1787 Northwest Territory Created by an act of Congress.
1795 Treaty of Greenville opens settlement of the lands east of a line from the mouth of the Kentucky River to Fort Recovery, Ohio, the "Old Boundary Line".
1809 Treaty of Fort Wayne results in the Indians ceding a strip of land, 12 miles wide, west of the "Old Boundary Line" to white settlement.
1811 Twelve Mile Purchase surveyed.
1812 War with England and fierce Indian fighting retard settlement.
1816 Indiana achieves statehood.
1817 Jackson Township created.
1827 National Road located through Wayne County.
1836 Cambridge City founded.
1846 Whitewater Canal opened to Cambridge City.
1851 Township schools established.
1853 First train runs on the Indiana Central Railroad.
1861 First volunteers leave to fight the Civil War.
1870 Cambridge City District Agricultural Society organized.
Cambridge City Library and Overbeck Pottery Museum
www.cambridgelibrary.com & www.overbeckmuseum.com
The present library located at 33 West Main Street began as a dream of the Helen Hunt club in 1892. Today it is a modern, multi-service library serving the patrons of western Wayne County.
Located in the basement of the Cambridge City Library is the Overbeck Pottery Museum. The Overbeck Pottery was in production from 1911 until 1955. The creative art of the six Overbeck sisters, who lived in Cambridge City, is recognized as part of our national art history. The hours are Monday through Friday 10:00am until noon and 2:00pm to 5:00pm. The collection includes pottery, oil paintings and watercolors. Group tours can be arranged by calling (765) 478-3335.
Historic Homes (now private residences)
Mount Airy, the Samuel H. Hoshour-Amick House located at 315 South Walnut Street
The Conklin-Montgomery House located at 302 East Main Street
The Meredith-Rice House, located at 520 Meredith Street
The Bertsch House, 221 South Walnut
The Scheidler/Biser House, located on National Road West
The Dinwiddie-Mattingly House, located at 323 West Front Street
The Martin Funk-Johnson House, located at 20 East Main Street
The Swiggett House, located at 130 West Main Street
Rose Hill, located on South Meredith Street
The Miller House, located at 305 West Front Street
The Abiram Boyd/Gerard House, located at 101 West Church Street
Huddleston Farmhouse Inn Museum http://www.historiclandmarks.org/things/huddleston.html
The historic structure is located on U. S. 40 just west of Cambridge City and is open to the public. The staff and volunteers of the Museum provide many, varied activities throughout the year to commemorate the history of the farmhouse.
Opera House
A grand Italianate three-story commercial building was built in 1868 on the north side of Main Street. The Opera House was the setting for a variety of entertainment venues: commencements, dances, meetings, conventions, concerts, minstrels, musicals, traveling shows, plays, flower shows, dinners, speeches, and comedies. The first floor of the building is still in use, but the Opera House has been silent since 1923 when a new high school provided a more modern auditorium for an entertainment center.
Overbeck House
Internationally recognized Overbeck Pottery was hand-produced in Cambridge City from 1911-1955 by four daughters of John and Sarah Overbeck. The family home and studio is located at 520 East Church Street and is presently a private home. An Overbeck Museum displaying many of the sister's art is located at the Cambridge City Public Library on the lower floor.
Riverside Cemetery
In February, 1868, a committee was appointed to find a suitable burial place. The land was purchased for $250 per acre, and is located on the north east side of Cambridge City. The most prominent monument is that of General Solomon Meredith. Its presence is a fitting tribute to the history of Riverside Cemetery.
Vinton House
The historic structure is located on Main Street in downtown Cambridge City near the site of the Whitewater Canal. The Vinton House provided lodging for guests that were being transported on the Whitewater Canal. It is currently being restored by Western Wayne Heritage, Inc., a group of citizens interested in preserving Western Wayne's past. The Vinton House is now a 2-story antique shop.
Whitewater Canal
The canal was to be constructed from a point near the mouth of the Nettle Creek where it empties into the west fork of the Whitewater River just south of Hagerstown, through Cambridge City, Connersville, Brookville and on to Lawrenceburg. Construction began on July 28, 1842. By October, 1845, the canal had been completed to Cambridge City at the cost of $1,137,665 and a length of 76 miles. The success of the Canal was short lived due to flooding and the coming of the railroads. The dream of Cambridge City becoming a metropolis never materialized.
