Posts with the Most in 5 Years

Hoosier Happenings turns 5 years old this month.  Since we have a local fireworks ban, I have cancelled the major celebration and have settled for this commemorative post instead.

A few months ago I stumbled upon the new format by which blogger records stats.  These have never mattered to me before, but I did find a few things intriguing, and maybe a bit disturbing.

I'm running close to 32,000 views.  I doubt that that is all that much (3 thats in a sentence...that's a lot).  Obviously most of my readers are from the US, but folks in Canada, Australia, India, and a few European countries also seem to be regular followers.  This is the 754th post....which means I'm probably running out of things to say, hence this post.

I have seven posts that have resulted in about 300 page views or more.  And this is where it gets a bit disturbing (you'll see why by the titles).  Here is a countdown in increasing readership order:

Burning of Democracy which is a post about "streamlining" government by doing away with unnecessary democracy

Obamish Acres Presidential Retreat which is a comical look at the possibility of President Obama creating a presidential retreat on an Amish farm after spending so much time in Elkhart County

UFO - Unidentified Flying Owl which is one of my recent rants about trying to get so-called "experts" to believe we have Barn Owls

It'll Tickle Yore Innards which is the history of Mountain Dew....which probably isn't at all what the reader was hoping to find

God Bless It! covers the topic of asking God to bless America

On vs. In deals with wearing your Christianity vs. living it...but this is where it starts to get a little weird-it had over 1,000 hits.  I'm sure some people were disappointed when they got here and read the content.  Great way to be a witness I guess.

And the number one read post....with almost 3,000 hits and growing DAILY:

The Creeper which is a very short post I wrote back in 2008 about a tiny little bird called the brown creeper.  Again, I assume people were disappointed with what they found when they got there.....but I can't imagine what they were hoping to find!

So I'm figuring that the majority of my readers are either wackos or perverts....which is why Hoosier Reborn of River City in good 'ol Republicania County likes to remain anonymous.

Thank you to all of my friends/readers who DON'T fit into the two general categories above.  Despite a bit of a loss for words recently, there is still much to write about here in Hoosierland.

Patriot Nathaniel Cole

It seems like the family history bug has bitten our family.  My son spends a crazy amount of time on Ancestry.com, my wife is reading through her grandmother's war-time diaries, and I've had my head wrapped around our family reunion.  A few weeks ago we loaded up the family and did a "Hoosier roots tour" for my dad's side of the family.

Given that we are celebrating our country's birthday today I thought I would write about one of my Revolutionary War soldier-ancestors, Nathaniel Cole.  Cole was born in 1747 in Barnstable County, Massachusetts and was descended from Mayflower stock.  Their family moved to Connecticut where Cole enlisted in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War from 1775-1783.  After the war Cole received for service to his country a section of land in New York State.  He selected a hill at the crossroads of two market routes and constructed a home in 1795.  Cole led a small entourage of other settlers from Connecticut and they named their new settlement "Cole's Hill" which is now known as Colesville today.

Cole Tavern

 In 1800 Nathaniel Cole enlarged his house and constructed the first tavern in the area.  The tavern was used for military housing and the grounds were used for training.  During these post-Revolutionary War times military preparedness was the law of the land.  The tavern served as the area's post office beginning in 1806.  The tavern stood at the top of Cole's Hill and was two stories tall and painted red.  Large fireplaces were at either end of the building and a grand staircase led to a ballroom on the second floor.  A schoolhouse and church were built opposite the tavern at the crossroads.

Nathaniel Cole's Grave

 Nathaniel Cole died in 1832 and was buried in the community cemetery.  Much of the estate once owned by Nathaniel Cole is now part of a Broome County park that bears the patriot's name.  The tavern was razed sometime after 1870 but the schoolhouse and church are still standing and are interpretive museums.  Cole was my great x6 grandfather on my paternal grandmother's side.

Gramp's Centennial

Tomorrow marks the 100th anniversary of my patriarch-grandfather's birth.  On June 28, 1912 "Jack" was born in a small farmhouse southeast of Argos, Indiana.  He was the youngest, and ornriest, of four children that they referred to as "the stair steps".

Birthplace southeast of Argos, Indiana

Grandpa relayed stories from his cantankerous youth to me often.  There was the time he hoisted livestock to the rooftops of unsuspecting farmers.  And the times they would relocate outhouses only a few feet and hope that the night-time user would fall to a surprise.  Or sometimes they would hoist the outhouses to house rooftops.  And one time during a big Fourth of July celebration in downtown Argos he and some friends rounded up a number of stray cats and dogs and set the dogs loose chasing the cats through the legs of horses attached to buggies that were lined up downtown.  He mentioned that one often, which tells me it must have provided great pleasure to the prankster boys watching the mahem unfold.

The "Stairsteps"

Somehow he got my grandmother, a gentle and calming soul, to marry him.

Gramps loved horses, cigars, his truckpatch, chewing tobacco "grandpa's candy", and Ford trucks.  He would never touch a drop of alchohal and stayed clear of places that served it.  He reroofed his house at 78 and outlived my other grandparents by more than 15 years.

