Arbuckle's Railroad Place is known for its size and selection, with 15,000 square feet of shopping pleasure. This full-service store offers everything a customer might need from new machines, repair and service, fabric, patterns and notions. A distinctive feature is an open floor plan that allows the shopper a full view to locate items quickly. Ramps and wide aisles offer easy wheelchair access. The 4-acre grounds provide ample parking where buses are easily accommodated.

Nestled in "olde towne" Noblesville, Arbuckle's occupies nearly a full city block. The property, surrounded by quaint residences, is only a mile from the intersection of State Roads 32 and 37. The store is easy to find and the route is very navigable for bus traffic. Years ago, the ample parking lot was the main motivation in selection of the property providing not only a large space but close-to-the door convenience.

Entering from the southeast, a winding drive brings you past the wool barn and carriage house. Multiple heirloom street lamps guide the way to the main building. A large railroad loading dock hints to the huge inventory housed inside. The main entrance features a unique combination of Victorian styling, railroad paraphernalia and sewing whimsy. Iron hand rails are fashioned from precious treadle table remnants. Salvage sculptures of eagles and old machines adorn the tops of the street lamps. An authentic train station bench beckons from the dock level for husband’s to sit a spell while the gals proceed inside.

A Heritage of Service

The store was founded in 1948 by Robert Arbuckle as a sewing machine sales and repair business. Much of the work in the '50s was the conversion of treadle sewing machines to electric. This experience has developed Robert into one of the country’s leading experts on antique machines. The Railroad Place imports its own "Arbuckle" brand of new sewing machines and sergers and continues to rebuild and restore desirable antique machines. 

A substantial addition was built in 1970 as the fabric wing. Robert designed the new addition to reflect the image of a loading dock, greatly adding to the store's "1900s railroad station" theme. His daughter, Sara Carter, grew up around the business and actually helped lay some of the bricks in the structure. She officially joined the staff in 1972 and helps to oversee their commitment to maintaining "the greatest fabric show on earth."  
 
 

Noblesville is the county seat founded in 1823 on the White River. Many historical buildings have been preserved and a small town atmosphere prevails despite its recent growth to 30,000 people. Local attractions vary from the town-square shopping district to a world-class amphitheater. The Indiana Transportation Museum features dozens of retired rail cars, dining cars, cabooses and engines to be explored. Conner Prairie is one of the few and finest living-history museums in the country providing an interactive look at the years 1836 and 1886. Noblesville offers many adventures for history or train buffs who would like to visit for a day or even two.