8 Rare Photos Taken In Indiana During The Old Days That Will Simply Astound You
Indiana is a fascinating state to live in – most certainly not the “flyover” state many folks tend to dismiss it as. Life in Indiana is an underrated thing, we think, and one of our favorite things to do is check out old photos of the Hoosier State throughout its history. Check out these eight vintage photos of Indiana that’ll remind you of just how different things used to be… or maybe how similar they still are!
1. Main Street Looking West Near Lafayette Street, circa 1912
A snow storm in 1912 unleashed amazing amounts of snow over the Hoosier State; this photo includes what used to be known as the Central House Hotel... and eventually the Hotel Lafayette. Today, what is known as Central Park is located in this space.
2. Head-on Wreck on the Panhandle Railroad, circa 1903
Two trains traveling on the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad (most often referred to as the Panhandle Railroad) collided head-on at 6:15 a.m. on October 18, 1903. The incident occurred nearby Hebron, Indiana, and claimed the lives of no less than two people. It's said that two additional people may have died during the havoc when they were hit by the derailing trains.
This photo appeared on a postcard in 1916. The back of the postcard reads as follows:
Dear Mrs. Howard & Family:
We have had some cold weather here. I think you will agree with me by looking at this card. Will write soon. We are all well and hope you are the same.
Yours truly, W.A.J.
We're definitely inclined to agree, old friend. Definitely inclined to agree. Looks chilly!
This delightful photo captures a moment of fun between three beachgoers at Waverly Beach in Chesterton at some point in 1930. It's intriguing to see just how much waterfront fashion has changed - though the Devil's Slide Dune is visible in the background, and it's most certainly still there (though it's evolved just a bit).
A storm born in Illinois gave birth to a powerful tornado on a May afternoon that traveled more than 110 miles on the ground over two hours and 46 minutes. The same storm reportedly dropped gigantic, softball-sized hail over parts of Illinois and Indiana. The Fujita Scale had not yet been invented, but this tornado would have likely been rated an F4 or possibly even an F5.
Sand sculptures are still a thing to this day, so it's kind of cool to see one from way back when. This sculpture was crafted by an unknown (but highly skilled) artist on Michigan City Beach.
Sometimes photography is the only way we have to travel back in time, like in this instance. This building no longer exists, but at the time this photo was taken - 1913 - it was the Ford Motor Agency up until it was sold, which is when it became Stout's Garage (circa 1915).
A washout on the B&O Railroad following heavy rains claimed the life of one man and injured several others. An express train made up of six cars tumbled down a steep, 20-foot embankment, pinning the engineer underneath it. To this day, it remains one of the worst railway disasters in Indiana history.
Do these vintage photos of Indiana intrigue you as much as they intrigue us? We love these windows into the past – however small they may be – and we enjoy the insight they offer us.
Tori Jane is a storm chaser, writer, photographer, and the village idiot - in that order. When she's not out and about dancing with the meanest storms on planet Earth for funsies she can be found wandering, shooting landscapes, writing, editing photos, and otherwise up to no good. Legend has it that she can also be occasionally spotted typing up short bios in the third person, but those rumors are unsubstantiated.
