Bank Hotel and Post Office, Scottsburg, Indiana, circa 1898

Description:	A group of children stand in front of the Bank Hotel on the southwest corner of West Wardell and Main Streets. Written on the back in ballpoint pen is Hotel in Scottsburg that John Martin (grandfather) owned. Post office right next door. Library is now where the hotel was. The two-story frame Italianate hotel has inset first and second floor porches.The owner was likely John W. Martin (1853-1905), who was also the post master. According to Sanborn Fire Insurance maps (1899, 1906, and 1911), this photograph depicts the south side of West Wardell Street between Main and Railroad Streets. The Hammond Times (3 June 1908, p. 4) reported that Fire started in the interior of the Bank hotel at Scottsburg at 7:30 oclock last night, and in two and a half hours a half block was in ashes. The hotel, a large two-story residence, the post office building, a barber shop and a fine new barn were destroyed. The loss is estimated at $20,000. Additional details from the Indianapolis Star, 2 June 1908, p. 5, indicate that the post office building included an express office, a meat market, and a shoe shop. The Bank Hotel belonged to the Martin heirs. The residence was one of the finest in town and belonged to J. E. Thomas.By 1911 a row of brick commercial buildings for the post office and other businesses were constructed in the distance. A Carnegie Library was constructed on the old side of the Bank Hotel in 1921.
Origin:	1898, circa
Source:	http://indianaalbum.pastperfectonline.com/photo/8F3D3956-8AF3-4333-B786-654998617173
Collection:	Indiana Album
Rights:	http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/
Geography:	25 West Wardell Street, Scottsburg, Scott County, Indiana, United States 38.684666,-85.770604
Subjects:	Hotels Children Snow Post offices Italianate Commercial streets Scottsburg (Ind.) Scott County (Ind.)

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