Indiana National Road Association

10/16/2026

FRIDAY FROM THE ROAD...

Did you know that there are a few hidden old alignments of US 40 in Putnam County? You can drive them all! Here's one of them, about 1.5 miles west of US 231.

As the Indiana National Road Association tagline reads: "MAKE HISTORY. DRIVE IT."

10/09/2026

FRIDAY FROM THE ROAD…

100th Anniversary - October 1, 2026 - The Renumbering of All Roads in Indiana.

Last Friday, October 1, we covered the 100 year history of U.S. 40 in Indiana. The same day, Indiana Department of Transportation posted an illustrated history (4 graphics below) of the 100 years of state roads and their renumbering.

We thought this would be very useful for all of the "road warriors" who follow our site:

• The U.S. Numbered Highway System is celebrating its official 100th anniversary in 2026, marking a century since the American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHO) adopted the national grid on November 11, 1926.
• In preparation, Indiana undertook a 1 day, 12-hour effort to cover all roadway signs. On October 1, 1926, every road in the state had officially been renumbered.

Check out the "4 graphics" below to go on a little history lesson with us to learn more about Indiana's great renumbering.

We have also included an update on our effort to assist in the relocation of the US 40 Gateway Monument which is in storage now due to current "Blue Line Rapid Transit System" Construction on Washington Street (US 40).

We welcome your comments, stories, experiences and memories!

As the Indiana National Road Association tagline reads: "MAKE HISTORY. DRIVE IT."

Credits: Indiana Department of Transportation, Rundell Ernstberger Associates, LLC, INRA Collections

10/02/2026

FRIDAY FROM THE ROAD…

The National Road / US 40: The Beginning - October 1, 1926

On October 1, 1926, the National Road was officially designated U.S. Route 40 by the federal bureau of public roads. This new route became one of thirteen U.S. Routes in Indiana.

The culmination of work begun two years earlier to establish a uniform system of numbering cross-country routes through every state.

• U.S. Routes running east and west bear even numbers, lower numbers in the north and higher numbers further to the south.

• Odd number U.S. Routes run north and south. Known as “The Main Street of America,” U.S. 40 closely followed the planned 1921 Victory Highway memorializing Americans lost in World War I by eliminating a patchwork of state road numbering from Atlantic City, New Jersey to San Francisco, California.

• The shield of the United States forms the outline of the U.S. 40 sign, with a white background on which, in black lettering, across the top appears the name of the state in which the sign is posted, and letters “U S” immediately below with the route number in large numerals in the lower half, marks the route.

• The renumbering was completed in one day using pasteboard markers which were later replaced with metal markers as soon as they became available.

• The National Road portion of this transcontinental route, previously designated as Pennsylvania Route 11, West Virginia Route 29, Ohio Route 1, Indiana Route 3, and Illinois Route 11, was united with portions of the National Old Trails Road – Santa Fe Trail and the Oregon Trail – as U.S. 40 passed through Missouri and Kansas, continuing on through Colorado, Utah, and across Nevada before entering California.

• In addition to U.S. 40, three other of the thirteen U.S. Routes : U.S. 31, U.S. 52, U.S. 36 – crossing Indiana pass through Indianapolis, bestowing upon the Hoosier capital city the nickname “Crossroads of America.”

Special thanks to author and INRA Board Member & Historian Steven R. Barnett for this excellent research and essay.

We welcome your comments, stories, experiences and memories!

As the Indiana National Road Association tagline reads: "MAKE HISTORY. DRIVE IT."

Credits: Steven R. Barnett, Indiana Historical Society, Indiana Historical Bureau, he Indianapolis Star, 23 October 1926, Indiana Department of Transportation, INRA Collections.

09/25/2026

FRIDAY FROM THE ROAD...

Dan Patch - Trained & Stabled on the National Road

Dan Patch (April 29,1896 - July 11, 1916), a Standardbred Pacer, was the most popular athlete in American in the early 1900s. He earned the title of being the "World Champion Harness Horse" and the “Greatest harness horse in the history of the two-wheel sulky”.

These titles and this crown he won when he set the world record of 1.55 (one minute and fifty-five seconds) for the mile. He was a major sports celebrity and was undefeated in open competition. Dan Patch was so dominant on the racetrack that other owners eventually refused to enter their horses against him.

Dan Patch was born at Oxford, Indiana and grew up into a fine c**t in the stables of Dan Messner. Dan Patch was sired by Joe Patchen. Messner named the c**t after himself, “Dan” and Patchen, "Patch". John Wattles was the devoted trainer.

