March/April 2024 OUR BROWN COUNTY

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12 HISTORY MYSTERY

13 SUBSCRIBE

16 Here Comes the Eclipse

~by Bob Gustin

24 Little Shop of Horrors Returns

~by Amy Huffman Oliver

30 Musings: Walking Sticks

~by Mark Blackwell

38-39 Photos by DeMaris Glazier*

40-42 CALENDAR

46 Common Grounds

~by Jeff Tryon

52 Field Notes: Our Woods

~by Jim Eagleman

56 Sharing Baby Goats

~by Paige Langenderfer

60 Route 46 Vintage

~by Chrissy Alspaugh

64 Music Center Shares Success

68-70 INFO PAGES

Cover: T.C. Steele Studio

~by Cindy Steele

CORRECTION

In the Jan/Feb 2024 issue regarding the article on pg. 40-43 “Being a Volunteer Firefighter”: Shawn Fosnight is the Chief of the BCVFD. Lacy Hazelgrove is BCVFDs 3rd Lieutenant/ President/PIO/Medical Officer/ Firefigther/Paramedic. We apologize for the error and hope it did not cause anyone confusion or embarrassment.

Contributors

Jeff Tryon is a former news editor of The Brown County Democrat, and a former regional reporter for The Republic. 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.

Joe Lee is an illustrator and writer. He is the author of Forgiveness: The Eva Kor Story, The History of Clowns for Beginners, and Dante for Beginners. He is an editorial cartoonist for the Bloomington Herald-Times, a graduate of Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Clown College, and a veteran circus performer.

Chrissy Alspaugh is a freelance writer and owner of Christina Alspaugh Photography. View her work at <ChristinaAlspaughPhotography. com>.She lives in Bartholomew County with her husband Matt and three boys.

Jim Eagleman is a 40-year veteran naturalist with the IN DNR. In retirement, he is now a consultant. His program “Nature Ramblings” can be heard on WFHB radio, the Brown County Hour. He serves on the Sycamore Land Trust board. He enjoys reading, hiking, music, and birding. Jim and his wife Kay have lived here for more than 40 years.

*DeMaris Glazier is a stained glass artist with a home studio in Nashville. She specializes in custom windows and offers classes by appointment.

OUR BROWN COUNTY

P.O. Box 157

Helmsburg, IN 47435

(812) 988-8807

ourbrown@bluemarble.net

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Mark Blackwell no longer makes his home in Brown County where “the roadway is rough and the slopes are seamed with ravines” 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.

Bob Gustin worked as a reporter, photographer, managing editor, and editor for daily newspapers in Colorado, Nebraska, and Indiana before retiring in 2011. He and his wife, Chris, operate Homestead Weaving Studio. She does the weaving while he gives studio tours, builds small looms, and expands his book and record collections.

Paige Langenderfer is a freelance writer and consultant. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Indiana University and her master’s degree in Public Relations Management from IUPUI. Paige lives in Columbus with her husband and daughters.

Amy Huffman Oliver has lived in and around Brown County most of her life and raised two kids here with her husband, Jim. She grew up with “newspaper in her blood” by way of her parents, Jane and Stu Huffman, who were both local journalists. She writes now as a freelancer after working most of her career as a public interest attorney and a seventhgrade teacher in Brown County Schools.

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.

WIN $30 History Mystery

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Marcus Dickey, personal secretary to the famed poet James Whitcomb Riley, owned a home in Brown County during the heyday of the early Art Colony. Dickey erected an observation platform across the road from his home where unobstructed vistas could be viewed from all directions. It was open to the public and the early artists were known to congregate there. In the 1940s the home and acreage were sold to Indiana University for $1. It served as a Boy Scouts camp for 50 years after that. What was the original name of this site?

The answer to last issue’s mystery was the Brown County Playhouse.

~by Bob Gustin

Thousands of visitors are expected to flock to Brown County to witness a rare total solar eclipse on the afternoon of April 8. The celestial event is seen by some as a chance for the party of the year, by others as a massive traffic jam. Most agree it will be something special.

The county is directly in the path of the best viewing for the eclipse, which cuts a swath across the United States, from the southwest to the northeast. According to calculations for Nashville, the partial eclipse phase begins at 1:49 p.m., and totality will begin at 3:05 p.m., lasting for nearly four minutes.

Chad Jenkins, director of Brown County Emergency Management, said it’s difficult to predict how many people

Here Comes

will come here to view the eclipse. But based on projections, the number of visitors could hit 65,000. On a typical October weekend when leaves are at their peak and the weather is good, Brown County sees about 45,000 visitors, and the eclipse is expected to draw more.

“County-wide congestion” is what Jenkins expects. Emergency resources will be strained and traffic snarled. Traffic jams will push drivers onto rural roads, and more people will probably become lost. With many visitors using cell phones, Jenkins expects cell service will be degraded.

”Be patient and welcome the visitors,” he said. “Look at it as an opportunity.”

Jenkins also advises residents to stock up on groceries and needed items before the eclipse.

He is holding two town hall meetings to address the public’s concerns. They will be at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. March 5 at the Brown County Inn’s meeting room. He said planning for the eclipse has been going on since February of 2023, and a dozen or so meetings have been held with local officials.

“We know we can’t solve every problem,” he said, but officials are also working on dealing with the aftermath of the visit, including trash removal.

Sheriff Brad Stogsdill said his department will have “all hands on deck,” with no vacations allowed. Overtime pay and reserve officers will

the Eclipse

be utilized. Deputies will be placed at strategic locations, such as Bean Blossom or Gnaw Bone, to be able to respond more quickly in case of an emergency. While the department normally has two or three deputies on duty at any time, he plans to have six available when the eclipse occurs. Even jail personnel will be involved, keeping cars from parking in the law enforcement center lot, which also houses ambulances.

Among his biggest concerns are traffic jams between Columbus and Nashville.

Stogsdill said his department will be triaging phone calls, and won’t be responding to minor incidents such as littering or cars parked in front of homes. He urges everyone to practice “common courtesy.”

“Don’t call in for a VIN check that day,” he said, and try to take care of minor issues yourself. If something is a true emergency, deputies will respond.

He said visitors to the county should have a full tank of gasoline, bring water with them, and be prepared to take care of their own trash.

“Have patience,” he said. “You won’t get anywhere fast.”

Experts warn that viewing the sun at any phase of an eclipse without proper eye protection could harm the retina, cause permanent eye damage or even blindness.

According to webmd.com, the only way to safely look at the eclipse is with special glasses made with filters that conform to a worldwide safety standard known as ISO 12312-2. Regular sunglasses or homemade solar filters are not safe for watching an eclipse because they transmit sunlight at a rate that is thousands of times too high. Damage may not show up until the next day. Never use a camera, binoculars, or telescope to look at a solar eclipse, even if you have your eclipse glasses on. These devices will intensify the sun’s rays and damage your solar eclipse glasses and your eyes.

In Brown County, obtaining a pair should not be a problem.