Gramps and his brother

Without thinking about this centennial I'm sure, my aunt planned the first gathering of this clan....our first reunion.....this Saturday at our farm.  I'm sure if he would have made it to 100 he would be pleased to meet all of his great-grandkids, particularly his namesake-my Jack, and would be cooking up pranks to pull.

Happy Birthday Gramps.

UFO - Unidentified Flying Owl

UFO on the ridge of our barn

I mentioned briefly a few posts ago about the return of the barn owls to Sycamore Hill.  Most people we tell either don't care or feign interest.  Some people think it is kinda cool.....but for the most part, aww...it's just another bird.

But barn owls are scarce in these parts......scarce in all of Indiana, but particularly up north.

Two years ago when the owls first made an appearance, we couldn't for the life of us figure out what they were.  Every night, like clockwork, the two birds would start sqauwking back and forth to each other....well, I say squawk...it really was like a screeching squawk if that's possible.  We were tormented by these two birds for the longest time because they called to each other about every 10 seconds for a few hours until about 2:00 a.m.  And then sometimes they would start again at 4ish.  When I did some on-line investigating, believing that they were owls or some form of nighthawk, I came across two sites that offered sound recordings of pairs of mating barn owls.  And when I played the recording my wife thought they were in my office.  Barn Owls.  They couldn't have been anything else.

So I mentioned it to a fellow birder and a friend who had a few vacant barns south of us.  We looked and never saw a nest, nor were they nesting in our barn.  We assumed a tree or a building further away.  We didn't hear the birds after about the end of July that year.  About that time I submitted a summer bird count to our regional Audubon group.  Which prompted a phone call from Mr. Audubon.  He seemed to think I wouldn't know the difference between birds, and certainly I didn't see one.  By the end of the conversation I thought he came around.  But when the state list was published........my barn owls weren't on it.  Well to heck with that.

What I came to realize is how extremely rare these birds are.  In fact they haven't been recorded in our county since the 1970s and only about a dozen pairs are reported in Indiana in any given year.  Well, they didn't return in 2011.  But about mid-May this year....they were back.  This time fellow birder and I staked out the hill one night and saw both.  Our wives thought we were nuts.

So, understanding the unique situation we have, I made contact again with Audubon and this time with a barn owl specialist with DNR.  DNR's response was "do they hoot or screech".  Well, that was an insult to my intelligence.  Audubon never responded.  And when they finally did.....asserted skepticism.  Short of shooting one and sending it to them, I wasn't sure what they wanted from me.

Well, they wanted owl pellets.  These are the regurgitated remains of vermin the owls can't digest.  So I collected the owl pellets.  DNR asked me to take pictures.  They didn't like the way they looked.  They wanted a photograph of the owl-so I sent one I took at 9:45 p.m. It reminds me of those flying saucer photos.  I offered to send the 30 second recording I made, which is proof-positive, but they declined.  I asked if they had ever heard a pair calling back and forth-at which point to get me to shut up they asked if I wanted a barn owl box in my barn.  Maybe.

We had a couple of local Audubon folks out to scope out the birds.  Since they don't appear until almost 10:00 p.m. you never get a good look.  I've seen the whites of their faces and undersides....but mostly just silhouettes.  My birder friend and I are considering camo by the barn to get a better look.  Audubon has started to warm up and now I've gotten several requests to come look at the birds, but I'm concerned they are going to get spooked and leave or not come back again.....so I am limiting night activities and the owl viewing area has been closed.  I'm probably being a bit over-protective, but since no one believed me to start with....well, their loss.  I'm also starting to think "so much for the experts"....no one I've talked to has heard a pair hunting together at night.  And it seems that very few have even seen them.  I've lived with them for two summers.

I think even if I had taken this photo and sent it, they still wouldn't believe me

The late night photo I took reminded me of something I've been telling folks now.  I think it would be easier to get Hoosiers to believe I saw a UFO than to get the people who should care to believe I saw a barn owl, let alone two.  So, we just sit back late at night with the windows open and enjoy listening to our alien visitors from another world.

Happy Flag Day!

Recently I went on a flag binge and purchased 3 new flags........two of which were necessary.  There was a fourth flag I wanted that was a replica of an 1865 stars and strips, which would have been the year during which our farmhouse was constructed.  It was used for only three years, after Nevada became the 36th state, and replaced the flag most recognized during the Civil War.  Alas, it was $90 and I thought it would be hard to justify......at least for now.

My step grandfather gave me a large state flag that was used for a ceremony in the State Capitol building once.  It needed an American flag to fly with it, so now the two grace the large barn door openings on the farm.  Perfect for holidays and family reunions.....but probably not weddings like we have coming up in September.

So fly your stars and stripes high tomorrow.........I'm doing it in grand 'ol style.

Class of '87...25 years ago

Grace's Class of 1987-I'm middle-right

There is a reason why 25ths are associated with silver.  I think primarily it is due to the streaks of silver that begin to show on one's head leading up to certain 25 year celebrations.  I must be due for a 25th.

And a week or so ago I realized, while calculating someones age based on their birth year, whoa-ho....2012 should mark my 25th class reunion.  And within a few days of that realization it must have hit one of my fellow classmates because she sent a facebook message suggesting we plan an event.

