Historic Fall Creek, Pendleton Settlement

Historic Fall Creek, Pendleton Settlement We promote and preserve the historic character, associations, and architecture of Pendleton, Indiana and the surrounding area.

On January 14, 1937, The Pendleton Times proudly announced the dedication of Pendleton High School's new gymnasium.The c...
05/30/2026

On January 14, 1937, The Pendleton Times proudly announced the dedication of Pendleton High School's new gymnasium.

The celebration featured one of Madison County's fiercest rivalries as Pendleton faced Lapel before a capacity crowd. Fans packed the new facility to witness history, and the hometown team delivered, defeating Lapel 24-20.

The new gym was considered one of the finest school athletic facilities in the area. Just south of the school, standing on its own grounds, was the impressive new structure. Built as a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project during the Great Depression, the gym measured approximately 100 by 120 feet and featured a full-size basketball court.

Construction materials came from businesses close to home, including lumber supplied by Pendleton's Collingwood Brothers, cement from Pendleton Feed and Fuel, and structural steel provided by the Indiana Bridge Company of Muncie.

With seating for approximately 1,000 spectators, modern locker rooms, and ample floor space, the gym quickly became the center of school and community activities.

Considered long gone, what many residents may not realize is that the 1937 gym was never completely lost. While newer facilities were constructed and the school campus evolved over the decades, the old gymnasium did not simply vanish. Today, visitors to Pendleton's elementary and middle school campus may not realize they are looking at part of a structure that dates back nearly 90 years. Hidden within layers of additions and renovations, the outline and roofline of the original gymnasium can still be found. What appears at first glance to be a modern school complex quietly preserves a piece of Pendleton's past, holding within its walls the memories of countless games, assemblies, graduations, and community gatherings.



Present day photo of school courtesy of Ted Shideler. Thank you!

One of Pendleton’s historic treasures continues to stand as a reminder of the community’s transportation and recreation ...
05/28/2026

One of Pendleton’s historic treasures continues to stand as a reminder of the community’s transportation and recreation history, Madison County Bridge #149 over Fall Creek on Huntsville Road.

Constructed around 1920, this rare steel Pratt through-truss bridge was officially added to the Indiana State Register on October 29, 2008, and later listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 22, 2008.

Way before its national recognition, local leaders understood the bridge’s historic importance. A 2003 newspaper article noted that Madison County Commissioners sought a “historical” renovation of the structure and planned to preserve as much of the original bridge material as possible. The restoration proposal even called for recreating the historic lattice railings typical of early truss bridges and using rivets instead of modern bolts in order to maintain the bridge’s original appearance and engineering character.

The article also highlighted just how rare the bridge truly is. At the time, only two steel truss bridges remained in Madison County, the Huntsville bridge and another crossing over Kilbuck Creek. Even more remarkable, fewer than a dozen Pratt steel through-truss bridges were believed to remain in the entire state of Indiana.

Bridge #149 was recognized for its importance in both transportation and engineering history. The National Register nomination described it as one of Indiana’s surviving riveted Pratt truss bridges and an important connection to the era when Falls Park and the Fall Creek corridor attracted thousands of visitors every year.

During the height of Falls Park’s popularity in the early 20th century, travelers crossed this bridge on their way to illumination displays, dances, boating, picnics, and recreation along Fall Creek. The bridge helped connect Pendleton to Huntsville and surrounding rural communities while serving as an important gateway into the park grounds.

The structure itself remains an impressive example of early steel bridge engineering. Built with riveted steel members rather than older pin-connected designs, Bridge #149 represented a more durable and advanced era of bridge construction. Its heavy steel trusses and industrial craftsmanship still tell the story of Madison County’s growth during the automobile age.

Historic preservation is not only about homes and buildings, it is also about preserving the roads, bridges, and structures that connected communities and shaped Pendleton’s history for generations.

Sources: In.gov



Pendleton’s First Mail CarrierBefore home delivery arrived in Pendleton, residents made daily trips to the local post of...
05/27/2026

Pendleton’s First Mail Carrier

Before home delivery arrived in Pendleton, residents made daily trips to the local post office to collect their mail. That changed forever on January 1, 1924, when Kenneth “Kenny” Lukens became the town’s very first city letter carrier.

Born in Hamilton County on May 6, 1899, Kenny moved to the Pendleton community as a young boy and attended Pendleton schools, graduating from Pendleton High School before eventually taking over the town’s first mail route. Prior to his postal career, he worked alongside his father on the family farm for several years. According to a 1964 Pendleton Times article, Kenny served nineteen years carrying mail out of the Pendleton Post Office before transferring to Anderson, where he worked an additional thirteen years before retiring from the Postal Service on May 31, 1956.

On October 20, 1928, Kenny married Mary Myers of Henry County at the parsonage of Rev. George Winfrey in Alexandria, Indiana. Together, the couple raised three children, Lois Ellen, Donald E., and Alice, and for the majority of their lives made their home on Pearl Street in Pendleton.

Today, the historic and contributing Pearl Street home is undergoing restoration efforts intended to return the residence closer to its original appearance. At some point during the home’s history, a front porch and aluminum siding were added, altering portions of the structure’s historic character. Encouragingly, many of the home’s original windows remain intact and are currently being restored, with the surviving woodwork in remarkably excellent condition.

