Story was originally called Storyville. The village is in the southwestern part of Van Buren Township on what is now known as State Road 135 South.
At one time, Story had a one-room schoolhouse, blacksmith shop, doctor, a sawmill, general store and a post office. The post office opened May 25, 1882, and closed in 1924. There were several postmasters during these 42 years of service. They were Emma Griffith, Willard Fulks, Winfield Noblet, Alra Wheeler, Mary L. Wheeler and Benjamin R. Kelley.
Dr. George Story founded Story and is credited with naming the village.
Alra Wheeler and his wife, Mary, established the general store about 1900.
Alra Wheeler was born Dec. 28, 1867, in Washington Township, Brown County, to Elihu Wheeler. Alra married Mary Floyd April 30, 1892, in Brown County.
Alra and Mary had two children, Leonard (October 1893 — January 1985) and Ruth (Jan. 5, 1903). They lived in the house across the road from the store at Story. In addition to running the general store, they ran a huckster wagon to residents along the country roads. The road went west through the original Wheeler farm between Elkinsville and Belmont before the days of Lake Monroe.
During the time they owned the store, it burned down, around 1915. Alra rebuilt and enlarged the store to include a second floor. There was a buggy assembly business on the second floor of the new building. At one time a clock that was an award from Banner Buggies hung in the building. They owned one of the very first vehicles in Brown County, if not the first.
Leonard Wheeler married Ida Neumister, also of Brown County. They had two children, Edgar Dean “Bud” and Maxine.
Ruth Wheeler married Dwight Logan Marsee of southwestern Indiana in September 1925 in Bloomington. She had met him in Bloomington while they were students there.
One of Alra’s sisters, Lydia C., was married on May 24, 1900, to George A. Allison for a time. He was one of the original Brown County Democrat newspapermen.
Alra Wheeler died in 1921. His widow, Mary L. Wheeler, sold the store to John S. Morrison on Jan. 28, 1922. The store was operated by John S. Morrison and Benjamin R. Kelley.
After selling the store, Mary L. Wheeler relocated to Bloomington.
Today, the general store at Story is a restaurant and bed-and-breakfast with conveniences for visitors or travelers.
— Pauline Hoover, Brown County Historical Society
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Sept. 29: Fall Gathering and Old Settlers in the Pioneer Village
Sept. 29-30: Rock and mineral show in the History Center
Nov. 9 and 10: Abe Martin Bazaar, Frank Hohenberger exhibit and chili supper at the History Center
For more information, call the History Center at 812-988-2899.
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