News Release

PIERCETON — Experience the charm and history of downtown Pierceton during a guided walking tour at the Heirloom Tomato Festival at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 23.

Participants in the walking tour will have a chance to discover the town’s history dating back to the 1850s and hear colorful tales about what makes the berg unique. Tour-goers will view well-preserved Italianate buildings from the late 1800s, hear about the 1895 fire that destroyed half of the commercial district and discover why tomatoes and antiques are so integral to Pierceton’s legacy.

This approximately one-hour tour, led by historian Joan Hostetler, of the Indiana Album (indianaalbum.com), departs from the information booth on the west side of the Old Train Depot. A suggested $10 donation helps the Whitko Community Digital Image Project scan and share historical photos and documents (indianamemory.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15078coll28). The tour is limited to the first 25 registrants. To register, send an email to [email protected] in advance to reserve a spot; you can pay on the day of the tour.

Local History Scan-A-Thon

Hostetler, a Pierceton native who is documenting the history of the Whitko Community as well as copying images from throughout the state for the Indiana Album, will be available before and after the tour to discuss the town’s history in Pierceton’s Historic Train Depot. People are invited to come share their stories and bring along local history photos and documents from any era of houses, farms, businesses, buildings, street scenes, churches, events, school photos, clubs or interesting people. Volunteers will scan and return the items at the event. Also welcome are Indiana-related items from throughout the state. You may contact [email protected] to arrange a private scanning appointment. To learn more, visit the website at indianaalbum.com.

The Heirloom Tomato Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, in Brower Park. The festival will feature live music, speakers, craft vendors and tomato-related displays and foods that hearken back to the days of Reid-Murdoch Co., Pierceton’s “tomato factory.”