Eugene "Beaner" Linn holds the distinction of being both Gas City's & the state of Indiana's longest-serving mayor, dedicating 33 years of his life to public service. Born on the third floor of the Avalon Hotel in Gas City, Indiana on May 15, 1934, Eugene was the son of .....

William Alfred Koontz was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, to Alfred & Gladys(Kinzie) Koontz on April 28, 1920. He married Ellen Hall on October 24, 1943, & went on to graduate from Indiana University Medical School, completing his internship in Indianapolis. A veteran of the United States Army, Dr. Koontz served overseas with wife in post-World War II Japan before...

Once a centerpiece of cultural life in Gas City, Indiana, the Lovett Opera House is now largely forgotten. Yet when it was built in 1892 by John W. Lovett at the corner of Third and Main Streets, it stood as a striking symbol of prosperity during the height of this region’s natural gas boom. The three-story building was ...

The Gas Boom of the late 1890s brought explosive industrial growth to Gas City. With glass production as the dominant industry, the city became home to 12 glass-blowing factories, drawing skilled workers from across the country. As the population surged, so did the demand for places to eat, drink, and relax—sparking the rise of bustling taverns and businesses downtown...

Standing as one of Gas City’s last great commercial architectural landmarks, the Garthwait Building is a striking Queen Anne-style structure that has graced the community for 125 years. Built in 1900, it remains a proud example of Victorian-era design. From its inception, the building was a commercial hub. The ground floor opened as Garthwait Hardware around 1900 and remained...

Dr. Thomas Francis, Jr. was one of the most influential epidemiologists of the 20th century and played a pivotal role in the development and validation of the polio vaccine. On April 12, 1955, the world watched as Dr. Francis—then Director of the Poliomyelitis Vaccine Evaluation Center at the University of Michigan—announced the results of one of the largest medical trials in...

In the heart of Gas City once stood a vibrant tribute to its industrial heritage: the Queen of the Gas Belt Mural. Painted in 1974 on the east-facing wall of the State Farm Insurance building owned by Lowell Roach, the mural honored the city’s dramatic rise during the natural gas boom of the late 19th century, a period that earned Gas City the proud nickname, “Queen of the Gas Belt.” The mural’s imagery was rich with...

Fred Hengstler served as the superintendent of Mississinewa Schools for 18 years, starting in 1948 and ending his run in 1966. Prior to that role, he dedicated 19 years as both principal and teacher at Gas City High School. During his tenure, he led a bold & historic initiative: the merger of Gas City High School & Jonesboro High School into a single institution. What an undertaking...

Standing proudly since 1890, this structure is the second-oldest surviving commercial building on Main Street in Gas City. Its long and colorful history reflects the entrepreneurial spirit and evolving character of the community for more than a century. The earliest recorded document of property ownership dates back to 1827, when William and Eliza Hiatt were deeded 77 acres of land in Harrisburg, specifically in the...

Before the advent of streetcars, local transportation in Gas City was limited to horse and buggy. Although the city already had railroads for hauling freight and passengers across the country, the Gas Boom brought rapid industrialization and a surge in population. This growth created a pressing need for local transportation to shuttle workers—especially those employed at the...

Born in Ashland, Kentucky, in 1902, Robert "Bob" Ray lived there until 1909, when his family moved to Gas City, Indiana. After a brief stay in nearby Upland, the Ray family returned to Gas City, where they felt more at home. Marguerite Hillman was born in Gas City in 1904, and it was there that...

Small town government has always used it's "City Hall" to conduct the city's business. The Gas City City Hall building has been host to some of Indiana's greatest Mayors, judges, & now houses the Clerk's office, as well as the Gas City Police Department. Gazing upon the new city hall is a wonderful site to see, with it's tributes to days gone by in its natural gas derrick fountain which burns brightly...

The Arcade Theater opened in 1908, at a pivotal moment in American entertainment history - just as the United States began to embrace the burgeoning motion picture industry. Located on the ground floor of the historic Lovett Opera House, The Arcade was originally launched by Frank Pendelton during...

At the height of the Great Depression, a young entrepreneur named Bob Colescott opened a restaurant that would quickly become a cornerstone of downtown Gas City. On March 4, 1934, Colescott’s Café welcomed its first customers—and for the next two decades, it was a beloved local gathering place. Bob Colescott had a knack for knowing what his customers and community wanted...

Originally opened as the Mississinewa Hotel during the height of Indiana’s natural gas boom, this iconic building later became widely known as the Avalon Hotel—a name that still stirs fond memories for many longtime Gas City residents. Construction began in May 1892, and by early 1893, the hotel welcomed its first guests. Built by the Gas City Land Company at a cost of...

This historic structure traces its roots to the early platting of Gas City. On June 19, 1834, an 80-acre tract of land—including what would become downtown Gas City—was deeded to John Thomas, Jr. of Montgomery County, Ohio, signed by President Andrew Jackson and Ethan A. Brown, Commissioner of the General Land Office. Nearly six decades later, on April 27, 1892, The Gas City Land Company officially...

Elizabeth "Betty" Grace Hutchins was born on October 1, 1903, in Richmond, Indiana, to Lawrence & Blanche(Mendenhall) Grace. In 1928, she married Chap Hutchins, & by 1930 the couple had made Gas City their permanent home. Betty would go on to spend most of her professional life inspiring generations of students as an art teacher at Mississinewa Schools, nurturing creativity & a love for beauty in the classrom. Deeply

The origins of education in Gas City trace back to 1874, when the first school building in the then-town of Harrisburg was constructed. It was a modest three-room brick structure located on the site where the Gas City Museum now stands. The bricks were produced locally at a brickyard situated at North A and First Street. Billy Owens served as the school's first teacher, followed by...

The area we now know as Gas City was originally settled on May 25, 1867, by Noah Harris and was called, Harrisburg. The town began with just 97 lots, located near the Pennsylvania Railroad. From its earliest days, churches played a central role in the lives of their settlers. By 1888, when the town was still known as Harrisburg, a unique church building was constructed at 313 West Main Street. It served both Baptist...