Jan./Feb. 2019 OUR BROWN COUNTY

The Magazine of Fun and Fact FREE

Since 1995

A New Year for the Brown County Public Library

Brown County House Concerts Touch of Silver Gold & Old

Jim Roberts: Lawyer in Training

The The Ten Ten O’Clock O’Clock Line Line Field Field Notes: Notes: Winter Winter Landscapes Landscapes The The Depths Depths o’ o’ Winter Winter

Jan./Feb. 2019

Step into our warm, inviting space.

Relax, take your time, and open your mind to a world of flavor.

Repast: rē-past (noun, 14th century) the act of taking food, a meal And meals are best when shared with those you love. That’s why we started six years ago with the simple idea of bringing folks together and offering them tools to make “repast” something special. Beginning with a collection of fine olive oils and aged balsamics, we have carefully curated complimentary offerings of olives/spreads, balsamic jams, dipping oils, salts, spice blends, gift sets and accessories. And then we put it all under one, beautiful “roof.” Stop by, warm up, and see/taste for yourself!

Visit us on facebook or follow us on instagram for updates and recipes, specials, and share your own ideas with other Wild Ones just like you!

Located at 37 W Main next to Millerʼs Ice Cream.

(812) 988-WILD (9453) • www.thewildolive.com

Village Green Building Celebrating over 100 years in nashville The Nashville you came to see and love…

Where you can see the work of local artists — whether it’s ice cream, candy and fruit preserves made the old fashioned way or the artwork of local artists and craftsmen. · first floor · Homemade Ice Cream Homemade Candies Homemade Fruit Preserves · second floor · Antiques · Art and Craft Galleries Working studios of local artists

V NA S H I L L E

INDIANA

The Candy Dish

Yes, we really do make it ourselves!

Fine Homemade Chocolate Candies and Fudge Gourmet Caramels Over 50 Flavors of Salt Water Taffy

812.988.0815

812.988.7606

Homemade Ice Cream

Harvest Preserve the

Homemade Fruit Butter Gourmet Food Cookbooks · Cookie Cutters Postcards · Greeting Cards Kitchen Gadgets Galore Giftware · Tea and Teaware

812.988.7606

Functional and Fine Art Made in Indiana

812.988.6675

61 West Main street · nashville, indiana

All Things New NEW YEAR. NEW WEBSITE. NEW VISITORS CENTER.

COME

SEE US!

WE’RE INCREDIBLY EXCITED about our brand new, interactive Visitors Center and we’d love for you to stop in and see it. Located at the southeast corner of Washington and Van Buren in Downtown Nashville, our new location is staffed with friendly faces dedicated to making sure you have an amazing time while you’re here in our neck of the woods.

Maps, event calendars, interactive displays––we’ll even let you in on some of the good spots only the locals know about. Stop in today, and let us show you all the reasons you’ll love Brown County. #ilovebrowncounty

Be sure to take a look at our brand new website at browncounty.com and also our continuously updated Discover Brown County App.

Brown County N

135 Martinsville

Nineveh Edinburgh Morgantown 31 37 135 I-65 46 Bloomington Columbus 46 NASHVILLE

HELMSBURG

BEAN BLOSSOM

Helmsburg General Store

Sweetwater Lake

Rosey Bolte’s Uncommon Gourd Studio Vaught Rd.

Cordry Lake

Sprunica Rd. Upper Bean Blossom

Monroe Music Park & Campground

Doodles by Kara Barnard

Flower and Herb Barn Farmhouse Café

GATESVILLE

Lightspinner Studio

Gatesville Store

TO N NG MI Mike’s Music and Dance Barn

Abe Martin Lodge

Brown County State Park T.C. Steele State Historic Site

y iner Co. W BONE n w Bro NAW

G

Dunham

Gnaw Bone Sugar Creek BBQ Store & Bakery

Mt . Li

ber

Heartland Tattoo Bear Wallow Webb & Sons Distillery Restoration eXplore Brown County

Rawhide Ranch

135

Trails End & Panhead Saloon

ty R

CHRISTIANSBURG

d

Grv

Rd

r

nsburg

Rd

la Pop

ELKINSVILLE

to COLUMBUS

PIKES PEAK

STONE HEAD

STORY Monroe Reservoir

Cre Co. An wn Bro

Bro

ton Cr k

to BL OO

Yellowwood Rd

46

19th Hole Sports Bar

Rd reek . Tire Retreat Mall C t l Sa wn Co ekside tique

Rd.

6

ch

Old SR 4

Hamil

BELMONT

Craftsman

Annie Smith Rd.

yB ran

NASHVILLE

Overlook Lodge

Sleepy Cat Studio

Cox Creek Mill

Adventure

46 Yellowwood Lake

Artist and/or Gallery

Val le

Rd. Country Club Rd

Oak Grove

Musical Entertainment

Christia

Rd.

Lodging/ Camping

Mike Nickels Log Homes

Clay Lick Rd

Rd sburg

Ow l Cr eek

Dr. Lisa Baker, DDS Fireplace Center

Helm

Butler Winery

BLOOMINGTON

135

to MORGANTOWN

to BL O

Dining

ills

GTON

Trafalgar

The Apple Works

Antiques Co-op Art Beyond Crayons Grandpa Jeff’s Trail Rides House of Clocks Mis Dos Abuelos

FRUITDALE

45 OMIN

Franklin

Hard T ruth H

Lake Lemon

TRAFALGAR MORGANTOWN

252

Carmel Ridge Rd

NASHVILLE MAP ON PAGE 6

Indianapolis

Bob Allen Rd.

Homestead Weaving Studio Salem’s Good Nature Farm

JEFFERSON STREET

Hoosier Artist

Fallen Leaf Books

HONEYSUCKLE LANE

OLD HICKORY LANE

The Wild Olive

Brown Co. Art Guild

Hobnob Corner

ST SR 135 N

Village Green

Brown Co. Winery

Main Street Shops

Foxfire

Foxfire...Boutique

Gold &Old

Redbud Terrace

Health For U

IHA

Brown Co Art Gallery

Masonic Lodge

SR 46 To Hard Truth Hills

Old

RE/MAX Team

Office

County Offices

Woodlands Touch of Silver Gallery

Log JJail L il Nashville Spice Co.

Weed Patch Music Company

MAIN STREET

Heritage Candy Store Ethereal Day Spa Head Over Heels

Heritage Mall

Spears Pottery Juls Etc.

Courthouse

open M-F8-4

LOCUST LANE

Miller’s Ice Cream The Candy Dish The Harvest Preserve

Big Woods Pizza

MOLLY’S LANE Big Woods Village

Pioneer Village Museum

GOULD STREET Iris Garden Complex

Brown Co. Rock & Fossil Shop Iris Garden Cottages & Suites Copperhead Creek Gem Mine

Brown Co Public Library

Brown Co. History Center

MOUND STREET

Hidden Valley Inn

ROBERT “BUCK” STOGSDILL WAY

TO HELMSBURG - 6 MILES

The Emerald Pencil

Big Woods

Men’s Toy Shop

Colonial Bldg.

