May/June 2020 OUR BROWN COUNTY by Our Brown County

The Magazine of Fun and Fact

YEARS

From O ur Contributors

May/June 2020 FREE

SHOP US ONLINE! WE ARE ALWAYS OPEN TO SHOP AT

thewildolive.com

Mealtime as a meditation? Indeed. These flavors will inspire you to relax, savor, share and enjoy!

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 seven 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

Brown County N Carmel Ridge Rd

Trafalgar

Nineveh Edinburgh Morgantown 31 37 135 I-65 46 Bloomington Columbus 46 NASHVILLE 252

Monroe Music Park & Campground John Hartford Memorial Festival

Helmsburg Sawmill Pool Enterprises

HELMSBURG

BEAN BLOSSOM

Helmsburg General Store

The Apple Works

Sweetwater Lake

Antiques Co-op Art Beyond Crayons Critser’s Flowers & Gifts Grandpa Jeff’s Trail Rides House of Clocks

Rosey Bolte’s Uncommon Gourd Studio Vaught Rd.

Cordry Lake

Sprunica Rd. Upper Bean Blossom

Doodles by Kara Barnard

Flower and Herb Barn Farmhouse Café

GATESVILLE

Lightspinner Studio

Dining

Al’s Paint & Body

Rd.

NASHVILLE

Country Club Rd

Oak Grove

Artist and/or Gallery

Old SR 4

rove R d.

lley Rd.

Kelp G

Green Va

Adventure

KOA Co. ls wn nta Bro eek Rd r all tion Re ry ire C T M . t l Co Sa ique n Vaca . Wine E wn o Ant Bro ON Co. O’ Brow rown C n w WB s B o l r l i B H GNA Mt . Li

ber

ty R

Mainstream Fiber

Mike’s Music and Dance Barn

eXplore Brown County

Lil Black Bear Inn

to COLUMBUS d

to BL OO

Yellowwood Rd

BELMONT

Craftsman

Annie Smith Rd.

Dunham

TO N

Yellowwood State Forest

Cox Creek Mill

Rd.

Musical Entertainment

Rd sburg

Ow l Cr eek

Helm

Dr. Lisa Baker, DDS Fireplace Center

Lodging/ Camping

Mike Nickels Log Homes

ran c

to BL O

BLOOMINGTON

135

Val le

GTON

Franklin

Critser’s Greenhouse

45 OMIN

Martinsville

TRAFALGAR MORGANTOWN

Clay Lick Rd

Lake Lemon

135

to MORGANTOWN

NASHVILLE MAP ON PAGE 6

Indianapolis

Brown County State Park

Monroe Reservoir

ELKINSVILLE Bob Allen Rd.

k Rd ton Cr

CHRISTIANSBURG

Hamil

Christi

STORY

ove r Gr

ansbu rg Rd

STONE HEAD

la Pop

T.C. Steele State Historic Site

PIKES PEAK

Homestead Weaving Studio Salem’s Good Nature Farm

JEFFERSON STREET

Village Green

Hoosier Artist Gallery

HONEYSUCKLE LANE

OLD HICKORY LANE

Fallen Leaf Books

Brown Co. Art Guild

Moonshine/ K. Bellum Leather

The Wild Olive

ST SR 135 N

Miller’s Ice Cream The Candy Dish The Harvest Preserve B3 Gallery

Head Over Heels

Heritage Candy Store

Heritage Mall

Spears Pottery Juls Etc.

