Wanamaker, Indiana facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wanamaker, Indiana New Bethel
The New Bethel Ordinary, a restaurant, in Wanamaker in 2022.
Wanamaker, Indiana Location in Indiana
Country	United States
State	Indiana
County	Marion
City	Indianapolis
Founded	1834
Named for	John Wanamaker
Elevation	840 ft (260 m)
Time zone	UTC-5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	46239
Area code(s)	317
GNIS feature ID	440019

Wanamaker is a community in Indianapolis, located in southeastern Marion County, Indiana. It is about 9 miles (14 km) southeast of downtown Indianapolis. The community is found near where Southeastern Avenue and Northeastern Avenue meet. This town was built along the old Michigan Road.

History of Wanamaker

Wanamaker has a long and interesting history, starting with its first settlers and how it got its name.

The Adams Family's Start

In 1825, a man named Reuben Adams came from New Liberty, Kentucky to settle in the new state of Indiana. He cleared some land, planted crops, and built a log cabin. After setting up his new home, he went back to Kentucky to bring his family to Indiana.

Sadly, Reuben got sick and passed away in 1826. His wife, Mary Adams, was left to raise their eleven children in the Indiana wilderness. In 1834, Mary Adams asked John H. Messinger to plan out a town on part of her farmland. This new town was first called New Bethel. The town's plan, called a plat, was officially recorded on March 24, 1834. The name New Bethel came from the local New Bethel Baptist Church.

How Wanamaker Got Its Name

A post office called Gallaudet was set up nearby on January 30, 1854. For many years, mail was brought from Gallaudet to New Bethel. In 1889, a post office was opened in Sutherland's Store in New Bethel.

However, this new post office was named Wanamaker instead of New Bethel. This was because there was already another post office in Indiana named Bethel. The new post office was named after John Wanamaker, who was the United States Postmaster General at that time. Over time, the name Wanamaker became the common name for the town of New Bethel.

In 1914, after Sutherland's Store burned down, the post office moved across the street to a general store. In 1920, it moved again to a new building where the old store had been. The post office grew over the years. On May 1, 1960, it became a branch of the Indianapolis Post Office. A new building for the post office was built in 1965.

For many years, road signs showed both "New Bethel" and "Wanamaker." But Wanamaker became the main name used for businesses, churches, and schools. In the 1960s, the town's name was officially changed to Wanamaker.

Gallaudet Train Station

In the 1800s, Gallaudet Station was a post office and train station. It was located about 1 mile (1.6 km) south of Wanamaker. Because it was so close, Wanamaker and the area south of it were sometimes called Gallaudet.

The name Gallaudet came from James Smedley Brown, who owned the land. He was a superintendent at the Indiana School for the Deaf. Brown named the area after Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, who helped start the first school for the deaf in the United States.

The Historic Michigan Road

The main road in Wanamaker, Southeastern Avenue, follows the path of the old Michigan Road. This road was one of Indiana's first and most important highways. It was built in the 1830s and 1840s. The road stretched from Madison to Michigan City, passing through Indianapolis.

Becoming Part of Indianapolis

Since it was founded, Wanamaker was an independent community in Marion County. It was not part of Indianapolis. In 1970, a law was passed that combined the government of Indianapolis with Marion County. This was called Unigov. Because of this, Wanamaker became part of Indianapolis. The ZIP code for Wanamaker is 46239. While Indianapolis is the main city listed for this ZIP code, Wanamaker is still an acceptable name.

Zink Raceway

The Zink Raceway was a fun place just north of Wanamaker. It was a track where people raced cars. The track has been closed for many years, but you can still see parts of it. It reminds people of the days when small towns had their own racing circuits.

Community Services

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and Indiana State Police help keep the community safe. The Indianapolis Fire Department provides fire services for Wanamaker. The United States Post Office Wanamaker Branch handles mail for the area. Schools in the Franklin Township Community School Corporation serve the children of Wanamaker.

Local Churches

• Franklin Central Christian Church
• Maple Hill United Methodist Church
• New Bethel Baptist Church
• Wanamaker Church of Christ
• Nativity Catholic Church

Fun Festivals

Old Settler's Day

Since the late 1980s, community groups have hosted Old Settler's Day. This is a street fair held in downtown Wanamaker. Southeastern Avenue, the main road, is closed for the event. Vendors set up booths and sell food and unique items.

A Classic Car Show is also held during Old Settler's Day. Trophies are given to the top three cars in different categories. Special awards are also presented. The day ends with a big fireworks show at Franklin Central High School. The money for the fireworks is donated by the community.

Highways Nearby

Interstate 74

Famous People from Wanamaker

• Otis Gibbs, a singer and songwriter