Saturday morning with the square completely quiet gave me time to walk the perimeter and take in…read morethe full look of the Putnam County Courthouse in Greencastle. The building was completed in 1905 in an obvious Neo-Classical design. It is a four story Indiana limestone structure with a rusticated first level, Corinthian columns rising across the facade, a wide pediment with a clock and a central skyline dome. It was designed by John W. Gaddis of Vincennes, who also designed several other Indiana courthouses. Putnam County itself was created in 1821 and named for Israel Putnam, a hero of the French and Indian War and a general in the American Revolutionary War. Greencastle has been the county seat since 1823. The most striking object on the grounds is a German V-1 flying bomb displayed out front. It's a World War II "buzz bomb" mounted on a limestone V-shaped base and it was dedicated in 1948. It is believed to be the only publicly displayed V‑1 in the United States. And a personal tidbit - this is the fourth Putnam County Courthouse I have reviewed after Winfield WV, Palatka FL, Cookeville TN. [Review 1038 of 2026 - 242 in Indiana - 26217 overall]

The Courthouse in Greencastle was undergoing a power wash when I arrived. Streets around the Square…read morewere being replaced and sidewalks renewed. The Square is small with war memorials on the corners and thoughtfully landscaped. The Neoclassical structure was commissioned in 1903 and designed by notable architect, John W. Gaddis of Vincennes, Indiana. The limestone building was commissioned in 1905 at a final cost of $144,997.38, according to a plaque inside. Inside, the atrium floor is tiled. Marble staircases ascend up two flights with incredible alabaster carved bannisters. The building is immaculate and well preserved with plaques memorializing the Revolutionary War and Spinach American War fallen soldiers. There are several important murasl in the building. One of Lady Justice that hangs on the second floor outside the court rooms. A leaded glass dome overhead is the centerpiece of the atrium. The highlight of my visit was seeing the mostly original 1905 courtroom. A deputy made the visit possible, as court was not in session. The courtroom was filled with original oak chairs for jurors and iron/oak benches for spectators. A powerful mural of King Solomon passing judgement on a child claimed by two women was on a front wall. An antique harp stood in the corner ready for weddings. The courtroom has been maintained incredibly. I felt like I had taken a step back in time. Two deputies, a clerk and even a judge took time out of their day to speak with me about the courthouse. There was a strong sense of pride as they described various parts of the courthouse and recommended places to see. My heart is warmed when I meet people as friendly as I met in Greencastle. The Square outside is interesting with little shops. A vacant bank on the corner was the site of John Derringer's robberies. There is street parking around the Square. The Putnam County Courthouse is well worth a visit if you like architecture, history and Midwest hospitality.

The Vermillion County Historical Society is raising funds to renovate this fabulous former…read moresheriff's home with attached jail. The Italianate Style home was built in 1868 and housed the Vermillion County Sheriff and family. In 1896, the Romanesque Revival jail addition was added at the rear of the home. The facility was operational until 1992 (over 100 years!) when the operations were moved to a modern facility. In 1999, the structure became a National Register of Historic Places. Tours of the facility are available for $3 when Historical Society staff is at the site. There was no staff present during our visit, so we walked around outside. The Society is asking for donations to help with renovations. I love visiting these sheriff's homes/jails, which were prevalent in county seat towns throughout Indiana. Each location holds different local stories. There is street parking around the structure and a historical marker. I will return to visit the inside after checking with the Historical Society.

Saturday morning with the road quiet, I eased my 9'6" Sprinter van through the Dunbar Bridge…read morewithout any trouble, even with its posted 10-foot clearance. The bridge's own marker credits J.J. Daniels as the builder, which fits neatly with his late-career work across Indiana. Completed in 1880, Dunbar is a classic Burr-Arch truss covered bridge built to give farms northwest of Greencastle a dependable crossing over Big Walnut Creek. Daniels' craftmanship shows in the tight timber joinery, the cut-stone abutments, and the practical ventilation openings along the 175-foot-long siding that keep the interior bright without compromising the structure. What makes Dunbar stand out today is that it's still open to traffic, unlike many historic covered bridges that have been bypassed or closed. Putnam County has kept it in service through periodic repairs and its location on a lightly traveled rural road helps preserve the structure without overwhelming it. Driving through instead of detouring felt like stepping briefly into the 19th century. It's a functional piece of Daniels' work still doing exactly what it was built to do. [Review 1039 of 2026 - 243 in Indiana - 26218 overall]

The Dunbar Covered Bridge is a historic covered bridge crossing Big Walnut Creek and is still…read moreopened to traffic in Putnam County. We drove and walked across the bridge. The bridge was built by J. J. Daniels in 1880 and is a two span Burr Arch Truss construction. The bridge is 175 feet across and stands on stone abutments. J. J. Daniels was a famous covered bridge builder who built most of the surviving covered bridges in Putnam County. The bridge has several long windows to view the creek and is open along the roof line, bringing in light. Putnam County does a good job of maintaining and removing graffiti from the bridge. There is no parking area, but we found a spot to pullover north of the bridge. I love these old charming bridges. This bridge is worthy of a visit if you like history and architecture.

Billie Creek Covered Bridge is the only covered bridge that is original to the Billie Creek…read moreVillage. The Burr Arch bridge was built by J. J. Daniels in 1895 over Williams Creek, just east of Rockville. The single lane bridge was open to traffic during our visit and we drove across. I love to hear the echo and feel the vibration when I drive across these old covered bridges. We crossed "at a walk" of course. The bridge is part of the Parke County Covered Bridge Festival. I like to visit the bridges off season when there are no crowds around.

