Goshen Historical Society

The Goshen Historical Society Museum. Dave Zollinger photo.

Goshen has a very active historical society. That society maintains a fine museum in the former Adams store at 124 S. Main Street, which is along the route of the Lincoln Highway.


The museum is located in the former Adams Store. Dave Zollinger photo.

The Adams store building was constructed in 1888 as part of the Harper Block. C.G. Adams & Sons opened their "jewelry & gent's furnishing store" in 1901. When it closed in 1997 the store had been owned and operated by members of the Adams family for the entire length of time. Pauline (Polly) Adams was the last, and I can remember visiting Polly at the Adams store to buy Boy Scout uniforms when I was a youngster.


This old photo shows the store that now houses the Goshen Historical Society museum. It's the one with lettering on the awning, directly behind the buggy. Photo courtesy of Goshen Historical Society.

Since the Goshen Historical Society bought the building in 1998 it has been the subject of major improvements to it's infrastructure and exterior. Some remodeling has been done as well.


The beautiful old building makes a fine place to house the museum. Dave Zollinger photo.

The museum is used to display artifacts that were made or in some way pertain to Goshen. Many donations of such items have been made by Goshen residents. Currently the museum is open every Saturday from 10AM to 1PM and is staffed by Goshen Historical Society members.


The museum holds a large collection of artifacts relating to Goshen's history. Dave Zollinger photo.


The Goshen Historical Society museum is easy to find. Located right along the Lincoln Highway at 124 S. Main Street, it's just two doors south of Sorg Jewelers.

Contact:
The Goshen Historical Society
"The Adams Store"
124 S. Main Street
Goshen, IN 46526
574-975-0033

Goshen's Carnegie Library

Goshen's Carnegie Library was the first one in Indiana. Dave Zollinger photo.

Goshen has a Carnegie Library, as do many towns do. But Goshen has the distinction of of having the first Carnegie Library that was built in the State of Indiana.
Located at the corner of 5th & Washington Streets, the classic building now serves as Goshen's City Hall. The current Goshen Public Library is now located about four blocks to the south at the corner of 5th & Purl Streets.


Historical marker at Goshen's Carnegie Library. Dave Zollinger photo.
Text reads:
Side one:
Indiana's first Carnegie library opened here 1903 with 3, 000 volumes. Goshen Library Association received $25, 000 in Carnegie grants 1901. Public donations, land purchase, and tax levy met Carnegie grant conditions. Architects Patton & Miller, Chicago, designed Beaux-Arts style structure. Library moved 1968; commercial and nonprofit uses followed.
Side two:
Listed in National Register of Historic Places 1983. Renovated building reopened 2001housing city offices. Original features of decorative marble, fireplaces, and domed rotunda retained. One of 1, 679 libraries built in U.S. with funds from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. Indiana built more Carnegie libraries than any other state.

For travellers following the Lincoln Highway through Goshen, a visit to the building will require a detour of only 1 block from Lincoln Highway Route (Main Street).


Goshen's Carnegie Library, originally opened to the public in 1903, now serves as Goshen's City Hall. Dave Zollinger photo.


A scan of an old post card from the collection of the Goshen Historical Society showing the Goshen Carnegie Library. Date that the photo was taken is unknown. Postcard has a stamp cancellation date of 1912. Courtesy of the Goshen Historical Society.

Map to Goshen's Carnegie Library:


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Fort Beane

When you're exploring Goshen on the Lincoln Highway there are quite a few things that you're going to want to visit while you're downtown. The west side of town has it's share too. But when you're following Lincolnway East there aren't a whole lot of things to see. Unless, of course, you enjoy looking at Wal-Mart, Arby's, Menards, and all the rest of the modern landscape.
However there is one very interesting part of Goshen's history for you to visit while you're on the east side, and it's located right on the Lincoln Highway.
Many people who live here drive by the Fort Beane marker day after day and never give it a thought. I am amazed at the number of local people who say, "I always wondered what that was!" when I mention the memorial. Others tell me that they've never even noticed it.
Since you are one of the very, very, few people who read anything on this site, you'll not only know what the marker is all about, you'll know where to find it too.
Exciting, isn't it? Kind of like being in an exclusive club.


The Fort Beane monument. Located on the west side of Lincolnway East, between Reynolds Street and 15th Street. Dave Zollinger photo.

The story of Fort Beane is an interesting part of Goshen history. Like many area communities, Goshen raised a militia during "The Black Hawk War" in 1832. The citizens of Goshen were afraid that Chief Black Hawk and his band would leave Illinois and pass through this area since they were known to have relations nearby in Michigan. The Goshen Militia Company eventually decided to build a fort near the road that led to Benton (and on to Ft. Wayne) and named the fort in honor of their Captain, Henry Beane.
According to the histories that I have read, construction on Fort Beane was halted shortly after it started and never got much further than a few log palisades.
The road that the old fort was constructed beside eventually became the Lincoln Highway.

Learn more about The Black Hawk War:
Black Hawk War at Wikipedia
Black Hawk War of 1832


Closer view of the inscription on the Fort Beane marker. Dave Zollinger photo.

If you decide to visit the Fort Beane marker, a word of caution. Traffic on Lincolnway East is usually very heavy in this area. You would do well to park somewhere west of the monument on Reynolds Street in the residential area and walk to the stone.


View of Fort Beane marker taken from E. Reynolds St. Looking SE towards 15th St. Dave Zollinger photo.

Map to Fort Beane marker:


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Elkhart County Courthouse

Goshen is the county seat of Elkhart County, Indiana. Although the city of Elkhart is considerably larger than Goshen, the latter was probably named the county seat because of it's central location within the county.


View of the Elkhart County Courthouse, Fall 2008. Looking towards the northwest from the intersecton of Main & Lincoln. Dave Zollinger photo.

The Elkhart County Courthouse stands in the center of town, at the intersection of Main Street & Lincoln Avenue. In this particular part of town Main Street is the route of the Lincoln Highway.
The courthouse is a beautiful structure in it's own right. But the grounds also hold the Neptune Fountain (which I did not photograph because it was already sealed up for the winter), and the county war memorial.
Because of it's central location the courthouse is a good place to park and explore downtown Goshen. It's within easy walking distance of the Olympia Candy Kitchen, Sorg Jewelers, the former site of the Alderman Hotel, the old Goshen Police Booth, the Goshen Antique Mall, and a score of stores, coffee shops, and historical buildings.


Historical marker at the Elkhart County Courthouse. Dave Zollinger photo.
Inscription on Marker Reads:
Side one:
Elkhart County was formed by the Indiana General Assembly 1830; the first county seat was located in Concord Township. County commissioners relocated the county seat to Goshen 1831. Jacob Studebaker, Goshen, designed first brick courthouse, completed 1833. Barrows and Garnsey, Chicago, designed second brick courthouse, completed 1870.
Side two:
Patton and Miller, Chicago, redesigned and enlarged Renaissance Revival style structure, completed 1909. Contractor, P. H. McCormick, Columbus, dismantled south end tower and dome, added north and south wings, and built new central dome and tower incorporating original 1870 clock. Listed in National Register of Historic Places 1980.

The Elkhart County Courthouse is a Goshen landmark, and it's located right on the route of the Lincoln Highway.


Elkhart County Courthouse as photographed in 1970. View is same direction as my photo above. Photo by Calvin Beale.


View of the courthouse under construction in 1908. Photo believed to be public domain.

Map:


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