Brown Co. Winery

Homes on a Limb

Main Street Shops

Foxfire

Foxfire Boutique

MAIN STREET

NSC Home Store

Weed Patch Music Company

Log JJail L il

Pioneer Village Museum

Gold &Old

Redbud Terrace

Health For U

Old

RE/MAX Team

Office

County Offices

Touch of Silver

LOCUST LANE

TO Lory Winford HeresHome Studio

Courthouse

open M-F8-4

Copperhead Creek Gem Mine

Iris Garden Cottages & Suites

Brown Co Public Library

Brown Co. History Center

GOULD STREET Iris Garden Complex

Brown Co. Rock & Fossil Shop

Heavenly Biscuit

MOUND STREET

Hidden Valley Inn

ROBERT “BUCK” STOGSDILL WAY

TO HELMSBURG - 6 MILES

The Emerald Pencil

MOLLY’S LANE Big Woods Village

Common Grounds Coffee Bar

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

IHA

Brown Co Art Gallery

Masonic Lodge

ARTIST DR

VAN BUREN

Ironweed

The Salvation Army

Precise Books & Payroll

JEFFERSON STREET Hoosier Buddy

Thrift Shop Community Closet

Nashville BP

Nashville Christian Church

PITTMAN HOUSE LANE

PAT REILLY DR

Calvin Place

Schwab’s Fudge

New Leaf Amy Greely

Life is Good JB Goods

VAN BUREN ST SR 135 N

SR 46 TO BLOOMINGTON - 16 MILES

McGinley Insurance

The Totem Post

Jack & Jill Nut Shop

Brown Co Playhouse

58 South Apparel

FRANKLIN STREET

HONEYSUCKLE LANE

Franklin Sq

Ferguson House

Antique Alley

Old McDurbin Gold & Gifts Clay Purl

Wishful Thinking

Nashville Spice Co.

Country Heritage Winery

Bone Appetit Bakery

Brown County IGA

Brown Co Community YMCA

Bear Hardware

Casa Del Sol

Craftsman

Brown Co Health & Living

Brown County Eye Care Blue Elk Family Clinic

Salt Creek Park Brown Co Music Center

Seasons Hotel & Conference Center

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

Coachlight Square

SR 46 TO COLUMBUS - 16 MILES

VISITORS CENTER

Brown Co Craft Gallery

Cornerstone Inn

WASHINGTON STREET

Gyros Food Nashville is Art Fudge Kitchen Brown Co T-Shirt Moondance Shop Vacation Homes