• Dan Patch was four years old before Messer felt worthy of his first race entry fee.
• Early in his career, he raced at the Indiana State Fair; and it was during this time that he trained on the one-mile track that was located on the "National Road" at the farm of Melville McHaffie and his son Earnest McHaffie.
• McHaffie farm is located just west of Stilesville, Indiana in Putnam County and is today known as "Rising Hall".

Melville F. McHaffie (1826–1914) immigrated to Indiana as a young boy with his widowed father, Andrew McHaffie. Andrew was a veteran of the War of 1812, and his father John McHaffie was a veteran of the Revolutionary War where he observed the surrender of General Cornwallis to General George Washington at the battle of Yorktown.

According to author Jesse W. Weik, Melville McHaffie, when a small boy, “witnessed the tremendous labor incurred in the construction of the National Road, when laborers worked for fifty cents a day ... A cousin of his ran a boarding house (or rather cabin) for these workers.”

Melville became one of the largest landowners in Putnam and Hendricks counties and was a very successful farmer and businessman. He married Mary Jane Thomas in 1850, and they would eventually build their marvelous home along the "National Road". Today it is known as "Rising Hall".

McHaffie and his wife built the home and barns in 1870-72 at a cost of $2,500. At one-point Mrs. McHaffie was feeding 25 workmen who were involved in the construction of the project. The brick and the lumber for the construction of the home came off of the McHaffie’s property. The house is an excellent example of Italianate style. Its size, 50’ x 50’, and grandeur make it a prominent landmark on the "National Road" still to this day.

In addition to the buildings, McHaffie and his son Ernest (who later named the farm “Forest Home Stock Farm”, built a one-mile horse racing track, one of the largest in Indiana, to train and race Standardbred horses. It was on this track (that no longer exists) that Dan Patch was exercised and trained.

In the 1800s horsepower was the primary means of transportation. Most everyone wanted to go as fast as possible, thus the Standardbred horse was developed. The McHaffies became one of the premier breeders, trainers and merchants of horses and mules.

Today, 2026, the beautiful farmhouse located on the "National Road" is owned by the Prosser family and serves as a wonderful Bed ‘n’ Breakfast.

In 1983 when the home was placed on the National Register of Historic Places, the preservation officer stated “the farm was the home of the famous trotter, WWJ; who won many races at the Indiana State Fair in Indianapolis. Dan Patch was on the farm for breeding and training for a time around the turn of the century. He also raced at the State Fair.”

"Rising Hall", the beautiful home that the McHaffies built 154 years ago, is still standing proudly on the National Road today. It is a beautiful bed and breakfast that you can visit.

In back of "Rising Hall" is one of the original livestock barns (see photos). This barn is where the great Dan Patch visited and trained on the one-mile track. It is nice to know that we can stay at the farm where one of America’s most famous athletes also lived.

• Click here to visit "Rising Hall": https://www.risinghall.com/

We welcome your comments, stories, experiences and memories!

As the Indiana National Road Association tagline reads: "MAKE HISTORY. DRIVE IT."

• Special thanks to author and INRA Board member Pat Chase for this excellent research and essay.

Credits: Pat Chase - Author & INRA Board Member, Hans Prosser, proprietor - Rising Hall, The Great Dan and the Remarkable Mr. Savage, Tim Brady, Putnam County Historical Society
Hans Prosser – Rising Hall, Dan Patch Historical Society Savage, MN, National Register of Historic Places - Preservation Officer Certification, Weik’s History of Putnam County, Indiana – 1910 Bowen and Company Publisher, Indiana State Historic Architectural and Archaeological, Plainfield Public Library

09/21/2026

09/18/2026

FRIDAY FROM THE ROAD...

This is the first in a video series by Historian Brady J. Crytzer.

They will appear monthly. Enjoy!

09/11/2026

FRIDAY FROM THE ROAD…

National Road & Sunshine Swimming Pool & Tourist Camp - Plainfield, IN

Summer ends on September 22 this year and it seems appropriate to cover another historic swimming pool on the National Road. Last Friday we covered “Laughing Waters”, a historic roadside swimming pool resort located directly on the National Road, just west of Ogden, Indiana.

This week we are writing about another historic swimming pool located directly on the National Road named “Sunshine Swimming Pool and Tourist Camp” in Plainfield, Indiana. Sunshine Pool was the county’s first public swimming pool in Plainfield.