Now, what makes things both extremely easy, and difficult maybe, with my class of '87 is its large number of graduates:  6.  Six people are easy enough to communicate with....although one guy has disappeared, his whereabouts from the time he was last in Wisconsin are unknown.  But then you can't just set a date and say, "well who comes, comes.."  That's not right.  So....we're hoping that the other two who moved out of state can make it back home again to Indiana this year.  Our 10 year reunion was particularly easy to plan....half of our class happened to run into each other on sidewalk days in 1997 and planned it right then and there.  I'm looking forward to this year's reunion.

Now in honor of probably the best year ever.....yes, still talking about 1987.....here is some trivia from 25 years ago:

Ronald Reagan was still President....though Ollie North's popularity was surpassing the Gipper's.  Both televangelist Jimmy Bakker and Democratic presidential candidate Gary Hart found their demise due to their respective affairs.

The New York Giants were Superbowl XXI Champs while our own IU won the NCAA Basketball Tournament.

Most famous quote of 1987?  "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall"  Wall or not, Gorby was Time's man of the year, but Spuds McKenzie was the people's choice.

The Last Emperor won best film.  Shelly Long (Indiana's own) left Cheers and the Cosby Show ranked #1.  And what song was #1 when I graduated?  U2's With or Without You.

While some people can look back and say they'd change nothing about high school.....I realized some time ago, probably because I am such a different guy now than what I was, I would change a lot.  I would have more fun.  I would get in more trouble.....or get in trouble for the right reasons.  I would stick up for people I should have, and probably would have kicked my own butt if I had the values then that I have now.  How can it possibly be 25 years ago?

Isaiah 58

Prophet Isaiah by Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel

So I've been reading through the book of Isaiah......and it is taking me much longer than I care to admit.  Last week I finally reached chapter 58 which is one of my favorite passages in the Bible.  I have written quite a bit about how I believe the Evangelical church in America is mis-directed in much of its approach of Gospel, or to put it another way....its neglect of the Gospel.  As I read Isaiah 58 again, I wondered if the prophet could have been writing this to the church in America today. I know that it was meant for the people of Israel, but check it out.  While I'm reading it in the New King James Version, I thought I would post it in the Message for a different perspective.

Isaiah 58
Your Prayers Won't Get Off the Ground
1-3 "Shout! A full-throated shout! Hold nothing back—a trumpet-blast shout!
Tell my people what's wrong with their lives, face my family Jacob with their sins!

They're busy, busy, busy at worship, and love studying all about me.
To all appearances they're a nation of right-living people— law-abiding, God-honoring.
They ask me, 'What's the right thing to do?' and love having me on their side.

But they also complain, 'Why do we fast and you don't look our way?
Why do we humble ourselves and you don't even notice?'

3-5"Well, here's why:
"The bottom line on your 'fast days' is profit.
You drive your employees much too hard.
You fast, but at the same time you bicker and fight.
You fast, but you swing a mean fist.

The kind of fasting you do won't get your prayers off the ground.
Do you think this is the kind of fast day I'm after: a day to show off humility?
To put on a pious long face and parade around solemnly in black?

Do you call that fasting, a fast day that I, God, would like?

6-9"This is the kind of fast day I'm after: to break the chains of injustice,
get rid of exploitation in the workplace, free the oppressed, cancel debts.

What I'm interested in seeing you do is: sharing your food with the hungry,
inviting the homeless poor into your homes, putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad,
being available to your own families.

Do this and the lights will turn on, and your lives will turn around at once.
Your righteousness will pave your way. The God of glory will secure your passage.
Then when you pray, God will answer. You'll call out for help and I'll say, 'Here I am.'

A Full Life in the Emptiest of Places
9-12"If you get rid of unfair practices, quit blaming victims, quit gossiping about other people's sins,
If you are generous with the hungry and start giving yourselves to the down-and-out,
Your lives will begin to glow in the darkness, your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight.
I will always show you where to go. I'll give you a full life in the emptiest of places— firm muscles, strong bones.

You'll be like a well-watered garden, a gurgling spring that never runs dry.
You'll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew, rebuild the foundations from out of your past.
You'll be known as those who can fix anything, restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate, make the community livable again.

13-14"If you watch your step on the Sabbath and don't use my holy day for personal advantage,
If you treat the Sabbath as a day of joy, God's holy day as a celebration,
If you honor it by refusing 'business as usual, making money, running here and there—
Then you'll be free to enjoy God!

Oh, I'll make you ride high and soar above it all.
I'll make you feast on the inheritance of your ancestor Jacob."
Yes! God says so!

Jason Aldean - Fly Over States

A great song out right now......I could never leave this flyover state.

About the birds and the trees

Ash-lined drive at the Hill

Sycamore Hill is a regular bird-lover's paradise and for some reason this spring seems to be particularly busy for the little feathered folks.  In one week at the beginning of May we recorded 47 different species of birds up here on the hill.  A good showing by a wide variety of warblers and other spring migrating birds inflated that list.  These include the Yellow Warbler, Common Yellow throat, and the Cerulean Warbler.  A Scarlet Tanager also hung around for several days and at one time was within just 15 feet of the kitchen window.  Orioles abound too.  Almost without fail these smaller birds are working at a feverish pitch to glean bugs from the tips of our ash trees.