Stori Snyder, director of the Brown County Public Library, said the library has 9,000 pairs of solar eclipse glasses that are being given free to library patrons and others. No tax funds were used to buy the glasses, instead using grants and funds raised by Friends of the Library. The library began handing out glasses in February, and in March moved to “show us your library card or sign up for a library card and get a pair of glasses.”

The library reached out to county schools, offering a pair to each student and staff member. The library will be handing out glasses to those who attend programs, and a display of eclipse-related books has been arranged.

Continued on 18

ECLIPSE continued from 17

“We have scheduled programs and activities for all ages, ranging from a solar eclipse themed storytime for preschoolers and a hands-on eclipse focused STEM learning program.” Snyder said.

The library will be closed the day of the eclipse However, the library rented a portable toilet which will be available in the lower parking lot April 8.

Brown County schools will be closed that day.

Kamady Lewis, executive director of the Brown County Convention and Visitors Bureau, said visitors who do not already have lodging reservations should expect to see all places booked, and restaurants are prepared for big crowds.

“We’ve prepared for this really fun and exciting day.”

The eclipse may be the biggest tourist event for April in Brown County in recent years, and merchants are preparing for it as if it were a busy weekend in October.

“If any county is prepared for it, it’s Brown County,” she said, given the fall tourism experience, and the work organizations and officials have put into planning.

She has sent tourism packets to people planning to travel here for the eclipse from as far away as Utah and Arizona, as well as international requests. For some, Brown County may not have been on their radar had it not been in the path of the eclipse.

“We’re hopeful they’ll come back when we’re not so busy,” she said.

At Brown County State Park, all campgrounds, as well as all rooms at Abe Martin Lodge, were reserved by early February.

Ginger Murphy, deputy director for stewardship for Indiana State Parks, suggested Brown County residents may want to stay home and watch it from their backyards, avoiding the anticipated traffic jams.

Park gates will open at 7 a.m. April 8, and gate

fees will be charged as normal until all parking spaces are filled. She said the park is working with conservation officers, volunteers, and staff members to make sure it is a safe experience. Fresh gravel has been put in vista parking sites in preparation for the day. Restrooms will be open, and wristbands will be available for parents wanting to put them on children in case they become separated.

Eclipse glasses will be sold at the park office and the Abe Martin Lodge on days leading up to the eclipse, and on April 8 if any are still available. She cautioned to make sure glasses are ISO certified and purchased from a reputable dealer, since during the last major eclipse, some glasses sold were improperly labeled as certified when they were not. Murphy recommended checking the American Astronomical Society’s website for a list of dependable suppliers.

Interpretative naturalist Eli Major will conduct programs in the weeks leading up to the eclipse, and will be at the park to answer questions on April 8.

One of the advantages of viewing the eclipse at the state park will be to observe changes in wildlife behavior during the totality.

“It will be like sunset for wildlife,” Murphy said. Birds will begin to roost for the night, and insects and other animals will become confused.

Murphy, like many others, is hoping for clear skies and good weather on April 8. She said there is about a 70 percent chance of cloud coverage for early April in Indiana. But even with cloudy skies, viewers can experience the sudden darkness and note natural changes.

Many Brown County organizations or businesses are offering special events, camping or viewing spots before, during, and after the eclipse. 

What will you see?

When the moon passes in front of the sun during a total eclipse, the portion visible is called the corona.  The sun is surrounded by an atmosphere of gases. The corona is the outermost part of the sun’s atmosphere, usually hidden by the bright light of the sun’s surface. However, it can be seen during a total eclipse. During the nearly four minutes of totality, the sky will become dark, as if it were dawn or dusk. The temperature could drop about 10 degrees, depending on the humidity and cloud cover.

A little history

The earliest recorded solar eclipse dates to 2137 BCE, nearly 4,000 years ago, in China. Ancient civilizations in Europe, Africa and Asia saw eclipses as omens of doom or messages from their gods.  Native Americans had their own beliefs and explanations. Some ancient civilizations accurately predicted solar eclipses and used them to test the validity of calendars.  Astronomer Johannes Kepler wrote about the corona during an eclipse in 1605. Since then, scientists have used eclipses to make new discoveries about the sun, moon, and Earth’s atmosphere.

more information

Websites containing information on the eclipse include:

American Astronomical Association: eclipse.aas.org

Brown County Visitors’ Center: browncounty.com

National Aeronautics and Space Administration: science.nasa.gov

Indiana State Police: Indiana.gov/isp

State of Indiana: eclipse2024.in.gov, visitindiana.com/eclipse2024

Brown County Library: browncountylibrary.info

Indiana Department of Natural Resources: Indiana.gov/dnr

A total solar eclipse, in simplest terms, occurs when the moon’s orbit comes between the sun and the earth’s orbit. The American Astronomical Society (AAS) calls it a rare event and a “cosmic coincidence.”

In our solar system, there are 290 moons orbiting planets, some of which are quite small: One moon for Earth, two for Mars, 95 at Jupiter, 146 at Saturn, 27 at Uranus, 14 at Neptune, and five for dwarf planet Pluto. But Earth is the only place that has a moon the right size and distance from its planet to barely cover the sun and reveal its corona. Total eclipses occur somewhere on Earth every year or two, but on any given spot on the planet, a total eclipse could be visible only once about every 400 years, scientists say.

The AAS explains it this way: “The sun’s diameter (865,000 miles) is about 400 times the moon’s (2,160 miles). The sun is also (on average) about 400 times farther away (93 million miles vs. 240,000 miles). As a result, the two bodies appear almost the same angular size in the sky….This truly remarkable coincidence is what gives us total solar eclipses.”

At new moon — the only lunar phase when a solar eclipse can occur — the paths of the moon and Earth usually don’t line up. Given all the variables, it’s almost surprising that we see eclipses at all, the society explains.

“The moon orbits Earth; both swing around the sun. In a perfect universe, we’d see totality every month. But we don’t, and here’s why: First, the apparent size of the sun varies during the year because Earth’s orbit is an ellipse, not a perfect circle. Our planet is closest to the sun (perihelion) in early January and farthest (aphelion) in early July….More dramatic is the change in the moon’s apparent diameter due to its elliptical orbit around Earth. When the moon is closest to Earth (perigee), its apparent diameter is up to 14 percent larger than when it’s farthest (apogee). When near perigee, the moon can easily cover the entire solar disk and create a total solar eclipse. But at apogee the moon is too small to cover all of the sun’s brilliant face. At mid-eclipse an annulus (ring) of sunlight surrounds the lunar silhouette, resulting in an annular eclipse.”

The whole thing gets more complicated by the tilt of the moon’s orbit, and the path of the Earth’s movement around the sun. But roughly every six months, the new moon’s orbit lines up and a total, annular or partial eclipse is possible at some place on Earth.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the next total eclipse visible in the U.S. will be March 2033, only in Alaska. After that, it will be August 2044 in Montana and North Dakota, then August 2045, when the eclipse will traverse from California to Florida.