Sunshine opened in May 1930 and closed in 1964. The proprietor was General Forest Calbert, who settled in Plainfield in the 1890’s. At the beginning of the automobile era, G.G. Gilbert founded the Quaker Oil Company who distributed oil across the State. He and his sons later opened Hudson and Essex auto dealerships in Plainfield.

On a trip to California. G.F. Calbert became aware of new west coast trend; a combination filling station, restaurant, swimming pool and tourist camp.

The Plainfield Messenger described the main structure facing U.S. 40 as “an artistic building of red brick, English type, colonial”. Behind the building was a 100 by 90-foot swimming pool. The main pool ranged from 3-9 feet deep, and one end was 12 inches deep, and fenced off for small children. The main pool featured an 8-foot springboard and a 16 ft. tower.

On opening day in 1930 an estimated crowd of over 600 came to see the wonderful new complex. Children received balloons and ladies received pink rosebuds. The Plainfield Messenger praised Mr. Calbert on this project. “We do congratulate Mr. Calbert upon this worthen addition to our town, he has helped to make other people happy and our town beautiful.”

The complex has tourist cabins located behind the pool. The tiny cottages were each furnished with a fireplace and were a popular place for celebrities who were visiting Indianapolis.

The Sunshine Pool closed at the beginning of World War II. G.F. Hadley turned the operation over to his son Fred in 1936 when his health began to fail. Oscar Gordon purchased the property and reopened the pool in 1949. In 1955 the Plainfield Optimist club bought the pool. It closed for good in the 1960’s and the swimming pool portion was filled in.

We welcome your comments, stories, experiences and memories!

As the Indiana National Road Association tagline reads: "MAKE HISTORY. DRIVE IT."

Credits: Indiana Album, Plainfield Messenger, The Republican, The Indianapolis Star

09/04/2026

FRIDAY FROM THE ROAD…

Laughing Waters on the Indiana National

Laughing Waters was a small swimming resort located along the original National Road in the 1920s,30s and 40s. It was located just west of the village of Ogden along Buck Creek. In the days before the construction of U.S. 40, east-west travelers on the National Road would have been able to stop at Laughing Waters for summer fun. The resort became regionally famous, not only for travelers, but for the local citizens of Ogden, Knightstown, Spiceland, Dunreith, Raysville, New Castle and east central Indiana.

Today this stretch of National Road is the longest in Indiana that is still the original 1830s roadbed. This section was not obliterated by the construction of U.S 40. This section is a little over 4 miles long and runs between the villages of Raysville and Dunreith, about half-way between these two is the village of Ogden.

Ogden was plated by Hiram Crum in December of 1829 shortly after the development of the National Road; and he originally named the village Middletown because the location was approximately halfway between Richmond and Indianapolis. However, there was another Middletown in Henry County, so years later the Indiana legislature changed the community’s name to Ogden.

Ogden was named in honor of Captain Cornelius Ogden who was a graduate of West Point Military Academy in 1819. He was a member of the Corps of Engineers and was appointed by U. S. Department of War to oversee construction of the National Road through Indiana and Illinois, thus, he was honored with the town’s designation.

Laughing Waters came into existence when a resident of Ogden, William Fentress, acquired four acres of land along Buck Creek and constructed the swimming resort. He hired local farmers with their teams of horses to dig out the pool area. They poured a concrete bottom at the swimming area, created an island in the middle of the pool that was used by the lifeguards, and then dammed up the creek.

William Fentress then built a concession stand/bath house, diving boards and created a large picnic area. In the summers before there were private and public swimming pools, Laughing Waters was a very busy destination along the National Road.

Fentress held swimming and diving competitions with the locals, competing against clubs from Richmond YMCA, Rushville and even the Indianapolis Athletic Club. Many church and civic organizations would use the resort for their meetings and get togethers. The Knightstown Banner reported that the Indiana Soldiers and Children’s Home were bringing hundreds of children to the resort every week for a time of fun and recreation.

By the 1940s things had changed. Young men went to War II, and the maintenance of the facility was a challenge. In 1944 and 45 The Knightstown Kiwanis Club took over the management of the facility but that was short lived. Laughing Waters had been a popular destination on the old National Road for many years and it was enjoyed by many.

We welcome your comments, stories, experiences and memories!

As the Indiana National Road Association tagline reads: "MAKE HISTORY. DRIVE IT."

* Special thanks to INRA Board Member Pat Chase for this research and essay.

Credits: Knightstown Banner, Henry County Historical Society, Spiceland Town-Township P***c Library, Google Maps

08/28/2026

FRIDAY FROM THE ROAD…

National Road & Caldwell Pioneer Cemetery (Hancock County)

An Indiana pioneer is an early settler who arrived in the state prior to 1840. Pioneer graves are the final resting places of these early residents and are often located on private family farms or churchyards.