Carmel Corn Cottage

TO BEAN BLOSSOM & MORGANTOWN

Brozinni Pizzeria

Carpenter Hills O’Brown Realty

J.B. Goods/ Life is Good

Hotel Nashville

ARTIST DR

VAN BUREN

Ironweed

The Salvation Army

JEFFERSON STREET Hoosier Buddy

Thrift Shop Community Closet

Nashville BP

PITTMAN HOUSE LANE

PAT REILLY DR

Calvin Place

Madeline’s

Schwab’s Fudge

New Leaf Amy Greely

Life is Good JB Goods Artists Colony Inn

Artists Colony

Cathy’s Corner

Cedar Creek Winery

Nashville Express

Rhonda Kay’s

Coachlight Square

Chateau Thomas Winery

Bone Appetit Bakery

Brown Co Inn Hotel, Restaurant and Bar

Brown County IGA

Brown Co Community YMCA

Bear Hardware

N

Seasons Lodge & Conference Center

People’s State Bank Brown County Eye Care

Salt Creek Park

Furniture, Decor, & More

Craftsman

Doodles by Kara Barnard

Lodging

Theatre

Artist and/or Gallery Rest Room Dining

Musical Entertainment Parking

COUNTY MAP ON PAGE 5

map not to scale

Nashville Indiana

Casa Del Sol

Mercantile Store

SR 46 TO COLUMBUS - 16 MILES

VISITORS CENTER

Brown Co Craft Gallery

Cornerstone Inn

WASHINGTON STREET

Brown Co T-Shirt Shop Moondance Vacation Homes

Nashville Fudge Kitchen

Papertrix Sweetwater Gallery

Possum Trot Sq

Wishful Simply 4 You Thinking

Carol’s Gifts Fawn Hill House of Jerky Sweetwater Gallery Back to Back

VAN BUREN ST SR 135 N

SR 46 TO BLOOMINGTON - 16 MILES

McGinley Insurance

The Cheeky Owl

Bird’s Nest Café

The Totem Post

Jack & Jill Nut Shop

Brown Co Playhouse

FRANKLIN STREET

HONEYSUCKLE LANE

Franklin Sq

Brown Co Pottery

K. Bellum Leather Ferguson House

Antique Alley

Old McDurbin Gold & Gifts Clay Purl

58 South Apparel

OLD SCHOOL WAY

8 Our Brown County • Jan./Feb. 2019

ADVERTISER

ANTIQUES

Mercantile Store............................... 45

Rosey Bolte-Uncommon Gourd..... 18

Antiques Co-op................................. 46

CRAFTS, POTTERY, GIFTS

Wishful Thinking............................... 49

Brown Co Antique Mall.................... 13

Antiques Co-op................................. 46

Woodlands Gallery........................... 20

Cathy’s Corner................................... 14

Bone Appetit Bakery........................ 13

ENTERTAINMENT/MUSIC

The Emerald Pencil........................... 19

Brown Co Art Guild........................... 19

Bill Monroe’s Music Park &

Furniture, Decor, & more................. 20

Brown Co Craft Gallery.................... 20

Campground..................................... 43

ART, ART SUPPLIES,

Cathy’s Corner................................... 14

Brown County Playhouse................ 54

ART INSTRUCTION

Carol’s Gifts........................................ 15

Rawhide Ranch................................. 29

Antiques Co-op................................. 46

The Cheeky Owl Gifts/Apparel....... 36

FOOD & BEVERAGE

Art Beyond Crayons......................... 46

Clay Purl............................................. 29

Abe Martin Lodge............................. 28

Bear Hardware.................................. 42

The Emerald Pencil........................... 19

Artists Colony Inn............................. 15

Brown Co Antique Mall.................... 13

Fawn Hill............................................. 13

Bear Wallow Distillery...................... 47

Brown Co Art Gallery....................... 18

The Ferguson House........................ 39

Brown Co IGA.................................... 25

Brown Co Art Guild........................... 19

Foxfire................................................. 39

Brown Co Inn..................................... 21

Brown Co Craft Gallery.................... 20

Furniture, Decor, & more................. 20

Brown Co Winery.............................. 25

Cathy’s Corner................................... 14

Gnaw Bone Country Store

Brozinni Pizzeria............................... 29

The Emerald Pencil........................... 19

& Bakery............................................. 49

Butler Winery..................................... 29

Hoosier Artist.................................... 19

Head Over Heels............................... 53

The Candy Dish................................... 3

Lightspinner Studio-

Homestead Weaving Studio........... 18

Carmel Corn Cottage....................... 52

Martha Sechler.................................. 12

Hoosier Artist.................................... 19

Cedar Creek Winery.......................... 47

Sleepy Cat Studio............................. 19

House of Clocks................................. 46

Chateau Thomas Winery................. 13

Spears Pottery................................... 18

Ironweed............................................ 20

Darlene’s at Hotel Nashville............ 55

Rosey Bolte-Uncommon Gourd..... 18

K. Bellum Leather............................. 19

Farmhouse Cafe................................ 14

BOOKS

Lightspinner Studio-

Gnaw Bone Country Store

Fallen Leaf Books.............................. 12

Martha Sechler.................................. 12

& Bakery............................................. 49

CLOTHING

Madeline’s.......................................... 53

The Harvest Preserve......................... 3

58 South Apparel.............................. 36

Men’s Toy Shop.................................. 28

Helmsburg General Store............... 52

Bear Hardware.................................. 42

Mercantile Store............................... 45

Hobnob Corner Restaurant............ 15

The Cheeky Owl Gifts/Apparel....... 36

New Leaf............................................. 19

Hoosier Buddy Liquors.................... 37

Community Closet Thrift Shop....... 53

Rhonda Kay’s..................................... 36

Hotel Nashville.................................. 55

Foxfire Boutique............................... 39

Simply 4 You...................................... 49

House of Jerky................................... 52

Furniture, Decor, & more................. 20

Sleepy Cat Studio............................. 19

Miller’s Ice Cream................................ 3

Head Over Heels............................... 53

Spears Pottery................................... 18

Mis Dos Abuelos............................... 46

J.B. Goods/ Life is Good................... 24

Cindy Steele’s Mosaics...............10, 52

Nashville BP....................................... 15

Men’s Toy Shop.................................. 28

The Totem Post.................................. 12

Nashville Fudge Kitchen.................. 60

DIRECTORY

Jan./Feb. 2019 • Our Brown County 9

Nashville Spice Co............................. 59

Creekside Retreat............................. 47

Farmers Insurance—McGinley

Schwab’s Fudge................................. 45

Hidden Valley Inn............................. 24

Flower and Herb Barn

Seasons............................................... 14

Hotel Nashville.................................. 55

Health For U

Sugar Creek BBQ............................... 12

Moondance Vacation Homes......... 42

Helmsburg Sawmill

The Wild Olive..................................... 2

Rawhide Ranch................................. 29

IN Seamless Guttering

FURNITURE

Seasons............................................... 14

Keyed IN Property Mgt.

Antiques Co-op................................. 46

MUSEUMS

People’s State Bank

The Ferguson House........................ 39

Bill Monroe’s Music Park &

Rambling Dog Design - SIGNS

Furniture, Decor, & more................. 20

Campground..................................... 43

RE/MAX Team Marg & Brenda

HARDWARE

PET PRODUCTS

Waltman Construction Co.

Bear Hardware.................................. 42

Bone Appetit Bakery........................ 13

Webb & Sons Auto Restoration

HATS

PHOTOS

SHOES

Head Over Heels............................... 53

Hoosier Artist.................................... 19

Head Over Heels............................... 53

K. Bellum Leather............................. 18

Spears Pottery................................... 18

K. Bellum Leather............................. 18

JEWELRY

REAL ESTATE

The Totem Post.................................. 12

Brown Co Antique Mall.................... 13

Carpenter Hills o’ Brown Realty..... 53

SPECIALTY SHOPS

Brown Co Craft Gallery.................... 20

RE/MAX-Marg & Brenda.................. 57

Bone Appetit Bakery........................ 13

Cathy’s Corner................................... 14

RECREATION

Clay Purl............................................. 29

Ferguson House................................ 39

Grandpa Jeff’s Trail Rides................ 47

Fallen Leaf Books.............................. 12

Foxfire................................................. 39

Rawhide Ranch................................. 29

Fireplace Center................................ 52

Hoosier Artist.................................... 19

SERVICES (see also

Head Over Heels............................... 53

Juls Etc................................................ 24

SERVICES DIRECTORY)

House of Clocks................................. 46

New Leaf............................................. 19

Brown County Visitors Center.......... 4

House of Jerky................................... 52

Old McDurbin Gold & Gifts............. 49

Dr. Lisa Baker, DDS........................... 36

K. Bellum Leather............................. 18

Rhonda Kay’s..................................... 36

Dunham Plumbing........................... 57

Men’s Toy Shop.................................. 28

Spears Pottery................................... 18

Ethereal Day Spa............................... 52

Nashville Spice Co............................. 59

The Totem Post.................................. 12

Keyed IN Property Mgt.................... 57

Weed Patch Music Company.......... 45

Touch of Silver Gold & Old.............. 24

Nashville BP....................................... 15

Wishful Thinking............................... 49

LODGING/CAMPGROUNDS

Voils..................................................... 42

STAINED GLASS

Abe Martin Lodge............................. 28

SERVICES DIRECTORY 56-57

Hoosier Artist.................................... 19

Artists Colony Inn............................. 15

Bear Hardware Bagged Trash

WEDDINGS

Bill Monroe’s Music Park &

Brown Co Community YMCA

Artists Colony Inn............................. 15

Campground..................................... 43

Brown Co Eye Care

Hotel Nashville.................................. 55

Brown Co Inn..................................... 21

Brown Co Tire & Auto

OTHER

Cornerstone Inn................................ 12

Dunham Plumbing

Mike Nickels Log Homes................. 20

Contents 16 A New Year for the Library ~by Bob Gustin 22 Jim Roberts and His Trains ~by Ryan Stacy 26 Touch of Silver, Gold & Old

~by Paige Langenderfer

30-31 Photos ~by Jeff Danielson* 32 Calendar of Events 33 Mysterious Hills Hikes 33 Youth Music Showcase

34 House Concerts

~by Jeff Tryon

37 Of Winter

~by Eric Rensberger

38 The Winter Forest

~by Michele Pollock

40 Ten O’Clock Line ~by Julia Pearson 44 The Depths o’ Winter ~by Mark Blackwell 48 Sampler: Hail and Farewell

Contributors Paige Langenderfer is Bob Gustin worked as a a freelance writer and reporter, photographer, communications consultant. managing editor, and editor for She writes for numerous daily newspapers in Colorado, publications. She earned her Nebraska, and Indiana before Bachelor’s degree in journalism retiring in 2011. He and his from Indiana University and her wife, Chris, operate Homestead Master’s degree in public relations management Weaving Studio. She does the weaving while he gives studio tours, builds small looms, and expands from IUPUI. Paige lives in Columbus with her husband and daughters. Contact her at his book and record collections. <langenderferpaige@gmail.com>.

Jim Eagleman, recently retired DNR naturalist, and his wife Kay, enjoy hiking the many natural areas, preserves, and land trust sites in Brown and neighboring counties. His FIELD NOTES have appeared in this publication for several years. Contact Jim with comments and inquiries at <jpeagleman@gmail.com>.

Ryan Stacy is a content writer at Monroe County Public Library, and also enjoys writing about Brown County. He and his wife live in Bloomington, where they can often be found chasing movies, good food, and cultural events. His other interests include reading, photography, and music.

Joe Lee is an illustrator and writer. He is the author of The History of Clowns for Beginners and Dante for Beginners and illustrator of six other titles, including Dada and Surealism for Beginners, and Music Theory for Beginners. He is an awardwinning editorial cartoonist for the Bloomington Herald Times, a graduate of Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Clown College, and a veteran circus performer.

Julia Pearson wrote for a secular Franciscan magazine for ten years and served as its human interest editor. She and her husband Bruce have made Lake Woebegone Country their new homebase for life’s continuing adventures. Julie, Bruce, and four-footed Suki are adjusting well.

Julia enjoys traveling and visiting museums of all types and sizes, with her children and grandchildren.

Jeff Tryon is a former news editor of The Brown County Democrat, a former region reporter for The Republic, and a former bureau chief for The Huntsville Times. Born and raised in Brown County, he currently lives with his wife, Sue, in a log cabin on the edge of Brown County State Park. He is a Baptist minister.

Mark Blackwell no longer makes his home in Brown County where “the roadway is rough and the slopes are seamed with ravines and present a meatless, barren, backbone effect.” He now resides within sight of the sixth green of an undisclosed golf course. He was born in the middle of the last century and still spends considerable time there.

*Jeff Danielson spent most of his childhood in Wales, Britain, and Scotland after his family moved there from Philadelphia. He attended IU in Bloomington then owned and operated the Runcible Spoon Café for 25 years until he sold it in 2001. He has since become immersed in nature photography. He and his wife D’Arcy live on the Brown County/Monroe County line.

Cindy Steele is the publisher and editor of this magazine.

She sells and designs ads, sometimes writes, takes photos, and creates the layout.

For fun, she likes to play the guitar or banjo and sing. Her new hobby is making mosaics.

50 Winter Landscapes ~by Jim Eagleman

54 Wooden Melodies

~by Gunther Flumm

56-57 Services Directory

58 Winter in the Woods

58 Ukulele Festival

Cover: The Oldest Eagle ~by Jeff Danielson

Singing Pines Projects, Inc. copyright 2019

10 Our Brown County • Jan./Feb. 2019

OUR BROWN COUNTY ourbrowncounty.com ourbrown@bluemarble.net

Also online at issuu.com/ourbrowncounty OR search in the mobile app ISSUU and on Facebook for OUR BROWN COUNTY

P.O. Box 157 Helmsburg, IN 47435 (812) 988-8807

Thanks, Mom, for making it happen!

Coloring Contest Win $20

Publisher’s choice. Send to this address by February 20.

OUR BROWN COUNTY P.O. Box 157 Helmsburg, IN 47435

Jan./Feb. 2019 • Our Brown County 11

#1 Rated on TripAdvisor Custom gift certificates available for the holidays

Come to Gnaw Bone for some tasty BBQ

Open for Lunch and Dinner • Wednesday–Sunday 812-988-5810 • SugarCreekBBQco.com • Wed.–Thurs. 11–8, Fri.–Sat. 11–9, Sun. 11–7

4359 State Road 46 East • Nashville, IN 47448 10 minutes from downtown Nashville. Look for the flags on the south side of the highway.

The Totem Post ~Since 1952~

• Genuine Native American Jewelry • Zuni Fetishes • Sterling Silver Jewelry • Copper Jewelry 78 S. Van Buren St. • Minnetonka Moccasins Nashville , IN • Pendleton • Knives 812-988-2511 TheTotemPost.com ~Open all year~

A Wonderful Mix of Old, New, Used and Rare Books

45 S. Jefferson Street · Nashville, IN 812.988.0202 · fallenleafbooks.com Wed–Fri & Sun 11am – 4pm · Sat 10am – 5pm

Our Dining Room is now open to the public for breakfast daily and lunch on weekends!

Check out our newest accomodations, Cornerstone Lodge! cornerstoneinn.com

888-383-0300 • 54 e. franklin st. downtown nashville

12 Our Brown County • Jan./Feb. 2019

Journals · Sketchbooks Handmade Greeting Cards Local Postcards

Lightspinner STUDIO

Martha Sechler Unique Watercolors Mixed Media Gourd Art

4460 Helmsburg Rd. Nashville, IN • 812-988-7379 Open whenever home. Call ahead.

Guess Photo Win $20 WHERE IS IT? Wine Bar and Gift Shoppe Open Daily

Wine Tastings

• Cheeses and Gourmet Foods • Unique Wine Gifts • Comfortable Seating Live Music Fri. and Sat. 7-10 pm Coachlight Square • S. Van Buren and Washington, Nashville, IN

Call (812) 988-8807 Be the first person to call and get the prize money.