Little Shop of Horrors Returns to Brown County Schools

~by Amy Huffman Oliver

The first musical show at Brown County High School’s auditorium in 1991 was Little Shop of Horrors. On April 12–14, 2024, this year’s drama students will again perform Little Shop of Horrors, a horror-comedy-rock Broadway musical, capping off a busy period of eclipse activities in Brown County.

Little Shop of Horrors is the latest in a long line of drama productions at Brown County High School (BCHS) that date back to the early 1960s. The program started as an after-school club that performed on a makeshift stage in the cafeteria, which students affectionately called the “cafetorium.”

Starting in 1974, Janice Cassiday, known as “Mrs. C” to her students, grew the drama program into an academic department that includes acting and technical classes, producing multiple dramas, comedies, and musicals each year. Cassiday is known not only for spearheading the effort to build the professional-grade auditorium at the high school in 1991, but also for positively influencing generations of students until her retirement in 2000.

Danny Webb was a drama student of Cassiday’s from 1991 to 1998 and now teaches at Brown County Middle School. He shares with his students the effect the program had on his life. “In the classroom and on the stage, there was no doubt that Janice was all in and committed to creating a professional production. Janice’s enthusiasm was contagious and created a culture that encouraged students to take pride in the process and final product.”

Dr. Laurie Godfrey, known to her students as “Doc,” directed the BCHS drama program from 2007

to 2021. Godfrey knew the first time she walked into the commons area and saw the theater banners that “this is a theater school.” She couldn’t wait to be a part of it. During her tenure, Godfrey led updates to the light and sound systems and was the driving force to build an outdoor storage unit to preserve scenery and props that could be used again. Godfrey led the drama program to win two state thespian awards in 2012 and 2013. Before her retirement in 2021, Indiana Thespians Hall of Fame inducted Godfrey in recognition of her lifetime of achievement in theater education.

Art by Will Gaunt

This version of the 1982 musical Little Shop of Horrors is directed by the high school’s newest drama teacher, Johnny Elmore. He is a 31-year member of the Directors Guild of America who spent his career in Los Angeles working on films including Spiderman, Lethal Weapon, Swordfish, and Under Seige. He’s directed five musicals, 25 stage plays, and 12 radio plays.

Elmore returned to Brown County to be near his father and continues the drama legacy. He teaches acting and technical classes and is directing his fourth production at the high school while still juggling some volunteer directing duties at the Brown County Playhouse.

Elmore chose Little Shop of Horrors for this year’s show because it starts with an eclipse. Seymour, an orphan who works at a flower shop, played by sophomore Derek Middleton, finds a peculiar plant and takes it to the flower shop. Seymour and his co-worker, Audrey, played by senior Lilly Voils, name the plant “Audry II” and it seems to bring the flower shop fame and good fortune. The plot thickens when Seymour learns the plant’s secret to survival and its evil plan that will quickly overcome the flower shop in disturbing ways.

The puppet is the star of the show as it grows larger and changes throughout the show. Elmore will drive to Philadelphia over spring break to rent an official Audry II puppet.

“Little Shop is somewhat expensive to put on because of the puppet, but it will be worth

it to connect the total eclipse in the show to the eclipse coming to Brown County just four days before the show’s opening night on April 12,” Elmore said. He hopes that after experiencing the eclipse on Monday, April 8, the community will be able to relax and enjoy a good laugh with the student actors.

The show’s songs are in the style of Motown and “doo-wop” popular music of the 1960s. Jacqueline List, the school’s choir teacher, is in her first year at Brown County and will be the musical director. Band teacher, Matthew Finley, will direct a four-piece student ensemble on a platform high above the actors.

Senior Lilly Voils is in her sixth year in the theater program, following in the footsteps of her father and brother, who were also a part of BCHS drama productions. For this show, she is the student director, choreographer, and lead female actress in the role of Audrey. “ The theater has been where I go to relax, stay busy, and laugh. It’s helped me learn leadership and social skills, and I’ve learned to be most comfortable being myself.” Voils plans to continue her studies at Franklin College in vocal choir education and she will likely continue with her love of musical theater in college and beyond.

Celebrate the eclipse and support a long tradition of highquality drama at Brown County High School by attending the show April 12–14. Tickets are available on the Facebook page “Brown County HS Theatre Department.” Adult tickets are $13 and student tickets are $7. 

Johnny Elmore

Dr. Laurie Godfrey

Janice Cassiday

photo by Amy Huffman Oliver

(photo from 1970s)

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Musings

~by Mark Blackwell

“Without my walking stick, I’d go insane.”

—Irving Berlin

One of my all-time favorite stories is about Robin Hood, the medieval outlaw of Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire, Merry Old England. A thousand years ago that forest was a little bigger than Brown County State Park but big enough for a band of merry men to hide in.

What I like best about the story is the way it was portrayed by Errol Flynn in the 1938 movie, The Adventures of Robin Hood. When I first saw it as a young man, I was convinced that camping out in the woods with a bunch of your buddies and relieving rich folks of their surplus wealth could be a valid lifestyle. One of my favorite scenes is the one where Robin Hood meets John Little.

Robin is hiking down a trail in Sherwood Forest when he comes to a stream. Across the stream is a log that is used as a footbridge. As Robin sets foot on the log a very large fellow on the opposite side of the stream steps up on his side. As they approach the middle of the bridge neither man gives way.

So, here are two guys walking in the woods with their trusty walking sticks and they wind up nose-to-nose on a fallen tree trunk. On one side we have John

Walking Sticks

Little, upwards of seven feet tall and probably weighing around twenty-one and a half stone (that’s about 300 pounds American weight) telling Robin to yield.

On the other side is Robin Hood, who is average height and weight but sporting an outsized ego. Robin refuses to yield and challenges John Little to a fight with quarterstaffs (old English for hiking stick). The fight doesn’t last very long. John Little gives Robin a fair drubbing and knocks him into the stream.

Robin, his ego now dampened but in better control, laughs at his predicament, reverses his foe’s name and dubs him Little John. Little John helps Robin out of the creek and a beautiful friendship is born.

The moral of the story is: a hiking stick confrontation may not be the best way to make a friend, but it is one way.

With this story in mind, I have compiled a short list of the ways that walking sticks may be employed for the benefit of the owner.

First, they are great for general hiking. They help maintain your balance on uneven ground and help getting up and down hills.

Also, no matter if you can’t afford trendy hiking togs, a walking stick signifies that you are a serious participant in outdoor activities. And if some passers-by happen to comment unfavorably about your unfashionable attire you can resort to number two.

Number two: As mentioned before, it can be very handy in self-defense, close quarter combat situations, giving the random lout a good thrashing. And in certain situations, making new friends. In the early nineteenth century, the French developed a fighting technique they called Canne de Combat, using the walking stick as a weapon.