As westward expansion began occurring and travelers headed thorough Indiana, the state became a stopping-off place for countless pioneers on the way west. Some paused long enough to bury their dead, and some could not reconcile the thought of burying and leaving their loved ones in strange territory and decided to stay. These folks were the early founders of Hancock County and part of the origin of pioneer cemeteries.

The state of Indiana is home to hundreds of abandoned or neglected pioneer cemeteries, the oldest of which are now approaching 200 years.

There are several groups involved in the effort to identify, preserve and resort these cemeteries, one of which is the Indiana Pioneer Cemeteries Restoration Project.

Caldwell Cemetery, located in Hancock County, is one of these cemeteries and is located directly on the National Road / US 40. The cemetery is about four miles east of Greenfield, Indiana.

Pioneer graves often feature simple fieldstone markers, hand-carved sandstone, or weathered marble headstones, headstones and often the cemeteries are overgrown by trees and dense brush.

Caldwell Cemetery –

• The cemetery was designated as an official “Indiana Bicentennial” legacy project ties to Hancock County bicentennial celebration. A bicentennial marker is mounted on the fence facing the National Road (US 40).
• This small historic township burial ground is located at 4511 E. US 40, on the south side of the National Road (US 40), between County Roads 400 East & 500 East (about four miles east of Greenfield).
• The land was originally160 acres and was purchased from the government by Elijah Caldwell in 1828.
• Began as a 19th century family burying ground, when two children of the Elijah Caldwell family were the first buried on this site in 1834.
• The stones are standing, and the grounds are well maintained by township funds.
• Concrete steps flanked by a brick wall built into a small his on the side of US 40 serve as the entrance.
• County-level documentation and lists are maintained through the Center Township Hancock County Official Site.
• Sue Baker, a professional Certified Genealogical Record Searcher, has authored the book “Hancock County, Indiana Headstone Inscriptions One Hundred Years, 1833-1933”.
• The Hancock County Cemetery Commission hosted a “Community Day of Caring” at Caldwell Cemetery in 2016, which involved 4-H, Boy Scouts, Historic Landmarks and many other volunteers who worked on the property maintenance.

We encourage you to visit this outstanding example of a “Pioneer Cemetery”. The headstones are fascinating and include early immigrants, some with inscriptions of the country they immigrated from.

We welcome your comments, stories, experiences and memories!

As the Indiana National Road Association tagline reads: "MAKE HISTORY. DRIVE IT."

Credits: Sue Baker, CGRS, Hancock Country Historical Society, Indiana Historical Bureau, Indiana Pioneer Cemeteries Restoration Project, Indiana Department of Natural Resourced Cemetery Landmarks, Society of Indiana Pioneers.

08/21/2026

FRIDAY FROM THE ROAD…

National Road & Prewitt Theater - Plainfield, Indiana

The Plainfield Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2020. The historic district encompasses 174 contributing buildings across the central business district and nearby resident blocks.

The buildings feature Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, Italianate, Queen Anne and American Craftsman styles of architecture. The architectural preservation along Main Street (National Road) is outstanding.

In 1927 L.M. Prewitt constructed the 400-seat Prewitt Theater. The theater opened on November 23, 1927, with the feature film “No Place to Go” starring Mary Astor and Lloyd Hughes.

Beginning in 1915, prior to the theater, The Prewitt family ran an automobile garage on the land, housing Prewitt’s Motor Sales, and selling Goodrich tires. The automobile business and service were in a prime location on the National Road to assist travelers. L.M. Prewitt’s father Joseph Prewitt was the first person to own a car in Plainfield.

Lowell Prewitt died in 1934 at age 40, and his wife Janet continue managing the theater. In 1938 air conditioning and in 1944 new projectors were installed. Janet died in 1959. The building went through several hands and fell into decline. In 2018, the Plainfield Redevelopment Commission acquired the property and restored the historic marquee.

The Prewitt building is located at 121 W. Main Street in the heart of Plainfield, Indiana. In 2022, the former theater was reproposed into an upscale restaurant owned by local businessmen Parick Keller and Doug Huff, who own Keller Huff Restaurant Group.

We welcome your comments, stories, experiences and memories!

As the Indiana National Road Association tagline reads: "MAKE HISTORY. DRIVE IT."

Credits: Historic Buildings of Plainfield, Indiana, Visit Indy, National Register Information System, INRA Collections.