This Little Landmark Has Been Standing Guard Over a Small Indiana Town Since 1939

The next time you find yourself in Goshen, Indiana, be sure to visit the corner of Lincoln and Main downtown – that’s where you’ll find a charming little building with an interesting past. Based on its looks, you might think it’s some kind of tiny bank or some kind of retro phone booth – it’s actually something much cooler.

A Booth Built for Safety During Tough Times

This simple structure is the Goshen Historic Police Booth, an octagonal gem that was built in 1939. Constructed out of Indiana limestone and topped with a copper roof, the booth was built to give Goshen’s finest a place to keep an eye on downtown and to stay warm during those tough Northern Indiana winters. It was equipped with bulletproof glass and high-tech (at least for the time) communication systems. Don’t let its simple look fool you, it was a legit operation back then.

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Rumors, Gangsters, and Bulletproof Glass?

Despite local legends, the building was not meant to fend off gangsters like John Dillinger - he was gunned down by the FBI several years before this booth went up. But it is easy to imagine downtown Goshen in the late 30’s and early 40’s, with old-timey officers tipping their hats while helping a citizen or writing the occasional parking ticket.

The booth features a plaque with the following inscription...

A Booth That Wore Many Hats

Over the years, the booth evolved from a 24-hour police station to a parking meter HQ, and eventually found new life as a piece of Goshen���s history. These days, it’s lovingly maintained by the Goshen Historical Society and occasionally opens to the public.

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It’s proof that even the smallest buildings can hold the biggest stories—and maybe a few secrets, too.