Also, in the later nineteenth century, an Englishman named Edward William BartonWright included elements of walking stick or staff fighting techniques in an eclectic martial art called Bartitsu. Sherlock Holmes is reputed to have been a practitioner.

Number three: Pole vaulting over rattlesnakes.

Number four: Mushroom hunting. The stick can be used to turn over leaves and other debris on the forest floor without resorting to bending over. This use alone can spare one a goodly amount of back pain and extend a hunt by30 percent or more.

Number five: Fending off wildlife. There are times when traversing the back country that one may inadvertently come between a mama black bear and her cubs. This might possibly provoke a protective instinct in the female and cause her to charge. If you find yourself in this situation, breathe regularly, slow your heart rate, and try not emit a stink of fear. Then take careful aim and bop the bear smartly on her snout. She may be deterred long enough for you to escape. This may also work for wolves, mountain lions, and rabid raccoons.

However, if you happen to come between a mama grizzly bear and her cubs, disregard the previous course of action, and consider your relationship to a higher power. Also, if you find yourself in any of these predicaments in Brown County, please report them to the proper authorities ASAP.

Number six: Quagmires and quicksand. If you are out hiking and happen to stray off the path and into a bog of quicksand, do not struggle! I do not claim to be an expert, though I have spent considerable time researching the subject as depicted in many Tarzan and various other adventure movies.

If you do happen to stumble into it and are inexorably sucked down in the thick sand soup, keep your wits about you, stay calm, and when/if another hiker happens to come along in time, you can extend your walking stick out for your rescuer to pull you from certain doom. However, if no other hikers come by, then see my advice about grizzly bears.

Brown County has some of the best hiking country. Whether you choose Brown County State Park, Yellowwood State Forest, or the Hoosier National Forest for your next adventure, don’t forget your walking stick.

photos by DeMaris Glazier

Calendar

Brown County Playhouse

March 1 Dogs of Society: the music of Elton John

March 2 Billy the Kid: the music of Billy Joel

March 8 40 Years of College low dough show

March 9 Escape: the music of Journey

March 15 Chris Collins: the music of John Denver

March 16 Best of Times: the music of Styx

March 22 Midnight Blue: the music of Foreigner

March 23 No Fences: the music of Garth Brooks

March 29 Stand Up Comedy Show

March 30 Woombies Rock Orchestra

April 5 The Hammer & The Hatchet

April 12-21 Live Theatre: The Women of Lockerbie

April 26 The Steepwater Band

April 27 American Fools Band Music of John Mellencamp

Most shows at 7:30

70 S. Van Buren Street 812-988-6555 www.browncountyplayhouse.org

Brown County Music Center

March 1 Flogging Molly

March 2 John Michael Montgomery

March 7 Blue October

March 8 Gary Allan

March 15 Terri Clark

March 16 Tower of Power

March 18

Scott Stapp - singer of Creed

March 21 Steve Hackett - Genesis Revisited

March 24 An evening with Clint Black

April 4 Dave Mason’s Traffic Jam + Jefferson Starship

April 7 The Righteous Brothers

April 8 View the 2024 Eclipse at BCMC

April 9 Wheeler Walker Jr.

April 20 Exile

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

Submit calendar info to ourbrown@bluemarble.net

April 21 George Thorogood & The Destroyers

May 2 The Guess Who

May 4 Beth Hart

May 5 Steel Panther - On the Prowl World Tour

May 21 Uriah Heep + Saxon 812-988-5323

www.browncountymusiccenter.com

Brown County Inn

Open Mic Nights Wed. 6:00-9:00

Hill Folk Music Series Thurs. 7:00-9:00

Fri. & Sat. Live Music 8:00-11:00

(ITR) - in the round

March 1 Allie Jean & Friends

March 2 JC Clements Band

March 6 Open Mic

March 7 John Gilmore, Jan Bell, Steve Plessinger

March 8 Stant & Moore w/ Carolyn Dutton

March 9 Jeff Shew & The Late Night Crew

March 13 Open Mic

March 14 John Gilmore

March 15

Wayne Pennington & The Poor Valley

March 16 Black Cat & The Bones

March 20 Open Mic

March 21 Paul Bertsch

March 22

Dave Sisson Duo

March 23 Acre Brothers

March 27 Open Mic

March 28 Rural South Trio

March 29 Applegate & Rock

March 30 Silver Creek Revival

April 3 Open Mic

April 4 ITR: Jason Blankenship, Billy Blanchard, Jayme Hood

April 5 Dan Kirk Duo

April 6 Otto & The Moaners

April 10 Open Mic

April 11 Bourbon Britches

April 12 The Hammer & The Hatchet

April 13 TBD

April 17 Open Mic

April 18 Davey Allen

April 19 Blankenship Band

April 20 Zion Crossroads

April 24 Open Mic

April 25 Nick Dittmeier

April 26 Steve Fulton

April 27 Austin James

51 State Road 46 East 812-988-2291

www.browncountyinn.com

Country Heritage Winery

Music Fri. & Sat. 6:00-9:00

March 1 Live music

March 2 The Snake Charmers w/ Carolyn Dutton

March 8 The Clearwater Band

March 9 Coner Berry Band

March 15 Steve Fulton

March 16 Kenan Rainwater Trio

March 22 Frank Jones Duo

March 23 Indiana Petty & The Wildflowers

March 29 Live music

March 30 Rocky Branch Bluegrass Band

April 5 Gene Fugate

April 6 Hubie Ashcraft & Travis Gow

April 12 Ruben Guthrie

April 13 Two for the Show, Jim Harris

April 19 Amanda & Brian Webb

April 20 Coner Berry Band

April 26 Albert Nolting

April 27 Bakersfield Bound

225 S. Van Buren Street 812-988-8500

www.countryheritagewinery.com

19th Hole Sports Bar

Music Fri. 7:00-10:00 | Sat. 8:00-11:00

Karaoke 8:00-11:00

March 1 John Ryan Band

March 2 Karaoke

March 8 Gene Fugate

March 9 Justin Slager

March 15 Clearwater Band

March 16 Zodiac Lightning

March 22 Jenna Maxwell

March 23 Two For the Show

March 29 Forest Gras

March 30 8 Bit Audio

April 5 John Ryan Band

April 6 Karaoke

April 12 Gene Fugate

April 13 Kyle Mercer

April 19 Clearwater Band

April 20 Coyote 50

April 26 Mike Staublin

April 27 Past Tense

2359 East State Road 46 812-988-4323 www.saltcreekgolf.com

Sycamore Saloon at Harmony Tree Resorts

Fri. Karaoke 8:00 | Sat. Live Music 8:00

Sun. Game Day 3:00

March 2 Throwback Thursday

March 9 Homemade Jam

March 16 Jaylen Martinez

March 23 Zion Crossroads

March 30 Justynn Underwood

SOLAR ECLIPSE EVENTS:

