1977 Arbutus Yearbook

or many IU students, a Sunday trip to Nashville and F Brown County State Park is at least a once-in-a-collegetime experience.

Winding around the curves on Indiana Hwy. 46, you get caught up with the rolling hills, acres upon acres of fertile farm land and scenic bluffs. There's a certain mysticism about the Brown County hills . . . perhaps its the laid-back, mellow atmosphere it creates.

But, Nashville didn't always look the way it does today.

Peggy Davis, a Nashville resident since 1925, said the city was a wonderful place to live in 50 years ago. There were only 10 shops in the main area of Nashville in 1930 — as compared to the dozens of gift shops, candy stores and restaurants that line Nashville's main drag now — in fact, one of these shops belonged to Davis. Counting Davis' antique shop, the other shops included a grocery store, livery stable, a butcher shop and a few miscellaneous gift shops.

The town of Nashville, Indiana included only 194 acres when it was incorporated in 1872. The streets were made of dirt, and as you travelled up the hills, you could see the dust clouds behind you, one life-time resident said.

But, as the story goes, things have changed since then.

Davis said that once the state park was opened the town grew and grew and grew. Presently, there are about 10,000 persons who reside in Brown County; 500 of whom live in Nashville, Davis said.

At the close of the Brown County State Park's 1976 season, over 650,000 persons had roamed, wheeled, driven or picnicked through the park. Hundreds more made the trip to Southern Indiana to enjoy the beauty and tremendous colors as the leaves changed in the Brown County area.

Bruce Buchanan