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Indiana Room at PGTPL, 1120 Stafford Road, Plainfield, IN (2025)

03/24/2025

Behind the Archives Door: Confederate Banknote

Along with a $5 and a $10 bill, the Indiana Room archives has this $20 Confederate note in its collection. This particular banknote is #20249 and was issued in the confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia. On the bottom left is a portrait of Confederate Vice President Alexander H. Stephens, while on the bottom right is the name of the printer, Blanton Duncan.

At first, Confederate currency was accepted throughout the South with high purchasing power. The Confederate Treasury, as well as individual states and banks, could issue their own notes. Confederate paper money was considered a “fiat currency” with no gold or silver backing the notes. This meant that it was essentially a line of credit to whoever held it. As seen on this one, the holder would be paid the value of the bill “six months after the ratification of a treaty of peace between the Confederates States of America and the United States.”

As the Civil War progressed and victory for the South seemed less and less likely, its value declined. Then, after the Confederacy lost the war, its money had no value. Both individuals and banks lost large amounts of wealth.

03/20/2025

Throwback Thursday: Plainfield High School Coaches

(For details on the individual photos, be sure to read the entire post.)

Indiana Room staff recently came across a photograph of four Plainfield, Indiana, athletic coaches from 1978 that we wanted to share. This led us to search out individual photos of the coaches and to look at their long careers in the Plainfield school system. The photo that sparked the search is shown first and is from May 1978. Keep reading for more on each of these Plainfield coaches!

1) (l to r): Dave Teany, Howard Conley, Geoff Bradley, and Dana Greene standing at the fence during an unknown athletic event, May 1978.

2) In 1977, student Bill Newkirk (left) gets track and field pointers from Dave Teany (right). Teany was hired in 1968 and began coaching swimming as part of his job as a health and physical education instructor. In addition to continuing as swim coach through 1991, he also served as head football coach from 1991-1996, and as head track and field coach from 1973 until his retirement in 2001.

3) In 1977, coach Howard Conley is hit in the face with a pie at an unidentified event, probably a pep session. Conley was hired in 1971 as a social studies teacher and track and field coach. He also helped coach football before being named head track and field coach upon Dave Teany’s retirement in 2001. Conley retired in 2003.

4) In 1979, Geoff Bradley is shown in his new assistant athletic director’s office. Bradley began working at Plainfield in 1967 and taught physical education, becoming the assistant athletic director to Charlie Muston before taking the position of athletic director at the middle school. He retired in 1998.

5) In 1991 Dana Greene instructs basketball players during a game. Hired in 1977, Greene taught physical education while teaching junior varsity basketball and the girls’ basketball team. He took over as boys’ varsity coach in 1988 and was appointed athletic director in 2010. He retired in 2014.

03/17/2025

Behind the Archives Door: 1970 IHSAA Regional Basketball Tourney Program

After last week’s peek at the 1914-1915 Plainfield, Indiana, basketball team photo, we thought we’d jump ahead half a century or so and look at some more basketball ephemera stored in the Indiana Room archives.

This program from Plainfield’s appearance in the 1970 IHSAA regional tournament at Hinkle Fieldhouse is a little battered – but that’s just wear and tear from being used by its owner for three exciting basketball games, no doubt!

The Quakers were led by first year coach Jon Yoho and beat Northwest High School 72-59 in the first game. They advanced to their first regional title game since 1937. Unfortunately, they fell to Crispus Attucks, 76-65, in the final game.

The players, listed in the program by last name only were: David Harmon, Darrell Miller, Warren “Bud” Shrum, Roger Mills, Robert Ewbank, John Palanica, Kim Lease, Robert (Bob) Church, Phil Nysewander, Leon Nellinger, Pete Debaun, and Mike Griffin.

03/13/2025

Throwback Thursday: Plainfield, Indiana, Jaycees

The Jaycees are a leadership organization made up of people between the ages of 18 and 40, providing opportunities to develop personal and leadership skills through service to others.

Plainfield’s chapter was established in April 1955 and for the next three and a half decades took a tremendous role in the town’s civic life. Among some of the most memorable of their activities were sponsoring Plainfield’s Junior Miss pageant, Fourth of July celebrations, and the Distinguished Service Award.

Enjoy some photos capturing just a few of the Jaycees endeavors.

1.) Winners of a 1975 Jaycees’ Santa coloring contest (l-r): Buffie Batton, Todd Murray, Gina Spikes, contest judge Junior Miss Winner Rhonda Robinson, Billy Batchelor, Brad Harney.

