Images from Clay Township Historical Museum in Greens Fork, Indiana

Jessica Nunemaker — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 14:00:00 +0000

If you have never been inside the Greens Fork, Indiana Clay Township Historical Museum, you will be blown away by the complete and total dedication to preserving this small Indiana town and their heritage.

Located inside an 1848 house turned Clay Township museum, what I have yet to tell you is that for now, the upper level is a thrift shop. It’s composed entirely of items donated to the Indiana museum–which the museum can then sell for a very reasonable price to help pay the bills.

Clothing, used books, shoes, costume jewelry, and various odds and ends are found within. So, now you get to learn a bit of Greens Fork history and help support the museum by a little bit of thrift shopping. Fun!

Clay Township Historical Society Museum Images from Greens Fork, Indiana

Clay Township Historical Museum: Greens Fork, Indiana

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Clay Township Historical Society Museum
19 East Pearl Street
Greens Fork, Indiana 47345
765.886.5166

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Clay Township Historical Society Museum: Greens Fork, Indiana

Jessica Nunemaker — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Greens Fork, Indiana: Clay Township Historical Museum

This wouldn’t be little Indiana if there weren’t unplanned stops–like when we discovered the Clay Township Historical Society Museum in Greens Fork, Indiana.

Practically skipping up to the front door, I noticed a note, “Had to go home at 4:15. If you need inside before 5 PM please call…I can be here in 5 minutes!” with extra emphasis on the five minutes. I wasted no time in calling.

Greens Fork, Indiana Museum

True to her word, Phyllis quickly arrived at this 1848 Federal-style home turned museum. I thank my lucky stars that Phyllis responded. What a fun, fun lady!

She explained the pieces in this Wayne County museum and that it is a hub for those interested in genealogy but were we in for something when we came to the back of the museum–and entire room devoted to the old Greens Fork High School!

Green Fork High School’s last class graduated in 1962–before the schools were consolidated. Today, the once amazing school is used as a fire station. Wooden boards cover the large windows. I find it depressing but I suppose I should at least be grateful it wasn’t torn down or ended up as an abandoned school like so many others.

Even so, many pieces from the school turned fire station are present and accounted for.

The old chalkboard from one of the rooms is here, as are a desk, typewriter, and old schoolbooks. Photos of the graduating classes grace one wall. Cases triumphantly hold gorgeous trophies from different sports. Vintage cheerleading uniforms are on display.

Indiana Museums

Greens Fork, Indiana: Clay Township Historical Museum

There aren’t any interactive displays, no souvenir pressed penny’s. But there’s passion here. There are memories here.

There’s also a sense of urgency to preserve and to pass on the way life was in Greens Fork when you had only to open your door and head down the street to get to school.

Okay, I sound a bit like a greeting card, but this Indiana museum is working so hard on preserving the memory of life the way it was before they lost their school and their community changed forever that I am immensely impressed.

For such a small Indiana town, Greens Fork is doing an amazing job of preserving their heritage. I hope other small towns look to them for inspiration!

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