TOWN OF
COATESVILLE
INDIANA
Welcome to the Coatesville Historical Society website! The Coatesville Historical Society officially kicked off on February 21st, 2019 under the leadership of Steven Schultz. With the support of several local residents and long-time resident and local historian, Darrell Storm, the Historic Society was officially underway.
On this site you will uncover the fascinating history of Coatesville and its surrounding areas. We invite you to explore and immerse yourself in the stories that reflect our town's rich and diverse past. As you navigate through our site, we hope you feel the warmth and charm of our community, which continues to thrive thanks to the contributions of both past and present residents.
 Train entering Coatesville heading west to the train depot.Circa 1890-1910. Believed to be a 4-4-0 Steam-Powered Locomotive entering Coatesville as it approaches the Coatesville Depot. The trains location in this photo is where Milton and Railroad Streets are today. The building in the background is used as the Coatesville Food Pantry today (2025) more than 100 years later. |
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 Darrell StormBorn in Coatesville, Darrell spent his working life an artifact expert specialized in coins for Lawson & Co. Auctioneers in Danville. As a long-time resident of Coatesville, Darrell spent a great deal of his personal life collecting Coatesville artifacts. He has provided the Historic Society a wealth of information on Coatesville's history. Darrell has graciously donated many items from his personal collection to the society including a donation to purchase cabinets to display our artifacts. |
 Vandalia Railroad Depot and Stanley's Dry Goods.Circa 1890's. The Train Depot in front of Stanley's Dry Goods Store on Cross Street as it was named more than 125 years ago (now known as Milton Street). The location of this image is the building on the west side of Milton Street directly across from the Coatesville Food Store. |
 Broadway Street in CoatesvilleCirca 1900's (Turn of the Century). Broadway Street looking to the north. |
 Carnegie LibraryCirca 1916. The Carnegie Library opened in the spot where the current library resides today. Coatesville was the smallest town to have a Carnegie Library. It stood at this location for 32 years but sadly it did not survive the Good Friday Tornado of 1948. |
 Destruction of Coatesville following the tornado of 1948Date is unknown, but was taken in the days following the Good Friday Tornado that ripped through Coatesville on March 26th, 1948. This particular photo shows the destruction of property including the still standing, but damaged, Coatesville United Methodist Church Parsonage. This angle is looking to the north. The building still stands today. It is located on the northeast corner of Milton and Hadley Streets. |
 School BusCirca 1930's. A school bus in Clay Township. |
 Coatesville's Main StreetYear is 1949, one year after the tornado swept through Coatesville on Good Friday of 1948. This photo is looking south/southwest. Where businesses once flourished on Main Street, the only active business at this location today would be the United States Post Office. |
 Glen "Bucky" WaltersMay 16th, 2019. An image of "Bucky" who was born and lived in Coatesville most of his life. This photo is from a discussion on the 1948 Tornado where Bucky relived and shared his story and experience of that dreadful day as a young boy. |
 Local resident Gisela HendersonDate of photo is August 25th, 2022. Having lived in Coatesville for some time, Gisela is an very interesting lady who migrated to the United States from Germany during the Hitler era. Her story is not one about Coatesville, but of a resident who barely escaped out of Germany as a young girl. Her story is documented by video. It is very interesting to hear a first hand accounting from someone that was actually there during this horrific period in history. |
 Hammond Dairy Feed StoreCirca 1890's. Ira Martin (left) and Ray McDaniel pose outside their feed store with one of their wagons. |
 Coatesville Train DepotCirca 1920's. The Coatesville Depot looking to the southwest with for men pictured in front of the depot. The depot stood where the Vandalia Trail is today at Milton and the south side of the trail across from the food store. |
MISSION STATEMENT:
Our mission is to unite individuals who share a deep passion for the history of Coatesville, Indiana. Our commitment lies in collecting, preserving, displaying historic artifacts, showcasing our unique architecture, and capturing rich stories and documents that reflect the heritage of our beloved town.
Learn More About Us
Travel through Coateville's History online. Click on any box to learn more about our past.
