National Hotel; Whitehall Inn; the town hall and community center; Hamaker's ferriers; and J.M. Hendrix Grist Mill which produced "celebrated Putnamville flour". The town vied to become the location of Asbury College, later named Depauw University, but the college opened in Greencastle, winning by a mere difference of $5000 and 57 more citizens. The fire of May 26, 1878, destroyed numerous prosperous businesses.

Noted visitors to Putnamville include: likely visits by Abraham Lincoln and Pres. Van Buren; Johnny Appleseed; and Jenny Lind the "Swedish Nightingale", on her concert tour of the west in 1851. Rev. Henry

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

Ward Beecher preached in the 1834 Presbyterian (later United Methodist) Church on 10-12-1839.

In 2005 Georgia Sublette stated in her oral history, "the last few years, of course, have been different because Putnamville was a thriving little town. We knew all of our neighbors and they came to church and we had our school house, and it was so different than it is now. It's hard to explain how nice Putnamville was at one time."

Erected by Putnam County Community Foundation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical date for this entry is May 26, 1878.

Location. 39° 34.456′ N, 86° 51.891′ W. Marker is in Putnamville, Indiana, in Putnam County. It can be reached from U.S. 40 near Indiana Route 243. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 760 U.S Hwy 40, Greencastle IN 46135, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Indiana.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

Photographed by Jason Voigt, October 30, 2024

2. Putnamville Marker

Marker is in front of the Dr. Amos Horn office (now a museum). It is facing towards the camera

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 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Cumberland Road · The National Road · U.S. Highway 40 (here, next to this marker); Putnamville School (here, next to this marker); Dr. Amos H. Horn (here, next to this marker); Putnamville United Methodist Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Putnam County Veterans Memorial (approx. 3.6 miles away); Putnam County Civil War Honor Roll (approx. 3.6 miles away); Putnam County Revolutionary War Memorial (approx. 3.7 miles away); Houck Bridge (approx. 4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Putnamville.

Also see . . . Putnamville, Indiana on Wikipedia. Putnamville is now an unincorporated community. (Submitted on November 2, 2024, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)

Credits. This page was last revised on November 2, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 2, 2024, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 272 times since then and 80 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 2, 2024, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.