Posted in: Sunday Ads Sunday Adverts: Frank H. Smith Printing

Hadn’t heard of this one before, but a cursory search shows this company was active in the 1880’s and 1890’s at least. Was he put out of business by Bobbs-Merrill? Did he move on elsewhere?...

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Posted in: Sunday Ads Sunday Advert: Manicures in the 1890s

Today’s advert brought to you by Single. Women. Entrepreneurs. by Erin Albert  Check us out, Indianapolis, blazing a fashionable trail in the 1890’s! In the 1890, 1891 and 1892 Indianapolis city directories, it appears Indianapolis...

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Posted in: Indianapolis Collected Indianapolis Collected: Antique ad show brings back Indy’s Wonder Years

In late September, there was a spirited bidding war on ebay over an item that most people would consider a piece of trash. The lucky buyer who won the 100-year-old can of Van Camp’s Pork...

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Posted in: Historic Miscellania His name was Dr. Cool. And he was one of our earliest…

…Drunkards. Yep, you read that right. HI’s October ‘theme’ is “Beers, Booze & Bars,” so in doing a little research on the early temperance movement in Indianapolis, chanced upon the story of Dr. Cool in...

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