April 6 Jaylen Martinez 5:00-6:00

April 6 Paradigm 6:00-9:00

April 7 Steve Plessinger Duo 5:00-8:00

April 8 JT Hickman, Jaylen Martinez & Special Guests - throughout day

April 12, 19, 25 TBD

1292 SR 135 S, Nashville 812-200-5650 www.harmonytreeresorts.com

Story Inn

March 1 Love Shack Karaoke 9:30-12:30

March 2 pianist Ted Seaman 6:00-9:00

March 8 Love Shack Karaoke 9:30-12:30

March 9 pianist Ted Seaman 6:00-9:00

March 15 Love Shack Karaoke 9:30-12:30

March 16 pianist Ted Seaman 6:00-9:00

March 22 Love Shack Karaoke 9:30-12:30

March 23 pianist Ted Seaman 6:00-9:00

March 29 Love Shack Karaoke 9:30-12:30

March 30 pianist Ted Seaman 6:00-9:00

April 5 Love Shack Karaoke 9:30-12:30

April 6 pianist Ted Seaman 6:00-9:00

April 12 Love Shack Karaoke 9:30-12:30

April 13 pianist Ted Seaman 6:00-9:00

April 19 Love Shack Karaoke 9:30-12:30

April 20 pianist Ted Seaman 6:00-9:00

April 26 Love Shack Karaoke 9:30-12:30

April 27 pianist Ted Seaman 6:00-9:00 6404 SR 135 S.

812-988-2273 www.storyinn.com

Nashville House

March Music Sat. 6:00-8:00

April Music Sat. 5:00-8:00

March 2 Happy Accident/Angela Sullivan

March 9 Novelle

March 16 Paul Bertsch

March 23 Sharianne

March 30 Austin James

April 6 Ben Justus

April 13 Cody Williams

April 20 Dave Sisson

April 27 Travers Marks

15 S. Van Buren Street 812-988-4554 www.nashvillehousebc.com

Ferguson House Beer Garden

Opening in April

Open Mic Thurs. 5:00-8:00

Music Fri. 5:00-8:00 | Sat. 1:00-4:00 AND 5:00-8:00 | Sun. 1:00-4:00

April 4 Open Mic

April 5 Michael Staublin

April 6 John Collins 1:00-4:00

Cody Williams 5:00-8:00

April 7 Ben Fuson

April 8 Eclipse Party

April 11 Open Mic

April 12 Austin James

April 13 Dave Sisson 1:00-4:00

Taylor Hernley 5:00-8:00

April 14 The Hammer & The Hatchet

April 18 Open Mic

April 19 Travers Marks

April 20 Rich Hardesty 1:00-4:00

Paul Bertsch 5:00-8:00

April 21 Ruben Guthrie

April 25 Open Mic

April 26 Amanda Webb

April 27 Ross Benson 1:00-4:00

Gene Fugate 5:00-8:00

April 28 Kara Cole

Antique Alley 78 Franklin Street 812-988-4042

Hard Truth Distilling Co.

March 16 St. Patty’s Party 5:30-8:30

Live music, specialty cocktails, themed food items, a bagpiper, games, and more. $15 to enter 21+ only. More info to come.

March 23 Easter Bourbon Hunt 11:00-4:00

Search for Easter eggs, craft brews, prizes. May 25 Live music series returns 418 Old State Road 46 812-720-4840 www.hardtruth.com

Guided Hikes/Walks

Brown County State Park

March 2 Dog Hike 11:00

Meet at the Ogle Lake parking lot. Trail 7 is 1.5 mile in length and considered moderate. Dogs not required. If you bring a dog use a six foot leash.

March 17 Wildflower Walk 2:00

Meet at Nature Center and tour gardens/ surrounding woods with a park naturalist. Most gardens accessible by sidewalk or gravel paths.

March 23 Full Moon Hike 8:00 Strahl Lake

Meet at Strahl Lake parking lot. Learn about the Worm Moon. Trail 6 rated easy, but rugged in the dark.

April 20 Full Moon Hike Ogle Lake 8:30

Learn about the Pink Moon. Trail 7 rated moderate, but rugged in the dark.

NO PETS ON NIGHT HIKES

812-988-5240 Eli Major, park naturalist emajor@dnr.in.gov

CALENDAR continued from 41

8th A Taste of Art Fine Art Auction

March 23, Seasons Event Center | 5:00-8:30

Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Brown Co. Sampling of Brown County’s finest wines, beers, and distilled liquors Silent and live auction. Heavy hors d’Oeuvres. Proceeds support scholarships, educational initiatives, and other charitable causes.

Seasons Event Center

560 E State Road 46, Nashville 800-365-7327

Mother’s Cupboard Soup Bowl Benefit

April 21, Seasons Event Center |4:00-6:00

Tickets at IGA and Visitors Center and the door. Adults $30 (includes bowl), Kids $5. Restaurants serve soups in potters’ handmade bowls. Silent auction and live music. Proceeds go to benefit Mother’s Cupboard community kitchen, providing free meals to those in need.

TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE RELATED EVENTS

Everyone in Brown County is gearing up for April’s total eclipse. The eclipse will take place during the afternoon of Monday, April 8, but most venues are preparing to celebrate with special events/activities over the course of the weekend, too. Lodging and camping spots are expected to fill up in advance.

The Visitors Center’s website www.browncounty.com is updating a list of events. Here are some highlights available at the time of publication:

Solar Eclipse Camp & Jam

April 5-8, Bill Monroe’s Music Park Witness the eclipse out in nature. Camping, corn hole, disc golf, food trucks, music, eclipse glasses, hayride.

5163 SR 135 North of Nashville 812-988-6422

www.billmonroemusicpark.com

Solar Eclipse at Harmony Tree Resorts

Music all weekend. A prime spot to view the spectacle. Lodging, food.

1292 SR 135 S, Nashville 812-200-5650 www.harmonytreeresorts.com

Solar Eclipse Festival at Lutheran Hills

April 6-8 Lutheran Hills

Daily activities, live music, food. Lodging and meal packages available. 6371 Bear Creek Rd, Morgantown

Totally Epic Eclipse

Block Party at Brownie’s

April 8, Brownie’s Restaurant

8:00-3:30 - Tickets available thru ticket tailor. Limited carryout breakfast and lunch concession options. DJ will spin tunes. Yard games. Eclipse t-shirts can be purchased. 300 tickets will be sold. Includes viewing glasses and LED item for dark time.

Brownie’s Bean Blossom Family Restaurant 5730 N State Rd 135

eXplore Brown County

April 8 Eclipse Events

Solar Eclipse Zip Line Tours 2:00-5:00

Special zip line tours to witness the solar eclipse from a unique vantage point.

Cosmic Hill Climb Buggy Tour Traverse rugged terrain and scenic landscapes in search of the perfect eclipse viewing spot.

