Daily Reporter staff reports
GREENFIELD — The Greenfield Parks and Recreation Department and the Hancock County Historical Society need the public’s help finding copies of photos of the former Pennsylvania Railroad and depot in Greenfield.
The groups plan to install a second history panel along the Pennsy Trail in addition to the recently installed panel about the great historical events along the Pennsy Trail — the former Pennsylvania Railroad — which started out as a part of the Indiana Central Railway in 1853.
The first panel, installed last year, has been completed and is currently on display between Pennsylvania and Riley streets near where the old train depot used to stand.
Now there are plans to install a second panel featuring photos of day-to-day events like people leaving the Greenfield depot for travel, loading items or mail on the train, soldiers coming home from war, farmers bringing their goods for transportation to market, or even the occasional train wreck or mishap, according to a press release from the Hancock County Historical Society.
From 1853 to 1981, the Pennsylvania Railroad tracks that ran east and west through Greenfield carried trains to and from all portions of the country. The parks department and historical society seek photos of the train tracks and the depot from any era.
Greenfield’s proximity to the railroad allowed the community to expand its reach to Indianapolis and other communities, according to the press release. These rails were Greenfield’s main connection to the outside world aside from travel over roads. This was especially true when many of the roads were pot-holed, rough mud paths that made travel by wagon or even a motorized vehicle a long, bumpy and dusty ride, officials said.
There are two ways to submit photos. Users may scan the photos at 300 DPI, save them as a JPEG and email them to [email protected] or call Brigette Cook Jones at 317-502-6084 and make arrangements to bring the photos in and have them scanned.
Those who volunteer their photos will not have to leave them with historical society officials; photos can be scanned and returned right away. The submitter will be given credit on the history panel.
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There are two ways to submit photos. Users may scan the photos at 300 DPI, save them as a JPEG and email them to [email protected] or call 317-502-6084 and make arrangements to bring the photos in and have them scanned.
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