Leave a message with the specific location of the Mystery Photo, your name, and phone number.

812-988-8500 • www.ChateauThomas.com

Fawn Hill Rustic Home Décor

Lamps, Lanterns, Candles, Wreaths, Pillows, Bags, Shirts Picture Frames and more...

In the Artists Colony Shops - Upstairs (Elevator Available) 125 S. Van Buren St. • Nashville, IN • 812-200-3200

Family-owned since 1995 Established 1972

Last issue’s photo was a closeup of the train on the new Helmsburg signs. Jessica Eck was the first to guess.

Subscriptions make great gifts

SUBSCRIBE 70 + Dealers • We buy and sell Brown County Antique Mall • 3288 State Road 46 East 3 miles east of Nashville, IN • 13 miles west of I-65 Open 7 Days a week till 5:30 • 812-988-1025

One Year’s Subscription for $15 —for postage and handling.

Name:

Address:

BONE APPETIT BAKERY For Dogs

• Premium, all-natural treats since 1997 • Over 20 varieties from low-fat to grain-free • Gourmet and seasonal snacks, too

Get a FREE Sampler bag of natural dog treats with $10 purchase and this ad.

DOGS WELCOME! (812) 988-0305

Open 7 days 211 S. Van Buren St. (behind Visitor Center)

www.barkingood.com

Send with check or money order to:

Our Brown County P.O. Box 157 Helmsburg, IN 47435

Jan./Feb. 2019 • Our Brown County 13

Farmhouse

Lodge & Conference Center

Farmhouse Cafe ...a country drive to an unexpected dining pleasure · LUNCH ·

Homemade Soups, Salads and Garden Sandwiches

· DINNER ·

TUESDAYS: Tex-Mex served in the bar 5–8:00 p.m.

SUNDAYS: Fried Chicken Buffet 11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

• Balcony Rooms

Steak · Salmon · Pork · Turkey Chicken · Pasta R Garden and Fruit Salads Soups · Desserts Herbal Teas · Cool Drinks Beer & Wine

5171 Bean Blossom Road · Just 15 minutes from Nashville A small, intimate restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating

Reservations Suggested · 812-988-2004 LUNCH: DAILY · 11–4 PM DINNER: TUESDAY–SATURDAY · 5–8 PM

farmhousecafeandtearoom.com · Like us on

• Restaurant • Lounge

• Enclosed pool

• Conference facility for up to 500 people

560 State Road 46 East, Nashville, IN 812-988-2284 • SeasonsLodge.com 14 Our Brown County • Jan./Feb. 2019

.

the

Inn & Restaurant

A Charming 19th Century Style Inn and Restaurant

Restaurant Serving Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner

• 20 Guest Rooms, 3 Suites with Whirlpool Baths • Banquet and Conference Rooms for Retreats or Parties • Gift Certificates Available Serving Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Breakfast Buffet 7:30 am–10:30 am Monthly Dinner Theatre Shows At the corner of Van Buren and Franklin Streets in Nashville, Indiana

812-988-0600 • 800-737-0255

artistscolonyinn.com

Carol’s Gifts Since 1981

Glass Baron Hand-blown Glass Jim Shore Collectibles Handmade Soap & Bath Bombs Lori Mitchell Figurines Fontanini Nativities Amia Suncatchers Painted Ponies Lang Graphics Calendars & Paper Goods Billy Jacobs Prints Gooseberry Patch Cookbooks Blue Mountain Greeting Cards

Wind Chimes • Music Boxes • Children’s Books Halloween & Christmas Gifts & Décor

Locally Handcrafted Pewter Christmas Ornaments 125 S. Van Buren St. • Artists Colony Shops • Nashville, IN Open 363 Days • 812-988-6388

Wine-Down Wednesday

Every Wed. 6–8 pm

1/3 OFF select wines and music by Jeff Foster

• Soups • Salads • Sandwiches • After Five Menu • Fine Wines Breads, Pastries, and Danish Baked Here Daily

Center of Nashville Main and Van Buren Streets Open Daily • (812) 988-4114 HobnobCornerRestaurant.com

Fresh In-Store Donuts

Broasted Chicken 812-988-1822

Nashville BP State Roads 46 & 135 270 S. Van Buren St. in Nashville

Jan./Feb. 2019 • Our Brown County 15

T

he new year brings a celebration of the old and a welcoming of the new to the Brown County Public Library.

The library will celebrate its 100th birthday this summer, and plans are under way to mark the anniversary in conjunction with the annual ice cream social in July.

But before that happens, new programs and equipment will be in place early in 2019.

One of those programs features “express library bags,” or “mystery bags,” as the staff refers to it.

The bags are closed and tagged, and each has a theme for the adventurous reader. Most bags have three items in them. It could be a book, an audio book, a DVD, a music CD or some combination of those. Staff members have chosen a theme and filled the bag, which can be checked out as one unit for a period of three weeks.

Tags on the bags identify a general topic, such as “Nineteenth Century Arctic Explorer,” the “Victorian Era,” “Sherlock Holmes,” “Books about Books” or “Fairy Tales.” The library staff encourages patrons not to peek inside, but to take a chance on the selections, and expand on a topic in which a patron has an interest, or explore something new. In a sense, it replaces recommendations librarians sometimes give people who are unsure about what they want to read.

Librarian Stori Snyder gave an example by opening one of her choices, “Women of the Civil War.” Contents include an audio book, “Daughter of a Daughter of a Queen”

by Sarah Bird and the novel “Varina”

by Charles Frazier, author of “Cold Mountain.”

“You can start by not knowing what you want to read, or by totally knowing,” Snyder said.

16 Our Brown County • Jan./Feb. 2019

A New Year for the

Brown County Public Library ~story and photos by Bob Gustin

Librarian Stori Snyder with one of the “mystery bags.”

Though the program started with adult books, it is expanding to children’s selections as well, which are specified not only by subject matter or author, but also by reading level.

Other improvements planned for 2019 include 10 new computers for public use, replacing ones which are heavily used by patrons of all ages.

New lighting is planned inside the library, along with a rearrangement and remodeling of the adult section. The rearrangement will attempt to better accommodate the existing space. For example, Snyder said the adult area sees lots of single users, but many of the tables are built to seat four persons, resulting in an inefficient use of space.

More single-top tables are planned.

The adult section, which includes the first-floor fireplace, has large windows opening onto a sweeping view of the ravine behind the library on one side, and the village of Nashville on another. But tall bookcases block much of that view. A consultant will help determine placement and size

of bookcases to open the view and improve traffic flow.

“We want to entice people in their 20s and 30s and 40s to want to go and explore” that section of the library, Snyder said. But at the same time, she wants to keep current users of that section happy, so they will be surveyed on what they like and what they would like to see changed.

New lighting will improve nighttime use of the library, she said, and will be paid for not through tax funds, but with money earmarked for physical improvements to the building, willed to the library by patron Tesh Wickard in a perpetual endowment.

Similar improvements were made to the children’s area of the library a few years ago, and it sees heavy use on a daily basis.

The library’s five-year improvement plan includes a new roof, which may need to be moved up to 2019 because of recent problems, Snyder said. Some carpeting and furniture may also be added this year. As always, new books

and other materials will be purchased at a level similar to past years, which totaled $85,000 in 2017.

The current library building was dedicated on January 21, 2001. But the public library in Brown County goes back much further than that.

On November 20, 1919, a group of citizens formed to begin organizing a public library. By the next year, the library had branches in each township in the county, some located in private homes or school buildings.

In 1921, the main library moved to a former Knights of Pythias lodge banquet hall in Nashville and had over 3,000 volumes.

Other locations around the town housed the library including 246 East Main Street, before construction of the current building at 205 Locust Lane.

The library also has a branch in the Cordry-Sweetwater community.

For more information, visit <browncountylibrary.info>, call (812) 988-2850, or visit the library. 

Jan./Feb. 2019 • Our Brown County 17

HOMESTEAD WEAVING STUDIO Quality Handwovens

by Chris Gustin

Brown County Art Gallery Brown County’s Original Art Gallery · established 1926 ·

Yarn • Looms • Supplies Visit us on the Back Roads Tour

Southeastern Brown County 6285 Hamilton Creek Road

Open 11 to 5 most days–Call ahead

www.HomesteadWeaver.com • 812-988-8622

GALLERIES · SPECIAL EXHIBITS CONSIGNMENT ART · WORKSHOPS · PROGRAMS

Visit our website for a complete calendar of workshops and events

Locally Crafted Pottery • Jewelry • Photography • Wood • Fiber • More...

Downtown Nashville (S. Van Buren St. near stoplight/courthouse) • Open Daily

www.spearspottery.com • 812.988.1286 • Spears Gallery on Facebook

Open Daily 10 am – 5 pm · Sunday Noon – 5 pm Free Admission · Free Parking Corner of Main & Artist Drive · Nashville, IN

812.988.4609 · BrownCountyArtGallery.org

Featuring Leather Goods Made in Brown County

Fine Leather Goods

• Handbags • Belts • Hats • Accessories • Holsters • Leather • Tools • Dye •Supplies

And Shoes: Haflinger, Arcopedico, Sheepskin Slippers 92 W. Franklin, Antique Alley, Nashville, IN 812-988-4513

18 Our Brown County • Jan./Feb. 2019

A VARIETY OF

handmade fine art

812-988-6888 » 45 S. JEFFERSON ST. » NASHVILLE, IN » HOOSIERARTIST.NET

Sleepy Cat Studio

NEW LEAF An eclectic mix of creative items by local, regional, and global artists

H o m e o f Ace

&

t

he gr a in b in mice

Calvin Place Franklin & Van Buren Streets Nashville, IN • (812) 988-1058 www.amygreely.com

Art by Monique Cagle 4687 Yellowwood Road, Nashville • 812-361-4615 Open by appointment • Sleepy Cat Studio • SleepyCatStudio.com

THE GUILD. FINE ART BY FINE ARTISTS.

© 2018 Brown County Art Guild, Inc.

Featuring handcrafted jewelry by owner Amy Greely

JOEY ON THE TRACKS (OIL) BY WAYNE CAMPBELL

WELCOME TO THE HISTORIC ART GUILD Experience two floors of gallery space with work from over 45 award-winning local and regional artists together with an extensive permanent collection of early Brown County artists. There are featured exhibits, artist demonstrations and a Fine Artisan gift shop to enjoy.

48 S. Van Buren Street Nashville, IN 47448 BrownCountyArtGuild.org 812 988-6185 LILACS BY VJ CARIANI

Jan./Feb. 2019 • Our Brown County 19

created by hand

local artisans

E S T

New, Antique, and Vintage Furniture

1 9 7 8

BROWN COUNTY

All at Affordable Prices Coachlight Square in Nashville, IN • 765-318-6747 (off East Washington Street next to Casa del Sol and behind Visitors Center)

A unique cooperative gallery featuring fine arts and crafts by local and area artists Open Daily 10 AM - 5 PM except major holidays VISIT US IN OUR NEW LOCATION!

