- Airmail Flight - The first official U.S. Air Mail flight took place on August 17, 1859, when the
balloon "Jupiter" was released from the Court House Square in Lafayette. Destined for New
York, southerly winds carried it instead only six miles south of Crawfordsville.

- Camp Tippecanoe - "In operation 1861-1865 near present 4th Street and Hickory, the
camp served as mustering point for Union troops, among others, the 72nd and 86th Indiana
Volunteer Infantry. The 86th saw action at Murfreesboro, Chattanooga, and the Sherman in
Georgia.

- Civil War Prison - In February 1862, 712 Confederate prisoners (largely from the 32nd and
41st Tennessee Regiments) were deployed to Lafayette from Indiana’s quota of 9,000 and
were put under guard in the Old Red Warehouse and Sample Porkhouse near Canal and
Green, until illness forced removal of some to a makeshift hospital.

- County Court House - This is the third court house to occupy this location. Completed in
1884, its architectural style is a unique Victorian blend of Baroque, Gothic, Greek,
Romanesque, and Renaissance, and it is one of the last of its kind still standing. A statue of
General de Lafayette is on the he front lawn and a large fountain rests on the site of the
former artesian well famous for its medicinal value. In 1971 a major renovation restored its
facade to its original appearance and greatly improved the function of it interior spaces.

- County Historical Museum - (Fowler House) Built by Moses Fowler in 1851-52, this lovely
mansion in the style of Gothic revival now houses the County Historical Museum and is
headquarters for the Historical Association. The museum is open daily except Monday 1-5,
admission free.

- Davis Ferry - John Davis married the art-Indian daughter of William Burnett and prospered
by carrying the busy trade across the river. His name has endured on the old bridge and its
approach on the 9th Street Road close by the site of the original ferry crossing.

- Durkee’s Mill - Described by an early settler as "just a little corn cracker," it later became a
thriving woolen mill but was abandoned when the railroad tracks into the city.

- Lafayette - Founded in 1825 by William Digby, the town became the county seat in 1826. Its
rapid growth gained it the nickname of Star City of the West. Over the years its limits have
included the older communities of Fulton, Linnwood, Omeonta, Oakland, and Elston.

- Longlois Trading Post - A French trader, Pierre Langlois, (Peter Longlois) established a
trading post on Wildcat Creek about 1800. He married an Indian woman, Topenawkoung,
and was influential with both white settlers and the Indians.

- State Fair - To honor the Tippecanoe Agricultural Society founded in 1851, the State Board
held the 2nd State Fair in Lafayette in October 1853. The grounds were located on the SE
corner of Washington and Kossuth, now occupied by Miller School. The 3rd Fair went to
Madison, but practice of rotating was abandoned in favor of permanent facilities in
Indianapolis.

- Wabash & Erie Canal (1832-1874) - A highly important part of the development of pioneer
commerce, the Lafayette section was completed in 1840 and scores of boats pulled by
mules on the towpaths carried produce and passengers on "the big ditch". The Canal was
doomed by the Wabash and Western Railroad which reached the area in 1856.

- Widewater - A turn-around basin on the Canal and probably one of its busiest sections.
History of Fairfield Township
DID YOU KNOW . . .

Fairfield Township was named for General Fairfield

Fairfield Township is one of Tippecanoe County’s original three townships that
were created by the Board of Justices on July 8, 1826.

The City of Lafayette was founded on May 23, 1825 by William Digby.  Three
days later he sold the land for $240.00 to Samuel Sargent. The original plan of
Lafayette contained 140 lots, each was 62’ by 126’.

The Pearl River, also called Samplers Run, once an open stream that ran
through the middle of the city, is now channeled into underground sewers.

Due to Lafayette's rapid growth it was nicknamed "SPROUTSBURGH.
HISTORIC MARKERS IN FAIRFIELD TOWNSHIP