Beyond his postal work, Kenny was deeply involved in Pendleton civic and church life. He served with the Pendleton Christian Church as a member of the Board of Elders and Official Board, and was active in Pendleton Lodge No. 88 I.O.O.F., Madison Lodge No. 44 F.&A.M., and the Order of Eastern Star. For many longtime residents, Kenny Lukens was not just a public employee, but a familiar face woven into the daily rhythm of the community.

The accompanying winter photograph of Kenny on his route offers a glimpse into small-town postal service during the early to middle 20th century.

Sources: Pendleton Times-Post Newspaper, Pendleton Historical Museum



One of Pendleton’s “notable” homes on the Historic Register, located on E. State Street tells the story of a changing Pe...
05/24/2026

One of Pendleton’s “notable” homes on the Historic Register, located on E. State Street tells the story of a changing Pendleton during the 1920s, when new architectural styles and modern homes were beginning to reshape the town’s east side. In May of 1926, local businessman Hugh Kinnard and his wife Mildred purchased a building lot “east of the Fred Ackels home on East State Street,” setting the stage for what newspapers would soon describe as one of Pendleton’s most distinctive new residences. Just a few months later, the Pendleton papers announced that workmen had begun excavation for a “modern bungalow of strictly English type,” noting it would be “the first house of this particular style of architecture in our city.” The article described tall gables, minimal roof projections, and a small entrance stoop, features associated today with the picturesque English Cottage and Tudor Revival styles that became popular in America during the 1920s.

By October of 1926, newspapers reported that work on the Kinnard home was “progressing rapidly,” describing the residence as a “pretty English cottage” constructed of brick and stucco. Nearly a century later, those original design choices still help the home stand apart architecturally along East State Street. The residence reflects a period when Pendleton’s prosperous citizens embraced nationally popular home styles while still maintaining the town’s small-town character.

Hugh and Mildred, were deeply connected to Pendleton civic, social and financial life. Born in 1902 to Lewis and Della Downs Hugh was a lifelong Pendleton resident. Hugh was vice-president of the Pendleton Banking Company. He lived in Pendleton his entire life before passing away in Florida in 1964 while seeking treatment for an illness. Later occupants of the home included the Raymond Gaither family, who lived there from approximately 1940 until 1962. Their daughters, Jean Ann and Peggy Gaither, graduated from Pendleton High School in 1956 and 1957, tying another generation of local family history to one of Pendleton’s most architecturally distinctive historic homes.

This South Broadway home stands as one of Pendleton’s finest surviving Arts & Crafts era homes and is deeply connected t...
05/20/2026

This South Broadway home stands as one of Pendleton’s finest surviving Arts & Crafts era homes and is deeply connected to one of the community’s most beloved historic destinations. The home’s historical plaque identifies it as the “Charles & Florence McCarty Home,” honoring the family associated with Idlewold Park and golf course southwest of town. According to a 1986 Pendleton Times article, Charles McCarty and his son Glenn established Idlewold in 1914 on the old Peter Mingle farm.

Charles McCarty, remembered in a 1944 obituary as a well-known farmer and operator of Idlewold for more than twenty years, helped transform the property into a regional attraction. Florence McCarty remained active in Pendleton civic and church life until her death in 1950. Built in 1919 and attributed to George L. Kinnard, the South Broadway home itself became a lasting symbol of Pendleton’s early twentieth century prosperity and craftsmanship.

The property later became associated with the Elliott family, including Burton Elliott, a World War I veteran and longtime state florist at the Indiana Reformatory. In 2000, the home was featured on Pendleton’s annual home tour, where owners Tom and Michelle Frisbie-Fulton showcased many preserved Arts & Crafts details including quarter-sawn oak floors, leaded and beveled glass, original built-ins, Mission-style elements, and decorative staircase glass. Today, the home remains a contributing structure within the Pendleton Historic District and one of Pendleton’s architectural treasures.



Are you attending Friday evening's performance? Only a few more days left to secure your tickets.If you are attending so...
05/13/2026

Are you attending Friday evening's performance? Only a few more days left to secure your tickets.

If you are attending some simple reminders:

Follow the flagged attendants to your parking spot.

Those requiring assistance or are handicapped can be dropped off at the southwest end of the meeting house and escorted to their sections. Golf carts will also be available for transporting.

Bring lawn chairs, blankets, bug repellent. Food and drink are welcome. Absolutely no alcohol or to***co or fi****ms. Rhythm & Smoke Barbecue will be serving food and drink starting at 6:00pm through the duration of the event.

Merchandise will be available for sale. Cash or Venmo only( you can use your credit card through the Venmo app).

If you're wishing to renew or join Historic Fall Creek, Pendleton Settlement or renew your membership you can also use cash or Venmo.

Lastly, this event is free, but donations of any amount are deeply appreciated and greatly needed. As you will witness, the restoration of the historic Fall Creek Friends Meeting House is making remarkable progress. Even so, there is still a long journey ahead before the building can be fully returned to its appearance of the 1850s. Your support helps preserve not only a historic structure, but the stories and legacy connected to it for future generations.

We look forward to seeing you Friday.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/frederick-douglass-the-lion-of-freedom-performed-by-darius-wallace-tickets-1985665330456?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

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