62 E. Washington St. · Nashville, IN 47448 BrownCountyCraftGallery.com 812.988.7058

CELEBRATING

BCCraftGallery @BCcraftgallery

188 South Jefferson St�eet in Nashville, Indiana (812) 200-3151 Free Customer Parking www.ironweedgiſts.com info@ironweedgiſts.com Bouquets, plants, gifts, balloons, cards & more

20 Our Brown County • Jan./Feb. 2019

87 East Main Street • Nashville, IN (812) 988-6080 • thewoodlandsgallery.net

Building Fine Log Homes for over 40 Years HONESTY • INTEGRITY • HANDCRAFTED QUALITY

3497 Clay Lick Road • Nashville, IN • (812) 988-2689

brown County Inn HOTEL, RESTAURANT & BAR

On the corner of 135 & 46 just 3 blocks of downtown with free parking Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner 7 days a week 8am to 9pm Sunday to Thursday 8am to 10pm Friday & Saturday

www.browncountyinn.com (812) 988-2291

Jan./Feb. 2019 â&#x20AC;¢ Our Brown County 21

Jim Roberts and his Helmsburg Train Project ~story and photos by Ryan Stacy

P

eople love Brown County for its surprises. On your first visit or your hundredth, you’ll find unexpected history, culture, and beauty in the corners of our towns, around the bends of our country roads, and deep in the forests of our parks. And some of our surprises aren’t found on tours or in guidebooks at all, but are hidden deep in the mosaic of the everyday life of our community.

Take Jim Roberts, for example. Most local folks know Jim as a lawyer. For over 50 years he’s served Brown County in a number of roles, including county prosecutor, public defender, and currently as Nashville’s town attorney. In private practice, he’s also drawn up contracts, represented people in civil cases, and helped them with divorces and wills.

When it comes to the law, you could say Jim’s tracks are all over the community.

But outside of the courtroom, Jim can be found making tracks of a different kind—in the scaleddown replicas of the local railroad he’s laid out in the basement of his home north of Nashville. And though his two passions in life may seem unrelated on the surface, for Jim both his law career and his interest in model railroading are rooted in his deep connection to Brown County.

Jim fell in love with trains at an early age. “An older cousin of mine showed me his toy trains when I was about two, and after that you couldn’t keep me away from them,” he laughs. He got his own train set at six years old, and since then he’s spent a good deal of time and money on his trains, first as a typical hobbyist and then as a serious collector.

Jim says his fondest memories of growing up in Brown County were his days in a oneroom schoolhouse in Helmsburg. Of course, that experience also included trains—Jim’s schoolyard

22 Our Brown County • Jan./Feb. 2019

allowed for a “beautiful view” of the engines and cars stopping in town every day just across State Route 45, which only fed his obsession more. By the time he grew up, he was making lists of the locomotives his collection lacked in his law classes. “Maybe my hobby made me a little weird,” Jim admits, though I detect no trace of regret in his voice.

Fast-forward to today, when Jim’s got a long career under his belt and an amazing room full of trains under his home in the woods. Their basement, his wife Carol explains, was dug especially to give the couple space to work at their respective hobbies.

“But pretty soon, my ceramics studio was about eight inches wide,” she chuckles. Now the basement is either shelving for Jim’s model trains or floor space for his customized layout, which he calls the Indianapolis Southern district of the Illinois Central Railroad.

Not just a random collection of scenery, Jim’s layout reflects the 1950s Brown County he knew, sometimes in painstaking detail. Using photos as reference, he recreates the look and feel of the trains and buildings of the era, even down to the signs and vehicles on the streets of the tiny towns. “The itch this scratches for me is nostalgia,” he tells me. “I try to make everything as accurately as I can to the time period.” Along with the town of Helmsburg he remembers as a boy, Jim’s layout also features the

orchards near Fruitdale, a limestone mountain, and the Shuffle Creek Trestle which he calls a local marvel of engineering. His trains even feature recordings of their engines and whistles that sound as they run across the track.

As with many hobbies—and the law, for that matter—model railroading is far less straightforward than it seems to outsiders, and there are spirited arguments among its different schools of thought. Some have to do with the size of model or “scale” one collects (Jim’s a “lifelong S-scaler,” for the record); some concern the materials a train’s made of; some involve the height of the track itself. Turning one model engine over in his hand to show me, Jim says even the shape of the flange on the wheels is contentious for some purists.

Jim’s got definite positions staked out on each of these issues, but make no mistake: he has a lot of fun with his trains, and lends his own sense of humor to his layout. He points with a smile to three tiny figures meeting on the street in Helmsburg: “That’s Abraham Lincoln, Santa Claus, and a floozy,” he says. (I’d challenge Jim’s sense of history, but I know better than to argue with a lawyer.)

On your next visit to Brown County, remember that a community is more than a place—it’s also the character and spirit of its people. Surprises like Jim Roberts are some of the best attractions we have to offer—who will you discover here? 

Jan./Feb. 2019 • Our Brown County 23

in Nashville, IN

172 N. Van Buren Street AND

102 S. Van Buren Street (Calvin Place)

www.JBGoods.com • 812-988-0900

Albert C. Drake

Goldsmith and Silversmith All Suite Hotel Located in Downtown Nashville Private Bedroom with King Bed Dining Area and Fully Equipped Kitchenette Living Room with Queen Sofa Sleeper Private Porch/Balcony • Free WIFI Fireplaces and Whirlpool Baths available

Call for Specials

812.988.9000 • 877.988.9099

201 North Van Buren St. Nashville, IN • www.hiddenvalleyinn.net

24 Our Brown County • Jan./Feb. 2019

46 years of quality service in Brown County

Touch of Silver, Gold & Old 87 E. Main St. • Nashville, IN 47448 (812) 988-6990 • (800) 988-6994 Hours: 10am - 6pm • 7 days a week www.touchofsilvergoldandold.com

Brown County Winery · award winning quality wines since 1986 · Complimentary Tastings at Two Tasting Rooms

WINERY IN GNAWBONE

4520 State Road 46 East · Nashville 812.988.6144

VILLAGE OF NASHVILLE East Main & Old School Way 812.988.8646

OPEN DAILY

Monday-Thursday 10 – 5 · Friday & Saturday 10 – 5:30 · Sunday 11 – 5

Wine & Wine-related Gifts · Gourmet Foods Outdoor Seating · Gift Cards Available

Order Online! BROWNCOUNTYWINERY.COM

BROWN COUNTY

Hometown Proud Local Grocery Store Serving Beautiful Brown County Since 1975!

• Certified Angus Beef • Large Beer and Wine Sections • Organic Grocery • Dairy • Picnic Supplies • Produce • Full Service Bakery/Deli • Frozen • Custom Cake Decorating • Wine • Custom Deli Trays, Veggie Trays,

Ever-Growing Selection of Gluten-Free Products 30 Hawthorne Dr. • Nashville • East SR 46 at light • 812-988-4546 Jan./Feb. 2019 • Our Brown County 25

Touch of Silver Gold & Old

N

~story and photos by Paige Langenderfer

early 50 years ago, Carol and Al Drake left Florida for Nashville in their rusted out car with a dream of making and selling quality, custom jewelry.

“We didn’t have much,” Carol said. “Maybe $200 and a dog with a broken leg.”

Forty-six years later, the Drake’s store Touch of Silver, Gold & Old is a staple in the community. The store’s combination of unique and custom jewelry and excellent customer service sets it apart in today’s sea of jewelry stores offering mass produced, unoriginal items.

While Al and Carol have loved the journey, they said it has not always been easy. The business was imagined when the two were at a flea market in Florida.

“We saw this jewelry made out of spoons and thought, ‘We can do better than that,’” Al said. “It was all trial and error at first.”

Shortly after starting the business, they moved to Bloomington so Carol could finish her degree. They quickly noticed the tremendous

26 Our Brown County • Jan./Feb. 2019

Al and Carol Drake. business opportunity waiting just one county over in Nashville.

“On the weekends, we would go to Nashville and set up our jewelry stand under an umbrella in front of the Gypsy Pot on North Van Buren Street,” Al said. “We made jewelry during the week and sold it at the stand on the weekends.”

Two years later, they found a new location in the former Alberts’ Mall.

“It was literally in the kitchen,” Carol said. “I remember taking the doors off of the cabinets so that we could display our jewelry in the cabinets.”

As the business began to grow, Carol focused on bead jewelry and Al expanded from spoon jewelry to more advanced forms of jewelry making. He took art classes in silversmithing and soldering. He even took a class offered

by Reese Nichols Jewelers that was taught by an elderly German jewelry craftsman. He read books, experimented, and continually sought opportunities to learn and grow.

“I like being creative and working with all of the precise materials,” Al said. “There is always something new to learn.

I also like knowing that I am making something that people like.”

While the store sells items made by other artisans and items that Al and Carol buy at estate sales, the most sought after pieces still remain those crafted by Al.

“We can’t keep them on the shelf. They sell out immediately,” Carol said. “And he always has a list a mile long of custom orders.”

While he enjoys every piece he makes, there are a few that stand out in his mind as extra special, like the hand crafted wedding rings he made for himself and Carol. He also has crafted communion chalices for churches, a petit four cake stand in the shape of The Joshua Tree, and wedding rings for three generations in one family.

Touch of Silver remained at Alberts’ Mall for seven years, then moved into a historic, refurbished bank in downtown Nashville. In 2006, after 24 years in the bank, it outgrew that location and moved across the street to 87 East Main Street.

Featuring a wide selection of fine jewelry, precious stones, and estate jewelry, Touch of Silver offers something for everyone. The shop will also do silver and gold repairs, ring sizing, and stone polishing.

“We think it is very important to have something at all price points so that everyone can enjoy a nice piece of well-made jewelry,” Carol said.

That selection and Al’s skills have kept customers coming back for years.

“There are not many stores around anymore that have a working jeweler,” Carol said. “And honesty and quality are very important to customers. If you don’t trust your jeweler you won’t go back. Our customers have been incredibly loyal.”

Over the years both Al and Carol have won many awards in their respective fields, Al for his silver and goldsmithing, and Carol for her photography and window displays.

The thing Carol is most proud of—aside from running a successful business with her husband—is creating the store’s annual charitable sale. For one month each year, a percentage of all sales at Touch of Silver and Gold are donated to a local charity. The charity changes each year.

“This community has given so much to us that we wanted to be able to give back,” Carol said. “It has been a lot of fun creating the theme each year and seeing all of the customers coming in to support the cause.”

Both Al and Carol plan to continue working and running the store for as long as they can. Neither looks forward to any sort of retirement.

“We love what we do. We love meeting new people and connecting with our long time customers,” Carol said. “We never want to take anything for granted because we started with nothing.” 

Jan./Feb. 2019 • Our Brown County 27

Abe Martin Lodge A Splashin’ Good Time! & the Little Gem Restaurant Our full service restaurant is open daily

New Cabin Suites

• Slide • Water Channel • Fountains • Dump Buckets • Waterfall

We have the room for you Guest rooms, two-story cabins, historic cabins, cabin suites Ask about our pet-friendly rooms

There is always something to do in Indiana’s largest State Park: Aquatic Center, Horse Back Riding, Mountain Bike Trails, Fishing, Tennis...

We have the perfect setting for any event: Corporate Retreats, Weddings, Getaways and Family Reunions, and more!

Brown County State Park • P.O. Box 547 • Nashville, IN • 1-877-Lodges-1 • (812) 988-4418 • www.indianainns.com

Knives by Benchmade, Kershaw, Microtech, Esee, Tops, Protech, Zero Tolerance and many more

’ Luminox Watches (used by Navy Seals)

Fine Pipes and Tobaccos Premium Cigars

Things you can live without... bbut who wants to!