2.) 1975 winners of the Jaycees’ Distinguished Service Awards (l-r): Russell Rayburn, Ann Judd, Larry Judd, Charles Wisehart, David Teany, Tom Allebrandi, Brenda Trent, Harold Swift.

3.) Jaycee Ken Whittington (left) watches Plainfield Town Board president Jim Frederick (second from right) sign the proclamation of Plainfield Jaycee Week for January 15-21, 1978.

4.) (l-r): Amber Collins, Jennifer Dearlone, and Jessica Collins on a Jaycees sponsored 4th of July event ride, 1979.

5.) Juli Maners wins the 1977 Plainfield Junior Miss pageant.

03/10/2025

Behind the Archives Door: 1914-1915 Plainfield, Indiana, High School Basketball Postcard

We thought you might enjoy a look at an early Plainfield High School basketball team, which this postcard proclaims were “Contenders for [the] Indiana State Championship.” The same photo appeared in the Friday Caller newspaper in January 1915, which lauded the group’s 7 - 10 record and declared that they “should have a splendid look-in for at least honorable mention in the championship contests of the state.”

Alas, their record went downhill from there, and the gallant seven’s season fizzled out. But don’t they look great in their shirts with the big “P” on the front?

Indiana Room staff did some digging and identified the first names of all in the photo. Top Row: Albert Pattison, Robert G. Edwards. Middle Row: Herbert Tucker, Earl Bell, Earl Pike. Bottom Row: Harry Hatton, Urban Pope, Carl Jay, Earl Almond.

03/06/2025

Remembering the days of Kindergarten in the 1970s...and getting the hoped-for "S" or the dreaded "N". This card is from 1973 and was donated to the Indiana Room's Hendricks County school collection. [The donor wishes to remain anonymous--we think it's because of those "N" marks for skipping!] 😉

03/03/2025

Behind the Archives Door: David Carter’s Money Box

The Indiana Room archives is fortunate to hold many historical artifacts from Plainfield’s history, which can add so much context to what we know about our town's founding fathers. And if you are familiar with the history of Plainfield, Indiana, you know the name David Carter!

One of the original settlers of Plainfield, David Carter and his wife, Lucinda, came to Indiana from North Carolina in 1822. They settled on a tract of heavily timbered land of about 600 acres, which is now what we know of as the heart of downtown Plainfield.

The Indiana Room was fortunate enough to be gifted the money box that David Carter carried with him on his journey from North Carolina. You can see its battered condition, and perhaps imagine it in the covered wagon, clanking against the other items around it.

While it may not be all that useful for researching ancestor’s lives, it is a wonderful experience to see and touch something that was so important to the settlers of our town. Also pictured is David Carter, himself. (He looks awfully sweet, doesn’t he?)

02/27/2025

Throwback Thursday: Harold Grosskreutz, Plainfield High School educator

Among the notable teachers in the history of Plainfield schools, Mr. Harold Grosskreutz stands out as one of the most beloved and longest serving.

Landing in Plainfield in 1937, Mr. Grosskreutz came from Wisconsin, as a highly recommended vocational agriculture teacher. He also taught several other classes, eventually becoming the chemistry instructor and science department chairman. Additionally, he was a 40-year leader and advocate for youth participating in Hendricks County 4-H.

In 1953, Mr. Grosskreutz helped establish the Indiana Vocational Agriculture Teacher Association and served as an officer for many years. In 1970, he was honored with Plainfield Jaycees’ Distinguished Service Award for his work in the school’s Future Farmers of America program and his 4-H service.

In 1976, he was given the first Unsung Hero Award from the Red Pride Booster Club. Mr. Grosskreutz could be found on the scorer’s bench keeping time at basketball games, riding team and fan buses, keeping score for swimming and wrestling, and running chains for football games, among countless other tasks he gave himself. He also sponsored many senior classes, helping build Homecoming floats, plan proms, and organize graduations. In 1976, Mr. Grosskreutz retired from 4-H, having been cited for longest period of active service. In 1978, he retired from teaching after 41 years.

Harold Grosskreutz died in 1995, a true Plainfield luminary.

Do you have a story to share about Mr. Grosskreutz? We would love to hear them!

