Location 0207

February 2008

M.P. 207.8 - 4th Subdivision - NE

Stinesville has been credited with being the location where the Indiana Limestone Industry began. Platted in 1855, Stinesville was named for Eusebius Stein. Stein was a large landowner and started two businesses in town, a grist mill and sawmill. He also assisted in laying out the town. The first post office was established in 1831 at Mount Tabor and later moved to town in 1860. A monument in Victor Oolitic Park commemorates this area as the start of the limestone industry in Indiana. The first quarry opened in 1827 and the first commercial quarry opened in 1855 with the arrival of the railroad. The railroad maintained a quarry branch that has had the usual multiple relocations to the east of the town. The first quarry failed in 1868, but it is still recognized as the start of the industry.

Stinesville. Left: Downtown Stinesville with corner of the depot pictured. Railroad south is to the right side of the picture. Right: Southbound passenger crosses Jack's Defeat Creek north of the depot.

Stinesville Depot. Left: Northbound passenger stopping at Stinesville, date unknown. Right: Great picture of locals posing at the depot. Again, date unknown.

Left: Stinesville 1940-1950's. F3 on the point of a passenger stopping at Stinesville. Exact date unknown. Right: Bridge over Jack's Defeat Creek north of town, circa 1960's.

For many years limestone quarries were the life blood of many communities, like Stinesville. Pictured is the Keslers Quarry, circa early 1900's

Left: Looking north along the mainline at Stinesville, November 1979. Right: Stinesville, looking south along the mainline.

CSX action at Stinesville, circa 1992. J.E. Landrum photographed some CSX freight action on the old Monon mainline before this section of the right of way was abandoned and removed.

Stinesville Today

Left: This location is north of Stinesville between the town and the White River bridge. This area was known as Kelly's Cut. Legend has it that an engineer named Kelly took the curve here too fast and he rattled the occupants of the business car on the end of the train. The railroad made a tight curve to the left. Right: Looking at the former mainline north of Stinesville.

The railroad crossed Jack's Defeat Creek twice at Stinesville. Left: The former crossing north of town. Right: The other former bridge site south of the depot location. Ron Marquardt informed me that at one time a stone mill would have been to my left. I'm standing on the old right of way.

Downtown Stinesville. The dates on the building go back to the early 1900's. Lot of limestone was used in buildings around this area. Go figure.

Left: Looking north along the former right of way. You are standing in Victor Oolitic Park. Right: Historical marker also in the park.

Monument to the workers of the stone quarries in Victor Oolitic Park. The block was carved right where the monument is today. Very impressive.

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