Local History Display For Building Anniversary
The Crawfordsville District Public Library recently celebrated the 20th Anniversary of our current building. This library building opened in September 2005, marking a new era for Crawfordsville in regard to expanding library services and materials. We invite you to visit our celebratory Local History display on the second floor, which now showcases detailed renditions of […]
A Look into Our Library’s Past
The Crawfordsville District Public Library would like to invite the community to visit our upcoming local history exhibit on the second floor, which will be available beginning August 1. This exhibit will celebrate the 20th anniversary of our building, which opened to the public in September, 2005. While we celebrate our current building, we would […]
New Local History Display
The Crawfordsville District Public Library invites the public to enjoy our newest Local History display on the second floor in celebration of the First Methodist Church’s 200th anniversary. The church will hold its official celebration on September 14, 2025. Travel back two hundred years, when a Methodist elder named James Armstrong heard there were a […]
Elks Local History Display
One of the many fraternal organizations with a home in Crawfordsville, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks was originally formed in New York by a group of actors. Though initially intended to aid members and other friends in need, their efforts soon expanded outwards. Cities nationwide were inspired by the popularity of the Elks’ fundraising […]
Local History House Research
When my spouse and I moved into our current home in December 2023, we were curious about when our house was originally built (I was originally told 1948), when an obvious addition was built (originally told 1968), and of course, who lived there over the years. However, having never done this type of research, I […]
Steck’s Local History Display
The Local History section of the Crawfordsville District Public Library invites the community to visit the second floor to see its newest display and learn about some of Crawfordsville’s retail history. In 1936, Hershel Steck and Harold “Nick” Nixon, founded and opened Steck’s Menswear at 107 E. Main Street. Steck’s Menswear, in business until 1991, […]
Memorializing Sidney Speed
Stop by the library’s second floor to learn about Civil War veteran, Crawfordsville mayor, and renowned stoneworker, Sidney Allen Speed. He designed and built many iconic monuments in Montgomery County and beyond, including General Lew Wallace’s thirty-foot-tall gravesite memorial at Oak Hill Cemetery. Sidney Speed was one of three Speeds to work in the monument […]
A Look at Our Past: The Lincoln School
The Lincoln School for Colored Children operated in Crawfordsville from its inception in 1881 to 1947. The first location opened in September of 1882, at the corner of Spring and North Walnut, with 42 students. The land and buildings of the school provided a safe space for the black community to socialize and learn. In […]
Digital Genealogy Resources
In our June article, we covered the resources available on the Crawfordsville District Public Library website. In this follow-up, we will explore other digital resources available that are fun ways to explore genealogy and the history of our county and state. Providing a broad range of services and digital ephemera is the Indiana State Library […]
Preserving Local Memories
The Crawfordsville District Public Library is home to the Marian Morrison Local History Collection, featuring materials on Crawfordsville, Montgomery County, Indiana and surrounding areas. Located on the second floor of the library, our Local History and genealogy section is a part of the Reference Department and features a robust online database in addition to the […]
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