Vigo County Historical Society
Historical Treasure Article
Historic Treasure of the Week -
April 17, 1983
Vigo County Historical Society
Old photos relate history of valley
This photo from the Vigo County Historical Society’s collection of more than 1800 photographs was donated to the society by Grace Taylor during the “Year of the Historic Photograph” project in 1980 and 1981.
The purpose of the project, which was funded by the Indiana Committee for the Humanities in cooperation with the National Endowment for the Humanities, was to collect, catalog and display local historical photographs. During the project area residents donated or loaned more than 800 photos to the society.
A fleet of open-air street cars such as the one in the photo was purchased for use in Terre Haute early in this century for warm weather comfort and pleasure. However, they proved to be unsafe for the passengers and were soon enclosed. Mule-drawn street cars first appeared in Terre Haute in 1867. The system was electrified early in the 1890s and was used until 1939 when buses replaced street cars as public transportation. Chauncey Starkey (right) is the motorman on the summer car. The other man is not identified.
This photograph is one of the 335 photos of local people, places and events included in the book, “On The Banks of the Wabash, A Photograph Album of Greater Terre Haute, 1900-1950,” published by the Historical Society. The publication is an outgrowth of the “Year of the Historic Photograph” and was funded by the Indiana Committee for the Humanities with matching funds provided by the Forrest Sherer Agency. The majority of the photos in the book are from the files of Martins Photo Shop and the remainder are from the society’s collection.
A reception launching the sale of the book locally will begin at 2 p.m. today in the museum. Editors of the book, members of the editorial board of the society, and representatives of IU Press will attend to discuss the book.
The Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley, 1411 S. Sixth St., is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.