As we give tours through the archaeology collection at the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites; showcasing 2,000-year-old Native American pottery, ancient spear points, beautiful historic ceramics, and a wide variety of sites from throughout the state, guests’ attention is frequently captured by an unassuming, large, heavy, rusted, square piece of iron and they ask, “What is that?” To which we answer, “That object is one piece of a very uplifting story — it’s part of an elevator.”
The humble elevator is something many of us take for granted. Sure, they save us countless steps, but do we really take notice of them until they are out-of-order, and they really let us down? Do we ever wonder about their history and use in the past? Imagine life without them. Do you think we would have the skylines we have today without them? The elevator allowed property owners, developers, and businesses to go in a new direction — up.
Indianapolis in the late 19th and early 20th century was home to several elevator companies and manufacturers: C.H. Mitchell & Co., Nordyke & Marmon Co., Olaf R. Olsen, H.J. Reedy Elevator Co., Pneumatic Elevator and Weigher Co., O Wm. Server, and many others as they came and went.
One of those was the Parkhurst Brothers Manufacturing Company located at 218 Kentucky Ave. Hall H within the Indiana Convention Center occupies that address today, but at the turn of the 20th century this was a busy industrial hub within the city.
Indianapolis in the late 19th and early 20th century was home to several elevator companies and manufacturers: C.H. Mitchell & Co., Nordyke & Marmon Co., Olaf R. Olsen, H.J. Reedy Elevator Co., Pneumatic Elevator and Weigher Co., O Wm. Server, and many others as they came and went.
One of those was the Parkhurst Brothers Manufacturing Company located at 218 Kentucky Ave. Hall H within the Indiana Convention Center occupies that address today, but at the turn of the 20th century this was a busy industrial hub within the city.
