#grahamhotel

On the Square—31 Years Apart

American Steel

Here’s a couple of shots from Bloomington, Indiana, in the mid- to late-1970s. The photographer is looking north on College Avenue from between 3rd Street and Smith Avenue, using a tripod and recording some big American cars.

The Motor Inn visible in the background was originally the Graham Hotel, and is no longer one of the largest buildings in town as many apartment buildings have risen to house students in this area. Bloomington, of course, is where the main campus of Indiana University is situated; the institution has always been more than a major presence in town.

Looking for the Center

This is the town square in Bloomington, Indiana. Beyond the World War II monument, prominently pictured, the Monroe County Courthouse is just visible to the left of the frame. Another landmark is the former Graham Hotel, seen center-right in the background. Not visible in this image, but set into the ground nearby, is little stone marker stating simply that is was the “Center of Population" according to the 1910 census.

If the contiguous 48 states was a plate, tilting this way and that due to the weight of people thereon, the balance point in the early 20th century would have been this locale. An acquaintance of mine, Nate Larson, is doing an interesting photographic project on these so-called Centroid Towns.