Martinsville A Pictorial History

On the Move

From Martinsville Republican, 1898 - Right here in Martinsville we have a young gentleman whose bicycle repairing shop is a scene of busy activity, for Mr. Steele is thoroughly versed in the mechanical make up of the bicycle and is, therefore, a most competent repairer. Mr. Steele bought the place from Mr. Lieber last fall and is now making numerous preparations for the coming season in the way of renting and repairing bicycles and carries a full line of bicycle sundries.

     A familiar sight in Martinsville for almost 30 years was that of the interurban pulling in and out of its berth by the station in the 100 block of North Main Street.
     The Martinsville branch of the Terre Haute, Indianapolis and Eastern Traction Company was built in 1902-1903. From the terminus at the railroad on South Main Street, the tracks followed Blue Bluff Road to Centerton, Bethany Park, and Mooresville, connecting Martinsville with Indianapolis and towns beyond. The last run on the Martinsville branch was October 30, 1930.

     What is today remembered by Lloyd James as John Ellis' agriculture implement business on South Main Street, appears to have begun life about 1895 in these buildings. Lloyd remembers that Ellis' building was a one-story brick, glass-fronted one, which seems to have replaced the early buildings about 1916.

     It must have been quite an effort to get men, horses, and bystanders situated for this photo of Nutter's Livery and Feed Stable, located in years past on West Morgan one block from the courthouse square. Thomas H. Nutter is shown in a long coat holding a horse. Under the sign is R.L. Nutter. Holding the pony at the left is Kelly Nutter, and on the right holding a horse is Ed Nutter. The stable was destroyed by fire on January 14, 1912. The thermometer registered 26 below zero at the time.

Web pages by Lee Hirt.

From Martinsville Republican, 1898 - Right here in Martinsville we have a young gentleman whose bicycle repairing shop is a scene of busy activity, for Mr. Steele is thoroughly versed in the mechanical make up of the bicycle and is, therefore, a most competent repairer. Mr. Steele bought the place from Mr. Lieber last fall and is now making numerous preparations for the coming season in the way of renting and repairing bicycles and carries a full line of bicycle sundries.
	A familiar sight in Martinsville for almost 30 years was that of the interurban pulling in and out of its berth by the station in the 100 block of North Main Street. The Martinsville branch of the Terre Haute, Indianapolis and Eastern Traction Company was built in 1902-1903. From the terminus at the railroad on South Main Street, the tracks followed Blue Bluff Road to Centerton, Bethany Park, and Mooresville, connecting Martinsville with Indianapolis and towns beyond. The last run on the Martinsville branch was October 30, 1930.
What is today remembered by Lloyd James as John Ellis' agriculture implement business on South Main Street, appears to have begun life about 1895 in these buildings. Lloyd remembers that Ellis' building was a one-story brick, glass-fronted one, which seems to have replaced the early buildings about 1916.
	It must have been quite an effort to get men, horses, and bystanders situated for this photo of Nutter's Livery and Feed Stable, located in years past on West Morgan one block from the courthouse square. Thomas H. Nutter is shown in a long coat holding a horse. Under the sign is R.L. Nutter. Holding the pony at the left is Kelly Nutter, and on the right holding a horse is Ed Nutter. The stable was destroyed by fire on January 14, 1912. The thermometer registered 26 below zero at the time.