Old Colonial Bldg. 60 N. Van Buren St. Nashville, Indiana•812.988.6590 menstoyshop@yahoo.com•Visit us on Facebook

Guns and Ammo for Competition, Hunting, Sport, and Home Defense

28 Our Brown County • Jan./Feb. 2019

Variety of T-Shirts

Wooden Signs made in Southern Indiana

Nashville’s

O N LY

Guest Ranch

al times are All adventures & me call ahead ! open to the public – ommended – Rec ons ati erv Res –

T

rawhideranchusa.co

L RIDES RAI

m

BUCK INN

INES ZIP L

MEAL TIME

Open 7 days a week, Year round

AMENITIES INCLUDE: Cowboy Hotel • Cabins • Tipis • Guest Discounted Zips & Rides 24/7 Coffee Station • Corporate Retreats • Team Building Programs Geocaching • Free Wifi • 54 Acres of Land • Nightly Campfires Hiking • Fishing • Swing Set & Sandbox • Half Court Basketball 1292 St Rd 135 S, Nashville

812.988.0085

www.butlerwinery.com

info@rawhideranchusa.com

Brown County Size: 3.5 x 4.5 Cost: $667.00 Runs: April 2016 - April 2017

come see us at our new location…

92 w franklin st ¥ nashville, in ¥ 812.988.0336 in the heart of antique alley

AUTHENTIC NEW YORK STYLE PIZZA

A family-friendly pizza place PIZZA • SALADS • CALZONES

140 W. Main Street • (812) 988-8800 In the heart of Nashville by the Village Green area at the intersection of Main and Jefferson Streets.

Dine-In or Carry-Out

Sun.–Thurs. 11am–9:00pm; Fri. & Sat. 11am–10:00pm

Jan./Feb. 2019 • Our Brown County 29

photos by Jeff Danielson

calendar Some dates not booked at time of publication.

Brown County Playhouse Hamiltunes, An American Singalong Jan. 26 with IU Jacobs School of Music 40 Years of College Feb. 9 Classic Rock Comedian Heywood Banks March 1 Tim Grimm and Friends March 8 Youth Music Showcase March 9 FIRST RUN MOVIES ON THE BIG SCREEN Thursday through Sunday, (except for special events) Check website for schedule 70 S. Van Buren St. 812-988-6555 www.BrownCountyPlayhouse.org

Chateau Thomas Winery Music Friday and Saturday 7:00-10:00 812-988-8500 www.ChateauThomas.com

19th Hole at Salt Creek Golf Live Music most Fridays and Saturdays www.SaltCreekGolf.com 812-988-7888

Brown County Inn Open Mic Night every Wednesday Live Music Friday and Saturday Nights Jan. 4 Sean Lamb Band Jan. 5 Sean Lamb Band Jan. 11 Sarah Flint & Tim Tryon Jan. 12 Blankenship Band Jan. 18 Martinie’s Boogie Three Jan. 19 Top Hat Blues Revue Jan. 25 Brown County Uke Fest Jan. 26 Brown County Uke Fest 800-772-5249 www.BrownCountyInn.com

The schedule can change. Please check before making a trip.

Big Woods / Hard Truth Hills Check Facebook for latest music bookings Big Woods Roger Banister every Thurs.

Hard Truth Hills: Jan. 5 Brad Kleinschmidt Duo Jan. 12 Campbell Ricci Jan. 19 Brad Kleinschmidt Duo Jan. 26 Braden Brown Feb. 2 Brad Kleinschmidt Duo

Mysterious Hills Hike Series

own Winter Hike with your score card/map Prizes awarded at 4 p.m. You don’t have to be present to win.

Frosty Trails 5 Mile Jan. 19, Brown County YMCA event Race begins at 1:00 812-988-9622 kimrobinson@browncountyymca.org

Brown County Ukulele Festival

Presented by Brown County State Park Jan. 1 Bridges, Tunnels, and Interesting Places Jan. 19 Deserter’s Cave Feb. 9 Curious Quarry Feb. 16 Hike to the Lake that Never Was March 2 How did that Boulder get in that Tree?

March 9 10 O’Clock Line Nature Preserve March 30 Hike to the Lake that Never Was

Jan. 25 and 26, Brown County Inn Jam sessions, workshops, concerts, vendors, open mic.

Mainland Ukes sponsor www.browncountyukefest.com

Frigid Rogaine

Brown County Art Guild

Jan. 5, noon-5:00, eXplore Brown County Participants use a map and compass to locate checkpoints.Goal is to get the most.

2620 Valley Branch Rd. 812-988-7750 explorebrowncounty.com

Winter in the Woods Jan. 18-20, Brown County State Park Winter Bliss Wellness Retreat Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at the Abe Martin Lodge. Mind, body, spirit exploration retreat that absorbs the senses, the mind, and the creative spirit. brownpapertickets.com/event/3911889 WinterBliss Wellness Retreat Facebook Winter Hike Jan. 19 Scavenger hunt style Points placed along trails and high profile locations. Collect alpha-numeric codes worth points. Register at the Nature Center from 9 a.m. to noon. Create your

32 Our Brown County • Jan./Feb. 2019

Dash for a Heart 5K Run/Walk Feb. 16, 1:00, Start at Brown Co. YMCA Dash through the Village of Nashville

Jan. 7-26 Patron Show Jan. 28-Feb. 16 Youth Artist Exhibit Features the Marie Goth Estate Collection and contemporary art by more than 40 award-winning member artists.

48 S. Van Buren St. 812-988-6185 www.browncountyartguild.org

Brown County Art Gallery Features works by 60 contemporary artists and early Indiana masters Corner of Main St. & Artist Dr. 812-988-4609 www.browncountyartgallery.org

Brown County History Center Open Thurs.-Sun. 11-4 Archives: Tues. and Fri. 1-4 North of the courthouse Donations welcome

March 2 How did that Boulder Get in that Tree? Hike The hike goes a short distance down Horse Trail A and then goes towards one of the most beautiful park places.

Brown County State Park Presents

Mysterious Hills

March 9 10 O’clock Line Nature Preserve Hike This hike heads out along a fire trail and meets up with Horse Trail B for a hike around the Nature Preserve.

WINTER HIKE SERIES

Brown County

T

he Brown County State Park has hosted a self-guided Winter Hike event every January since 2002. This year the park is also offering some additional guided hikes titled Mysterious Hills Winter Hike Series.

The Mysterious Hills hikes offer chances to learn some local legends and to discover some hidden away places.

All hikes meet at 11 a.m. and all but one hike of the series meets at the Nature Center. The January 1 hike meets at the Abe Martin Lodge. Most hikes travel about two miles or so and last from about one to two hours. The Curious Quarry Hike is longer.

You don’t need to register in advance and there is no limit on attendance.

Some hikes will include a carpool to the trailhead so be prepared to provide your own transportation.

Dogs can come along if they are on a 6 ft. leash and like other dogs and humans.

Be sure to dress for the weather and wear the proper shoes for the hikes.

Many of the hikes are rugged. Bring plenty of water and snacks.

Cancellations might become necessary if there are extreme weather conditions. Check the website and Facebook <in.gov/dnr/parklake/2988.htm> <Facebook.com/browncountystatepark>

Contact the Nature Center at (812) 988-5240 or email Patrick Haulter at <phaulter@dnr.in.gov>.

Jan. 1 First Day Hike: Bridges, Tunnels, and Interesting Places The hike meets and leaves from the Abe Martin Lodge. See some of the park’s unique structures and walk across the oldest bridge in the state. A trailside fireplace will provide warmth from the fire and some hot chocolate.

Jan. 19 Deserter’s Cave Hike The journey starts at the Nature Center and moves south along the park road for about a mile. Then you trek into the woods off trail to the cave. This section of the hike is rugged and steep.

Feb. 9 Curious Quarry Hike This hike is the longest of the series and will go along the Horse Trail A for about a mile and a half, then onto trail 17 for another half mile. This hike is rugged and can be sloppy.

Feb. 16 and March 30 Hike to the Lake that Never Was The hike travels the Horse Trail B, descending into Hidden Valley and to the dam site. This hike is very rugged and includes some creek crossings.

Youth

Music Showcase

T

he sixth annual Brown County Youth Music Showcase will be held at the Brown County Playhouse on Saturday, March 9, 2019. The showcase is produced and emceed by local musician and instructor Kara Barnard and serves as a fundraiser for the BETA Teen Center.

The show features a variety of ensembles, solos, and duets with youth from six to eighteen years old. Several family bands will be featured as well as many of Kara’s students performing duets with her.

There is a silent auction of items before the show featuring handmade items from area artists and tickets to family activities.

Tickets are $12. 12 and under free.

For tickets contact the Brown County Playhouse box office or visit <www.browncountyplayhouse.org>. 

Jan./Feb. 2019 • Our Brown County 33

Friends gather for a concert at Russell’s Roost. photo by Marc Skirvin

Brown County House Concerts A

~by Jeff Tryon

flurry of house concert events last year have whetted appetites and energized local music lovers to create a series of live music events offering original music.

Hondo Thompson is a volunteer DJ for the WFHB community radio station in Bloomington who frequents the music scene. After moving to the western edge of Brown County last summer, he plunged into the house concert idea.

“I built a deck on the back of my house, and what drove me was the closing of Muddy Boots and the Pine Room,” he said. “It was a place that had music seven days a week.

It might be open mic, most of the time it was local bands, and every now and then they’d get some band from out of town. A lot of really cool things were happening.”

He said the Pine Room music scene and the local house concert movement both have roots in an earlier, similar situation—Otis Todd’s garage jam, a weekly picker-fest where old time accomplished players and young up-andcomers met to swap tunes, share licks, and learn their craft.

“You’d get some of the pickers like Barry Elkins and

34 Our Brown County • Jan./Feb. 2019

people who had been around Uncle Otis getting together with some of the young guys,” Thompson said. “That’s where the Indiana Boys came from; Richard Gist, Kenan Rainwater, and Joe Bolinger played there. You had guys from the White Lightning Boys playing old bluegrass.”

A house concert is a musical performance presented in someone’s home or yard, barn or rec room. Typically, there is a suggested donation or sometimes a set admission fee.

The money usually goes to the performers or some predesignated cause. Refreshments are usually pitch-in or provided by the host.

The idea has been growing nationwide as a way of bringing regional and national acts to less visited places and helping them to bridge gaps in their travelling schedule, according to local singer-songwriter Jason Blankenship.

“If you’re playing a weekend in Detroit, and the next weekend in Chicago, it helps if you can fill in with a couple of house concerts during the week,” he said. “There are house concert associations that you can join online. If you want to host concerts, they hook you up with artists that are coming through the area.”

”When you’re at a house concert, probably the best part of it is the personal interaction, the intimacy, and the attention. You don’t need amplification when the audience is there to listen.”

—Kenan Rainwater Robbie Bowden and Frank Jones playing at Russell’s Roost. photo by Marc Skirvin Performers love house concerts because the focus is on the music. Thompson said they are the antidote for musicians seen as “wallpaper”—getting stuck over in a corner to compete with pool tables or a televised ball game.

“One of the things we stress is, we’re here to watch the band,” Hondo said. “We’re here to create an audience, not to use these guys as background music.”

Brown County singer-songwriter Frank Jones said the

house concert is also a great outlet for people who don’t normally play out, and provides a different, more attentive, audience.

“On the one hand, you have the partying bar scene, and they listen to you if you play something that’s familiar or that they happen to like,” he said. “The other is an actual listening room setup that is so much more conducive to people being able to go out and play whatever they want. And it’s always a polite audience.”

Continued on 38

Kenan Rainwater live streaming at his home studio in Brown County. courtesy photo

Jan./Feb. 2019 • Our Brown County 35

We appreciate our loyal customers!