Yellow Warbler

I finally put 2 and 2 together with the number of warblers we have and the number of ash trees we have.  Probably not long after our house was built the farmer planted ash tree around the homestead.  There are 13 of these big trees now, several line our driveway.  I'm hoping the ash borer doesn't find them.



Cerulean Warbler



A warm spring evening brought the sound of a Whippoorwill....we've never had that here before.  A pair of Wood ducks have been camped out in the creek so my dad gave me a Wood duck box I've yet to hang up.  But one of the more interesting developments occurred just the other night.  It appears the squawking, mating pair of Barn Owls is back....though their call seems to be a little further off in the distance, which suits my wife just fine.  The pair was here our first summer, 2010, and we learned that they are pretty rare in Northern Indiana.

Barn Owl

Under the Big Top Again

The Kellys and me in Peru

Well, it became official a few weeks ago....the Terrell Jacobs Circus Winter Quarters along U.S. 31 near Peru has achieved National Register status.  And it literally became a 3-ring circus.

Circus wagon and "Modoc" the legendary elephant

I don’t know how many kids who ran away to join the circus have left a legacy worthy to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places, but Miami County native Terrell Jacobs did just that. At 13 Jacobs, having been fascinated with the Wallace Circus Quarters, followed his heart which led to his ultimate distinction of being known nationally as The Lion King. Jacobs continues to hold the record of having the most big cats at one time in a single cage under his whip. 52 snarling lions and tigers….oh my!

Terrell Jacobs the "Lion King"

In 1939 his heart called him back to his beloved circus city in hope that he could renew Peru’s place in the world of circus entertainment. He and his wife purchased several acres along Pipe Creek. He set out to develop what he called Jungleland; a place where the public could see the animals of the circus first hand. The cat barn, complete with training ring and beautifully painted cages, was the first building Jacobs constructed. A bunkhouse, slaughterhouse, elephant barn, and grotto to Ben Wallace followed. The development became the winter home to some of the country’s leading circuses.

The Lion & Tiger Barn and Elephant Barn on U.S. 31

Jacobs died rather suddenly on Christmas Eve morning in 1957, but not before his dream of returning the great circus tradition to Peru came true. His winter quarters ensures the city’s continued title as Circus City.

When Paul and Dorothy Kelly purchased the winter quarters in 1955, they had similar aspirations as Terrell Jacobs. They envisioned a sort of kiddie-land to continue to provide the magic of the circus to the public, as well as continue the wintering tradition of circuses in Peru. The Kellys were no strangers to circus life. Paul Kelly’s family traces their roots to the original Ringling Brothers Circus and Shrine Circus in 1898. Dorothy Kelly was one of the leading elephant trainers of her time and was frequently called upon to make performances with various circuses.

Painted cages in the Lion Barn

When it looked certain that a highway project would eliminate this historic circus quarters from the landscape, Paul Kelly intervened and persuaded the state to preserve this landmark. And now, almost 50 years later, state officials formally presented a certificate to Mrs. Kelly certifying its landmark status at a circus-worthy event held in Peru last Friday afternoon.  Mrs. Kelly and her son Ed continue as guardians and ardent storytellers of this uniquely Hoosier landmark on U.S. 31.  Mrs. Kelly hopes to see another big event in October when she will turn 100 on the 13th.  Best wishes ahead of time!

Death of a Statesman

The Senator

As I listened to Senator Lugar's concession speech last night, I couldn't help but think that he was reading his own epitaph.  He mentioned, paraphrasing, crossing the aisle to do what is best for America.  This used to be what we expected out of our elected officials.  At one time we ascribed a certain honor to our officials who worked in the best interest of our state, or our nation, regardless of party affiliation.  We called them "Statesmen".

But it seemed last night we witnessed the cumulative death of the Statesman.  This idea of working together is not only out of vogue, but it is held in disdain.......by Mr. Lugar's replacement no less!  How odd to think that character qualities we once embraced and revered were so carelessly thrown aside yesterday.  And now those qualities we once considered noxious to our general well-being we herald.  In 2006 Senator Lugar was still our party's hero and our state's shining star.

Now people have been conditioned to call out Senator Lugar's age and residency, which have never been issues with the GOP before (remember Lugar hasn't had a "residence" in Indiana since 1977-that's a lot of elections), but the real situation comes down to extreme political views and outside sources that spotted an opportunity.  Not a single person I have talked to could tell me anything about Murdock, his record or his political views.  They talked about Lugar being Obama's favorite Republican.  How dastardly.  How ridiculous.

The political landscape has changed so abruptly in this country.  This is probably due to two things-people's outright hatred for the President and the influence that money has had unlike anything we have ever seen before.  Obama will go away, probably in 2013, but the money won't.  But I think there is an underlying culture of entitlement that once was only a condition we placed on the left, now deeply rooted in the right.  This entitlement is defended with a corruption of the rules that govern our nation by people who haven't the understanding of government, or much more disturbing, the understanding of responsibility.  They believe they do of course.....but then they systematically dismantle the pillars that have made this country great.

All too often I comment to my wife that this will be a very different world we will live in, in another decade or two.  Draconian measures passed by people propped up by those who stand to benefit financially seems to be in our near future.  A new single party monopoly with a my way only attitude will ensure this.  This is not the party of Reagan, and not the party of my father or grandfather.  I think what we are witnessing is the "me first" culture expanded now to public office.

