Learn how to learn the history of Lafayette Indiana. The information provided is vital to understanding the community.
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Learn How To Learn the History of Lafayette Indiana
Lafayette was founded by John Rogers in 1791 when he moved the French and Indian War prisoners from Kaskaskia (then known as the “Cherokee Capital of the World”) to a swampy area. He called it the town of “Auburn.” In 1797 he changed the name to Lafayette in honor of his friend,the Marquis de Lafayette,who had helped defeat the British at Yorktown.
John Rogers was the first person to establish land grants in the area in 1788 and served as the first Postmaster for Lafayette in 1790. His home still stands today at the corner of Washington and Easton Streets and serves as a historical landmark.
The first major public event in the area occurred in 1818 when the city held the “Annual Picnic”. It was held in Lafayette Park on June 16 and attracted about 2,000 people. The park was originally owned by a company named The Park Land Company and was later owned by the Lafayette City Improvement Company. Today it is owned by the City of Lafayette and is known as “Lafayette Square”.
In 1823,the first courthouse was built in Lafayette. It was the first brick building in Indiana and the oldest surviving building in the city. The courthouse was located on the corner of South Main Street and East Washington Street and served as the county seat until 1837. A new courthouse was built on East Washington Street,but was destroyed in a fire in 1919.
In 1833 the first public school was established and is still used today. It was built in Lafayette Square on South Main Street and the original building still stands.
The first newspaper,the Daily Sentinel,was started in 1834 and is still published today. It was published twice daily,except Sundays. The current newspaper is the Daily Advertiser.
In 1835 the first bank,the Bank of Lafayette,was established. The bank closed in 1888. In 1895 the Lafayette National Bank was established and became the second largest bank in the state. It closed in 2001.
In 1842 the first railroad,the Wabash Railroad,arrived in Lafayette and was known as the “Old Railroad”.
In 1863 the town received its first post office and in 1864 the post office was moved to the train depot at East Washington Street and South Main Street.
In 1870 the first telephone exchange was established.
In 1899 a new court house was built on South Main Street.
In 1900 the Lafayette Board of Public Works was established.
In 1904 the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce was organized.
In 1910 the Lafayette Union Club was organized.
In 1912 the Lafayette School Board was established.
In 1917 the Lafayette School Board moved to the former Courthouse on Washington Street.
In 1926 a new high school was built at Easton Street and Lafayette Boulevard.
In 1933 the city was struck by a tornado that killed five people.
In 1935 the old Lafayette Union Club building was purchased by the Lafayette Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. They operated the building until 1975 when they sold it to the city.
In 1941 the Lafayette High School Library was opened.
In 1947 a fire damaged the old courthouse on Washington Street and a new courthouse was