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YOUR STORIES: A Walk Through Wheatland’s Past — and a Way to Support Its Future

WHEATLAND, Ind. (We Are Knox County) - In small towns like Wheatland, Indiana, history isn’t just something found in books.


It’s passed down through stories, photographs, and keepsakes — each one carrying a piece of the community’s past.


Lifelong Wheatland resident Bill Powell is making sure those memories don’t fade.



Over the decades, Powell has collected thousands of newspaper clippings, photos, and artifacts — each offering a glimpse into Wheatland’s rich history.


“I’ve always liked history,” Powell said.


“There are a lot of pictures, and every picture tells a story.”


Over time, Powell’s collection has grown not just through his own efforts, but also thanks to the generosity of other's in the community.


Powell says families often reach out after a loved one has passed, letting him know they’ve found photos and other keepsakes they’d like to share.


Powell has brought that history to life inside the former Robinson School on Adams Street, a building that has its own story to tell.


Originally built as a schoolhouse, Powell says the structure wasn’t always located where it stands today.


“I found an article that said they hired someone to take it down one brick at a time,” he explained.


“They hauled the brick here by wagon and rebuilt it.”


As the years passed and local schools consolidated, the building was repurposed by the Baptist Church for social gatherings.


Eventually, it found its way into Powell’s care.


Now, it serves as a museum showcasing his growing collection of Wheatland memorabilia, and as a meeting space for the Wheatland Lions Club — a group Powell is proud to be a part of.


This weekend, Powell is opening the museum to the public for a special open house.


It’s a chance to explore Wheatland’s past, share stories, and help raise funds for Niblack Park.


“The Lions Club owns the park, and we have to carry insurance. That alone costs about $1,000 a year,” Powell said.


“It also has to be mowed weekly, and there’s regular maintenance. So, we’ve got to do something to raise money.”


There’s no set admission fee to visit the open house — not even for the burgers or hot dogs, being served.


Visitors are encouraged to give whatever they can; all donations will help support the upkeep of the park.


For Powell, the event is about more than fundraising.


It’s about bringing the community together.


“There’ll be people who used to live here, people who still live here, and folks who’ve just moved to town and want to learn its history,” Powell said.


Inside the museum, visitors will find everything from century-old newspaper clippings to vintage furniture — including one of Powell’s favorite items: the Niblack desk.


The desk, he says, once sat in the general store the Niblack family opened when they arrived in Wheatland in 1858.


“I got a call saying the desk was available,” Powell recalled.


“The building had burned down, but they saved the desk and the stool, so I went and picked it up."


The Wheatland Museum's open house takes place this Saturday from 4pm until 8pm.


The museum is located at 311 Adams Street in Wheatland.


Powell says anyone who can’t make it to the open house but would like to visit the museum or make a donation can call him at 812-890-4531.

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