Now-for the record-I was against the bank bailouts that were first pursued by George W.  I've been against much of the stimulus promoted by the President AND Mitch Daniels.  I am against the mandate for health insurance on individuals.  I felt that the auto bailout was unnecessary.  But here's the thing-there are a lot of my fellow-Republicans who have benefited, some very directly, from these programs.....and they likely were the ones who voted to "retire Lugar" yesterday.  Well, prepare yourselves for a very different America....there may be an "I told you so" moment in the future.

What a day of prayer could look like...

Tomorrow marks a day set aside for a national day of prayer.

In community halls, chapels, courthouse squares, and banquet rooms across the country ministers, politicians, and laymen will stand before us and ask us to join them in turning for a moment to pray.  Politicians will make their appearances and whether sincere or not, will likely remark on the founding fathers' faith and a need  for Christian values to dominate American culture.

And ministers will ask for God's blessing on our country.  And prayers will go out for America to return to God, a misnomer really.  We might ask for forgiveness and be repentant of national sin, really a code for all the bad things the church isn't responsible for.  And we will pray for our President and officials....that they will see the light.  And we will pray for the protection of our troops who are fighting for our freedoms overseas.  And everyone says together "Amen".  And thus concludes our national day of prayer.

And so we've done our job.  We've asked God to fix what is broken in America, and we'll help Him out when we turn out the scoundrels in the elections coming up.

What I think should proceed the national day of prayer is a national day of reflection.  A day when we can be honest with ourselves and use the Word of God as a mirror from which we examine our own hearts and actions.  Unfortunately it seems the national day of prayer has become a tool for the church in America to insert itself as the standard for the rest of the nation rather than a purposeful way to bring change to the church.

Because we're not the problem, right?  Those people outside the church are what's wrong with America and they need to face up to the fact that America is a Christian nation.  And of course, if they can't accept that then they should leave.  Then, no doubt God's blessing would return.  This is what we think, and some go so far as to actually say.

The biggest hindrance to people coming to Christ isn't what is going on outside of the church.  It is the collective church in America.  It is the image we promote as a message of non-tolerance is broadcasted by both preacher and "christian" politician.  It is our own embrace of an American culture that runs counter-culture to the gospel of Christ.  And we dare to insert our political demands as Americans above our responsibilities as followers of Jesus Christ.  I think it is time for the church to fall to our knees because we can't possibly stand in the gap for a hurting nation until we remove the mote from our own eyes.

Tomorrow I would ask you, if you are a Christian, to join me in prayer that God would first reveal to the church in America our own shortcomings in following Him.  Pray with me that the church would be broken and that we would understand what it means to live for Christ in our communities around us.  Pray with me that politics are removed from our pulpits and our hearts.  Pray with me that the church is able to discern what in American culture has become a weight and hindrance from enjoying God's true blessing in our lives.  Pray with me, rather than God bless America, God remove greed from our hearts.  For what we may think is our rights and God's blessing may be what is removing us from His favor.  Pray with me that rather than America returning to God........that His church would.

Springtime around the Farm

I just thought I would share a few pictures from when we were experiencing a slightly warmer spring a few weeks ago.  Enjoy!

Welcome to the Farm



The old lilac hedge



The kids crossing our creek



Could this look any more Hoosier?



Monuments Jensen left behind



Ostermann Monument, Dyer, IN (rear) by Jens Jensen



I've written here before about famous landscape architect Jens Jensen who created a movement at the beginning of the 20th century that was, well, a century ahead of its time.  Jensen promoted a form of natural landscape design intent on using native plantings and stonework that reflected a regional, and specific eco-system, in which the design was created.

This, to me, was a greater triumph than his colleague on the architecture side of design, Frank Lloyd Wright, realized.  While Wright was a leading force, and a master, for new architecture-he also rode the wave of a society that was desperate for a break from tradition.  Jensen, on the other hand, was positioned at the pinnacle of time during which a classical "city beautiful" movement had crept into nearly every community-large and small.  Jensen rebuffed the classical arrangement of the landscape, certainly, but his larger message was running counter-culture to American ideas about the use, or abuse, of land.

Jensen sought the preservation of the landscape and the reestablishment of natural areas.  Remarkably, this became a key feature of the Lincoln Highway Association's 1921 "Ideal Section" of road near Dyer, Indiana.  They turned to Jensen to design the Ideal Section-which would be touted across the country as an example of the most appropriate and modern way to design highways.  Jensen designed footpaths removed from the concrete road, stone bridges, and even concrete light poles that blended with their surroundings.  Does this not sound like common themes of our Transportation Enhancement projects today?

When Henry Ostermann, a native Hoosier and major promoter of the Lincoln Highway, was tragically killed in Iowa, the Lincoln Highway Association turned to Jensen again to design a fitting tribute to Ostermann-and it would be located in the Ideal Section.  The monument, and a monument created during the 1960s by the Daughters of the American Revolution for the Ideal Section, stand together on the south side of U.S. 30 (Lincoln Highway) and are all that remain of this tribute to road-building innovation.

