Northern Garden Spot

[Tom Kepshire]

We all have heard Monon, Indiana called the garden spot of the Monon. Well, in my eyes the northern area garden spot has to be Lowell, Indiana. Oh yea, selfish personal reasons, I admit. I also put this in the general category, because of the su[not allowed]ect of the photo....my Grandpa's business.  Started in 1931, Hepp's Pool Hall, later after Prohibition was repealed, Hepp's Tap until 1963, when the business was relocated north of this location. This photo dates from 1954. Schmelter Dodge located in Lowell in 1954 and in 55 changed to a Ford dealership. Building holds a very special place in my heart.

[Heath Matthias]

Small town Indiana in the 50s.  Love it!

[Tom Kepshire]

Here are some shots of the business my Mom and Dad once owned, Kep's Tavern now known as the Side Track Saloon. We owned the business between 1962-1967. This building was built when the American Legion decided to build a monument to World War I vets between the Legion building and Commercial Ave. You can see how close it was to the mainline. In the Dave Randolph photo, imagine a wooden bench next to the wall and two young boys siting on it as the trains rumbled by. That was my brother and my favorite spot to watch the trains. Yep, does bring back memories. 

[Sharon Eberhard]

I will concede that Lowell is now known as "Northern Garden Spot".   I have enjoyed these shots.


Sharon

[Tom Kepshire]

Hindsight always being 20/20. How I now wish I had used Mom's Brownie camera, or my first Instamatic to photograph the railroad.  Still the best memories I have was hearing the horns of the approaching trains, then feeling the tavern rumble and running outside to sit on the wooden bench and watch as the train rushed by. Or, standing on one of the baggage carts at the depot prior to the end of passenger service when the Thoroughbred paid her visit to Lowell.