The Carmel Clay Historical Society will celebrate the Monon Depot Museum’s listing on the National Register of Historical Places and present the Heritage Award at its annual meeting at 2 p.m. on September 21. The meeting will take place on the Depot grounds at 211 1st Street SW.
The Monon Depot Museum is located in the former Monon Railroad Depot, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places late last year. Constructed in 1883, the Depot was a hub of activity for Carmel for decades. Telegraph messages, mail delivery, and shipments of mail order goods (including pre-fab houses and spring chickens) all arrived here. The Monon took hogs to market in Indianapolis in less than two hours; previously farmers walked their hogs to market over the course of four days. And residents of Carmel boarded the the Monon —which only operated in Indiana —for trips to bigger cities where connecting trains would take them all across the country.
In addition to recognizing the significance of this historic site, the annual meeting will also provide the CCHS with the opportunity to present the Heritage Award to a woman who has had a significant impact of Carmel’s history. This year’s recipient is former Carmel Mayor Jane Reiman, who served on the first Carmel City Council from 1976 to 1979 and as Mayor from 1980 to 1987. Her mayoral terms saw a period of great population and economic growth, including the development of the Meridian Corridor, St Vincent Hospital, Forest Dale Elementary School, Flowing Well Park and the first phase of Carmel Civic Square.
This award is especially timely, given Reiman’s recent donation of scrapbooks documenting her term to the Indiana State Archives. CCHS Director Katherine Dill facilitated the donation. “Jane led the city during a critical time of its development, and these scrapbooks are an excellent documentation of the changes that took place during her eight years in office,”explained Dill. “
The public is welcome to attend the annual meeting and is free. For more information about the CCHS, the Heritage Award, or the National Register-listed Monon Depot Museum, contact the CCHS office at 317-846-7117 or [email protected].
About the Carmel Clay Historical Society
The Carmel Clay Historical Society is the sole repository for documents, photographs, stories, and information pertaining to the 177 years of Carmel’s history. Its reach extends to every individual and business that is —or has been —a part of this community.
The Society is a private non-profit organization and strives to help local people here today connect with the past and understand that they, too, are witnessing history in their community every day. Our mission is to enrich the lives of local residents and visitors by collecting, preserving, and interpreting our history.
Contact for Further Information:
Katherine Dill, Executive Director
Carmel Clay Historical Society
211 1st Street SW
Carmel, IN 46032
317-846-7117