Old Evansville Historic Association

01/15/2026

Neighbors, friends and supporters: please consider signing this petition for a safer community.

Support HB 1250 to notify local authorities of parolees' release

09/23/2025

Have you ever felt a chill while grabbing your coffee at Penny Lane Coffeehouse?

It’s not just the draft. This cozy coffee shop is haunted—and it’s been the site of a real paranormal investigation.

Baristas call the ghost “Fletcher,” but rumors tell a deeper story. Penny Lane is believed to be haunted by not one, but two spirits: Hallie Eaves Johnston and Annie Fellows Johnston, the wives of drug store owner William Levi Johnston.

Who were these women? Why do they linger? Their stories will be revealed on the Haunted Historic Evansville Ghost Walks—October 10 & 11 in the Riverside Historic District.

Tours run every 20 minutes from 6–10 p.m.
Tickets are $18 per person | hauntedevansville.com

Proceeds support three local nonprofits: Haynie's Corner Arts District, Old Evansville Historic Association, and Evansville Civic Theatre

Come sip the history… and meet the ghosts of Penny Lane.

09/25/2024

This walking haunted tour will regale the district’s history, architecture, prominent residents and even ghost stories and spooky sightings.

08/28/2024

12/26/2023

MAJOR Historic News: The neighborhood known as Baptisttown has been officially recognized as the Baptisttown Historic District by the National Register of Historic Places!

Baptisttown Details:
"The Baptisttown Historic District is the rich remnant of a thriving historically-African American neighborhood in Evansville’s near east side. Earning its name from the number of African American Baptist churches located in the district, the roughly ten-block district retains nine churches, a formerly segregated school and bathhouse, modest worker housing, and an early housing project which was the result of federal relief projects during the 1930s. Architectural styles vary from revival styles to the modern movement in architecture, nearly all applied to public buildings.

The Baptisttown Historic District is composed of approximately ten city blocks east of Evansville’s historic downtown. The district received its name from the number of African American Baptist congregants living in the largely African American neighborhood whose borders stretched as far north as Division Street, east to Evans Street, south to Chandler Street, and west/northwest to Walnut Street. While some commercial enterprises dotted the neighborhood, the main spine of historically-Black businesses lined Lincoln Avenue. Due to significant redevelopment and late 20th century urban renewal projects, the overall size of the district has been reduced to its extant, historically-important resources that remain connected through congruent streets and historic neighborhood fabric. It should be noted that a two-to-three block section of Cherry Street, north of the district, and Liberty Baptist Church, west of the district, are important contributors to the history of Baptisttown but are too far removed from the district boundaries due to late 20th century redevelopment interrupting congruent boundaries. Liberty Baptist Church was individually-listed in 1978.”

For more details, visit:https://www.in.gov/dnr/historic-preservation/files/hp-Baptisttown-Historic-District.pdf

11/03/2023

Join us for the Louisville Historic Home Christmas tour. We have a few seats left on the bus! The cost includes the charter bus to Louisville, box lunch and beverage, tour tickets and a private cocktail party at the famous 610 Magnolia Restaurant.

Your payment secures your seat: checks made out to OEHA, send to PO Box 1012 Evansville 47706.

08/22/2023

👻 SAVE THE DATE for the 2023 Haunted Historic Evansville ghost walks benefiting Evansville Civic Theatre, Haynie's Corner Arts District, and Old Evansville Historic Association! 👻

05/26/2023

Please consider supporting this collaborative neighborhood effort to revitalize Sunset Park. It’s location on the corner or Riverside and Shawnee is a gateway to the City and the only park in the historic district. The 3 acre park will be a place to enjoy the outdoors including a natural playscape, shelter, azalea walk, pollinator garden and an ADA compliant walking path. It’s a collaboration of OEHA, the City and the Welborn Baptist Foundation.

To take a city park in historic downtown Evansville and make it a beautiful space to relax, play, and socialize with family, visitors, and neighbors.

08/17/2022

Please take this important survey about our parks. Don't forget that OEHA is working to renovate and improve Sunset Park.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NN23YTF?fbclid=IwAR30-_WPqXbWrn10so5xXq9hY_sVGkfTZSCikczFSZn_NMSVK2pMvRrnxN4&fs=e&s=cl

Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

06/07/2021

Join us for dinner (from 5:00 on)at Riverwalk by Acropolis for this week’s “Tuesday Night for Historic Lights”. Come and try out this new exciting location on the river and help raise funds for the lighting project! 10% of your dinner bill will go towards the next phase of the project. See you tomorrow night!

06/01/2021

OEHA lighting fundraiser
“Tuesday Nights for Historic Lights” at Waltons tonight.
See you there!

05/26/2021

Join us for at some wonderful food and fun at these fine neighborhood restaurants to raise funds for our historic lighting project. See you at Walton's next Tuesday (June 1)!