The legislature of Indiana, in the year 1821, passed a special act, organizing the counties of Decatur, Rush and Shelby. Greensburg is the county seat of Decatur County named in honor of Commodore Stephen Decatur in 1821. The first court in Decatur County was held in the house of Col. Hendricks, in the spring of 1822. William W. Wick was the Judge of this Court, and Martin Adkins and John Fugit, Associate Judges.

The county officers chosen were: Clerk and Recorder, Henry Talbot; Treasurer, John Hopkins; Sheriff, William Ross, and Surveyor, Thomas Hendricks.

The County Commissioners were William Harbord, William Parks and Seth Lowe.

While I hope you enjoy this tribute to the the Greensburg, Indiana of yesterday I feel compelled to fill you in on Greensburg's not so bright present and future. The city's board of aviation commissioners (BOAC) has taken upon themselves to try to construct a monstrosity of an airport on mine and my neighbors properties. This $13,000,000 airport built on land they plan to take from it's owners will only serve a handful of local pilots and a skydiving group. No need has been shown except greed and the need to spend the city, state and the FAA's money any way they can. The citizens of Greensburg will have to foot the bill to support this airport forever. Airports of this size cost $100,000 to $150,000 per year for the city to operate. With the recent Honda announcement their goal has been renewed even though Honda has made no request for an expanded airport. This expanded airport will also effect the safety and quality of life of the many activities adjacent to the county fairgrounds, city park, city pool and the sports park.

Some of the land has been in the same family since before the Civil War but the BOAC and the city has no respect for their heritage. The community I have loved supported and respected now plans to take, by Eminent Domain, the land my father gave me. I had a dream of living the rest of my life growing old on this property. I can walk through this land and see wildlife and all the beauty God has bestowed on it but the greed of a small handful of people has a plan for "progress" that will lay waste to the peace and solitude we and the wildlife all strive for. Now the city I honored in this web site says they have a better use for my property. My love for this city and it's rich heritage is slowly being poisoned. Please go ahead and enjoy the pictures and history of this once great community.

Please remember no matter how much money it acquires and spends if the city loses it's heart it will wither and die. Thank you... Marc Haston

If you have an opinion on this write to the mayor at mayor@cityofgreensburg.com

1884 photo of the Decatur County Courthouse clock tower.

Older Decatur County Courthouse photo with no tree visible

The Decatur County Courthouse as it looked around 1900

1907 Greensburg's Courthouse tower

Trimming the tree

Court House around 1910

Decatur County Courthouse around 1880

Greensburg, the county seat, was laid out in 1822. At a special meeting of the County Commissioners, held on the 8th day of May, 1822, for the purpose of appointing an Agent for the county of Decatur, it was ordered that John B. Potter be appointed and he was ordered to proceed immediately "to lay off the town of Greensburg." The ground upon which the town is built was donated by Thomas Hendricks and John Walker for the location of the county seat. The original plat, as laid off by Potter, consisted of nine squares, eight around the public square, the public square being numbered nine. The land was then "all in woods, with a thick undergrowth." Potter was ordered by the commissioners to employ men to grub and clear off the town plat, and to be careful and employ men who would do the work, and wait "one year for their pay."

The lots were sold at public sale, upon the following terms: One-twelfth of the purchase price, cash; balance in four equal payments, one, two, three and four years after date. A reduction of ten per cent. was allowed to persons who paid all cash.

Mrs. Thomas Hendricks desired the town should be called "Greensburg," in memory of her old home town in Pennsylvania. When the Commissioners, appointed by the Legislature to select the location for a new county seat, were there, the question of the name of the town came up. Mrs. Hendricks made known her desire. It was proposed to leave the question to a vote of the seventeen young men who came to this locality with Thomas Hendricks from Pennsylvania. This settled the question. Mrs. Hendricks had four pleasant daughters, and as a consequence "Greensburg" is the name of the town.

Greensburg incorporated as a town in 1837, and a city in 1859 with a population of 1,200.

Decatur County Courthouse around late 1930's?