Photo 1: Mr. Grosskreutz is pictured in 1953
Photo 2: Mr. Grosskreutz (with his wife, Inez) was Grand Marshal of the 1978 Plainfield Fall Festival
Photo 3: The popular teacher is pictured with Lynn Houston in 1976
Photo 4: Mr. Grosskreutz operates the scoreboard for varsity basketball
Photo 5: Attending his farewell banquet, given in honor of his retirement from Plainfield High School in 1978

02/24/2025

Behind the Archives Door: Local cookbooks

The Indiana Room archives contains a wonderful collection of over 150 local area cookbooks.

Often published as a fundraiser or celebrating a milestone, these culinary gems are typically from a church, a school, an organization, or a family group—all of them featuring beloved recipes from our past.

And these types of cookbooks are always a go-to for when you just need a good recipe for Snickerdoodles or Persimmon Pudding or Chicken & Noodles.

(Or even Bootlegger Beans, Tomato Aspic, Teething Biscuits, Rosy Foam, or Bubbles!)

These books are available to look at in the Indiana Room, so stop on in!
1. Tri Kappa Food and Facts: Plainfield's 50th (1988)
2. Treasured Recipes from the Friends of the Plainfield-Guilford Township Public Library (2008)
3. Our Favorite Recipes: Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church (1996)
4. From a Friend's Kitchen: Plainfield Friends Meeting (1996)
5. Van Buren's Very Best: Van Buren Elementary School (1992)
6. Our Treasured Recipes: St. Susanna Women's Club (1999)
7. Hendricks County Home Economics Clubs Cook Book (1948)
8. Victory Cook Book: Belleville Methodist Church (1943)
9. Favorite Recipes from the Pikes (1979)
10. Family Favorites: Recipes from the family of John A. Church, Sr. (1989)

02/20/2025

It’s time for another TBT Class Reunion! This time it’s the Plainfield High School Class of 1988, who will have graduated 37 years ago this year Enjoy some memorable moments from your senior year, courtesy of the 1988 Silhouettes PHS yearbook.

1: Class officers: Jim Wilson (VP), Rob Jones (Pres.), Jennifer Hickam (Sec.).

2: (top l-r) Julie Kennedy entertains with EXISTENCE; Mike Vaughn was an auditorium crew member; Amy Gossman was Homecoming Queen; (middle) Scott Morris competed at DECA conference; Shelly Dowden and Carolyn Lane are caught by the camera; Greg Mayo talks about cruising; (bottom) Brian Dennison was an auditorium crew member; Lisa Castetter working at Clothes Out Junction; Aaron Arnold acts in "It Happens Every Summer".

3: (top) Tapani Vargas, Powder Puff King, and Steve Cobb, senior cheerleader; Rob Dininger and Jenne Shobe dance at Prom; (middle) Kina Pithoud and Matt Theobald act in It Happens Every Summer; Joe Hammond enjoys Spring Break; David Jordan discusses homework; (bottom) Amy Fanning and Sabrina Bryant work together; Christy Smith and her date enjoy Prom.

4. Top Twenty: (front) Bob Nixon, Jeff Ferrell, Steve Viehe, John Bloomer, Eric Graves, Jim Wilson, Rusty Hughes, Dan McConnell; (rear) Julie Kennedy, Carolyn Klueg, Melissa Loy, Chris Gummer, Lisa Young, Robin Hooton, Amy Elliott, Nicole Crager, Jennifer Zuber, Amy Fanning, Mary Ann Wubbolding, Lori Ping.

5. Senior National Honor Society members: (front) Eric Graves, Rusty Hughes, Jim Wilson, Carolyn Klueg, Jeff Farrell, John Bloomer; (middle) Dan McConnell, Amy Elliott, Jodi Peters, Jennifer Zuber, Julie Kennedy, Lori Ping, Melissa Loy, Dena Welsh; (rear) Bob Nixon, Amy Fanning, Jenny Shobe, Lisa Young, Talisa Zimmerman, Robin Hooten, Steve Viehe.

6. (top) Dena Welsh plays basketball; Richard Reynolds clears a hurdle; Mary Ann Wubbolding waits to set the volleyball; (middle) Travis Shadwick clears the high jump bar; Suzette Reed serves; (bottom) Teresa Jones performs on the balance beam; Rashid Kourany plays tennis; Steve Viehe was Cross Country MVP.

7. (top) Jerry Williams golfs; Amy Gossman and Kelly Legg were the Senior cheerleaders; Sean Atkins awaits his opponent; Donnie Brenneman pins his opponent; Amy Fanning was drum major; (bottom) Kevin Helser golfs; Jeff Wetzel prepares to race; Cross country co-captain Steve Cobb catches some breath.

