Roann's Community Heritage / Roann Main Street

04/28/2026

Coming into Roann from the south on Chippewa Street one finds this sign, placed there, in 2016, stating Roann is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. You might take some time this summer a visit Roann. You’ll find a wonderful library with an Indiana collection focusing on the area, covered bridge you can walk through, railroad caboose, antique stores with many unique finds and a couple of good restaurants to eat in. There are plenty of buildings spread throughout the community having unique and interesting architecture. Joseph Beckner settled in the area in 1835 planting the first orchard in the area and running a saw mill and corn mill on the Eel River. In 1853, Beckner platted Roann with 39 lots. Legends says the town of Roann was named for his daughter Ann who while escaping Indians was encouraged to row across the Eel River with chants of "Row, Ann, Row!" By 1880, it was the center of the township and was known up and down the Eel River as the “Athens of the Eel River.” By 1894 Roann had 2 drugstores, livery, shoemaker, doctor, millinery shop, newspaper The Clarion, saw mill, furniture and undertaking store, 2 jewelry stores, Exchange Bank, 2 general stores, hardware store, 2 groceries, the Squire Hotel, harness shop, 2 meat markets, 2 blacksmiths, a saloon, creamery and grain elevator. In a 1918 directory Roann was listed as having a population of 450, located on the Vandalia Railroad, with 5 churches, a bank run by Dow VanBuskirk, weekly newspaper, The Clarion run by Isaac Warren, Roann Telephone Co., Western Union and Adams Express, post office run by B.E. Goltry. The community also had numerous businesses and an IOOF Shequit Lodge #365 as well as a K&M Lodge #583 and High School principal being J. Loyd Lewis. Roger Morphew adds that he “had ancestors on both sides of my family living there from around 1889 until 1959. My Great Grandmother Libbie Burger is buried in the cemetery by the south end of the covered bridge.”

11/17/2025

Aaron Proffitt found this picture of one of Wabash County's favorite historical, picturesque sites the covered bridge at Roann across the Eel River. It was originally constructed in 1877. It is an example of a Howe truss design bridge extending some 288 feet over the Eel. In 1877 T.B. White & Son, New Brighton, Pa., received the contract to build the bridge at a cost of $14.65 per lineal foot. In 1977, the Roann Community celebrated the centennial of the bridge and ever since has a festival in September called the Roann Covered Bridge Festival. A lot goes on at that time and you might find it enjoyable. Proffitt was unable to determine the date of the picture. A deliberately set fire destroyed part of the north end of the bridge several years ago. The Roann community pulled together and restored the bridge to its former glory and still to this day have pride in it. However, today the bridge is closed to vehicle traffic but open to walk across and recall an earlier day. Elisa Beasley has this to say "I was born in Roann and this bridge has a special place in my heart, I have visited it many times since we moved away." David Robert Guinnup recalls: " Covered bridges are wonderful and beautiful structures - so sheltering. I well remember the cover bridge in Roann over the Eel River from my visits to my grand-uncle, Dr. Kidd in the 1950's before the road alignment was changed. His house and office was on the east side of the road just south of the bridge. Whenever I visit the Cemetery north of town, I stop at the bridge just to remember those days, and the Kidd Family (descendants now scattered all over the world). I don't get back to Indiana very often any more, so thanks for the pic and recollection of memories of Hoosier places and people." Carol DeArmond Silvers recalls: "Definitely remember driving through the covered bridge. Good times, so long ago." Mary Lou Ridgeway recalls “many trips over that bridge on the way to lukens Lake for a fun time.” Mike Holderman says he “used to spend a lot of time playing in that bridge.”

09/05/2025