Jensen designed the monument in his tell-tale method of natural limestone laid to appear like stratified layers of bedrock, which form a bench-not unlike his trademark "council rings" only linear versus circular.  Jensen also incorporated an arch made of stones in which a plaque honoring Ostermann was placed.  It is currently awaiting restoration.

So my question in researching this site was "how prolific was Jensen in monument design?"  This is hard to know.  Jensen did a significant amount of work in Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Indiana.  Most of this work was residential and civic building landscape design in nature or city parks.  In a book published on Jensen an exhaustive list of his work was included and it lists only two projects that were purely monumental or commemorative in nature.  And both are in Indiana.  One is the Ostermann monument.  The other is a monument to his beloved Prairie Club, the organization that led early 20th century efforts to save the Indiana dunes at Lake Michigan.

Prairie Club Founation-Indiana Dunes State Park

The Prairie Club monument is located at Indiana Dunes State Park.  It was located nearer the historic gate house, but was relocated to the front lawn of the nature center.  I was curious about this other Jensen monument, so when making a trip for work, I swung by the Dunes for a look-and a hike.  The Prairie Club monument is also quintessential Jensen.  It has a more natural form, and a linear bench as well.  A unique feature is the brass snake fountain in one corner of it.

While the monuments certainly serve as tributes, as their creator intended, they also serve as monuments to one of the most important environmental leaders Indiana has ever had.  Thank God Indiana, and the Dunes, had Jens Jensen.

Indiana's Carnegie Libraries: "Temples of Knowledge"

Recently I have been doing some research on Indiana's Carnegie libraries, specifically for Monticello's Carnegie Library. I had heard once or twice before that Indiana has more Carnegie libraries than any other state.....oddly enough, it was mentioned as a sort of justification to tear down River City's own Carnegie "in the middle of the night" as some recall.

Andrew Carnegie amassed a fortune in the steel business in Pittsburgh during the latter part of the 19th century. When he sold his company to U. S. Steel and J. P. Morgan in 1901 he increased his philanthropic giving, particularly to support the broad national movement of establishing public libraries. Carnegie funded the construction of 2,509 libraries throughout the English-speaking world. This amounted to $55 million in donations to cities and towns. A total of 1,679 libraries were funded by Carnegie in the United States. More Carnegie libraries were funded in Indiana than in any other state: 164 libraries were funded in 155 Indiana communities at a cost of $2,614,000. Of the 164 library buildings funded by Carnegie in Indiana, only 18 have been razed (according to Alan McPherson in Temples of Knowledge).

Carnegie believed that the public library was “the people’s university” and that it generally supported the betterment of a democratic society. He also believed that libraries enabled immigrants to have a better cultural understanding of America. At the time of his death Carnegie had distributed 90% of his wealth for the betterment of mankind.

Publicly funded county and township libraries in 19th century Indiana were typically poorly housed and had a limited selection of reading materials. An early Indiana philanthropist, William Maclure of New Harmony, had assisted in establishing Mechanics and Workingmen’s Libraries in most of Indiana’s counties. By the end of the 19th century the state seemed culturally ready for the establishment of libraries. Legislation at the state level in 1899 permitted the levy of a local tax for the support of public libraries, supported by business leaders and the power elite. Literary and women’s clubs at the end of the 19th century promoted the idea of better public libraries as well.

A national consciousness of social responsibility to improve one’s community and home had become part of American life during the first decades of the 20th century (ah the good ol days). This further aided the establishment of what many considered a symbol of community pride and intellect: the public library. The decades during which Carnegie funded libraries in Indiana were considered the second half of Indiana’s golden age of literature. While it may seem hard to imagine, the literature produced by Hoosiers created a cultural shift in Indiana as a national demand for works by Indiana authors occurred. This helped to improve and increase the general public perception and receptiveness of literature and culture in Indiana.

Monticello's public library can trace its roots to 1903 when White County’s superintendent of public schools, J. W. Hamilton, began to urge officials to establish a library. A public library board was created on March 4, 1903. A tax was levied by Monticello on property owners for the operation of the library. Over 800 books were received from a book drive that was held in town to build the library’s inventory. Additional books were purchased to bring the total to 1,025 and on the afternoon of September 1, 1903, the Monticello Public Library was opened to the public.

The library had been housed in two rooms of the courthouse until demand for a permanent home for the library resulted in a letter to Andrew Carnegie in 1905. The letter requested information on what steps would need to be taken to request funds for the construction of a library building. Carnegie responded with a commitment of $10,000 for a building in Monticello.

Some interesting tidbits from the Monticello library during the World Wars: in 1918 the library received a letter from the Public Library Commissioner that requested all libraries remove books on explosives. During World War II a “memorial shelf” was created in the library to feature local men who were enlisted in the military. Nora Gardner, the librarian who served from 1903-1947, organized a Victory Book Drive in 1942 to provide reading material for the military. Local Boy Scouts assisted with the effort by placing large containers in locations for people to drop off books. 1,150 books were collected by the Monticello library and sent to Chanute Field in Rantoul, Illinois.

