The tandem bicycle, often called a bicycle built for two, was most popular in the early 1900's but can still be found on the market today. It was the first mode of transportation that made it acceptable for a lady to ride as a man would--no...
Pork; Trucks; Railroads; Meat industry; Flour & meal industry
Trucks from the Pearl Packing Company line up to unload pork onto the waiting train. Madison was once a huge pork producing town, second only to Cincinnati. In the picture you can see the top of Trow's Flour Mill.
This is a picture of Graston's Lumber Mill just north of the old depot at Dupont, Indiana. You can see the depot on the left in the distance. Across from the depot are boxcars sitting on the siding.
Here the ferry boat "Trimble" lands at the Milton docks. You can see Madison in the background. The large building in the middle of the picture seen in the distance is the Eagle Cotton Mills.
The Heritage Center grounds contain the restored Madison Railroad Station, a brick Victorian-era passenger depot noted for its octagonal waiting room which is over two stories tall. Built in 1895 by the Pennsylvania Railroad, it served travellers...
The old "Margaret J" is seen from the Milton side of the river. She is pushing the hull of the former ferryboat, "Trimble". The towboat "Inland" is making its way down the river. In the distance, at the far left, can be seen a piling being built...
This is the Middleton-Wymond Coal Company elevator, located on the river. You can observe the marriage of steam on the river and the railroad. Coal is being taken off coal barges on the river but the coal company also received shipments from the...
Railroad stations; Train depots; Buses; Madison Depot; Madison; Railroads
"In 1893 the railroad bought the whole block on First Street from Vine to Mill and and bought the depot." The Victorian style building was built in 1895. On the property had stood a fine old home which had to be taken down to make way for the...
Steamboats; Riverboats; Stern wheelers; Greene Line; Madison-Milton Bridge; Ohio River
Built in 1925, this was the second "Chris Greene" of the Greene Line. One can see the Madison-Milton Bridge in the background on the left hand side; it was built in 1928. The first "Chris Greene" was lost in the great fire at Cincinnati in...
The "Belle of the Bends" was built in 1898 and in 1909 she sank and was raised for the first time. A year later she again went under and was raised. She ran as an excursion boat in New Orleans in 1910 and 1911. Soon after she was overhauled and...
The "Washington" is shown docked at Madison, Indiana, just above the Trow Flour Mill. On its sign you can see part of the word 'Perfection'. Perfection flour was shipped all over the country, and to other countries, by boat and rail. The mill...
Steamboats; Showboats; Riverboats; "Grace Devers"; Towboats; Tugboats; Levees; Otto Hitner
The "Cotton Blossom" began life in 1896 as a raft for a lumber company working out of St. Paul. She handled the large excursion barge named "Mississippi" at one time, was renamed "The Princess" and was then sold to the Barrett Line for use as a...
The timbers for a new hull for the "G. W. McBride" are being transferred to the mule drawn carts. They seem to be waiting for more mules before continuing. One can get a better view of the rear of the old freight station in this photograph. This...
Steamboats; Riverboats; Madison, Indiana; Rivers; "Kentucky"; "East St. Louis"
Here the "Kentucky" and "East St. Louis" pass Madison, Indiana. You can find out more about the boats by using the search feature and typing in the name of each boat.
Horses; W. H. Rogers; John Louis Spicer; Railroad freight cars
A horse and dray are used to pick up a load of paint for W. H. Rogers of Madison, Indiana. You can see the name on the side of the box car. There was no middleman here. The paint was loaded at the paint factory and delivered directly to Madison...
Here is another view of the old dike that jutted out from the Kentucky side of the river. You can see Madison on the opposite bank. Again, it seems to be a favorite place for people to congregate.
Photographers; Photographic studios; Riverboats; Gorgas, Joseph R.
Joseph R. Gorgas used this boat from about 1855 to 1858 as a floating photographic studio. The word "daguerrean" can be plainly seen on the side of the boat. Gorgas had a studio in Madison, Indiana for many years and was a sought-after...
