M.P. B 136.0 - 2nd Subdivision - Fn
Brothers John, William and Nicholas Pence, previously of Warren County, Ohio, settled on the land on which Frankfort now stands in 1829 and entered it from the government in 1827 and 1828. In 1830, the brothers donated 60 acres of the land to the county commissioners, a donation which led to the establishment of the county seat at that site rather than in Jefferson, a community which had also been vying for the honor. The new town was named Frankfort at the brothers' request.
The town of Frankfort was laid off on the 60 acre tract by William Douglass, the county agent, and the plat filed on June 8, 1830. The original plat consisted of 64 lots in eight blocks surrounding a public square where the courthouse now stands.
Clinton County Courthouse, Frankfort, Indiana. Circa 1950's.
Street scene, Frankfort 1913. This scene is the east side of the courthouse sqaure.
Left: Frankfort depot, May 2, 1981.
Right: Another look at the Frankfort depot, also circa
1981.
Left and Right: October 6, 1976. The Frankfort depot,
front and rear views. Looks like the building was in need of repairs and
some upkeep.
March 7, 1959, The Tippecanoe approaches
the depot. After a short station stop it will cross both the Pennsylvania
and
the Nickel Plate mainline. Frankfort produced considerable tonnage for
the Monon. Two of the biggest customers: California Packing and Swift & Company.
NEW 06-25-2008 Steam locomotive #422 on the Hoosier at Frankfort, February 1932.
Left: August 13, 1945, Train 31, the southbound Hoosier begins
to roll out of Frankfort, Indiana behind K-4 Pacific #432. The Monon
only operated one Chicago to Indianapolis train by this date. Right: K-2 at Frankfort, circa 1932. Photo courtesy of Tim Swan.
Left: Northbound passgenger has just crossed
the Nickle Plate, unknown date. Right: Looking along the mainline in Frankfort.
Train 12 has just left the depot and continues on its
southward journey to Indianapolis.
Frankfort, Indiana, circa 1950's. RS2 pulling
a passenger special through Frankfort. It is about to cross the Nickel Plate
mainline. Train is southbound.
Chicago Railfan Excursion at Frankfort. Left: Near the Nickle Plate crossing. Right: North of the depot. -Stephen Davidson photographs, courtesy of Steve Dolzall-
Left: Another look at the Monon - Nickel Plate crossing
and tower at Frankfort. You are looking west along the Nickel Plate.
Right: Looking along the mainline Frankfort.
Date unknown. Note handcart on track.
FM H10-44 #18 working at Frankfort, Indiana. Circa 1954.
Left: Northbound freight approaching
the Nickle Plate crossing, 1970. Right: High nose C-420 #501 on lead of
freight southbound
at Frankfort, Indiana, circa 1971.
Left:
November 13, 1979. Pictured is the former Nickle Plate roundhouse. At
the time
of the photo, it was part of the Norfork Western. Right: Nickle Plate/ Monon crossing.
Left:
April 3, 1981. Looking south along the former Monon mainline at Frankfort.
Right: Looking south along the mainline. Street running in
Frankfort.
Left:
November 1979. Industrial sites in Frankfort. Pictured at left is a warehouse.
No company name was listed on the photo, or location. Right: November 1979.
The Del Monte Company plant at Frankfort.
November 1979. Frankfort Co-Op Elevator.
Frankfort Today
Left: May
2004. The former Nickle Plate roundhouse and turntable still remain. Right:
Former location of the Monon depot on
Walnut Street. One can still see the scar of where the tracks once crossed
Walnut.
Left: July
2004. Looking toward the north along the former mainline through Frankfort.
The depot would have been where the
modern looking building now sits. Right: Looking to the south from Walnut
street. You can see where the crossing once was. You can also still see
where the tracks ran in the streets south of this location.
Left: After
leaving the depot on Walnut Street, the mainline ran down 5th Street for
a short distance. South of Armstrong the
line curved. Pictured is the former right of way where it starts the curve.
Right: Another look at the former mainline south of Armstrong Street.
Downtown
Frankfort, circa July 2004. Like many cities that are also the county seat,
the Clinton County Courthouse sits in the middle
of the downtown.
East side of the courthouse square, Frankfort.