This view of the courthouse view shows the Presbyterian Church tower before 1908

1907 Main St. Looking South East

Close-up view of Huber's Clothing 1907

West side of the Greensburg square in 1911

East Washington St. 1907

The J Eiseman Residence

Residence of F. M. Green in Greensburg

Residence of Tom Green in Greensburg

Street Scene N. Broadway, Greensburg

Lincoln Terrace

B. P. O. E. Hall N. Side of the square in Greensburg 1907

South side of the Greensburg square looking east 1908

South side of the Greensburg square looking east

The Hotel DeArmond

K. of P. Building 1908 Greensburg's Post Office on the right

Warthin Brothers 1895

Washington St. looking East from Broadway

Looking north east from Greensburg News Office

Greensburg Quarry 1911

An old medicine bottle from A. C. Hazelrigg Druggist

Milk cap from Hellmich & Sons Dairy

Milk Cap from A. Nienaber & Sons Dairy

Lucky Penny from Hyatt Chevrolet

Old glasses & case from McCoy & Foley Opticians

Hilldale Park east of Greensburg

This is both sides of an old business card around 1900 From the collection of Russell Wilhoit

1855 Postmark Greensburgh with an "H" on the end the name was later changed to Greensburg.

Minear's Dry Goods trade card

Decatur County Memorial Hospital around 1930?

Main Street Looking South West

1907 Greensburg Raven Club in their nest.

Main Street Looking South West 1915

Corner of Main Street & Broadway looking southwest

Corner of Main Street & Broadway looking northwest

Ad for John F. Robbins from the Breeders Gazette

Taken from the tower heading west in 1931

Leonard & Rieman Bakery

Old $10.00 bill from The Greensburg National Bank

This old $10.00 bill from The Third National Bank signed by Morgan L. Miers of Greensburg. From the collection of Dennis Doerflinger

Matchbook from the Greensburg Implement Co.

Hunting for gasoline in Greensburg Indiana

George Littell & his famous spotted mules pulling a custom made three wheel buggy

at the entrance to Littell's Park in Greensburg

A wedding party riding behind Buck & Bright on west Washington St. in Greensburg

1909 Greensburg gun club

1913 Greensburg Wire Works

North side of the square looking northeast around 1913

Eagles Ball Park ----- Here is more information I got from Russell Wilhoit at the Historical Society:

The Greensburg Eagles were one of many semi-pro teams that played in Greensburg over the years, they were also known as the Ironclads, Reds, Cardinals and The Merchants among many other names. They were made up of some of the better ball players in this area and surrounding counties, they played in the Southeastern League, Tri county league, and Decatur Co. League, just to name a few. Most of the games were played on Sundays, and around the early 1900's they played a exhibition game with the Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals, winning one time if I remember right and many touring Black teams also, plus a all Indian team from out west came thru and played several games here. The Ball Park in the postcard picture, was torn down in 1952, after the Cardinals disbanded, there were only one more semi-pro team after that and it was formed by myself (Russell Wilhoit) in the early 1970's and lasted 5 years till the Tri-County league folded after almost 50 years of playing Baseball on Sundays, the was the last league in this area, Softball took over after that, none of the players have ever played in the majors, except one who played for the 1896 New York Giants, and he is buried in Kingston Cemt, but he died in 1923.

DeArmond Hotel

South side of the square Main St. looking west

Old Crister Dam, Greensburg, Ind.

View of Cobb Fork near Greensburg, Indiana

Sand Creek Bridge

View from Heaton Dam near Greensburg

Madison Road Bridge, Greensburg, Ind.

1913 stone bridge near Greensburg

Swinging bridge over Flat Rock River 1911

4 unknown men posing in front of a model of the clock tower

on the left are cabins on the right a lake?

Ronald Shoaf with one of the beautiful cathedral clocks he built.

West side of the square facing southwest

Fire dept. lined up on west side of the square around 1920

G. C. Murphey's 1958 --- Thanks to Nick Cambell

Greensburg Fire dept. at the firehouse on S. Broadway

Post Office in K of P building around 1909

Letter from Greensburg dated 1843 From the collection of Russell Wilhoit