The Prairie Victorian

09/11/2026

It's the little things. Like finally hanging the paper towel holder that I bought....two years ago? 🥴😆

08/30/2026

From one small town to another, I love when people gather in the streets and celebrate. We popped by the Otterbein Street Festival for dinner tonight. Saw friends, enjoyed the band, and had some killer BBQ to eat.
Whether you're celebrating the end of summer, or your town's famous race horse, it's pretty special to see everyone spend some time together where they live. People tend to think small towns are dying. But at these yearly, time-honored traditions -- it couldn't be less true. It just looks a little different than what you'd expect to see.
~
Back in 2022, when Otterbein celebrated its Sesquicentennial, I headed up what we called "The Otterbein 150 Project". It resulted in a pretty darned cool "mini museum" at the Otterbein Public Library. With over 250 items loaned or donated by 75+ different donors, it was pretty special. And we pulled it off in all of about 6 months! I have always had a love for celebrating the history of small towns and the places people call "home".
Technically, my home postal address is Otterbein, not Oxford. 😳🤭 But while I had a brief and torrid relationship with Otterbein, Oxford has turned out to be my true love. 😉💙

08/30/2026

One of the best parts of finishing up a paint job....the satisfying paint peels. Stay tuned for the big reveal!

08/28/2026

An exciting new (old) find!
As many of our followers may know, the bank building at the end of our block is for sale. (Come be our neighbor!! DM me and I'll send you the link!) And one thing that was found upstairs in an unused room of the building were these awnings!
Why, and how they wound up there - no idea. But I just LOVE collecting odds and ends from our building's past! Messner & Sons memorabilia, signage, old ads, hardware - you name it, I want to see it.
So when I heard these awnings, that looked mysteriously identical to the ones that hung on our building in the 2000s, were hanging around -- I was ready to investigate.

So Laura and I spent some time in the creepy upstairs of the bank building to retrieve the awnings and reunite them with our building.

While the burgundy and cream stripes aren't my *favorite*, especially since we have gone with a mostly green color scheme, it's super cool to have them even if only to one day sew new awnings and reuse the frames! Cha-ching!

Now the real mystery: Why are they in such "good" condition? Old and moldy/alge-covered, yes. But not shredded like the ones in the 2008 photo. Spares? Replacements? Not actually from our building? Who knows. But I was very giddy to get them. You know what they say -- one man's trash is another man's ..... dilapidated, old, sad, funky building revitalization project. 😇

The photos from 2008 are from the Indiana Historic Sites and Structures Inventory (IHSSI), compiled by the Indiana State Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology. (Which is a gem of a resource for anyone researching old properties). But these are basically the only photos I've seen of the building with this style of awnings.

So if anyone has any ideas, or memories, I'm all ears!

08/23/2026

We love being a part of your special moments! Thank you to Bev for sharing photos from last weekend's 80th birthday celebration for her other half. ❤️🎂
It's even sweeter when we get to see photos of your happy day. 🥰

08/21/2026

It was a beautiful night to walk the square and learn some history! Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Discover Oxford Indiana walking tour.
This tour was funded generously through a grant provided by Indiana Landmarks and Indiana Humanities and is just part one of a two-part project!
While tonight Brooke shared information from the 1993 Walking Tour booklet published by Mary Cross and a team of volunteers in honor of Oxford's sesquicentennial, we are in the process of updating and expanding the booklet for 2026.

And we want YOUR help! Stay tuned for volunteer call outs and dates for upcoming photo and "Data Harvests" this winter with Discover Oxford Indiana. We are already in the process of researching the documented facts, and now are looking for community members to share their memories, personal stories, and information.

To share photos or contact Brooke, send her a message on The Prairie Victorian's social media, or email [email protected].

Enjoy a sneak peak of the forthcoming booklet cover and inside notes!

Big thank you to Jenna Crumbaugh for the tour photos!

08/20/2026

This is going to be such a BLAST! This collaboration with The Plantry + The Market + Sun Dog Cafe + The Prairie Victorian = A great night with beautiful plants, delicious desserts, and a cozy setting. 🥰🪴🎂 Ticket info in the graphic and post.

This is EXACTLY what we started restoring The Prairie Victorian for. Collaborating with our community, and creating fun experiences in Benton County.

Who’s ready for a night of plants, cheesecake, and prizes? 🙋‍♀️🌱🍰On October 9th at 7:00 PM, join us at the Prairie Victorian for a massive local collaboration: Plant Bingo Night!
Your $45 ticket secures your bingo card, a free 2" plant, a cheesecake sampler, and a shot at a massive XL prize plant at the end of the night! Plant prizes in every round!
🎟️ Tickets must be purchased by October 5th. Pick yours up at The Market, Sundog Cafe, or contact Kasandra directly! See you there when doors open at 6:30 PM!

08/20/2026

Join us on the Square Thursday at 6P for a Walking Tour of Oxford! We will start at the Building, with the tour estimated to take an hour. Then stay to enjoy the Town Square Farmers' Market until 8!

Join Discover Oxford on Thursday, August 20 during the Farmers' Market for a guided historic walking tour of the Oxford Town Square. Adapted from research by historian Mary Cross, the tour will explore the buildings, businesses, and people that shaped Oxford’s downtown.
Edit: originally, tour participants were to receive a booklet with information to follow along. We have now decided to turn this into a bigger project! We'll be looking for community assistance this winter, to ensure this booklet is updated and filled with great details and memories. Stay tuned for more on that to come.

The tour begins at 6 p.m. Meet at The Prairie Victorian. Tour should last no more than an hour.
This project was made possible through funding provided by Indiana Landmarks, Indiana Humanities, and the National Endowment for the Humanities and is presented in conjunction with the Town Square Farmers' Market.

08/14/2026

SUCH a cool night in Oxford! (Okay, it was actually swelteringly hot 🥵). Thanks to everyone who came out and supported the Market vendors and Thyme Machine!

08/13/2026

Thanks to everyone who came out for tonight's Farmers' Market! We tried something new this week and hung out inside to escape the rain. 🌧