Our market fresh product selections are the result of your requests for the items you like best.

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This season we display: Tervis Tumblers, Swan Creek, Sanuks, Woodstock Chimes, Melissa & Doug, Stony Creek Lighted Vases, Essential Oils and Diffusers, 69 S. Van Buren St. Simply Southern T’s & Accessories, Nashville, Indiana Our Favorite Handcrafted Jewelry Did we mention all the hats, scarves, and fashion jewelry?

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Our accessories, hats, and scarves complete the outfit or add new Located in downtown Nashville fresh looks to your next to the Brown County Playhouse existing wardrobe.

Our Fitflops will 58 S. Van Buren St. bring comfort to your Nashville, Indiana tired and weary feet —come hear the 812-988-8440 testimonies! fiftyeightsouth@gmail.com

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36 Our Brown County • Jan./Feb. 2019

4413 State Road 46 East Nashville, Indiana (Gnaw Bone) Next to House of Thunder

More than 25 years experience

Hoosier Buddy Liquors Cold Beer, Fine Wines & Select Spirits Cold Beer:

Hoosier Buddy offers more than 150 different beers, including more than 80 craft, micro, and imports.

We proudly offer a wide variety of beers from Indiana’s finest brewers.

Fine Wines:

Hoosier Buddy is a wine-lovers type of store. With more than 200 wines to choose from, we’ve got something for everyone. Check out our “Affordable Imports” and “90+ Point” selections.

Select Spirits:

Hoosier Buddy offers an ever expanding array of top-notch spirits. Our whiskey category alone includes more than 75 different choices. Whether you’re looking for a Single Barrel Bourbon or a Single Malt from Islay— we stock them.

284 S. Van Buren • Nashville, IN (next to Subway) 812-988-2267 M-Th 8am-10pm • Fri. & Sat. 8am-11pm NOW OPEN SUNDAYS Noon-6pm Follow us on Twitter @HoosierBuddy1

As always, Hoosier Buddy Liquors reminds you to celebrate safe—don’t drink and drive.

photo by Cindy Steele

(812) 988-4054

Of Winter bright cold wind humming branches tall before they fell fallen in my way crows of winter gather in the fields gleaning and after dark around the lights in town which stave off owls the months of the year just passed press in behind me with beaks open as if they were young again and I a branch to hold them ~Eric Rensberger

Jan./Feb. 2019 • Our Brown County 37

photo by Michele Pollock

HOUSE CONCERTS continued from 35

The Winter Forest is a Stillness I Study I stand on the edge of a small forest, in a small county, wondering at my beautiful small life.

What am I seeking?

The physical presence of trees, the way walking this trail leads me to what it means to be human.

The patience of looking closely, what it has to teach me about love & kindness, cruelty & grace.

The world is big & wide & wonderful & the tiniest newly hatched insect or inching snail, the commonest spread of turkey tail mushrooms represent possibility, ways of being alive in the world.

We all want to pray & in the forest I can pray. Walking is the shape of my asking, my hope, my gratitude.

Poetry is about words, but poetry is about silence, too.

The silence of this winter forest contains everything.

~Michele Pollock

38 Our Brown County • Jan./Feb. 2019

Local singer-songwriter Kenan Rainwater is embracing the house concert concept and taking it to the next level, technologically, with a broad view of the possibilities.

“It’s a beautiful concept and it creates a nice environment for the musicians to play in,” Rainwater said. “When you’re at a house concert, probably the best part of it is the personal interaction, the intimacy, and the attention. You don’t need amplification when the audience is there to listen.”

For the past year, Rainwater has been hacking his way through the jungle of online electronics, teaching himself how to put house concerts online live.

“I have massive dreams for the house concert, live stream model,” he said. “I’d like to combine the intimate live performance of a house concert for a small studio audience with broadcasting it all over the world via the internet, and now, a YouTube station.”

From an improvised home studio, Rainwater has been streaming his own house concerts while learning the software and hardware to run multiple camera angles and produce good live sound using a soundboard combined with room microphones.

“You really want to appeal to music lovers who want a unique experience that they are not going to find at any bar in the country where they are playing the hits from yesterday and today,” Rainwater said.

Blankenship said he’s not sure if a local-only house concert is a sustainable idea. He favors hooking into a national house concert association.

“If we can get a good mix of travelling and local artists, I think that’s a win-win for everybody,” Blankenship said. “I think there’s some real potential to make a name for Brown County. We just have to get a few heads together and figure out what would be the best way to go at it.”

Thompson said he’s encountered several people who were interested in hosting a house concert.

“I would love to see this turn into a co-op situation where you get five people, five groups doing this, and saying we’ll do this once a month, or once every fifth or sixth weekend,” he said. “It could become a very cool thing for Brown County.

You’re welcome to tell anybody who’s interested in something like that to contact me (through the WFHB radio station).” 

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The Ten O’Clock Line ~by Julia Pearson

T

he Ten O’clock Line is a significant boundary marker established in 1809 on the timeline of Indiana history. William Henry Harrison, Governor of the Indiana Territory, signed the Ten O’clock Line Treaty with Little Turtle, a Miami chief. It provided for the acquisition of three million acres of Native American lands and is recorded as a land purchase by the United States of America with the Delawares, Potawatomi, Miami, the Eel River band of Miami, Weas (signed in November 1809), and the Kickapoo (signed March 1810). The primary inhabitants of the region sold were the Kickapoo and the Wea. Negotiations did not include the Shawnee, who had been previously asked by Little Turtle to leave the area.

Many sources say that the first name comes from the shadow of a spear cast at 10:00 a.m. each year on the anniversary of the agreement, the last day of September, because native beliefs distrusted surveying equipment.

There are additional myths surrounding the names saying it was either a tree or a fence that was used.

To open more land for settlement, Harrison pushed for a treaty with the Indian tribes against the wishes of President James Madison. The Miami, Wea, and Kickapoo were “vehemently” opposed to any more land sales near the Wabash River. To change their opposition, Harrison decided to negotiate with willing tribes.

In the fall of 1809 he invited the Pottawatomie, Lenape, Eel Rivers, and Miami to a Fort Wayne meeting.

Large subsidies and payments were promised by the government if the lands asked for were ceded. The treaty was opposed only by the Miami. They presented their copy of the Treaty of Greenville which guaranteed possession of the lands around the Wabash River. They explained how the Wea and other tribes had been invited to settle in this territory. The Miami expressed concern that the leaders of the Wea were not present, and they had been the primary inhabitants of the land being sold. The Miami also desired new land sales be paid for by the acre. Harrison refused purchase by the acre but did agree to make the treaty contingent on acceptance by the Wea and other tribes in the territory.

After negotiating for two weeks, the Pottawatomie leaders convinced tribes to accept the treaty. This treaty

40 Our Brown County • Jan./Feb. 2019

led to a war between the United States, begun by Shawnee leader Tecumseh, and other dissenting tribes.

It was Tecumseh’s heartfelt belief that the land belonged to all the Indians and individual tribes were not entitled to negotiate without consent of all the tribes.

Native American resistance to Harrison culminated in November 1811 in the Battle of Tippecanoe, in which Harrison’s army overcame Indian forces at Prophetstown and destroyed the village. This victory launched Harrison’s bid for the presidency and routed the remaining native peoples. The history of this period is deep, rich, and emotional—a chapter worth revisiting and seeing with new eyes.

The Ten O’clock Line is 16 miles in length, with 7.29 miles passing through what is today’s Brown County State Park. The regional boundary line runs from the Raccoon Creek along the Wabash River near Vincennes to a site near Seymour, Indiana. Close at hand, the Ten O’clock Line extends in a northwest to southeast direction along the northern end of Yellowwood Lake in the Yellowwood State Forest to the Weed Patch Hill’s fire tower in the Brown County State Park, and on through Story, Indiana, where it is memorialized with a historical marker.

It passes right through the marrow of a nature preserve established in July 2010 and whose name commemorates the Ten O’clock Line. This designation as a nature preserve is a commitment by the Division of State Parks and Reservoirs that the land will not be developed. It features a large block of upland and floodplain forest known as a habitat for many wildlife species dependent on deep forest ecology: the whippoor-will, broad-winged hawk, cerulean warbler, timber rattlers, and red bats, to name a few.

“This nature preserve provides permanent protection for some of the rarest wildlife in Indiana, as well as one of the rarest trees in the state, the yellowwood.”

—John Bacone, DNR Division of Nature Preserves.

There are several stands of yellowwood within the preserve. Occupying much of the southwest corner of the Brown County State Park, it can be reached by visitors parking at the Ogle Lake parking area and taking

hiking trail 7 to reach hiking trail 9, which traverses part of the northern preserve. From the Nature Center, visitors can walk through the Taylor Ridge Campground (note: there is no public parking at Taylor Ridge). The Ten O’clock Line Nature Preserve can also be accessed via a portion of the bridle trail.

The Ten O’clock Line Trail is craggy and rough, following old stage coach roads that cross over ridges and valleys, native trails, and historic highways blazed through the forests more than 150 years ago. The first settler of European descent to arrive in Brown County was Johann Schoonover. It was around 1820 and he chose to settle down and trade with the native peoples. The creek nearby came to share his name— Schooner Creek— and the area as Schooner Valley, which is located on the Ten O’clock Line. 

Jan./Feb. 2019 • Our Brown County 41

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The Depths o’ Winter in the Hills o’ Brown ~by Mark Blackwell

H

ere we are again. The holidays are over and we are still in the grips of daylight-losing-time.

Spring isn’t due for three long months.

This is what I call the depths of winter. I could just call it the depth of winter, but sure as I would, the next week would bring three feet of snow.

There is not just one bottom level to winter—there are no real limits to its surprises. But what’s a Brown Countian or a misplaced tourist to do?

What the county folk do after they finish all the chores to survive winter, like puttin’ the garden to bed, cleanin’ the chimney, splittin’ and stackin’ a few cords of firewood, takin’ down the Christmas lights, and searchin’ for the battery charger and jumper cables, they rest.

They don’t rest for long, though, because the great outdoors beckons.

Most folks who live down here do so because they like being outdoors.

That goes for visitors, too. Cabin fever strikes when nothing is happening, and it’s totally quiet. Luckily, Brown County is blessed with hills, forests, trails, lakes, and ponds—so there is a lot to do.

What people like to do here in the summer can be just as enjoyable, or even more so in some cases, in the winter. Take hiking for example. As long as you wear appropriate clothing, you can be just as comfortable. You get to see the forest in winter. When there

44 Our Brown County • Jan./Feb. 2019

is some snow on the ground, you can add a little extra fun to your hike by tracking animals off the beaten path.

It’s easy to pick up tracks in the snow. If you stay very quiet you might be rewarded with a close sighting of deer, or raccoon, or even a bobcat.

You can turn yourself into an amateur naturalist if you carry a notebook with you on these forays into the woods and fields. It’s good for jotting down and sketching the various tracks and scat (that is animal poop) and other natural or unnatural phenomena you come across. That way, when you get back from your trek, you can cross reference all your discoveries with a field guide or the interwebs (if the satellite dish is working).

Nothing compares with the hush of the woods after a good snow fall and nothing is quite as pretty. When six or eight inches of snow falls, then it’s time to get out the sleds and toboggans for those Brown County hills. You can also find some fairly flat trails in the county that are great for cross country skiing.

If and when the weather gets really cold for a spell, the farm ponds and smaller lakes freeze good and solid for ice skating. There is nothing like having a thermos of hot cocoa and nice warm-up fire next to the pond.

