Acton, Indiana
| Acton, Indiana | |
|---|---|
  Acton, Indiana | |
| Coordinates: 39°39′20″N 85°58′00″W / 39.65556°N 85.96667°WCoordinates: 39°39′20″N 85°58′00″W / 39.65556°N 85.96667°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Indiana |
| City | Indianapolis |
| County | Marion |
| Township | Franklin |
| Founded | 1852 |
| Named for | General Acton |
| Elevation | 791 ft (241 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| ZIP code | 46259 |
| Area code(s) | 317 |
Acton is a small community located in the southeast corner of Marion County, Indiana, and has been included into the city of Indianapolis. The community was named for an early settler, General Acton.[1]
The community's former name was Farmersville.[2] The town was renamed in 1854 when the U.S. Postal Service discovered there was already a town named Farmersville in Posey County, Indiana.[3]
Acton was once a busy town as it had a blacksmith shop, a drug store, a bank, a telephone exchange, two grocery stores, a train depot, a pool hall, a post office, two restaurants, a school, a canning factory, three churches, three gas stations, a campground, a Ford and tractor dealership, and even two grain elevators.
One of the grocery stores was in the Knights Of Pythias building that sat on the northeast side of Exchange Street next to the railroad tracks. It was destroyed by fire in 1962. A new building which currently houses the Dinner Bell market was built in 1963 at 11146 Exchange St. The second grocery store is no longer in use, but is still standing at the corner of Swails Street and McGregor Road. It was formerly known as the Independent Order of Odd Fellows building.
The blacksmith shop, formerly at 11111 Exchange St, was owned and operated by Virgil Russell, who retired from blacksmithing in 1970, and sold the building to Clifford A. (Cookie) Kight in 1977. The building now houses Cookies Auto Body Shop.
The grain elevators were also destroyed by fire, in 1967. The site of the grain elevator is now Toby Tielking's garage.
Two restaurants used to exist in Acton. One was Mildred's restaurant at 11156 Exchange St. The other was Old McDonalds Cafe at 11143 Exchange St.
The Acton drug store was located at the corner of Swails and House streets. This location was destroyed by fire in 1962 and was not rebuilt. Another drug store was located in the two story building (built in 1874) at 11139 Exchange St. This was later the location of the Acton post office.
The former Ford and tractor dealership is still standing, also at the corner of Swails and House streets, and is currently used as Doug McKinney's tree service.
The Train Depot was located on the southeast side of Exchange St. It was demolished in 1955.
The Acton campground was located at the corner of Southport and Acton roads, next to the railroad. Established in 1859 by the Indianapolis district of the camp meeting association of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and plotted on 40 acres of land, it held 110 cottages, a pavilion a two story hotel and even a lake for bathing, boating and fire protection. Mostly used for religious meetings, it was used for a source of entertainment. During the civil war, it was temporarily used as a medical center for the wounded. Many people traveled by horse and buggy, train or the interurban to attend the campground. Famous speakers such as William Jennings Bryan, made several guest appearances. Tragically, on November 12 1905, sparks from a passing train started a fire that burned many trees, all of the cottages and the pavilion. Only the hotel was spared. A lawsuit was filed against the railroad but nothing came of it. The land was later divided and sold. Most of the homes on Little Oak Lane are on the land where the cottages and pavilion once stood. The other 23 acres of the former Acton campground was purchased by Indy parks and recreation in 2004. A monument was erected as a tribute to the former campground.
The Acton State Bank was located at 11143 Exchange Street. In 1924 it was robbed by three armed men who got away with $3000 and were never caught. Ben McCollumn was the banker that day. The bank closed its doors in 1934. It was later used as a gun shop and a restaurant.
There were three gas stations in Acton. One was formerly at the corner of Exchange Street and McGregor Road. Another was formerly at Acton Road and Virgil Street. The third still remains at the corner of Swails Street and Acton Road. It was owned and operated by Mike Walker from 1982-2016. Prior to 1982 it was owned by Steve Settle. Lawn equipment was sold in addition being a full service station. In November 2016 it was sold to a new owner, and the original building, complete with single car garage, was demolished.
Of the three churches constructed in Acton, only one is still a church today. The Acton Baptist Church has been located in its same area on Exchange Street since 1866. The original building was destroyed by fire in 1927 and the current building was constructed in 1929. In 1962 an addition to the Acton Baptist Church, named "Judson Hall" was constructed. Pleasant Valley Christian Church (The Valley), located in south Acton at 9990 N. 700 East (Acton Rd.), has been in existence since 1902.
The Acton school has been located on its same lot since 1875. The original school was a one story building. It was used until 1912 when a new two story school was completed. The two story building was used as a school until a new one story school was constructed in 1965, with extra classrooms and a library added in 1972.
In March 1986, an F2 tornado came through the town of Acton, causing some damage. However the town pulled together and has since rebuilt. Most of the houses in Acton are over 100 years old and have survived the tornado.
Acton has always been considered a rural area but in 2004 saw the addition of a new housing subdivision on the west side of Acton Road between Maze Road and Exchange Street.
Notable people
- Marjorie Main, Oscar-nominated American character actress
References
- ↑ Baker, Ronald L. (October 1995). From Needmore to Prosperity: Hoosier Place Names in Folklore and History. Indiana University Press. p. 46. ISBN 978-0-253-32866-3.
for a local resident, General Acton
- ↑ Acton, Indiana Profile
- ↑ Sulgrove, Berry Robinson (1884). History of Indianapolis and Marion County, Indiana. L.H. Everts & Company. p. 526.
https://scholarworks.iu.edu/journals/index.php/imh/article/view/9525/12761