The Main Street Historical Association

The Main Street Historical Association is a non-profit neighborhood association that was formed in 1991 to promote and encourage interest in homes and their families, buildings, properties, history and heritage of the Main Street Historic District of Danville Indiana.

The Main Street Historic District

The Main Street Historic District is located just west of Danville’s commercial area. West Main Street, which served as a major entry into the town, is lined with examples of mid and late nineteenth century architecture. These large gracious homes, many of which were constructed by Danville’s leading citizens, present a cohesive and attractive streetscape.

Architectural styles represented in the district include Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, Italianate, Queen Anne, American Foursquare, and Bungalow. Some vernacular types, including gable-front, and cross-plan cottages are also seen. A greater number of 19th century houses are located in the eastern part of the district, nearer the courthouse square, and more 20th century houses are located in the western part of the district.

The Main Street Historic District is cohesive, and outside its boundaries is a different character of architecture. To the east of the district is the commercial center of Danville. The western boundary of the district has the character of a town edge. Houses outside the district generally have larger lots and more of a rural character.

A Brief History of Danville

Danville was the center of county government and a market town for area farmers. By the mid-1870's Danville contained stores for dry goods, clothing, drug, grocery, boots and shoes, hardware, hats, furniture, jewelry, and books. There were blacksmith shops, flour mills, newspapers, a post office, a bank, a photography studio, and one public school.

The commercial district developed around the courthouse square, bounded by Main, Washington, Marion, and Jefferson Streets. The Indianapolis and St. Louis Railroad came through town on the south side of downtown. The town's few industries were located along the railroad. Residential areas surrounded the commercial district. Those to the south tend to be smaller, workers' housing. Much of the housing to the north and east related to Central Normal College, later known as Canterbury College, a small, private college which was located northeast of downtown from 1878 to 1951.

Other Historic Districts

The Main Street Historic District is identified in the Indiana Historic Sites and Structures Inventory. Three other historic districts are identified in Danville. These three districts have distinct characteristics which vary from that of the Main Street Historic District.

The Courthouse Square Historic District is comprised mainly of commercial buildings, including the Hendricks County Court House. The Washington Street Historic District is not strictly a residential district. It is carved out of a transitional area between the commercial district and residential areas to the south and east, and includes churches, the old county jail, and the public library, as well as houses, dating from 1846 to 1922. The Broadway Historic District is a residential area which was developed c. 1885 and 1932 outside the original plat on Danville's east side. The houses are on larger lots than in the older part of Danville, and the district has almost a rural character. More than half of the houses were built between 1890-1900, a decade of prosperity and population growth in Danville. The district reflects the taste of the town's affluent citizenry for larger, landscaped lots, in contrast to the smaller lots of older residential areas.

The Main Street Historic District represents Danville's growth and prosperity in the 19th and early 20th century through its variety of architecture. It has a long history as a stable, middle to upper middle class neighborhood, and has been home to many of the town's important political figures and business people.

The National Register of Historic Places

The Main Street Historical Association of Danville was formed to promote preservation of this historic neighborhood. The group recently sought National Register of Historic Places listing for the district as part of this effort, and the district was placed on the National Register as of September, 1994. A continuing project is to erect reproduction street lamps with bronze recognition plaques in the historic neighborhood. As a means to support these efforts, the group sponsors an annual Christmas Home Tour the first weekend in December, in which it showcases several of Danville's finest old homes. It is also seeking both corporate and private sponsorship of the street lamps.

MSHA Officers

• Craig M. Callahan, President
• Greg Earnest, Vice President
• Sue Holtsclaw, Secretary
• Amy Callahan, Treasurer