For those not too steady on skates there is always ice fishing. The season here isn’t long enough to go to the trouble of building one of those little shanties like they do up north. But maybe one of those outhouses that they race during the Abe Martin Picnic might have an off-season use.

It is always a good idea to carry a safety kit in your car for emergencies in the winter. The kit should have jumper cables, a tow strap, a first aid kit, a flashlight, flares, matches and/or a butane lighter, a blanket, and a reflective safety vest. A kit like this can certainly come in handy when you are in trouble and can also help someone else you might encounter—like me.

It also pays to monitor yourself while participating in winter activities to guard against frostbite and hypothermia. It’s really a matter of awareness and common sense—wearing proper clothing for the weather and knowing when any part of you is too cold.

Pay attention to your mother when she says it’s time to come in.

Brown County is about as good a place to spend a winter’s day as there is. If you do, maybe we’ll meet each other on one of the trails in Yellowwood Forest. 

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46 Our Brown County • Jan./Feb. 2019

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Jan./Feb. 2019 • Our Brown County 47

Sampler

Hail and Farewell to Brownie’s and The Nashville House

T

he restaurant sampling game can be like reporting on the weather—looking at current conditions, perhaps an occasional guess at the future, and only very rarely casting its jaundiced eye back into the murky shadows of the past.

Regular readers of these columns understand that restaurants will come and go. It is in the nature of the business. They disappear for all kinds of reasons, not always related to the quality of their products, or the business skills of the owners.

The Sampler has had the uncomfortable experience of reviewing a restaurant one month, only to have it disappear the next. The fact is, there’s a lot more to running a successful restaurant than just cooking and serving food. As with so many of life’s ventures, there are a multitude of things that can go wrong.

The impetus of this soul scouring contemplation is the recent demise of two local restaurants of long standing; the last of the little mom-and-pop, everybodygoes-there-for-breakfast places in the county—Brownie’s in Bean Blossom—and the venerable mothership of all local restaurants, the oldest continuously operating restaurant in the county, the iconic Nashville House.

Brownie’s had filled a niche previously abandoned by a whole host of local bistros, ranging from Muddy Boots on back to Mac’s Kozy Kitchen—a place where the old men come in the morning to get biscuits and gravy.

There is an unwritten rule in the restaurant scouting trade that when you see a place where the parking lot is packed with locals, that is probably a good place to look for food.

Brownie’s was that place—not just for breakfast which is a hallmark of the local feedery—but for lunch and dinner as well. They had daily specials on the white board. They had real food, deep fried like Americans like it (Friday night “all you can eat catfish”). They had a large selection of beautiful pies just like mother used to make.

48 Our Brown County • Jan./Feb. 2019

Ah, we will miss it.

Now, of course, there are places, there will be places. As long as there is a market for biscuits and gravy, biscuits and gravy will be found. How good they will be—well, stay tuned.

While a good local greasy spoon can be replaced, there is no taking the place of The Nashville House short of new owners simply reconstituting it as it always has been.

Because it is an institution.

It was practically a work of art—the checkered tablecloths, the cherished paintings, the fried chicken and fried biscuits, the views out on to downtown Nashville.

Somehow, I can’t picture it any other way.

But, people do get ideas.

We had dinner at the Hobnob the other night.

Thank goodness it was still the same; the dark wooden floors and high windows of the county’s oldest existing commercial building, the Hohenberger photos lining the walls, the remains of the soda fountain and massive mirrored backbar still in place, now covered with an estimable selection of fine wines.

I notice they’re back to serving breakfast. I’m down for that.

On the evening, I had the soup of the day (beef barley) and the special (a meaty pot roast sandwich on thick French bread, smeared with some kind of mayo-horseradish concoction). Mrs. Sampler had her favorite, the “Rube Martin.”

Everything was delectable, the service was great, and as I munched away contentedly, I saw Warren Cole slip out of the back and down behind the old bar to the checkout station at the front of the room.

“It’s the owner!” I whispered to my wife.

Mr. Cole told me once that he got into the restaurant business through a chance encounter with a Nashville restaurant from the past, the Rocking Horse, which was down on the Village Green.

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few years, being exposed to all facets of the restaurant business, and that experience implanted in him a love of the business.

I remember the Rocking Horse, and thinking about that triggered a flood of memories, the ghosts of restaurants past—all the Brown County and Nashville dining places that are no longer with us. Remember the Colonial Room? And Moore’s Fiesta? The Old Hickory?

I remember when the restaurant where Brownie’s is now was Robbins Drive-In. You should have seen the terrific lunch crowd there on a Sunday after church— packed out. And just down the road in Bean Blossom, Hap’s Lavender House, similarly laden with families out to dinner.

I guess restaurant reviewers do sometimes cast an eye backward, to remember all the great places we have eaten.

For now, it’s “Hail and Farewell” to a couple of Brown County institutions, and extended well-wishes and good luck to all who toil to feed the famished customer.

May you be profoundly satisfied! 

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Field Notes: Winter Landscapes

courtesy photos

~by Jim Eagleman

Y

es, spring wildflowers are gorgeous—and who doesn’t recall this past autumn’s spectacular display? But I have to admit winter landscapes have always pleased me, from playing in them as a boy in rural Pennsylvania, to watching them from a windshield or living room. Winter is a favorite.

Monochromatic and quiet, the scarcity of color and sound is a nice break. Still, little surprises of color can occur. Winter’s metaphors from the poets often include stillness, its sense of silence and darkness, a season of hibernation, a time when

50 Our Brown County • Jan./Feb. 2019

everything dies a little. Long freezing winter nights and crisp days can even inspire harsh feelings to some who endure them.

Not all poets see winter as a bleak and lifeless season. In Robert Frost’s “Dust of Snow,” a crow’s movement overhead causes snow to dust the walker passing under a tree. The dust, “...has given my heart a change of mood and saved some part of a day I had rued,” I confess to be a bit like Frost and look for the beauty and joy at a time of year some can’t fathom as pleasant.

I once recalled a hiker who stopped in my office at the Nature Center. It was a snowy and frigid day—no one in the park—and from the looks of his cold face, he had been out a long time. Prepared for the hike, he wrestled off his backpack full of camera gear, stomped his feet and shook snow from his shoulders. “I think I saw it,” he exclaimed. I smiled thinking he caught a glimpse of an animal he wanted to photograph, but asked anyway, “You saw it?” “Yep,” he replied. “All 283 subtle shades of gray!”

He told me he had heard of the park and its wide angle vistas from camper friends. He had finally scheduled a visit and wanted winter scenes to include in a project. “I make my living as a photographer, have for years, and winter is my escape time,” he said. “I love to be out.

It’s the color I look for.”

I chuckled and thought of a public walk earlier that week. While watching birds, I momentarily recalled the pitch black of wet tree trunks, oaks mostly, contrasted up against new snow; further on, week-old snow was grayer next to grizzled hickories and not near as striking. Ground snow in the shadows of trees was still another hue and so was a gray vapor on smooth-barked maples. Subtle shades, but there. Faintly different, arranged on the gray spectrum from the darkest black to the whitest snow.

Though still officially fall until the winter solstice on December 22, winter-like weather is now upon us. Christmas decorating from nature with traditional greens and contrasting red is always possible. Our only native evergreen, the red cedar, if mature, bursts forth with beautiful blue fruits by late summer, a bonus for wreaths and table settings. The fruits are actually seed cones, often called juniper berries, and an important winter food for birds. Cedar boughs arranged with white and red pine branches, added to Norway spruce and the still-green fronds of Christmas fern allows a green array, beautiful in texture, color, and shape. Add sumac branches, rosehips, barberry fruits, and red holly berries and the holiday color scheme is complete.

The color red in nature seems even more vivid in winter landscapes. Is a backdrop of snow the reason?

Watch the red color of a male cardinal pop at the feeder and see if it doesn’t appear brighter in winter than his breeding plumage in summer. Same with the red-orange of a pileated’s crest or the cape of the redbellied. These woodpecker males exhibit a very different shade of red from the male downy or hairy’s cranial red spot. White backgrounds in proper lighting, my artist friends tell me, highlight any color.

Watching birds from the kitchen table or reading by the woodstove, these indoor sessions give me purpose to go out again. I can’t watch or read enough to satisfy my curiosity of winter—I must indulge. It helps confirm for me what a professor once said: “Books to nature, nature back to books.” He meant seeing something will create a need to read about it, and reading makes you want to go back and see it. A true academic, he marveled at the mechanics of science. But poetry he said, made him look for subtleties.

Like the well-prepared winter photographer, proper clothing is a must. I’ve learned this is absolute and winter tests you. The better I am dressed for the

elements, with proper foot, hand, and headgear, the longer I stay out. The longer I’m out, the more I see. The more I see, the more color I see. And the winter landscape is a colorful place to be!

Poet Laureate,Ted Kooser added this to his journal; December 19—Cold and snow in the air The cedars in the roadside ditches are nearly black against the many grays of this winter morning, but unlike most things with darkness at their centers they don’t turn an impenetrable shell to the light. Rather, like ink on wet paper, their dark limbs bleed into the light, reaching farther and farther into the whiteness of freshly falling snow. 

Jan./Feb. 2019 • Our Brown County 51

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by Cindy Steele

New, Spacious Look Inside. New Owners: Sharon & Leonard Richey Pizza & Wings, Groceries, Ice Large Selection Domestic/Craft Beer & Wine LOTTERY, Tobacco Products Camping Supplies, Live Bait & Tackle Hunting & Fishing Licenses Check Station, Firewood State Road 45 and Helmsburg Road Intersection • (812) 929-7797

THE FIREPLACE CENTER

Complete line of: • Wood Stoves and Inserts • Gas Stoves and Inserts • Fireplaces Your first step to Energy INDEPENDENT LIVING 812-336-2053 1-800-344-3967

Available at Spears Pottery in Nashville, IN (On South Van Buren Street near the stoplight/courthouse)

52 Our Brown County • Jan./Feb. 2019

1210 W. 2nd St. Bloomington BloomingtonFireplaces.com

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Head over

Women’s boutique, kids and teen clothing, men’s clothing, and household items

Heels

Selling gently used items to benefit Brown County.

Accepting clothing and household item donations.

• Minnetonka • Stetson n • Tilleyy Hats • Merrell

Look for the sign

s

Open ALWAYS on Tuesdays and Thursdays 10:00 to 5:00 (weather permitting) 1st and 3rd Saturdays 10:00 to 1:00 and Fridays 12:30 to 5:00 MAY-OCTOBER (catch us if you can off season)

HATS HA ATS • FOOTWEAR • ACCESSORIES

Like us on Facebook at Brown County Community Closet, Inc.

49 S. Van Buren St. in Nashville • 812-988-6535 headoverheels@switched.com • fax: 812-988-6505

South Van Buren in Nashville (near stoplight, behind Subway) (812) 988-6003

Make Your Brown County

Dream a Reality with

visit callcarpenter.com

158 N. Jefferson Nashville, IN 47448

TOM VORNHOLT

KATHRYN & DONNA TEAM

DEBBIE FLEETWOOD

PENNY SCROGGINS

BOB KIRLIN

PHIL SHIVELY TEAM

317-989-3323

812-327-7462 317-418-2320

812-327-6862

812-327-3865

812-720-0222

812-325-2290 812-322-0378

Branch Manager

Brokers

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Brokers

JANET GASKINS

Administrative Assistant

812-988-2227

Jan./Feb. 2019 • Our Brown County 53

Wooden Melodies …But in the woods and past our lawn another chorus sings till dawn I think that I shall never see

for in our forest after dark

a song as lovely as a tree

the hoot owls hoot and the coyotes bark

but I can tell from what they are

and as they prowl our fields and streams

they make a fiddle or guitar

other sounds have other schemes.

sound so fine if played just right

There’s music in the croak of frogs

that I will listen day or night

and singing in the howl of dogs

to that ol’ hollow piece of wood

and songs of love from every thicket

because its music sounds so good

from birds and bees and chirping cricket

out on our porch or around a fire

and who of us don’t get a thrill

in our Brown County as the nights expire!

when we hear us a whip-poor-will!

