items in our collections
Artifact of the Week — December 14, 2023
Happy Hanukkah! In recognition of Hanukkah, Old Independence Regional Museum presents the history of Simon Adler, one of Batesville’s first and most respected businessmen. Simon Adler is well remembered for his three-story building at 151 West Main Street in Batesville as well as being one of Batesville’s most prominent businessmen. Born in Bavaria in 1832, … Continue reading
Artifact of the Week — December 7, 2023
Quilt Walk 2023 Old Independence Regional Museum is showcasing over a dozen quilts this year in its second annual quilt walk. Browse the shop windows down Main Street and read the interesting stories behind the quilts. For instance, 143 East Main Street, Etta’s Attic, houses a classic Friendship quilt with a twist: Virginia Shanks was … Continue reading
Artifact of the Week — November 30, 2023
Tea Time The Maxfield Store was renowned as one of the mercantiles in early Batesville history where patrons flocked from bordering states to purchase and sell their goods. One of the larger items sold at Maxfield’s was Banner Buggies. These versatile buggies originally looked more like what we would consider chariots: a two-wheeled vehicle propelled … Continue reading
Artifact of the Week — November 16, 2023
Mack Farm When Aquilla Wilson Mack settled in our area in 1854 in the homestead still known as Mack Farm, his son, Gerling Milton Mack, was 16 years old. Gerling was wounded in the Civil War before returning home to marry Laura Louisa Ann Gilbreath. Of their 7 children, their daughter Lou De Anna Mack … Continue reading
Artifact of the Week — November 8, 2023
J. K. Southerland J. K. Southerland’s poultry empire sprung to life in 1935 when his wife, Cleo, discovered her chicken had hatched a dozen eggs. When the chicks grew to pullets, J. K. sold them for $1.00 each, a huge amount of money in the midst of the Great Depression. Southerland recognized poultry could be … Continue reading
