Fairland, Indiana History

  Join us on May 4, 2025 at 2 p.m. for Early Transportation of Central Indiana! Nancy VanArendonk, President of the Franklin Township Historical Society, will give a presentation on early transportation in central Indiana, including the railroads that changed our communities. This event is free & open to the public; donations accepted. Location: Moral Township Government Center, 8333 N Frontage Rd, Fairland, Indiana. Fairland Historical Society events are supported by City & County Progress Grants administered by Blue River Community Foundation.

 The Fairland Historical Society is excited to share its photo collection online !  Click to view . Thanks to the Hometown Community Grant, Blue River Community Foundation, and the Beaty/C-Tech fund for supporting our efforts to document and share local history!

  Join us on April 9, 2025 for  Stories & Symbolism in Cemeteries. 5:30 p.m. Doors open & tour museum; 6:30 p.m. Presentation Tour the Grover Center’s exhibit about Shelby County cemeteries. Then, Sarah Richardt, Grover Center Executive Director, will highlight the stories & symbolism of gravestones as we showcase the cemeteries of Brandywine & Moral Townships of Shelby County, Indiana. This event is free & open to the public; donations accepted. Location: Grover Center Museum, 52 W Broadway, Shelbyville, Indiana Co-hosts: Fairland Historical Society & Grover Center Museum & Historical Society

(The Fairland Bulletin, 30 Jan 1879, Vol. 1, No. 45) The Fairland Bulletin newspaper began publishing in March 1878 in Fairland, Shelby County, Indiana. With the motto Multum in Parvo (a great deal in a small space), George S. Jones shared the local news. In the 30 Jan 1879 issue, we see that Lewis W. Mohr was the best student at the school, the fraternal lodges announced their regular meetings, the churches held services once or twice a month, the temperance movement was active, & student Adah Padrick died.                                         (The Fairland Bulletin, 30 Jan 1879, Vol. 1, No. 45) Since Indiana did not organize death certificates until 1899-1900, these newspaper articles are the only record of young Adah's life & death. There is a grave stone in the Boggstown Cemetery for her, but it has no dates. The ads list area businesses, such as William...

  On Sunday morning, 5 Nov 1961, Fairland residents were awakened by a 28-train car derailment in the heart of town. The 161-car freight train was en route from Indianapolis to Cincinnati on the New York Central line with 1 loaded & 160 empty cars. The journal box broke on the car that was loaded with steel scrap which led to the derailment. Newspapers across Indiana reported the story. No one was injured, but Bertha Hasler, age 80, was quoted with her description of the loud crash as some of the train cars landed 15 feet from her house. A tool shed & utility poles were smashed. A crew of 20 with 2 wreckers had the site cleared by Monday. We thank Richard "Dick" Thurston for photographing & documenting the scene and his family for sharing the photos! If you have photos of interest, please consider sharing them with the Fairland Historical Society.

The Fairland Historical Society of Shelby County, Indiana announces events for 2025. Thanks to our partners who help to provide locations throughout the community. These events are supported by City & County Progress Grants administered by Blue River Community Foundation. March 5 , 7 p.m. Newspapers of the Late 1800s: Local News & Gossip Donna Dennison, Genealogy Dept. Head, Shelby County Public Library, portrays Gabby as she reads the local newspapers from the late 1800s. What stories will she share? What have the locals been up to? Join us for an evening of fun & history as we kick off our 2025 events! This event is free & open to the public; donations accepted. Fairland Town Hall, 105 S Walnut St, Fairland April 9 , 5:30 p.m. Doors open, Tour museum; 6:30 p.m. Presentation Stories & Symbolism in Cemeteries Tour the Grover Center’s exhibit about Shelby County cemeteries. Then, Sarah Richardt, Grover Center Executive Director, will highlight the stories & symb...