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

John Dillinger Was Here

By Courtesy:: Marilyn S. Wolf, June 10, 2012

1. John Dillinger Was Here Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

On October 23, 1933, the nation’s Public Enemy No. 1 John Dillinger and some of his gang (Harry Pierpont, Charles Arthur “Pretty Boy” Floyd, Walter Dietrich, George “Machine Gun” Kelly, and George “Baby Face” Nelson) drove to the Central National Bank on the southwest corner of the Greencastle Town Square and made the biggest “haul” of their criminal careers - - $74,728.00 in cash, and equities. Already under indictment for the death of Sheriff Jess Saber of Michigan City, In., the gang managed the Greencastle holdup without killing anyone, driving out of town without obstruction. Dillinger was finally gunned down by FBI agents in Chicago at the Biograph Theater on July 22, 1934, ending an eleven year career of crime. Others of the gangster mob were killed in later gun battles with police. Because the Great Depression forced many bank foreclosures on private properties, the Dillinger gang was beheld by foreclosure victims as a kind of folk-hero.

Erected by Heritage Preservation Society.

Location.

Plaque Photo - - "John Dillinger" image. Click for full size.

By Courtesy:: Marilyn S. Wolf, June 10, 2012

2. Plaque Photo - - "John Dillinger"

39° 38.634′ N, 86° 51.813′ W. Marker is in Greencastle, Indiana, in Putnam County. Marker is at the intersection of South Vine Street and East Washington Street (U.S. 231), on the right when traveling south on South Vine Street. Located on the "Heritage Wall". Bottom Row - - fourth from the right end. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Greencastle IN 46135, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Founding of the Lilly Family in Greencastle, Indiana (here, next to this marker); The Founding of Greencastle, Indiana (here, next to this marker); Donald J. Cook (1915 - 2005) (here, next to this marker); Putnamville United Methodist Church (here, next to this marker); Women in Greencastle History (here, next to this marker); Abraham Lincoln's Biography (here, next to this marker); Minshall Laboratory, DePauw University (here, next to this marker); Indiana Asbury - - DePauw University (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Greencastle.

More about this marker. If anyone has better photos, they are welcome to place on this page. Indeed top quality photos are needed ! ! Al Wolf

Also see . . . Video - Old footage - - John Dillinger ::. (Submitted on June 14, 2012, by Al Wolf of Veedersburg, Indiana.)

Categories. • Notable Events •

Plaque Photo image. Click for full size.

By Courtesy:: Marilyn S. Wolf, June 10, 2012

3. Plaque Photo

By Courtesy:: Marilyn S. Wolf, June 10, 2012

4. Plaque Photo

One of Dillinger's Cars image. Click for full size.

Courtesy:: "Cook County Archives"

5. One of Dillinger's Cars

"Biograph Theater" image. Click for full size.

Courtesy:: "Cook County Archives"

6. "Biograph Theater"

"Heritage Wall" image. Click for full size.

By Courtesy:: Marilyn S. Wolf, June 10, 2012

7. "Heritage Wall"

Marker can be seen in this photo on the bottom row - - fourth from the right end.

Other View - - John Dillinger Was Here Marker image. Click for full size.

By Courtesy:: Marilyn S. Wolf, June 10, 2012

8. Other View - - John Dillinger Was Here Marker

Full View - - John Dillinger Was Here Marker image. Click for full size.

By Courtesy:: Marilyn S. Wolf, June 10, 2012

9. Full View - - John Dillinger Was Here Marker

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Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. This page originally submitted on June 14, 2012, by Al Wolf of Veedersburg, Indiana. This page has been viewed 625 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. submitted on June 14, 2012, by Al Wolf of Veedersburg, Indiana. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.