Terhune, Indiana is located on the east side of section 22, township 20 north, range 2 east, in Marion township, at the crossing of the Chicago, Indianapolis & Louisville railroad and the highway leading from Mechanicsburg and Sheridan to Noblesville. The town was laid out during the construction of the railroad. Being surrounded by very rich farming lands, it started out with the most lively boom of any prospective town in the county. Located about four miles on the railway from Sheridan, eleven miles east on pike from Mechanicsburg and fourteen miles southeast from Frankfort on the railroad, its founders thought it would become a large, flourishing town. That was the age in which everybody thought a railroad would insure a town. People flocked to the new town and it grew rapidly. In two or three years there were four stores, three blacksmith shops, many houses and other industries in proportion, sawmill, flouring mill, elevator, large livery barns and every indication of a thriving town. Terhune got its growth in less than three years and has settled down into a good trading center for Marion township. Supporting an excellent elevator, stores, blacksmith shops, school and churches, it makes, with good residences, a very desirable place for homes and country trade. It keeps in touch socially with other towns by good newspaper correspondents.
Terhune, Indiana. Circa 1970. Looking to the Northwest.
In the movie "Hoosiers" there is a scene where a amateur basketball coach becomes angry with the new Hickory Basketball Coach, Norman Dale, and threatens to "hide strap his ass to a pine rail and send him up the Monon line." Also in that movie, Terhune is mentioned on more than one occasion. It made me wondered where, or if there even was a Terhune. Well Virginia, yes there is a Terhune, Indiana. In fact, the grain elevator was pictured in the movie Hoosiers . The elevator has been torn down.
Terhune, Indiana. Left: The Terhune Elevator, circa 1977. Right: General store in Terhune, also 1977. Perhaps once a meeting place to grab a soda pop and talk Indiana high school basketball?
Doran and Hirsch Store in Terhune, circa 1957.
Therhune Elevator, 1980's.
Another look at the elavator at Terhune. Railroad service to Terhune fulfilled an obligation of the Indianapolis, Delphi and Chicago to serve Boone County. The depot, in the northwest corner of the county was the only station in Boone County. The post office was established in 1879 under the name Kimberlin and later changed to Terhune in 1883.
Terhune Today
Left: Sign proclaiming you have arrived in Terhune. Left: Terhune United Methodist Church. -Jim Terhune Photos-
The general store looking building, now a residence and other residences, are all that remains in Terhune today. The former right of way can still be seen, however, there is not much evidence that a railroad ever once ran through here.