Historic downtown Westport

My favorite way to spend a warm spring day is to get outside and photograph some historic buildings! Last week, the sun finally came out after a long winter in Decatur County, and I spent a lovely afternoon exploring Westport. 

Main Street Westport

Knights of Pythias Building, 207 Main Street, 1912

Westport suffered a period of decline after an 1873 fire destroyed much of the north side of Main Street, but it made a comeback in 1880 when the Vernon, Greensburg & Rushville Railroad line was built through the town.

The Westport Baptist Church was built in the neoclassical style in 1915, replacing an older frame structure.  

Pretty neat that the original arched window design is being incorporated into this 2013 addition!

More photos from historic downtown Westport to come!

A history of change: The KP building

People talk a lot about the way Main Street has changed and how it will never again be the same. But the history of Main Street is a history of change, a history of evolution. Throughout the decades, the fortunes of towns have ebbed and flowed. 

Main Street has never been static.
-Pat Ross, Remembering Main Street

Greensburg Knights of Pythias Lodge #148 was organized on 24 August 1886. In 1891, the Knights purchased the Falconbury lot just south of the old YMCA. They spent almost $50,000 building and furnishing an opera house. 

"...This lodge had the pleasure of being the means of providing a beautiful opera house for the city of Greensburg. This opera house is the pride of every Knight and is highly appreciated by all citizens of the city and county."
-Lewis Harding, 1915

1899

1910

 

1911

1929

1930

1934

1949

The Italianate KP Building, located at 215 N. Broadway in downtown Greensburg, was the second building in Decatur County to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. At the time it received that distinction, it housed a restaurant, the Red Cross office, an insurance agency, the Decatur County Historical Society Museum, several meeting rooms, and the abandoned theatre. It was rated "Outstanding" by Indiana Landmarks.

The KP Building today

Newspaper ads from microfilm were accessed at the Greensburg Public Library. Research and photographs by Lori Osting.