Picturing the Past 81: Way back in Wartrace

Posted Tuesday, October 5, 2010, at 11:44 AM

An early photo of Wartrace. (Photo submitted by Nancy Phillips)

Thanks to Nancy Phillips for this photo of Wartrace from years ago, looking east from from about where the Walking Horse Hotel is today.

It looks like the only paved road is around the railroad tracks, but the town does have telephone poles.

I'd guess this photo's from sometime in the early 1900s.

Seems odd to see Wartrace without the bandstand structure on the main drag. But even more strange, where are the vehicles - horse-drawn or whatever - and the people? I almost wonder if there was some sort of road construction going on when this was shot.

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Thanks, David: Sure brings back memories. Must have been a very cold day, on a Sunday morning when all the downtown activity was closed. That's the way it was in uptown Shelbyville in the early 40s. Some patches of what looks like snow, and the figure down in the right corner is wearing a heavy coat.

-- Posted by Grits on Tue, Oct 5, 2010, at 12:06 PM

The two story brick at the far right was my great-uncle Charlie Hulan's leather goods factory (downstairs) and residence (upstairs). There are a couple of small buildings on the near or west side of that, now. Not that I've been there recently -- I just looked at the street view on Google Maps.

-- Posted by razyn on Tue, Oct 5, 2010, at 3:12 PM

Thanks David for another great picture. That is almost exactly the way I have downtown Wartrace pictured in my mind. I must have that impression from the early 40s.

-- Posted by leeiii on Tue, Oct 5, 2010, at 5:00 PM

David Melson

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David Melson is a copy editor and staff writer for the Times-Gazette.

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