Jenny and Dale Hazzard and children, Brian, Tyler, and Whitney, took advantage of the mild February temperature and went for a walk on Sunday, Feb. 12. They were hiking on land owned by a family friend, along a bluff in Monroe Township in southern Daviess County. That’s when they discovered this Winston sign.
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The area would be about 2.5 miles off the Hwy. 13 and Hwy. M junction, west off a gravel road.
It was lying in an area where Dog Creek used to flow. The creek has since moved and now flows a few feet over.
The creek originates just west of Winston and flows southwesterly. The sign would have had to travel about 12-14 miles if it came from town (as the eagle flies, not as the creek winds).
The sign is made of wood and has a bit of a sheen. Jenny said the back of the sign had a layer of clay-like substance that was brownish-red, apparently to preserve it. It reads Winston Population 251.
Winston wasn’t named Winston until 1885. It was named after F.K. Winston, a railroad man. It was originally called Crofton’s Depot, and was laid out in 1871. It was also known as “Winstonville” and “Emporia.” A post office called Winstonville was established in 1872, the name was changed to Emporia in 1879, and changed finally to Winston in 1885.