By Nicole Thomas 

DePauw University, one of Indiana’s oldest institutions, is situated in Putnam County. Established in 1837 as Indiana Asbury College — an all-male school named after Francis Asbury, the first American bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church — it was renamed in 1884 to honor Washington Charles DePauw, a philanthropist who was once considered Indiana’s wealthiest man. Today, this private liberal arts college has around 1,800 students.

From sap to syrup

Indiana’s largest maple syrup producer is Harris Sugar Bush, located in Greencastle. Each year in late January and February, owner Arthur Harris taps the farm’s sugar and black maple trees, collecting 40 to 50 gallons of sap to produce a single gallon of syrup. Their syrup is light in color, fine in flavor, and contains no preservatives. Their log cabin store is open year-round, selling their syrup alongside local pancake and waffle mixes, maple candy, and more. Tours of its sugar house are available year-round by appointment as well.

Indiana’s haunted covered bridge

Putnam County is home to nine of Indiana’s 86 historic covered wooden bridges, including the famously haunted Edna Collins Bridge, built over Little Walnut Creek. According to local legend, a girl named Edna Collins used to swim in the creek while her parents ran errands in town. They would drop her off, and upon returning, honk the car horn three times to let her know it was time to leave. One day, when Edna didn’t respond, her parents discovered she had drowned. Today, folklore claims that if visitors stop on the bridge and honk three times, Edna’s ghost may appear and attempt to climb into their car.

Greencastle’s towering silo mural

Indiana’s largest mural can be found in Putnam County across four concrete silos in Greencastle. The silo mural is part of the Putnam County Mural Project, which has produced 17 murals throughout the county and hosted two mural festivals. The silos initially stored grain for a nearby feed store, but Greencastle repurposed them after receiving Indiana’s first multi-million-dollar Stellar Communities Grant in 2011. More than 2,000 residents voted on its final design featuring symbols that represent the county’s veterans, agricultural roots, music festivals, and nature preserves.

County facts

Founded: 1821

Named For: Israel Putnam, a general in the American Revolutionary War

Population: 37,804

County seat: Greencastle 

Indiana county number: 67