Worthington Triangle
Worthington Triangle
The Worthington Triangle is located in the center of the business district in the town of Worthington. It is framed by Washington, Main, and Union Streets. The triangle seems to be an island in the middle of this busy intersection as Main Street is also State Highway 67.
The reason Worthington has a "town triangle" instead "town square" is a simple one--an Indian mound was once located at that spot. In the 1840s C. J. Barrackman and W. C. Andrews came from Worthington, Ohio, to Indiana. They laid out the town of Worthington, insisting that it be with the points of the compass.
One problem, however, was not to disturb the Indian mound because that would be a sacrilege. One road already existed, running northeast to Eel River and south to the village of Fairplay. Another street was laid out to escape the mound by 10 feet and intersect the old roadway 500 feet south of the mound. Another street on the west was 10 feet from the mound. The other street on the south was to run due east and west
In 1869 the mound was opened, the artifacts removed, and the dirt used to fill the canal bed. Later, these men who were responsible for laying the town out wondered just what to do with the space in the center of town that was "A" spaced. Someone came up with the idea that it would be just the right place for the farmers to put their wagons while they were in town, so a hitching rack was put there and used for many years.
In 1884 a fund was collected to replace the old public well in the center of the triangle with a shelter having a shed roof and a fence around it with seats. This was to accommodate the "Trade," giving them a place to water their horses from the new well.
Between 1896-1899 a Victorian-type fountain was placed in the center and a curbing put around the triangle. The water from the artesian well on the south edge of town was piped there. People came to fill their jugs and containers with the water.
In September, 1905, a petition was signed to remove the fountain because it needed repairing. In the September edition of The Times, an editorial appeared urging the town to keep the connection to the artesian well and the drinking pipe because the supply cost nothing and it was inexhaustible. Sometime around the early 1900s, the shelter built in 1884 was moved in the night out to the Wilson Park Race Track.
The triangle through the years has had many landscape changes. In 1916 a Fourth of July Parade picture showed the triangle grass covered. In a 1928 picture a pipe railing had been installed, and it was planted with annuals. The railing was a favorite loafing place in good weather. Different organizations were responsible for changing the plantings through the years.
The old Victorian fountain became inoperable, and sometime in the 1950s a limestone fountain and the War Memorial were placed on the triangle. A Bicentennial Committee Project was to buy and install a Victorian-type fountain on the triangle. The fountain was dedicated on Monday, August 2, 1976.
The Worthington Triangle is still in existence. Because of the triangular shape, the traffic pattern in downtown Worthington is quite unusual as drivers often have to jog around the triangle to continue on their destination. However, the town takes great pride in the triangle and it is well maintained. The American Legion places flags of the 50 states around the perimeter of the triangle on legal holidays.
This information was used with permission from the Linton-Stockton School Corporation.
Pictures can be found in our photogallery.
