Skip to content

Henry County Historical Society & Museum

Bringing history to life & life to history since 1887!

About Us
Events
Support Us
Genealogy Library
Members Only
Shop
HENRY COUNTY HISTORY FEED

About Us
Events
Support Us
Genealogy Library
Members Only
Shop
HENRY COUNTY HISTORY FEED

HENRY COUNTY HISTORY FEED

Home/HENRY COUNTY HISTORY FEED

Copyright 1887-2024 Henry County Historical Society, New Castle, Indiana

Bringing History to Life &
Life to History Since 1887!

Hours of Operation
Please contact us to make an appointment to visit during these hours:
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, & Fridays~1-4:30 p.m.
Tours by appointment.
We can work with you if you can only come in on a
Monday or Saturday.
March through December

Admission Fees: None!

Call us: 765-529-4028
Email us:
[email protected]
Mail us:
606 South 14th Street, New Castle, IN 47362

4,720

Henry County Historical Society, Inc

Hours Tuesday-Friday from 1 to 4:30 p.m.
We're ALWAYS open by appointment.
Call Co-Director Darrel Radford
at 765-524-0530
Email: [email protected]
Call: 765-529-4028

Henry County Historical Society, Inc

2 days ago

On this day in Henry County history, Feb. 19, 1903, Henry County guards continued to be posted on roads leading into the area from Wayne County neighbor Dublin, preventing anyone from entering or leaving due to several cases of smallpox originating from that town.Commissioners had passed a resolution for every person in Henry County to be vaccinated. There had been reports of 500 cases and 50 deaths in Indianapolis as of that date.One of history's deadliest diseases, smallpox is estimated to have killed more than 300 million people since 1900 alone. But a massive global vaccination campaign put an end to the disease in 1977—making it the first disease ever eradicated. The History Channel website states there hasn't been a U.S. case of smallpox since 1949.BASKETBALL LIVES HEREThis Day In Henry County history is brought to you by Destination Henry County Indiana. Discover slam dunk experiences at www.HoopsInHenry.com. Visit the Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/VisitHenryCounty.com.HELP US PRESERVE COMMUNITY HISTORYPlease join the Henry County Historical Society with a $25 annual membership. Visit our website at www.henrycountymuseum.orgCOME SEE US!Our Tuesday-Friday hours won't resume until spring but we're open ANYTIME by appointment. Call 765-524-0530. ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook

· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Henry County Historical Society, Inc

2 days ago

For the fourth consecutive year, the Henry County Historical Society is pleased to present a Black History Month Spotlight post on our Facebook page for each day of February. Today, we remember Miss Lizzie Bailey.Lizzie was the first Black graduate of New Castle High School. She was in the Class of 1896, which graduated from this beloved building known as the Castle.BASKETBALL LIVES HEREThis Day In Henry County history is brought to you by Destination Henry County Indiana. Discover slam dunk experiences at www.HoopsInHenry.com. Visit the Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/VisitHenryCounty.com.HELP US PRESERVE COMMUNITY HISTORYPlease join the Henry County Historical Society with a $25 annual membership. Visit our website at www.henrycountymuseum.orgCOME SEE US!Our Tuesday-Friday hours won't resume until spring but we're open ANYTIME by appointment. Call 765-524-0530. ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook

· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Henry County Historical Society, Inc

3 days ago

On this day in Henry County history, Feb. 18, 1921, a new store in downtown New Castle, Edwards Jewelers, was in just its second month of operation.Featured here are four pictures from Edwards. Pictured top left are H. Ray Edwards, founder of the store, with son Morris. Then there's a black-and-white photo of the store front from years ago. At the bottom left is a black-and-white group photo, courtesy the late Mike Bertram, showing Steve Ditton, Dottie Eschenbrenner, Cindy James, and James Edwards.Edwards in a 1977 scene from the store. At the bottom right is a color photo is from just a couple of years ago, showing current store owner Alice Melton with certificates honoring the store's 100 years in business.Click on the photos to see full images.The store closed in 2023 after 102 years in business.BASKETBALL LIVES HEREThis Day In Henry County history is brought to you by Destination Henry County Indiana. Discover slam dunk experiences at www.HoopsInHenry.com. Visit the Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/VisitHenryCounty.com.HELP US PRESERVE COMMUNITY HISTORYPlease join the Henry County Historical Society with a $25 annual membership. Visit our website at www.henrycountymuseum.orgCOME SEE US!Our Tuesday-Friday hours won't resume until spring but we're open ANYTIME by appointment. Call 765-524-0530. ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook

· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Henry County Historical Society, Inc

3 days ago

For the fourth consecutive year, the Henry County Historical Society is pleased to present a Black History Month Spotlight post on our Facebook page for each day of February. Today, we remember Steve Williams (left) and Billy Ross (right), who quite literally blazed a trail of their own in New Castle athletics.Both were three-sport lettermen. In track, Williams was a record-setting sprinter and set the school record in the 440-yard dash as a senior.In football, Williams played wide receiver and defensive back. The Trojans had records of 13-4-3 overall and 7-4 in the North Central Conference during his junior and senior seasons. Williams was named All-NCC as a defensive back his senior season.In basketball, Williams started as a senior on the 1966-67 team that went 25-3 and advanced all the way to the Final Four in 1967. Williams also started as a junior.Williams was the second-leading rebounder on the team and was known for his quickness and defense. He was named to the All-NCC Team his senior year.In his three years on the varsity, Williams tallied 625 points in 54 basketball games for an average of 11.57 ppg.Ross, a 1967 New Castle Chrysler (NCC) High School graduate and a guard on the state finalist basketball team. He earned nine varsity letters during his Trojan career; three in football, three in track, two in basketball, and one in baseball. He also played football for Long Beach State University. Do you remember Steve Williams and Billy Ross?BASKETBALL LIVES HEREThis Day In Henry County history is brought to you by Destination Henry County Indiana. Discover slam dunk experiences at www.HoopsInHenry.com. Visit the Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/VisitHenryCounty.com.HELP US PRESERVE COMMUNITY HISTORYPlease join the Henry County Historical Society with a $25 annual membership. Visit our website at www.henrycountymuseum.orgCOME SEE US!Our Tuesday-Friday hours won't resume until spring but we're open ANYTIME by appointment. Call 765-524-0530. ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook

· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Henry County Historical Society, Inc

4 days ago

ANOTHER JOE DEAN STORYEarlier this month, we told the story of "Uncle Joe" Dean, a well-known black man who lived in New Castle and carried with him the reputation of a friendly, hard-working, honest man. Dean was said to have recovered a large sum of money accidentally left behind by Capt. James Steele of the Union Army during the Civil War. Dean could have taken the money and fled, but didn't, instead returning the money to Steele.He came to live in New Castle in the mid-1860s and was described as a "black apostle with a booming bass voice of "incalculable depth." Now, as the late Paul Harvey used to say, is "the rest of the story."Uncle Joe Dean was also quite the horseman. Joe was known for catching wild horses with the lasso on the Louisiana prairies. When he came north with Capt. Steele, his lasso ability was appreciated after Col. Baker of Texas arrived with a herd of wild mustangs. At the sale of those mustangs, Dean "greatly distinguished himself" by lassoing the wild steeds and handing them over securely to the purchasers.Thanks to Doug Magers for this story and photo of Joe Dean. It is another interesting part of black history in Henry County.BASKETBALL LIVES HEREThis Day In Henry County history is brought to you by Destination Henry County Indiana. Discover slam dunk experiences at www.HoopsInHenry.com. Visit the Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/VisitHenryCounty.com.HELP US PRESERVE COMMUNITY HISTORYPlease join the Henry County Historical Society with a $25 annual membership. Visit our website at www.henrycountymuseum.orgCOME SEE US!Our Tuesday-Friday hours won't resume until spring but we're open ANYTIME by appointment. Call 765-524-0530. ... See MoreSee Less