Bring your own eclipse glasses

2620 Valley Branch Road, Nashville

Brown County Winery

Total Solar Eclipse

April 8, Brown Co Winery 1:00-5:00

Unobstructed view of the eclipse with your favorite Brown County wine. Eclipse viewing glasses provided in gift bag (while supplies last). One ticket per car is required to enter. Bring lawn chairs. Snacks available for purchase from tasting

room. No outside alcohol allowed. Parking opens at 10:00 and closes at 5:00. 4520 State Road 46, Nashville

Eclipse Festival at Story

April 7-8, Story Indiana

Two-day festival. Reserved primitive and camper parking available. Guests receive solar-certified glasses, invitation to live music and concerts, designated observation stations, arts and crafts, food vendors, and access to recreational and historical areas. VIPs access to preferred tent camping in the pasture, sponsored VIP tent, and continental breakfast.

6404 SR 135 S.

812-988-2273 www.storyinn.com

Area 51 – Totalus

Maximus Eclipse

April 8, 10:00-6:00 Area 51 Helmsburg

Six miles north of Nashville in village of Helmsburg. Reserved parking. Music, and family friendly games. Unobstructed viewing area. Area 51 Trail. Food, eclipse glasses, collectable T-shirts, and bottled water will be for sale. Satellite Broadcast available in case of clouds. Proceeds benefit Jackson Township Fire Dept. 4831 Helmsburg Road

39th Wildflower Foray

April 26-28 | Various Brown County locations | Wildflower and birding walks, wetland hikes, nature photography. Hikes and programs are held at T.C. Steele State Historic Site, on established trails, and natural areas including DNR properties, Hoosier National Forest, Indiana University, Sycamore Land Trust and Nature Conservancy lands. For info on T.C. Steele site’s programs: 812-988-2785 tcsteeleshs@indianamuseum.org

Brown County Music Center

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TCommon Grounds

~by Jeff Tryon.

here’s a little place, just around the corner, halfway down the alleyway, where you can find friendly folks, lots of books and collectibles, and most importantly, a good cup of coffee.

The Common Grounds coffee shop, located just off of North Van Buren Street, halfway down Molly’s Lane, is more than just your usual java joint. It is a place where old friends meet and new friends are made over a wide selection of coffee drinks and tea, and a large array of books, art, and collectibles.

At first glance, after you get past the coffee bar up front, the spacious shop looks more like a used bookstore that has collided with a knick-knack shop.

For Iris Gearhart, a lifelong reader and lover of books, Common Grounds isn’t just her business, it is her life. Most days, she is there from seven to seven.

“Day to day, it’s not a job to me, I love being here, love the people,” she said. “I kept telling people after I came to Nashville, ‘You’ve got real people here.’ What you see is what you get.”

Owner Iris Gearhart. photo by Jeff Tryon

photo by Cindy Steele

Gearhart grew up in Columbus, attended Ivy Tech, and worked for 31 years as a draftsperson.

“I loved what I did, and I had opportunities to move up in the company, but I said no. I didn’t want to do anything else, I liked doing drafting,” Gearhart said. “I would never have thought of doing a coffee shop. My sister dragged me into it.”

Her sister Lita had a vision with grand dreams and was the kind of person who made them come true.

“She said, ‘We’re going to start a coffee shop.’

“I said, ‘We are?’”

Gearhart was still working full-time at architectural drafting and was preparing to retire. She became a silent partner.

In 2005, the sisters opened a coffee kiosk in The Commons Mall in Columbus, which is why the current shop is called “Common Grounds” and also why the proprietary house blend is called “Chaos.” It was named after the giant kinetic sculpture located in the downtown Columbus landmark.

“Chaos is my house blend,” she said. “That is what coffee is supposed to taste like. It’s a small microroaster from Oregon that we’ve been with since day one.

“I’ve got really high standards on my coffee. My sister and my niece went to a cupping in Indy and

tried 30 coffees, and just kept coming back to their basis for this. We’ve had them tweak it. This is our proprietary blend. You can’t get this Chaos anywhere else.”

After Iris was retired for a few months, her sister told her, “You’ve got to come and play too.”

When the mall closed for renovation in 2007, Lita said, “Let’s go to Nashville.”

Having grown up in Columbus, the sisters were very familiar with Nashville. They had visited the town their entire lives and always loved the atmosphere.

“When we were in Columbus, people generally came in, got their coffee, and left,” Gearhart said. “Here, they wanted to hang out.”

So, they scouted around and found the old Colonial Restaurant building empty, opening the shop there in February of 2010.

“We had some coffee and tea merchandise, but nothing like this,” she said. “My sister had been going to yard sales, close-outs, clearances, whatever, for thirty years. She had three storage units full of stuff. She just had the eye for perfect stuff. So, when we moved in here, we just started selling stuff.” Continued on 48

photo by Cindy Steele

They acquired the inventory of a similar shop that was closing, including fifty boxes of books, for a lump sum. From that beginning, the shop has grown into a delightful jumble of used books, furniture, collectibles, and art.

“People bring me stuff,” she said. “Most everything is for sale. Of course, the things people usually want usually are not. But for the most part, yes.”

The vision was set in place by sister Lita who suffered from crippling rheumatoid arthritis.

“She came in and she said, ‘That color here, that color there, the bar is supposed to look like this’. She had it all planned out in her mind. In less than three months’ time, we had the front part open.”

“The first day open, we didn’t officially have our license yet, so everything was just given out,” Gearhart recalled. “We have a group of friends from Muncie, every year they come down to camp, and there was like, forty of them, and

they’re all musical. And they all agreed to come and play music. So, from noon to six that first day they set up here and rotated people playing music.”

And that is pretty much the way the whole enterprise has gone since then—friends gathering and pitching in and enjoying one another’s company.

“Everything about this place, is community,” she said. “I keep saying, I’ve got more blessings than anybody on earth deserves. It’s just dumbfounding sometimes.”

Her sister passed away the summer following their opening in Nashville. Her father passed away about a month ago.

“But I’ve got a bunch of people who have been around me,” she said. “I’ve got good people surrounding me. I’m very well taken care of.”

Common Grounds is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. They are closed Wednesday. They serve coffee, tea, pastry, soup, and cheesy eggs and toast. 

Map/Directions:

LOCATED IN THE HISTORIC STATE BANK BUILDING

Specializing in new books, classic literature, and bookish gif ts for every reader

www.naughtydogbooks.com

~by Jim Eagleman

Field Notes

I’ve written here before about the many types of trees we are fortunate to have in Brown County.

We have a lot of trees.

There are many possible uses of Brown County wood for the creative homeowner if they have the time, skills, and patience. It can be used for flooring, siding, and trim to add beauty and value to a home. A portable sawmill owner can be hired to come to your property for logs of oak, walnut, cherry, beech, and maple.

I contacted a sawmill owner recently and we soon became friends. A huge red oak next to our studio had to be removed. I had no intention of using any of the wood and wanted to donate it. His company uses native timber for various local projects, which he calls his hobby. But it may be more than a hobby, I thought, when he arrived with his equipment.

