Vigo County Historical Society
Historical Treasure Article

Historic Treasure of the Week
By Raula Wright
Vigo County Historical Society

A musical Paige in history

Beautiful music could be heard coming from the store at 605 Main St., currently Wabash Avenue, in the late 1800s. This was the W.H. Paige and Co.’s Music Score which was to become the third oldest retail music store owned by the original family.

William Harlan Paige was born near Cleveland, Ohio in 1836. Later his family moved to Lorain County, Ohio. Here Paige worked on the farm and went to school during the winter. He attended the college at Oberlin. His love for music lead him to Ohio State Normal School of Music, where he received a thorough course in music.

In 1861, Paige married Mary Gorham. After they were married, they moved to New Castle. Paige and his family moved to Terre Haute in 1868. Paige was the first director of music for the Terre Haute public schools from 1868 to 1873. In his spare time he sold musical instruments. In 1871, Paige and W.B. Wharton opened a store at 605 Main St. The store moved to 642 Wabash Ave. in the early 1900s.

The business grew so large and fast that in 1873 Paige had to give up teaching music and focus on the music business. The store sold sheet music, music books, pianos, especially the Chickering pianos, Mason and Hamlin organs and "all kinds of musical merchandise."

Several of his children had musical talent. Four of them formed The Paige Quartet and sang throughout the community.

Paige died in 1901 and his sons Frederick and Warner stepped in to run the business. After Frederick died in 1932, Warner’s son Warner Jr. helped his father with the business. Warner Jr. kept the business alive after World War II when no new merchandise was available due to the war. The Terre Haute store was sold in 1989 and the business moved to Indianapolis.

Now 127 years later, Paige’s has gone on to a larger city but the music that started in Terre Haute can still be heard.

Memorabilia from Paige’s Music Store is part of the Vigo County Historical Museum’s display, "What’s in a Name?"

The Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley, 1411 S. Sixth St., is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.