One of the covered bridges in Billie Creek Village, it is the only one that is still open to…read morevehicles. And even better, the clearance and capacity were sufficient to fit my Sprinter van. It is a single lane. A Burr Arch Truss that was built by prolific builder Joseph J. Daniels, this one was completed in 1895. It was originally part of the roadway that would become US 36 nearby. The Howard and Hollandsburg Bridges nearby did get saved. Despite being open to traffic, it is still in excellent condition and well worth a visit. I believe it's a "star" in the annual Covered Bridge Festival. [Review 1295 of 2024 - 172 in Indiana - 22318 overall]

Originally crossing Roaring Creek, the Beeson Covered Bridge was moved to this location in December…read more1979. It is a single span Burr Arch covered bridge that was built in 1906 by the Frankfurt Construction Company, the only surviving bridge in Parke County that was built by a professional construction company. It is 55 feet long and has a clearance of 12 feet 6 inches. Only open to pedestrians at this time. And it's still in very good condition considering that it has survived TWO arsons. Gosh, people suck! It is one of the set pieces that is part of the Billie Creek Village. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is part of the Park County Covered Bridge Festival.

The Beeson Covered Bridge was moved to Billie Creek Village in 1980. A plaque says that the Burr…read moreArch bridge was built in 1906 by Frankfort Construction Company. The bridge originally crossed Roaring Creek in Marshal Indiana. The bridge is only opened to pedestrian traffic. I walked the 120 year old bridge several times. Some of the side panels seem to be in disrepair. Festive string lights hang inside the bridge. The bridge is part of the Parke County Covered Bridge Festival, but I like visiting these bridge at other times to avoid the crowds. There is nearby free parking.

We had a bit of trouble finding Big Rocky Fork Covered Bridge, but eventually we did. The bridge…read morehas been bypassed by a newer bridge that stands parallel. We found parking at one end of the bridge and walked through tall grass to the single Burr Arch truss span bridge. The 72' bridge was built by the prolific bridge builder, J. J. Daniels, in 1900. The single lane bridge served until 1987, but still stands proud at 126 years old. The inside is spattered with a bit of graffiti that has been covered with white paint. Outside, the boards show some rotting around the bottom. I was surprised at the good condition of the floor boards. She needs a little love, perhaps the Covered Bridge Festival will pick up donations for the repairs.

Bypassed in 1987, this Single Span Burr Arch Truss was built by Joseph J. Daniels in 1900 to carry…read moreGreencastle Road (County Road 720) over Big Rocky Creek. Access is easy and fully paved; the bridge sits about two miles east of US59 outside Mansfield. One of nine covered bridges that Daniels put up in Parke County, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978; it is #6 on the Parke County Covered Bridge Map.

The Oakalla Covered Bridge is currently closed to automobile traffic. The bridge crosses the big…read moreWalnut Creek in a remote and beautiful wooded area of Putnam County. We parked on the west side of the bridge and walked across the span. Several windows in the bridge offer views of the creek below. A path down to the creek on the east side offers great creek views of the bridge and stone abutments. We enjoyed some creek stomping. I found information about the bridge at the Putnam County Visitors Center. The single lane bridge spans 152 feet and uses a Burr Arch Truss. The bridge was built by the famous J. J. Daniels in 1898.

The Oakalla Covered Bridge sits just west of Greencastle, and coming from the better maintained…read moreDunbar Bridge barely ten minutes earlier, this one immediately feels older and far less refreshed. It was built in 1898 by noted Indiana bridgewright J.J. Daniels and spans Big Walnut Creek using a classic Burr-arch truss design. Since it is closed to traffic, I was only able to walk through it, which made the aging details stand out even more. The paint is peeling in big strips, several exterior boards are split, and the siding shows the kind of weathering that comes from decades without a full restoration. Oakalla takes its name from the former Oakalla Station on the Big Four Railroad, a small community that once supported quarries and lime kilns before fading away in the early twentieth century. The bridge's decline mirrors the area's history. As quarry operations shut down and roads shifted, Oakalla saw less use, and Putnam County eventually closed it to vehicles in 2022 after inspectors found structural issues. Even so, it remains historically significant. In May 2024, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, joining Putnam County's other surviving Daniels bridges. Today it stands as a weathered but authentic piece of local history. As a bridge that hasn't been recently refreshed, it still wears its age openly while awaiting the kind of rehabilitation that could bring it back to the condition of its better-maintained sisters. [Review 1041 of 2026 - 245 in Indiana - 26220 overall]

I'm on a quest to visit all the covered bridges in Indiana. Covered bridges connect us with the…read morepast. The Leatherwood Station Covered Bridge was built by the famous Indiana bridge builder, J. A. Britton in 1899. The Burr Arch bridge originally crossed Leatherwood Creek at Leatherwood Station, Indiana. The bridge was moved to Billie Creek Village, where it stands today and is open to traffic (sometimes). I've walked across several of Britton's bridges now, and they seem familiar to me. Britton built approximately 40 bridges in Indiana during his lifetime. This 72' bridge is in exceptional condition. The bridge is part of the Parke County Covered Bridge Festival, but I prefer to visit off season to avoid the crowds. There is free parking at Billie Creek Village. There are three covered bridges at the site, each with its own story. Interesting side fact, leatherwood is a tree with a pliable bark that was used by indigenous people and early settlers to make rope and other useful materials. I assume that there are leatherwood trees along Leatherwood Creek.

This is one of three covered bridges inside Billie Creek Village. J.A. Britton put up this Single…read moreSpan Burr Arch Truss design in 1899 to span Leatherwood Creek at the Leatherwood train station. The bridge was moved to its current location over Williams Creek in 1981. Also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, this is #25 on the Parke County Covered Bridge Map.