He used a bobcat and dolly to move the heavy oak logs, and a grappling hook lifted them onto a trailer. As he loaded them up, he said, “Thanks. I’ll let you know how we use it.” The logs were transported to his sawmill built of native tulip poplar timber.

When people talk about this place, they refer to our vast forestlands. I believe it’s what brings visitors here year-round. We

Our Woods

residents could take it all for granted as we live, camp, hike, hunt, drive, and ride in the forests. We may not even consider the forests to be much of an asset. But they are if you talk with anyone who doesn’t live near trees.

A large, full color photograph I used at the park for programs shows the state of Indiana taken from a satellite over 400 miles in space. I really like this photograph. This long, narrow state with a meandering southern border along the Ohio shows colors of brown and tan agricultural lands, the city of Indianapolis, and a greenish tint to the south. The darkest, green color below Indianapolis is an unmistakable square—it’s Brown County.

Biologists call it a sink when land is used by resident wildlife and migrating birds and animals. Like when a plug is pulled and water drains, things flow into this refuge of natural land. Plant communities have established themselves here, and when

habitats are left unaltered, unique and sometimes rare animals find a home here. Birds temporarily bivouac here as a stopover while migrating so they can rest, refuel, and regroup. The entire park and nearby national forest have been designated an IBA, an Important Bird Area.

Our glacier history reminds us that this sedimentary sandstone continues to be carved and shaped, creating deep ravines, rocky ridges, and wide floodplains. The green tint of this county, as seen from space, shows us this area’s value. It is unique when compared to the counties around it. Well worth telling is its more recent story of an art colony, a preserved and protected conservation area, and of course, a traditional Hoosier beauty spot.

When you consider the devastating removal of trees during the county’s early settlement years, and the slow recovery that followed, you can appreciate the resilience of our woods. They are now comprised of two kinds of communities: the beech-maple, and oak-hickory complexes.

Many diverse habitats are typical of this young stand. A forest of young hardwoods exhibits more homes and niches than a mature stand, and surprisingly, more than an old growth forest. Why? Look at a forest outside your door or along the road. Many levels, called strata, reveal nooks and crannies in the canopy, herbal layer, and understory. This creates many places for insects, birds, mammals, and reptiles to live. An overlapping set of habitat conditions can satisfy a myriad of critters. And insects are by far the most numerous and significant in the role they play.

The Nature Conservancy oversees the Brown County Hills Project Area. The group makes recommendations for private landowners and public land managers using science-based forest management. This contiguous tract of timber, occupying more than six counties in central and southern Indiana, includes several hundreds of thousands of acres. It makes sense that we take care of it and manage it to the best of our ability to assure that it remains healthy over the next many

centuries, not just for the enjoyment of our tourist base: the hikers, mushroomers, bikers, and campers, but for the natural community that lives here: us, our guests, and of course the wild critters.

It was conservationist Aldo Leopold who said: “We abuse land because we consider it a commodity belonging to us; when we see land as a community to which we all belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.” A true land advocate, Leopold hoped by using a metaphor like loving someone or something, people could perhaps see land viewed in a similar manner, and to love and care for it since we receive so many bountiful gifts.

Speaking of gifts—it was my donated red oak log at auction that was used to help purchase a lot for the next Habitat for Humanity house. What great news—a Brown County tree, used to help build a Brown County house, for a Brown County family. I couldn’t be happier!

Sharing Baby Goats

With Brown County Health & Living

~story and photos by Paige Langenderfer

One of the greatest joys of owning a small farm is getting the chance to share our animals with the community.

Our farm has 40 sheep, 30 goats, 3 donkeys, 50 chickens, 3 emus, 2 dogs, and 6 cats.

Winter is my favorite time of year because it is when all of the babies are born.

Everybody loves baby animals. They are good for the soul.

In February I had the opportunity to take two baby goats to the Brown County Health and Living Community in Nashville for a visit.

The experience itself was emotional, but it also took me back to the two years before mom died. She was very sick and spent nearly every day in an assisted living facility much like this one.

My daughter Quincy had just turned one when my mom died, so her entire first year was spent visiting places like this. I remember the other patients and staff members would be so excited when Quincy and I got there every day to visit mom.

And I remember my heart being torn between spending enough time with my mom and trying to decide if it was healthy for my tiny baby to be there. I do think it is why Quincy’s soul is so kind and compassionate, even though she doesn’t remember.

So, my day at the Brown County Health and Living Community was emotional before I even arrived.

As soon as I walked in the door, the staff ran over to me, squealing with excitement.

Ms. Althea grabbed one of the baby goats and showed me the way to the patient activity room. As we turned into the room, I could hear the gasps and shrieks of joy. There were about a dozen residents patiently waiting in wheelchairs.

The moment the goats entered the room, the faces of the residents changed from tired to childlike. They began chatting excitedly to each other about who would get to hold the babies first.

Activity Director Althea Carter.

As I leaned down to place a baby on their lap, each resident nervously extended their arms, slightly fearful they might hurt the baby, but also unable to hide their absolute glee at the same time.

Some of them sang to the babies, others spoke lovingly. Their bodies, tight and full of pain, melted into deep calm breaths as they gently brushed the baby goats’ hair with their fingers.

Several residents proudly told me about their childhood experiences growing up on a farm. As a farm kid myself, I loved hearing about their chores and mishaps. It is a lifestyle that most kids today do not get to experience, and I am finding fewer and fewer people who can relate to those farm-specific memories.

After each resident held the babies for a few minutes, Ms. Althea led me down the hall to greet patients who had been unable to leave their rooms.

I cannot adequately describe the change in their eyes as soon as they saw the baby goats. It was like a rebirth, if even just for a few

seconds. I told them a bit about the animals and our farm and then we sat in silence that was louder than a stadium full of people cheering. They often closed their eyes and leaned their heads gently on the babies.

What were they feeling? What were they thinking? What were they telling the goats in the silence?

Several people asked how I kept the babies still and calm. I think animals are so much more perceptive than people. They melted with the experience too, falling asleep with nearly every resident.

My absolute favorite part of the day came in the Memory Care Unit. One resident was lovingly holding a baby doll when we walked in. She looked up and saw the baby goats and immediately placed her baby on the table and extended her arms. She never spoke a word, but her face said it all.

I will never forget my day at the Brown County Health and Living Community, and I have already talked to Ms. Althea about returning when our miniature donkey has her baby this summer. 

The Langenderfer girls Quincy, age eight, and Amelia, age six.

~by Chrissy Alspaugh

The Route 46 Vintage booth at the Brown County Antique Mall infused inspiration into so many excited shoppers’ homes and wardrobes that the eclectic wares have expanded into their own 1,100-square-foot store behind the mall.

The word vintage is loosely interpreted as clothing and lifestyle accessories created 20 or more years ago, and the little red pole barn brimming with designs from the past is open seven days a week.

“I’m not saying I don’t love walking through Target, but finding one-of-a-kind pieces in a vintage store is what makes a home sing, and look different from anybody else’s,” said coowner Tonya Ballew.

