| City
of Huntington
Over 150 years ago, in 1848, Huntington became a town. Yet the first white
settlers to what is now the city of Huntington were brothers, Joel and
Champion Helvey, who came from Ohio in 1830 with their sisters. The Helveys
sold land to General John Tipton and his agent, Capt. Elias Murray. Murray
and his family settled in 1831 and laid out the town in 1832. He named
the town after his uncle, Samuel Huntington, signer of the Declaration
of Independence. "Firsts" in Huntington include: the Helvey's
log Flint Springs Hotel 1832; commencement of Wabash & Erie Canal,
1832; death of William Delvin's wife, 1833; birth of Bridget Kennedy, 1834;
marriage of Champion Helvey and Ann M. Murray, 1834; election at Jonathon
Keller's for two Justices of the Peace, 1834; school held at Keller's Tavern
by teacher William Delvin, 1834; flour mill erected on Cherry Street by
William Johnson, 1835; population about 250, 1835; and frame courthouse
built, 1840.
Governor James Whitcomb provided for Huntington's town status on February
16, 1848; four trustees and  a
mayor were elected and first met on April 22, 1848. The town included the
original plat and the Helvey, Johnson, Murray and LaFontaine additions.
In 1850 the population was 594. The "Neptune Fire Company" was
organized in 1856. A brick courthouse was built in 1858 on the southeast
corner of Jefferson and Franklin Streets, costing $28,000. A brick fire
station was built in 1869 on the west side of Cherry Street and State Street.
On September 17, 1873, Huntington had the requisite population of 3,000
to become a fifth-class city. The city occupied the frame building then
located on the southwest corner of Market and Cherry Streets. At that time
Huntington had eight churches, a three-story brick public school (at Central's
current location), two parochial schools, 26 major industries, and numerous
businesses. Wood and lime were major products. The fire department organized
in 1878 and William McGrew was the first chief. By the end of the 19th
century, the city of Huntington had survived the cholera outbreaks of 1849
and 1854, lost many sons to the Civil and Spanish-American Wars, and experienced
the boom brought by two railroads (Lake Erie, Wabash & St. Louis in
1852 and Chicago & Atlantic in 1873.)
Huntington heralded the 20th century with the building of the Carnegie
Library on the northwest corner of Matilda (Park Drive) and Warren Streets.
In 1904 the city dedicated its new City Hall on the southwest corner of
Cherry and Market Streets, built at a cost of $30,000. A stone courthouse
was constructed in 1904-1906 at its current location. The unique buildings
over the Jefferson Street bridges were built in 1912. By 1914 Huntington
qualified for status as a fourth-class city. Then, the police department
consisted of chief, assistant chief, sergeant and three patrolmen. A new
Huntington High School was built in 1916 on the Northeast corner of Guilford
and John Streets, and the fire department building was replaced on its
present location in 1917. The U.S. Post Office was erected in 1918 at the
northwest corner of Market and Warren Streets. Memorial Park and the famous
Sunken Gardens were developed in the early 1900's and by 1930 the city
of Huntington had adopted the petunia as it official flower.
 During
the next 60 years many changes occurred. Huntington established a Y.M.C.A.,
erected Kriegbaum Athletic Field, built a municipal airport, watched the
evolvement of gas, electricity and indoor plumbing, and experienced automobiles,
telephones and televisions, in addition to participating in World Wars
I and II, and wars in Korea, Vietnam, and Kuwait/Iraq. City centennial
celebrations were held in 1948 and 1973. Yearly Heritage Days festivals
began in 1963; and since 1969 a yearly "Chief of the Fling Springs"
is honored for community leadership. A new post office was built n 1967
on the northeast corner of Market and Oak Streets. That same year the schools
consolidated throughout the county, forming one corporation. Huntington
North High School was built on McGahn Street in 1969. The U.S. Route 24
By-Pass was finished then, and the following year, 1970, the downtown business
mall was constructed, spurred by the growth of the area shopping centers
on the north and south sides of the city. A new City Public Library was
constructed in 1987 on the corner of Market and Poplar Streets. In 1989
the buildings over the Jefferson Street bridge were razed and the Riverfront
Plaza constructed. The City Building was rededicated in 1990 after a $2.3
million remodeling; and the downtown business mall was reconverted to through
traffic in 1991.
Huntington's 1992 population is 16,389. The city covers approximately
64,000 acres. There are six parks, 51 churches, and 75 major industries.
The City Council has seven members; the Board of Public Works and Safety
consists of the Mayor and two members; the city has 156 employees. The
Fire Department employs 38, and the Police Department has a force of 36.
As a city, Huntington has retained a beautiful simplicity in the midst
of a complex world, yet continues to lead in the dynamics of contemporary
society.
Text and images courtesy of the Huntington
County Historical Society.
Return to the Huntington County History
Page.
|