The Monticello Carnegie was designed by Indiana architect Charles E. Kendrick of Ft. Wayne and Rochester. Kendrick also designed Carnegie libraries in Kewanna, Crown Point, Delphi, and Ligonier. A unique feature of Monticello's Carnegie is its corner entrance. Only one other Indiana Carnegie had a corner entry; it was located in Columbus but was demolished in 1970. The library also has a window bay that overlooks the Tippecanoe River, another feature not often found on Carnegies. The building now houses the White County Historical Society Museum. If you're wondering what that tower-looking thing on the ground next to the building is, it came off the Monticello City Hall in 1974, the year a tornado devastated the downtown and destroyed their historic courthouse.

Beysbohl from Left Field

Chances are if you’ve taken in a South Bend Silverhawks’ game, or have seen any of the news revolving around the stadium’s overhaul under its new owner, you probably can’t help but wonder what that old brick building is doing sticking up above the left field fence. It looks like a church, but yet, sorta not.

The building is a synagogue and it is the former home of the Sons of Israel congregation. It represents in built form the rich Jewish history of its neighborhood and the City of South Bend. The synagogue was the first house of worship constructed by members of the Jewish community in South Bend and was at the heart of a once thriving Jewish neighborhood south of the downtown.

During the late 1840s and the 1850s the first Jewish people settled in South Bend. These settlers were largely of German origin. They first peddled goods and merchandise prior to the establishment of many successful business houses, financial institutions, and real estate developments. By 1878 South Bend’s Jewish population had reached 125 persons. The number of Jewish people in South Bend grew to 1,200 by 1912 after a large immigration of Jews from Russia and Poland during the late 1890s through the early 1900s. They were part of a large wave of migration by Jews escaping persecution in Europe between about 1880 and 1920.

While Jewish immigrants to the United States enjoyed acculturation in many aspects of social interactions and enterprise, the Hebrew practice of religion is what set the people apart from their largely Christian neighbors. The first Jewish congregation formed in South Bend in 1887; it was known as the Hebrew Orthodox Congregation and over time met in several locations in the city. In April of 1900 twenty-two Russian and Polish members of that congregation withdrew and formed a separate congregation called the Sons of Israel. The congregation purchased a lot on South William Street in the same year by raising $1800. The lot was in the heart of the Jewish neighborhood and was surrounded with residences. Construction on the Sons of Israel Synagogue began in October, 1901; some of the members assisted by digging the basement. It was dedicated on June 8, 1902.

The Sons of Israel Synagogue represents a more orthodox approach to religious practice by the Jewish community, most notably in its separation of men and women during assemblies by use of a balcony. The Orthodox congregation also incorporated a mikveh in the basement of the building. The orthodox plan is likely due to its founders’ Russian and Polish traditions. The building also maintains the practice of its eastern wall being the front wall of the assembly hall in which the ark is centered, facing the land of Israel.

The Sons of Israel Synagogue is important architecturally on a number of levels. First, it is the oldest synagogue in the City of South Bend and it retains a significant amount of its character defining features. Second, its design is a unique blend of the Romanesque Revival style with a form of European brick gothic design, and according to Chicago architect Robert Nevel, it is thought to be the only synagogue of its kind in the United States that introduces the Chicago school influence of architectural design. It also is believed to be the sole surviving synagogue of its simple scale remaining without alteration in the Midwest.

The fate of the now vacant synagogue seems promising under the new ownership of the Silverhawks. Masonry restoration is underway and the building is heading for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. I just hope they don’t sell ballpark franks out of it…….but if they do, they should at least be kosher.

Dierks Bentley - Home

Lately this song has been striking a chord with me.  While it celebrates who we are, it also doesn't gloss over the wrinkles in America's past.  And what I think I like the best about it is the hope for unity in moving ahead versus the absurb division being pushed at us from every direction.

Indiana Novelty Manufacturing Company: the oldest link to Plymouth's industrial past is gone

Bird's eye view of the Indiana Novelty Manufacturing Company (c. 1898)

I was spending a quiet afternoon at the home of an accomplished architect in Beverly Shores Saturday when phone calls started streaming into our home regarding an enormous fire that was raging in one of Plymouth's largest landmarks. The smoke could be seen in neighboring towns. This morning the hulk of a building was still smoldering, but it was indeed gone.

A later photo (c. 1915) when the building was used by the Abrasive Manufacturing Co.

Plymouth's oldest link to our industrial past was quickly engulfed in flames Saturday afternoon. The building had been recently used for storage and to most Plymouthites is no doubt known by any number of names, however, as a memoriam, I'd like to reflect on its grand beginnings.

The Indiana Novelty Manufacturing Company was organized in 1891 by several leading Plymouth businessmen. Among them were H. G. Thayer (owner of the Thayer mansion), James Gilmore, George Marble, and C. L. Morris (who owned the Morris house kitty-corner from the factory). The company manufactured wooden novelties and was particularly known for wooden bicycle rims and mud and chain guards for bicycles. The company was also the first to invent and market "the famous one-piece interlocking joint, which is excelled by none and which has made the Plymouth rim famous throughout the world." In 1898 the plant was the largest of its kind in the world and at full capacity was producing 10,000 rims PER DAY (in the 1890s!).

The company had sales houses in "every principle city" of the United States and marketed the rims to foreign countries as well. It was estimated that Indiana Novelty was producing more than half of the rims used by cycle makers in the 1890s. The firm employed over 300 hands (whether that means 150 men at 2 hands each, I don't know!) and had a company payroll of $8,000 per month. The company was unrivaled in Marshall County and much of this part of rural Indiana for its size.