BROWN COUNTY January 26

February 9 · Valentine’s Saturday

with IU Jacobs School of Music

Classic Rock

March 9

April 12

March 1

March 8

April 20

April 26 & 27

Comedy Show from Branson

Showtimes, tickets & complete schedule online Movie Events …and the latest releases LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND MOVIES THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY, EXCEPT FOR SPECIAL EVENTS

812.988.6555 · BrownCountyPlayhouse.org Beer, wine, champagne & concessions available | Box Office: Thursday–Sunday | 70 S. Van Buren · Nashville, IN

54 Our Brown County • Jan./Feb. 2019

So every night we have a chance

so even if he sings off key

to hear their songs of true romance

his songs of love are just for thee!

for music for a million years has been around to calm the fears

…And so it is that in our wood

of female types of many critters

after dark it’s understood

by males’ whistles, tweets, and twitters

that other creatures get their thrills

that warm the cockles of gals’ hearts

from making music in our hills

among their many other parts.

and so we humans sing along with different critters favorite song

Why music has a special power

surrounded in our fields and forest

that even if a guy’s notes are sour

by Mother Nature’s nightly chorus

it makes a female sway and swoon

of love and wonder among our trees

to any song a male can croon …Our Brown County’s wooden melodies!

as long as he can prove to her his tune is noble, true, and pure

~Gunther Flumm

Thurs. 5 to 8 pm, Fri. & Sat. 5 to 9 pm

HOTEL NASHVILLE

DARLENE’S at Hotel Nashville Upscale Dining in a Casual Atmosphere Serving Dinner with Full Bar Service Menu Features: Steaks, Seafood, Pasta, Chicken, Burgers, Appetizers, Soups and Salads

• Suites, Studios, Hot Tubs

• Conference Facilities

• Restaurant and Bar

• Weddings and Receptions

• Indoor Pool, Sauna, Whirlpool

• Special Getaway Packages

Reserve your Special Party now!

Meetings and Banquets Catering in your home or other venue Weddings and Receptions

245 N. Jefferson St., Nashville (812) 988-8400 • (800) 848-6274 www.hotelnashville.com Jan./Feb. 2019 • Our Brown County 55

SERVICES

56 Our Brown County • Jan./Feb. 2019

AUTO - TIRE, REPAIR, TOW

EYE CARE TIRE

Checking eyes in Brown County for over 50 years!

50 Willow Street • Nashville, IN 812-988-4937 BANKING NAME YOUR CATEGORY

Serving the Community for over 100 years

Brown County Tire 24 hr. Wrecker Service

&

812-988-8473

Auto Repair

27 Salt Creek Rd (Intersection SR 46) Nashville BAGGED TRASH DROP OFF

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SERVICES DIRECTORY

Reach both LOCALS and TOURISTS

Single Block $50 Double Block 70 Contact us today for all your banking needs

$2 Bag • Salt Creek Plaza • Nashville Mon.–Sat. 7:30 am–7:00 pm, Sun 10:00 am–4:00 pm

2 or more 5% OFF annual 15% OFF

SIGN MAKER

www.psbanywhere.com

All Types of BOATS BOA BOA O TS TS TRUCKS TR TTRU RU R UCK CKS KS K S MURALS MUR M UR U RA ALS LS S

HOMES HO HOM HO OM MES S BANNERS BA BAN AN NN NER ERS

41 S. Hawthorne Dr. Nashville, IN 47448 (812) 988-6633

BILLBOARDS BILLBO BIL LLBO LB BO B OAR ARD A RDS RD STORE STO TOR TO RE E FRONTS FFRO RONTS R NTTS NT S

LOGO LOG LLO OG O GO DESIGN DES ESI ESI SIG GN N

Digital Print & Vinyl to Hand Lettered, Carved & Gilded

AUTO RESTORATION - COLLISION Free Mobile Estimates

CONSTRUCTION

WALTMAN CONSTRUCTION CO. Owens-Corning Preferred Contractor

LLicensed and Insured • 15 years total replacement warranty for roofs available Auto Restoration

When accidents happen, give us a call.

Don Waltman

Roof Coatings, Metal/Shingle Roofs, Remodels, Ro Power Washing and Sealing, Barns, (812) 327-1994 Garages, Decks, Siding, Windows and Doors, waltmanconst@aol.com G and all construction needs and services!

References Available

INSURANCE

Insurance Collision Center

We moved!

Family Owned & Operated since 1976

145 S. Jefferson St. • Nashville, IN 47448

4555 Old 46

(5 miles east of Nashville in Gnaw Bone)

www.webbsrestoration.com

812-988-6716

cmcginley@farmersagent.com

DIRECTORY

Jan./Feb. 2019 • Our Brown County 57

LANDSCAPING

HEALTH

VALUABLE COUPON • Mulching - Seeding NEED HELP? • Weeding - Pruning • Tree / Shrub Planting • Fences - Walkways • Retaining Walls • Mowing / Trimming (812) 988-7232 • Flower / Herb Beds

146 E. Main St., Nashville

812-988-9890

We Can Do It All!

Complete Landscaping/ Design Services

HEALTH FOR “U” H Mon.–Sat. 10–5

facebook.com/healthforu1604

Limit 1.

Must have coupon for discount. Expires 12/31/19.

(4, 16, or 32 oz.)

Save $ S $2.00 2 00 on R Roll-On, ll O Gel, G l Spray S Indiana Amish Natural Chickens and Indiana Raw Honey sold here! Also, Bison and Elk.

PLUMBING

GUTTERING

Dunham Plumbing Co., Inc.

INDIANA

Licensed Plumbing Contractor • Bonded • Insured #CO89000011 Repair, Remodel, Pump Service, Water Conditioning Drain Cleaning, Water Heaters

GUTTERING

812-988-0248 • Nashville, IN • Since 1981 REAL ESTATE

TEAM The Marg and Brenda Team is Your Brown County Team

812-988-4485

www.MargAndBrendaTeam.com 10 Artist Drive, P.O. Box 1609 Nashville, IN 47448 Marg DeGlandon CSSS, CDPR Brenda Longtin CSSS, CDPR Broker/Owner Associate Broker Cell: 812-360-4083 • margd@remax.net Cell: 812-360-3889 • shaht@mibor.net

Helmsburg Sawmill

Logging to Lumber

Inc.

Pool Enterprises, Inc.

Custom Log Home Lumber Packages ~ Posts ~ Beams Rafters ~ Barn Siding ~ Board & Batten ~ Firewood Mulch ~ Sawdust ~ Buyers of Standing Timber www.helmsburgsawmill.com • helmsburgsawmill@gmail.com facebook.com/helmsburgsawmillinc

WELLNESS

BROWN COUNTY YMCA Swimming Pool

Personal Training Fitness Center Swim Lessons Gymnasium Day Camp Exercise Classes Climbing Wall

FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT FOR HEALTHY LIVING FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Open at 5:30 a.m. Mon.–Fri.

All Colors Free Estimates Quality Workmanship Vinyl Siding and Soffit

Ron Bishop

(812) 606-0915 PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

SAWMILL

812-988-6161

Seamless

BUY 1 GUEST PASS, GET 1 FREE 1 per person, expires 12/31/19

812-988-9622 • www.browncountyymca.org

Keyed IN PROPERTY MANAGEMENT Let us find your next door.

Property management for rentals for a month or longer.

Let us find a rental for you or manage your property.

Call for listings or free estimates.

812-720-7022

Winter in the Woods

Brown County

Ukulele Festival

T B

January 18–20, 2019

rown County’s Winter in the Woods takes place January 18 through 20, 2019. You can enjoy both indoor and outside activities to lift your spirits and beat those winter blues.

Winter Bliss Wellness Retreat takes place Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at the Abe Martin Lodge. This unique event is a mind, body, spirit exploration retreat that absorbs the senses, the mind, and the creative spirit through more than a dozen activities including yoga, painting, and shound healing. You can purchase tickets through the website <brownpapertickets.com/ event/3911889>. View the entire curriculum on the WinterBliss Wellness Retreat Facebook page.

Those who prefer to experience winter in the woods outdoors can enjoy the Winter Hike or the Frosty Trails 5 Mile at the Brown County State Park.

This year’s Winter Hike will be set up scavenger hunt style. There will be points placed throughout the park along hiking trails and at high profile locations. You will collect alpha-numeric codes worth points. Register at the Nature Center from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday to pick up your score card/map and create your own Winter Hike. Prizes will be awarded at 4 p.m. You don’t have to be present to win.

For those looking for a more challenging adventure, there is the Brown County YMCA’s Frosty Trails 5 Mile race beginning at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday. After the run, participants are welcome to warm up at the Recreation Building with food, drinks, and a fire. The cost is $25. For more information, or to register, contact the YMCA at (812) 988-9622 or via email at: <kimrobinson@browncountyymca.org>.

58 Our Brown County • Jan./Feb. 2019

January 25 and 26, 2019

he third annual Brown County Ukulele Festival will take place on January 25 and 26, 2019, at the Brown County Inn in Nashville, Indiana. More than 200 ukulele enthusiasts will gather here from across the nation to enjoy a bundle of activities including concerts, workshops, open mic performances, and jam sessions. You get two days packed with musical fun for $50. Tickets sold out last year, so contact the website <browncountyukefest. com> before it is too late.

Mike Hater of Mainland Ukes sponsors this event to attract business to Brown County during the slower, more boring time of year. This family friendly gathering is a great antidote for cabin fever and those after-holiday blues. You can’t help but smile when you pick up a ukulele.

Hater has described the ukulele crowd as, “nice, friendly weird, and everybody wants to jam.” The jam sessions are a big attraction for the players. Most folks come for the camaraderie.

Ukuleles are more portable than most string instruments and are very appealing to novices. People don’t really know what to expect from the ukes so you don’t disappoint anybody. You can blend in with the bunch without being put on the spot—unless you want to be on the spot with an open mic. The sing-a-long songs are catchy and uplifting.

Folks of all ages and skill levels enjoy the music.

If you are not lucky enough to get a ticket, you can still enjoy the ukulele music that will be played in the Brown County Inn’s bar. That part is free and open to the public.

Locals can get a taste of the uke music there. Some have been known to buy ukuleles from Mainland and have transformed into serious uke enthusiasts after hearing the music there.

Concerts for ticket holders will be take place on Friday and Saturday evenings featuring Ukester Brown, Devin Scott, Narciso Lobo and Brown County Family Band, Mike Hind, and Stu Fuchs.

Mainland Ukes is located at 91 West Washington Street in Nashville. They will be open 10 to 3 on Friday and Saturday, and 11 to 3 on Sunday.

Over 375 Spices, Rubs & Blends Gourmet Jams, Sauces & Mixology Gift Baskets & Box Gift Sets

58 East Main Street, #4 · Nashville, Indiana on Robert “Buck” Stogsdill Way across from the Courthouse

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Brown County Chamber of Commerce 2017 Business of the Year

Open Year Round · Order Online

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