"Broadway High School was the first commissioned high school for colored in Indiana" according to Grant S. Murray, Principal of the Broadway School from 1914-1917. In the September 6, 1880 edition of the Madison Courier, the newly opened school...
Stables; Livery; Business enterprises; Sale barn; Warehouses
This building was probably built to be a livery stable or at least a building to contain horses. The 1859 city directory lists the building as McCubbin and Sons Livery. It was also called a livery and sale barn at one point. For several years in...
This building, originally a private home, was built ca. 1878, probably by William H. Bruning. Mr. Bruning retained ownership of the home until his death in 1930, although he hadn't lived in the house for some time. It is assumed the property was...
Louis Decar was born June 30, 1923 in his beloved Madison. His father, also Louis, was the chief florist at the Madison State Hospital until his death in 1924. His mother, Helen, who instilled in him a deep love and respect for his hometown, raised...
Louis Decar was born June 30, 1923 in his beloved Madison. His father, also Louis, was the chief florist at the Madison State Hospital until his death in 1924. His mother, Helen, who instilled in him a deep love and respect for his hometown, raised...
The First Baptist Church of Madison, founded in 1807, has the oldest continuous history as a Baptist church in the state of Indiana. The congregation occupied two different sites on the hilltop before moving to its current location at 416 Vine...
The First Baptist Church of Madison, founded in 1807, has the oldest continuous history as a Baptist church in the state of Indiana. The congregation occupied two different sites on the hilltop before moving to its current location at 416 Vine...
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...
Steamboats; Riverboats; Excursion boats; "Belle of Louisville"; "Avalon"; Ferries; USO clubs; Rose Island
Built in 1914 this boat went by the name Idlewild from that date to 1947. She then became the Avalon from 1947 to 1962 when she was dubbed "Belle of Louisville". She is a shallow draft boat which enables her to glide over water that would not be...
The inscription on the old picture reads, "Madison & Milton Ferry Landing--1908." The landing at Madison and the ferryboat, "Trimble" looked much like this during the winter of 1917 and 1918 when some of the worst weather of the century hit much...
Steamboats; Riverboats; W. S. McChesney, Jr.; Diesel; Ohio River
The "Froman M. Coots" began life as a steam ferry built for the Wiggins Ferry Company of St. Louis. At that time she was called the "W. S. McChesney, Jr." She served the Louisville and Jeffersonville areas. It was converted to diesel-electric...
The original part of the building was built sometime in the early to mid 1800s with a new front being added in 1868. It served as a private home, an inn, and a private seminary in the 1850s, according to Brooklyn Cull, who has researched the...
Railroads; Train depots; Railroad stations; North Madison; Wirt, Indiana
Several passengers are seen waiting for locomotive "8404" to pull into the station. Notice the buggy parked behind the depot and the rolls of fencing to the side of the building. The station was once the North Madison depot which served there from...
Harry Chapman (1882-1960) was one of Madison's most admired citizens. Mr. Chapman was the owner of the Democratic Printing Company. He started in the printing business at an early age, working in the shop started by his father, Alonzo Chapman, a...
Marcus Sultzer, son of Raphael and Rachael Sultzer, died in 1935 at the age of 79. He was a city attorney, prosecuting attorney, served as postmaster and was twice mayor of the city of Madison. My Sultzer was an attorney for many years with the...
The first water system for Madison was built between 1814 and 1817. While it did not serve everyone in the city it must have been a monumental achievement for such an early age. The first water ducts were hollowed out logs fitted into each other...
This reservoir was located east of town. There were at least three such reservoirs around Madison. Plans for one of the early reservoirs were approved by the city council in 1846 under the guidance and ownership of Thomas Godman. It was to be...