The booth-turned-business seems like the inevitable outcrop of her 40-year friendship with fellow businesswoman Wendy Reed.

These decorating divas met on the street in Broadripple as the owners of completely unrelated endeavors. Ballew was running a balloon shop while Reed’s business sold clothes, jewelry, and pop culture gifts.

Ballew said their friendship that day on the sidewalk was, “Just like, ‘Hey, you look like a cool girl. Want to be friends?’” she laughed.

Their lives continued to diverge. Ballew focused on her young family and running her own interior design firm. Reed eventually opened an ice cream parlor that later became a children’s events space, all while side-gigging as a singer on

the syndicated U.S. radio program The Bob & Tom Show.

But Reed said a couple key things transformed them from friends into business partners: a shared passion for vintage treasure hunting, and the fact that both women spent part of their career as sales representatives, selling and marketing manufactured products to wholesale customers.

The savvy saleswomen’s mounting stock eventually inspired them to become vintage dealers, jointly renting a booth space at an antique mall. Then another. And another.

photo by Dane Alspaugh

Owners Wendy Reed and Tonya Ballew.

photo by Chrissy Alspaugh

Their combined style, meticulously showcased by Ballew’s professional designer’s eye, gave their booth space unmistakable appeal.

Reed had been running a booth at the Brown County Antique Mall for about five years when the women learned that their shared booth at another beloved antique mall was coming to an end. She approached Brown County Antique Mall owner Cheri Sumter with the idea of expanding their booth into her entire back warehouse building. Sumter said their initial meeting left her excited about the duo’s abundance of energy, ambition, and ideas. And almost immediately after their trove of vintage opened in October, “it started drawing a new crowd,” Sumter said. “When you hear ‘antique mall,’ trust me, they’re nothing you’d imagine! There are people coming to their store who have lived in Nashville their whole lives and have never visited this antique mall.”

Some of Route 46’s signature offerings stem from Reed’s passion for tiki, Western wear, Mexican pottery, and pop culture. She’s said the store also boasts the largest collection of vintage Hawaiian shirts in Indiana.

The store’s romantic, sometimes French-inspired touches are Ballew: beautiful women’s clothing, accessories, and household wares featuring velvet, lace, sequins, and satin.

“We can walk into a thrift store shopping together and hone in on completely different things,” Ballew said, beaming. “Our eye is complimentary. At this point, we just trust each other, and it all ends up working beautifully.”

Nashville textile artist Terri Jones described Route 46 Vintage as “one of a kind.”

“You’re not going to find anything like this at your usual mom and pop (store),” Jones said.

Indianapolis resident Sherri Roizen stopped by the shop after recently visiting her family in Nashville and was loosely looking for textiles for quilting. Or maybe a new pair of cowboy boots. Roizen couldn’t help stroking a beige cashmere sweater, noting the heavier weight of older cashmeres compared to those produced today. “These pieces will just last forever,” she said. “You won’t find anything like this today.”

Customers inspired by Route 46’s style can get

Continued on 62

photo by Chrissy Alspaugh

Terri Jones gets some help from Ballew and Reed.

expert advice on bringing their own decorating dreams to life, thanks to Ballew’s interior design services. She’s in the process of moving her firm from Indianapolis to Nashville.

When it comes to scoring the perfect vintage finds for the store, Reed said like all “treasure hunters,” she and Ballew love garage sales, second-hand stores, and estate sales. They even receive a surprising number of donations from others avid about vintage. Reed said she’s proud that everything they sell is finding its next life, rather than ending up in a landfill.

“More than anything,” she said, “we love when customers walk in for the first time and are completely surprised with what they find.”

Route 46 Vintage, at 3288 Indiana 46 E, is open 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. seven days a week in January through March; hours are 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. the rest of the year. The store is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. Some of Route 46 Vintage’s most unique offerings can be found on Facebook and Instagram. 

LIVE

Brown County Music Center Shares Success with Community

After a year in which the Brown County Music Center hosted 66 events, bringing in about 81,000 visitors, some of its excess revenue is being shared with the community.

The music center paid about $54,000 to Brown County for payments in lieu of taxes, along with $66,750 as a share of excess revenue in 2023. In addition, the non-profit Brown County Community Foundation (BCCF) received $200,250, which will be either given to community organizations through grants or placed in a long-term endowment.

The payments were made because of an agreement between the center and the county when the structure was built. The county funded it, with operation and mortgage costs backed by the county’s five percent innkeepers tax. The agreement stipulated that excess revenue from sale of tickets, food and drink would be distributed to the county and the community foundation.

At the time of the agreement, officials did not expect to accumulate excess revenue for many years, and did not foresee the lengthy shutdown period during the worst of the coronavirus pandemic.

“We are ecstatic to fulfill our mission statement by dispersing these funds back into our wonderful community, of which should have extreme positive and far-reaching rippling effects,” said Brown County Music Center Executive Director Christian Webb. “While this is our inaugural year to disperse these funds into the community, we do not expect it to be our last. The continued efforts by venue staff, volunteers, board members and all community members alike will do nothing but serve this county for years to come.”

As part of the agreement, when BCCF receives the revenue, it is split into two funds. One supports arts and culture in the county, and the

photos by Cindy Steele

The music center brought in 81,000 visitors through 66 shows in 2023. community groups that serve our neighbors every day. The portion entrusted to a long-term endowment wisely ensures a significant impact for future generations. This funding defines Brown County as a compassionate and generous place to a very large audience and enhances both our quality of life and our reputation.”

other is directed to the greatest community needs at the time of the disbursement. Some of the funds are invested into a long-term endowment, and income from that endowment generates grant money each year. The remaining portion of the music center funds is given out through grants.

“The music center is an increasingly impactful part of our community and a strong driver of economic success for all of us. We are extremely grateful to have music center and county government leaders prioritize urgent and important community needs,” said Alice Susemichel, CEO of the BCCF. “With this important collaborative partnership, we can leverage the foundation’s unique knowledge and capacity to distribute assistance to a variety of nonprofit and

About the Brown County Music Center: Nestled on the banks of Salt Creek and located less than one mile from the largest state park in Indiana and the Town of Nashville, the Brown County Music Center has been called a visual and auditory masterpiece. Since its opening in August 2019, the 2,000-seat live performance venue has hosted artists spanning world-class rock, blues, country, pop, jazz, oldies, throwback artists, and more, offering an intimate experience for each show with the farthest seat from the stage only 106 feet away. Nationally renowned performers have included Vince Gill, Tanya Tucker, The Beach Boys, Jason Bonham, Graham Nash, Old Crow Medicine Show, The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, Ben Folds, Emmylou Harris, Jamey Johnson, America, Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo, Gladys Knight, Air Supply, YES, Sara Evans and many more. For more information, check <browncountymusiccenter. com> for the latest show updates, and follow the center on social media: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter. 

About 50 volunteers make events happen smoothly. Teresa Lutes, volunteer coordinator, meets with them before each show.