The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-30
Old Landmarks in and Aee4t i ere Haute

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. Aug. 29.-To those
who are interested in the achievements of
the past. or TO those who beauty in an
old building that has served the public for
a number Of years but has ceased to be use
full. the Old Curiosity Shop and the Long
Wooden Bridge across the Wabash that for
more than half century has stood the
storms OF winters cold and summers heat
cannot fail to appeal.
On the south side of Ohio street, just
across from the Vigo county courthouse.
stands what is known to the inha bitants OF
Terre Haute as the old curiosity shop. This
building was erected in 1886 and was occu-
pied by the Terre Haute branch OF the
State Bank. 1t is an exact pattern of all
the bank buildings erected in many OF the
States In that day with its low roof and
the four large columns extending TO the
gable Of the roof. 1t was built of brick,
with cement veneering, giving it the APP
pearance of a stone structure; much of the
veneer has crumbled and fallen, but even
after the lapse OF seventy years IL stands
remarkably we'll preserved and good for
another three-quarters of a century if not
removed to give place TO more modern
structure. These bank buildings all looked
alike when newly built, and they continue
the same likeness in extreme old age.
The interior was divided into the bank
proper and living compartment, which oc-
cupied the back part of the building. 1t
was elegantly finished in oak and cherry
and gave evidence of the wealth and pros
porous times that marked the period of its
construction. The business career of the
old bank wound up by Mr.. Gilbert at
the expiration of its charter i'm 1856. and it
was one of the few that was so managed
that it paid every creditor in full.
After the bank closed the building was oc-
cupied for some time by Kissner's music
store, and was known as the Palace of
Music" later 1T was used as a residence.
but for the past twelve years il has been
known to the inhabitants of Terre Haute
as the 'Old Curiosity Shop" This name
it has justly earned for its proprietor,
Mr.. Y. Heaberlin, is a collector of some
note and has spent the greater part of
long lifetime in bringing together a rare
collection OF valuable and interesting curios.
His place is visited not only by people from
Terre Haute and vicinity, but from over
the State and adjoining States as well.
Inquiries concerning this collection have
been received by the proprietor from
eral foreign countries. Only recently Wa
bash College. at Charlottesville, purchased
from Mr.. Heaberlfn very valuable collec-
ton of stones and Indian relics. which had
been slowly accommodating for years i'm the
old curiosity shop. There are to be found
here spinning wheels brought from New
England that were used by our great
grandmothers in the seventeenth century;
old mahogany furniture from Southern
plantations; one very rare settee that was
brought from the old Norman temple at
Nauvoo, Illinois; stone and earthenware
from the villages of the Aztec Indians in
New Mexico; old flnt-lock pistols, relics of
revolutionary days; firearms and accoutre-
ments that were used in the Mexican war
and hundreds of other articles, each with
its own little story, which the proprietor
is ready TO tell you for the asking.