The company's own dedicated fire department building

At a bicycle exhibition in about 1895 this was said of the company "the exhibit of the Indiana Novelty Manufacturing Company consisted of a full line of the well known Plymouth wood rims for American or English makes of tires as well as a complete line of handle bars and guards" (from Sporting Life magazine, Jan. 30). The firm was likely at its financial height when the owners sold the company to American Bicycle Company Inc., which was better known as the Bicycle Trust. The Trust was incorporated in June, 1899, and had $40 million in capital. It secured control of 44 plants nation-wide, including two others in Indianapolis (New York Times, Sept. 1, 1899).



The original two story portion of the plant (right side above) housed the company offices. The board room/manager's office had the most remarkable wood coffered ceilings I think I have ever seen. The plant was outfitted with its own fire department building in the southeast corner of the plant. As subsequent owners and manufacturers used the facility, additions were made to the north of the original building and to the south of the original manufacturing line, connecting the once stand-alone fire department building to the rest of the facility. Had the small brick fire department building still been isolated, it may have survived.

Thayer Mansion, Plymouth

The building, which at one time had put Plymouth on the world map, has now moved into our past. Pictures of the fire are here: http://am1050.com/2012/fire-destroys-400-pennsylvania-avenue/

Political Menagerie

How have you been weathering the political storm during the course of this primary season? I've thrown together this little menagerie, which seems to be the right term, of thoughts.

Gone are the days, I think, when we could rely on true statesmen to represent us in public office. I had always put Richard Lugar in that ultimate class of politician/public servant. I've been so disappointed with his campaign ads born out of desperation for political survival. Several weeks ago Senator Lugar started his attack on President Obama-proving to his constituents back in right of right Indiana that he's no moderate. Then he started his attack on Murdock, maybe justly so, showing his absentee record to be something we should be concerned about. I think if Murdock was elected, he would be certain to show up to push his agenda through. That's what we should be concerned about.

Driving down U.S. 31 and across Highway 24 it seems that Murdock has either a real groundswell of support, or a few lackies from some campus Republicans' club that are doing their best to convince travelers of Hoosier highways to vote for Murdock. I think it's the latter....don't ask me why, but something about the rather regular intervals of "Retire Lugar" signs with "Murdock" signs placed on state right of ways, makes me believe the support isn't local. And someone should probably tell those kids it's also against the law to put signs there. I guess breaking the law is less important than getting out the vote.....something we see far too often around here.

I think I would have rather seen Lugar lose the primary and leave with his dignity intact than to appear to pander to the lowest common denominator of the party. But if we do elect Murdock.....well......we get what we deserve.

I had hoped Santorum would have won Ohio. Not because I'm a Santorum fan, but I'd really like to see an open convention this summer.....and there may still be a chance. It is wholly possible that the GOP may end up with a far better candidate if that happens. If your household pays attention to the news like we do, maybe you've heard this comment "they all just kinda creep me out". They kinda do, don't they? Romney is like a pompous Frankenstein, Santorum is like Howard Dean (waiting for the whooaaa-eeee-yahhhh), Newt is like, well.....Newt. Which leaves Ron Paul as seemingly the most normal candidate-and probably the most honest. Which evidently only attracts 10-20% of our party. That's crazy......and maybe Paul too.

My prediction for the fall: Romney will likely end up the GOP nominee (but I've said that months ago). He will go on to beat President Obama (also said that months ago). The reality is that it will have nothing to do with anything other than the public's perception of the economy. This was true with Carter, Bush Sr. (the last quarter of 1992 was on the upswing), Bush Jr.'s legacy for McCain, and it will be true for Obama. The economy, or the perception of its health, really, is the only factor in presidential campaigns. My grandfather once said "people vote their wallet". That seems true-for us to go from one extreme in electing Barack Obama, to what will be certain to be the other extreme in electing Mitt Romney. Not that either one of these men's policies are extreme.....but seriously, people thought President Obama was/is the anti-christ, and black nonetheless, and Mitt is part of what most christian groups would consider a cult.

And what is up with Rush Limbaugh? True colors folks. The thing that was more disturbing to me wasn't necessarily the names he used (it's like I expect that out of him), but his comments two days later. He actually suggested having videos posted online of women engaged in certain activities if they desired to have birth control included in their health insurance......I'm sure he was trying to be funny, I hope, but that should have sent chills down the spines of all my good christian friends out there who listen to this guy....and quickly, and finally, turned his loud mouth off for good. I used to listen to Rush all through college. I've grown up since then.

And this may not be political, but it did make me roll my eyes. When Jim Irsay, owner of the Indianapolis Colts, offered $50k to the tornado victims in southern Indiana......did anyone else want to slap him around a bit? Add insult to injury a few days later when Peyton Manning was let go. C'mon Irsay-that would be like me dropping a nickel in the Salvation Army kettle over the sound of trumpets. If you're going to donate-great-keep your mouth shut with such a small amount......if you really wanted to use a donation as a way to spur others on to give, say you'd match up to $1 million. You saved over 20 of those by letting Manning go.....and Indianapolis will never be the same.

Hillsong UNITED - The Stand ft. Joel Houston