Photography Provided
P. J. Gilsinger & Company Museum, owned by Paul and Brenda Gilsinger, opened its doors to the public on Sunday, April 15, 2018. The family museum located in Pulaski, Indiana, features items representing its 120 years of business with John Deere. Nearly 500 people attended the opening. A chicken dinner was provided by Bill & Babe’s Tavern.
The museum is located on the exact location where John Shank and Joseph Phillip (J.P.) Gilsinger built their first store in 1901. The two had opened on Friday the 13th in October of 1899, in a vacant warehouse just down the street. The pair sold mercantile goods and implements. The business ran under the name of SHANK & Gilsinger. In 1902, the town’s hardware store was destroyed by fire. The owner moved away leaving open the opportunity for J. P. to start a new store just across the street and sell hardware, implements and eventually tractors.
Items in the museum include John Deere tractors and materials, local merchant memorabilia, a 1854 ledger from the first sawmill given to them by a neighbor who found it in their attic, town history and local school materials, including photos, items originally sold by Gilsinger’s during their time in Pulaski, and unusual treasures such as a dinosaur bone and a shrunken head from South America.
Paul and Brenda have opened the shop area to anyone wishing to hold meetings, birthday parties, or other special events. They can accommodate up to 64 guests.
The museum is opened free of charge to the public. It is open May through October, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday from 1:00 to 6:00 P.M. or anytime by appointment. P. J. Gilsinger & Company is located at 5641 S. Main Street, Winamac, Indiana, 46996.
For more information contact Paul at 574-595-0444 or Brenda at 574-595-0219 or leave a message at their home at 574-595-7851 or email them at bgilsinger@greenmarkequipment.com.
Comments 2
My great grandparents were John Shank and Anna Gilsinger and my grandmother was Ruth Falvey. I look forward to coming by sometime when I am traveling from Michigan to see family in Indianapolis to see the museum and meet you. I look forward to it!
Best wishes,
Lauralee
The P J Gilsinger museum and the Meeting house are both amazing places. The history, culture, customs, and traditions of tractors, agriculture, and John Deere items of all shapes and sizes and dates are uniquely displayed identified and elaborated with interesting details.
Both Paul and Brenda are warm and welcoming individuals. They treated my group with kindness, and shared their knowledge and experience with us. We spent almost 2 hours enjoying ourselves at both the museum and the meeting house, and we all decided that we want to go back again soon.
My grandson enjoyed himself so much, and he loved the treasure chest and treasures that Brenda shared with him.
If you were looking for something unique and amazing to do on a Sunday afternoon, I strongly urge you to visit the museum and meeting house.