The Johnson County Then and Now Project

 Willard Hotel and Artcraft Theatre, Franklin IN

Old photographs have the power to transport us into the past. That’s the concept behind Johnson County Museum’s latest project, “Johnson County Then and Now”, in which vintage photos are superimposed on an image of the same location in the present day.

It’s based upon such websites as “Dear Photograph” and the “Looking Into the Past” site on Flickr. Here’s how it’s done: Find an old picture, and stand on the exact site where it was taken. Hold the photo up and match it up as close as you can against the background. Then snap an image that shows your hand holding the old photo superimposed on the site as it appears today.  It’s like having a portal into the past!

Hughey's Grocery, Trafalgar IN

We’ve already shared some of our efforts combining past and present on Flickr and Facebook—a cow milking contest on the County Courthouse lawn. A group admiring the decor at the Lotus Garden. Old downtown Greenwood in the 1920s, through the 1960s. Hughey’s grocery store in Trafalgar.  The Willard Hotel in the 1960s.

Artcraft Theatre and Post Office, Franklin IN

We’ve already had a very positive response to the project, and hope some of you will be inspired to try this with your own family photographs. If you do so, please share the results with us!

For more info about the project, click here.



 Lotus Garden Restaurant, Greenwood

Article about this project in the Indianapolis Star on 2-13-2012