8. Seniors get ready to graduate: (top) Josh Williams, Jerry Williams, Brian Livingston, Shawn Cooper, Troy White, Jason Castetter, Mike Nay; (middle) Alisia Miller and Marlene Bridges; Mindy Shillings and J.D. Muench; (bottom) Julie Boulware; Allison Clapp, Dena Welsh, Kelly Reardon and Lori LaRoche.

9. Valedictorian Jennifer Zuber and Salutatorian Jeff Farrell.

10. Graduation!

02/17/2025

Behind the Archives Door: Home Remedy “Cures”

In the Do Not Try This at Home Department, locked away in the archives are some old-fashioned “cures” that show just how far doctoring has progressed.

The pneumonia cure was found in the papers of a local Plainfield, Indiana, woman who was born in 1902 and, while its effectiveness may be up for debate, it probably won’t do more harm than make the patient somewhat . . . aromatic.

The smallpox cure (found with some military papers), however, contains foxglove, a common poison used in murder mysteries and the base of the drug digitalis--something we advise against messing with unless you have been professionally trained!

All in all, these two home remedy cures make us thankful for modern medicine.

02/13/2025

Throwback Thursday: Carrie (Trester) Hadley

A few weeks ago, the Indiana Room featured as a Throwback, Horace Hadley, Plainfield, Indiana, artist. His second wife, Carrie Trester West Edmondson Henry Hadley, was a notable person of Plainfield as well.

Born in 1893, in Clay County, Indiana, Carrie’s mother died when she was three. She was adopted by her aunt Ada West. In 1915, she married Roy Edmondson, with whom she had two children. After Roy’s death in 1935, she married first Thomas Henry (who died in 1957) and then Horace Hadley (who died in 1986).

Carrie was a beautician who owned and operated the Henry-Edda Beauty Shop for 65 years. She was a past matron of the Clayton chapter of the Order of Eastern Star, and a 75-year member of Plainfield’s OES.

However, Carrie’s most important legacy is the “Carrie Hadley’s Toys for Children in Need” project, which operated for a few years in the mid-1990s. A prolific sewer, Carrie regularly made dresses and clothes for dolls as a hobby. When she was 100 years old, her friends and family established the Carrie’s Toys project, wherein the community was asked to donate gently used toys (which were cleaned and dressed in new clothes), material for making and upcycling toys, and volunteers to work on the toys. Plainfield responded with a gusto, and over 600 toys were distributed to kids in need.

It’s heartwarming to think of how Carrie brought joy to so many young lives. She passed away in 1995 at 102 years of age. Carrie’s story is one of service, creativity, and compassion, leaving an indelible mark on our community.

Photo 1: Carrie as a young girl plays the piano
Photo 2: Carrie in 1994
Photo 3: Carrie in June, 1995

02/10/2025

Behind the Archives Door: Postcards

As an easy, quick, and inexpensive way for people to communicate, postcards were once the way to go.

The Indiana Room has dozens of “vintage” postcards in both the archives and the photo collection, most from the “golden age of postcards,” 1890 to 1915.

After World War I, demand for postcards decreased, due to increased telephone usage and other economic forces. While many postcards in the collection are “real photo” cards taken locally with a postcard camera at the height of the postcard craze, these three are some of our favorite greeting cards from the collection of lifelong Hendricks County resident Ellen Wood Johnson Beaman.

02/06/2025

Throwback Thursday: Recently discovered Plainfield Methodist Church photos.

For details on the individual images, be sure to read to the end of this post!

As mentioned in last week’s Throwback Thursday, with the acquisition of a digital slide scanner, the Indiana Room staff was able to convert a collection of slides stored in the archives into digital images, then upload them into our photo database for the public to access. The slides were taken by Plainfield resident H. O. Wimsett between 1939 and 1959. Among these were over thirty pictures taken at the Plainfield United Methodist Church, located at that time at 301 South Center Street, Plainfield, Indiana. Here are just a few of them to enjoy.

1) Janet Murphy and Phyllis Murphy stand among the congregants outside the Plainfield Methodist Church. They are wearing matching outfits and the photo is labeled "The Murphy twins, Janet and Phyllis (which is which?)." (April 25, 1948).

2) A crowd gathers outside after the Easter service at the Plainfield Methodist Church. The minister, Rev. Eldon Farmer, stands in the doorway. (March 28, 1948).

3) Congregants gather outside at the Plainfield Methodist Church. (l-r): Judith Groninger, Gloria Groninger, Geneva Groninger (bending down), Kathy Kellum (in red sweater), Paul Burch, Pauletta Burch. (September 28, 1947).

