The County Line
Some of our local leaders have decided a trail would offer more than a railroad. So, as the Nickel Plate Railroad appears to be nearing the end of its historic contribution to Noblesville history, it is worth reviewing what it has meant to the community.
When the railroad reached the community in 1851 Noblesville had a population of less than 700. By 1900 the population was nearing 5,000 thanks in large part to the railroad.
As in so many American communities, the railroad supplied the life blood. Towns without rail service in the 19th century usually did not flourish. Most products were shipped out on the rails, and manufactured goods arrived by rail.
In Hamilton County, grain processing mills and small factories opened not only in Noblesville, but at Cicero, Arcadia and Atlanta. Fishers was actually founded because of access to the Nickel Plate.
Most people traveled by rail, especially if going more than a few miles from home. Passenger service brought interesting and famous people to Noblesville. There were six presidential visits between the 1870s and 1948.
President U.S. Grant was the first, coming to speak to Civil War veterans. He was followed by President Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, Teddy Roosevelt, Warren Harding, and Harry Truman, an impressive group to visit a small city.
There were unsuccessful candidates too, including William Jennings Bryan and Franklin D. Roosevelt who was running for vice president in 1920. These were in times when whistle-stop campaigning was popular.
But, the popularity of the railroad waned by the 1960s. Truck transport took over much of the freight business and the automobile and air travel took most of the passenger traffic. Since the 1980s the Nickel Plate has been used only for local excursion trains which until last year gave local residents and especially children a sample of what train travel used to be.
Last week the city administrations in Noblesville and Fishers announced intentions to convert the railroad right-of-way between the two cities to a recreational trail for hikers and bicyclists. No date has been set for the conversion. For better or worse, this will likely end the 165-year history of train traffic in Noblesville.