PIERCETON — Experience the charm and history of downtown Pierceton during a guided walking tour at the Heirloom Tomato Festival at 11 a.m. Saturday.

Discover the town's rich history dating back to the early 1850s and hear colorful tales about what makes the berg unique. Tourgoers will view well-preserved Italianate buildings from the late 1800s, hear about the 1895 fire that destroyed half of the commercial district, and discover why tomatoes and antiques are so integral to Pierceton's legacy.

The tour is enriched by historical photographs posted along the path. As a special behind-the-scenes stop, participants will also visit the rarely-seen temple room of the Masonic Lodge, designed by Pierceton architect Frank Logan.

This one-hour tour, led by historian Joan Hostetler of The Indiana Album(www.indianaalbum.com), departs from the information booth on the west side of The Old Train Depot.

A suggested $10 donation helps the Whitko Community Digital Image Project digitize and share historical photos and documents (https://indianamemory.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15078coll28).

Please pay on the day of the tour or donate any size via Eventbrite (https://tinyurl.com/5xnyjy3y). The tour is limited to the first 25 registrants, so either register through Eventbrite or email info@indianaalbum.com in advance to reserve a spot.

Heirloom Tomato Festival in Brower Park runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and includes live music, guest speakers, craft vendors, an agricultural art show, and tomato-related displays and food that hearkens back to Reid-Murdoch Co., Pierceton's "tomato factory."

Stay late to enjoy the many antique and gift shops in the town's commercial district. Hostetler, who is documenting the history of the Whitko Community as well as copying images from throughout Indiana for the Indiana Album, will be available before and after the tour in a booth at Second Fiddle, 117 N. First Street.

Also, bring along your Indiana-related photographs to be scanned at a scan-a-thon while you shop, or contact us at info@indianaalbum.com to arrange a private scanning appointment.

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