4) Ed Tomlinson (left) points something out to Milo Aiken in front of the Plainfield Methodist Church, (May 1, 1949).

5) Gathered in front of the Plainfield Methodist Church, (l-r): Janet or Phyllis Murphy, Jean Riddle, Phyllis or Janet Murphy (back to camera), Carrie Elizabeth Whicker, Geraldine Whicker. Small girl in front not identified. (April 25, 1948).

02/05/2025

PGTPL Genealogy Club: February 6, 2025 at 1:00pm. McMillan B Meeting Room

TOPIC: Woman’s Committee of the Council of National Defense Registration Cards: The Largest Census of Women You’ve Never Heard About

After America entered World War I in 1917, the Council of National Defense ordered the establishment of women’s councils as a domestic defense, where they registered over 4,000,000 women to provide services during the war. The data compiled represent the largest forgotten census of American women ever conducted.

This presentation by Amber Oldenburg will introduce attendees to the history of the Woman’s Committee of the Council of National Defense and the registration cards they created. It will cover where to find these records and how to use them in telling the stories of the women in their family history.

Join us!

02/03/2025

Behind the Archives door: Central Academy pennant

Central Academy (1881-1918), a secondary high school, was owned and operated by the Western Yearly Meeting of Friends. Located on the site of the current Central Elementary School (300 block of East Main Street, Plainfield, Indiana), the school offered students a private education experience.

In addition to many photographs of Central Academy through its short history, the Indiana Room has this sports pennant in the archive collection.

01/30/2025

Throwback Thursday: H. O. Wimsett slide collection

Today’s Throwback Thursday focuses on some great portraits that have recently “come to light.” For details on the individual images, be sure to read to the end of this post!

With the acquisition of a digital slide scanner, the Indiana Room staff was able to convert a collection of slides stored in the archives into digital images, then upload them into our photo database for the public to access.
These pictures were taken by Plainfield, Indiana, resident H. O. Wimsett from 1939 to 1959 and are unusual for capturing slices of Plainfield life from that time in full color rather than in black and white. Some of them are so clear they look like they could have been taken yesterday, so enjoy the small selection that follows. We are grateful that Mr. Wimsett identified each slide with on when and where it was taken, and who is in the picture.

1) Harry Spear (1897-1971) smokes a cigarette in front of the Plainfield Methodist Church, 301 South Center Street, 1944. Harry was a postal clerk who was married to Veva Griffin.

2) Margaret Buell and Jules Tileston marry at the Plainfield Friends Church in 1954. The wedding party, left to right: ?, ?, Jules Tileston, Margaret Buell (Margaret Tileston), Barbara Waters (Barbara Buford), ?.

3) Doctor James Stafford (Dr. J. C. Stafford) hugs some of his friends in front of his office on the south side of Main Street in 1939. (l to r): "Smoky" Phillips, Dr. Stafford, Margie Douglas, Martha Sims.

4) Bettie Jansen (Pepper Jansen), in the summer of 1943. Bettie was the daughter of Jane Jansen (Jane Husted) of Plainfield, Indiana. She grew up to marry Charles Acton.

5) Violet Hall and her sons sit with Mary Wimsett on the steps of the Wimsett house at 720 South East Street in May, 1955. Front: Steve Hall (left) and William Hall (Billy Hall). Back: Mary Wimsett (left) and Violet Hall.

6) A snapshot of seven-year-old Thayer Tomlinson, daughter of Edwin Tomlinson and Ruth Tomlinson (Ruth Mills) in April 1952.

01/27/2025

Behind the Archives Door: Plainfield City Directories

Sitting quietly on the shelf in the archives are thirty years’ worth of historical gold.

These are the Plainfield, Indiana, city directories for 1960 through 1990. In the Indiana Room we cannot count the number of times we consult these to answer reference questions, identify family members, pinpoint sites in photographs, or just settle matters of curiosity.

The directories contain alphabetical listings of families residing in Plainfield, usually detailing the members of the family along with their occupations. In addition, there is a “Buyers Guide” section, listing businesses by categories. And perhaps the most useful from a historical perspective is the Plainfield Street Guide, which indexes residents and businesses by street address.

So the next time you think, “Wasn’t there a fabric store in an old church back in the mid-seventies?” give us a call. We can check the directory and tell you it was Quality Fabrics at 201 N. Vine Street.

Indiana Room at PGTPL

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