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The Civil War to preserve the Union had ended only two years before this Fourth of July parade took place in 1867. Shown in the picture is a float called the Liberty Car. The float was made from the hook-and-ladder wagon of Vincennes Fire Company No. 2. It was drawn by six milk-white steeds. The banner around the wagon proclaims "THE UNION OF 36 STATES." In the wagon are young women holding flags, apparently representing the 36 states. Seated on a throne is a young lady representing the "Goddess of Liberty." The wagon is at the corner of Third and Main streets. The empty lot in the background is where Hillman's Jewelry existed for many years. This photograph was taken by J.M. Scott from his studio on the second floor of LaPlante's grocery. Photo: Lewis Library Collection. Text: Vincennes: A Pictorial History, by Richard Day (Bradley Publishing, St. Louis, 1988).
This drawing by Peter Von Smith is a view of a Fourth of July parade on Market Street (now Main Street), in Vincennes, Indiana, in 1838. The building on the left is the Burtch & Hannah Grocery built in 1829. It still stands, used as a tavern today, on the northeast corner of First and Main streets. The short man in front of the grocery may be William Burtch. On the right-hand side of the street is the three story tall, twin-chimniedstore of David Bonner, built in 1822. On the far right is the American Hotel, operated by Jon C. Clark. It was the stagecoach stop in Vincennes. Marching down the street are the "Vincennes Blues," a local militia unit. Off to the right the Vincennes band is probably playing "The Vincennes Blues March." Photo: Lewis Library Collection. Text: Vincennes: A Pictorial History, by Richard Day (Bradley Publishing, St. Louis, 1988).
The first steamboat to travel up the Wabash River was "The Florence" which arrived in Vincennes in 1823. Soon steamboats were traveling regularly on the Wabash. In 1832 the 150-ton steamboat "Vincennes" was built at Vincennes. It was the first steamer built on the Wabash River. It burned on the Mississippi in 1839. The illustration shows the Vincennes riverfront in 1838. The steamboat in the picture is perhaps the "Vincennes." In the center of the picture, the tall spire of the cathedral can be seen. Photo: Lewis Library Collection. Text: Vincennes: A Pictorial History, by Richard Day (Bradley Publishing, St. Louis, 1988).
This aerial view of Vincennes was taken from the courthouse tower about 1907. The street to the left is Busseron, and the first cross-street is Sixth. The two-story brick house at Sixth and Busseron was that of Edward Bierhaus. Down the street, at Fifth and Busseron, is the new Post Office. The large tower in the distance to the left is City Hall. In the center of the picture are the steeples of the Presbyterian Church and the old Vincennes University. The house to the right with the tower was the J.B.E. LaPlante home, considered the finest house in Vincennes when it was built in 1898. It was replaced by a gas station. Photo: Lewis Library Collection. Text: Vincennes: A Pictorial History, by Richard Day (Bradley Publishing, St. Louis, 1988).
Go to Vincennes Through the Centuries: Photo Archive II
EMAIL: rking@indian.vinu.edu