February has always felt like a month of reflection – a time when history invites us to pause, remember, and understand how the past quietly shapes the present.
Growing up in India, history was never just dates in a textbook. It lived in stories shared by grandparents, in old streets filled with generations of footsteps, and in traditions that connected us to those who came before us. Loving history gave me roots long before I knew I would one day plant myself in Indiana.
That love has now become my bridge – connecting where I began in India to where I proudly belong in Hamilton County.
This month, that connection felt especially meaningful when I attended a program at the Noblesville Discovery Center at the Hamilton East Public Library called “Blast from the Past: Noblesville in 1960s.” Through photographs, video clippings, and storytelling, the program brought Noblesville and Hamilton County’s past vividly to life, revealing how the community looked, worked, and gathered during a decade of growth and change.
So many moments offered clues into the culture of that time and its strong connection to today. The courthouse and jail, Riverview Hospital, the downtown square, and the sheriff’s department weren’t just structures – they were pillars of everyday life then and remain community anchors now. Watching their evolution made it clear how thoughtfully this town has grown while preserving its identity.
What stood out most was the spirit of togetherness. Civic groups like Kiwanis and Rotary, along with church communities and women’s clubs, were central to social life, service, and gatherings. It was heartwarming to realize that even decades later, these same traditions of involvement continue to bring people together across Hamilton County.
Local businesses added even more richness to the story – Kenley’s Super Market where neighbors met while shopping, Wainwright Title Company, Blann Hardware, Zeckel’s Clothing, and Coaltrin Funeral Home, which even had its own distinctive ambulances. And learning that Firestone was once the largest employer in town offered insight into how industry shaped family life and the local economy.
The most touching moments came from the audience itself. As images appeared on the screen, hands kept rising as people shared connections – a relative who worked at a landmark, memories of riding bikes around the square, or stories passed down through generations. History wasn’t distant. It was deeply personal.
I was especially moved when I met Jane Walters, who shared how her father, William Hummel, moved from Marion County to Hamilton County when 136th Street was still dirt roads and Interstate 69 had only two lanes. Jane completed most of her schooling on 56th Street and finished high school in Noblesville. Listening to her stories felt like stepping into a living chapter of this community’s journey.
Photo provided by Pooja Thakkar
Experiences like these remind us that a city isn’t measured by its age, but by how deeply it is loved by the people who call it home.
Much gratitude goes to the Noblesville Discovery Center team and to local historians Jessica Layman and David Heighway, whose passion and storytelling have made the many unique chapters of our local history accessible, engaging, and meaningful for all of us. Their work doesn’t just preserve the past – it builds connection in the present.
As someone who moved here from Rajkot, Gujarat – a place known for strong hospitality and community bonds – seeing that same spirit alive in Noblesville fills my heart. It reminds me why Indiana has become home.
History teaches us empathy. Nostalgia connects us. And community gives us belonging.
So I encourage you – follow the Discovery Center programs, attend these wonderful history talks, and invite your neighbors along. You might discover local gems, uncover shared memories, and feel the beautiful gestures of community come alive.
February may celebrate history, but it also celebrates love – love for where we’ve been, where we are, and the people who make a place feel like home.
And for me, loving history has become the path that connects my past in India to my present in Indiana – turning a new place into home, one story at a time.
Pooja Thakkar is working to build connections through cuisine. You can read her column each week in the pages of The Reporter.