Sweetwater Gallery

Possum Trot Sq

Back to Back

House of Jerky

Artists Colony Inn

Artists Colony

Cathy’s Corner

Cedar Creek Winery

Nashville Express

Rhonda Kay’s

Out of the Ordinary and Hickory Bar

OLD SCHOOL WAY

8 Our Brown County • May/June 2020

ADVERTISER

ANTIQUES

Men’s Toy Shop.................................. 23

ENTERTAINMENT/MUSIC

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

CRAFTS, POTTERY, GIFTS

Brown Co History Center................. 33

Brown Co Antique Mall.................... 19

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

Brown Co Playhouse........................ 32

Cathy’s Corner................................... 47

Apple Works....................................... 39

Copperhead Creek Gem Mine........ 47

The Emerald Pencil........................... 20

B3 Gallery............................................. 3

eXplore Brown Co............................... 4

Plum Creek Antiques....................... 52

Bone Appetit Bakery........................ 12

Seasons Hotel & Conference Ctr.... 37

ART, ART SUPPLIES-INSTRUCTION

Brown Co Antique Mall.................... 19

FOOD & BEVERAGE

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

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

Apple Works....................................... 39

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

Brown Co Back Roads Studio Tour.40

Artists Colony Inn............................. 14

B3 Gallery............................................. 3

Brown Co Craft Gallery.................... 45

Brown Co IGA.................................... 43

Bear Hardware.............................49,52

Brown Co Rock Shop........................ 47

Brown Co Winery.............................. 14

Brown Co Antique Mall.................... 19

Cathy’s Corner................................... 47

Brozinni Pizzeria............................... 36

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

Cindy Steele’s Upcycled Art............ 54

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

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

Clay Purl............................................. 37

Carmel Corn Cottage....................... 40

Brown Co Back Roads Studio Tour.40

Critser’s Flowers & Gifts................... 53

Cedar Creek Winery.......................... 12

Brown Co Craft Gallery.................... 45

Cox Creek Mill.................................... 49

Common Grounds Coffee Bar........ 13

Cathy’s Corner................................... 47

The Emerald Pencil........................... 20

Country Heritage Winery................ 42

The Emerald Pencil........................... 20

The Ferguson House........................ 41

Farmhouse Cafe................................ 25

NSC Home Store............................... 55

Foxfire................................................. 41

Gyros Food is Art.............................. 13

Rhoden Art at eXplore Brown Co.... 4

Head Over Heels............................... 40

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

Lightspinner Studio-M. Sechler..... 12

Homes on a Limb.............................. 25

Heavenly Biscuit............................... 47

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

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

Helmsburg General Store............... 22

Rosey Bolte-Uncommon Gourd..... 18

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

Heritage Candy Store....................... 22

Lory Winford, pastelist..................... 19

Ironweed............................................ 25

Hoosier Buddy Liquors.................... 25

BOOKS

Moonshine Leather.......................... 18

Hotel Nashville.................................. 43

The Emerald Pencil........................... 20

Lightspinner Studio-M. Sechler..... 12

House of Jerky................................... 23

Fallen Leaf Books.............................. 13

Men’s Toy Shop.................................. 23

Jack and Jill Nut Shop...................... 13

CLOTHING

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

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

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

NSC Home Store............................... 55

Nashville BP....................................... 14

Bear Hardware.............................49,52

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

Nashville Express.............................. 33

Brown Co Back Roads Studio Tour.40

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

Nashville Fudge Kitchen.................. 56

Brown Co T-Shirt Shop..................... 33

Cindy Steele’s Upcycled Art............ 54

Nashville Spice Co............................. 55

Community Closet Thrift Shop....... 22

Sweetwater Gallery.......................... 19

Out of the Ordinary & Hickory Bar.37

Foxfire Boutique............................... 41

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

Schwab’s Fudge................................. 33

Head Over Heels............................... 40

Rosey Bolte-Uncommon Gourd..... 18

Seasons Hotel & Conference Ctr.... 37

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

Wishful Thinking............................... 45

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

DIRECTORY

May/June 2020 • Our Brown County 9

FURNITURE

Hotel Nashville.................................. 43

Nashville BP....................................... 14

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

Iris Garden Cottages........................ 47

Nashville Christian Church............. 52

Brown Co Antique Mall.................... 19

Lil Black Bear Inn B&B...................... 23

Nashville Express.............................. 33

Brown Co Back Roads Studio Tour.40

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

Precise Books & Payroll.................... 52

The Ferguson House........................ 41

North House...................................... 43

Rambling Dog Design - SIGNS....... 54

Plum Creek Antiques....................... 52

Seasons Hotel & Conference Ctr.... 37

SHOES

Cindy Steele’s Upcycled Art............ 54

MUSEUMS

Head Over Heels............................... 40

HARDWARE

Brown Co History Center................. 33

Moonshine Leather.......................... 18

Bear Hardware.............................49,52

PET PRODUCTS

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

HATS

Bone Appetit Bakery........................ 12

SPECIALTY SHOPS

Head Over Heels............................... 40

PHOTOS

Bone Appetit Bakery........................ 12

Moonshine Leather.......................... 18

B3 Gallery............................................. 3

Clay Purl............................................. 37

JEWELRY

Brown Co Back Roads Studio Tour.40

Fireplace Center................................ 40

B3 Gallery............................................. 3

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

Head Over Heels............................... 40

Brown Co Antique Mall.................... 19

REAL ESTATE

Health For U....................................... 53

Brown Co Back Roads Studio Tour.40

Carpenter Hills o’ Brown Realty..... 22

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

Brown Co Craft Gallery.................... 45

RE/MAX-Marg & Brenda.................. 54

House of Jerky................................... 23

Cathy’s Corner................................... 47

RECREATION

Moonshine Leather.......................... 18

Ferguson House................................ 41

eXplore Brown Co............................... 4

Men’s Toy Shop.................................. 23

Foxfire................................................. 41

Grandpa Jeff’s Trail Rides................ 42

Nashville Spice Co............................. 55

Juls Etc................................................ 36

SERVICES

Weed Patch Music Company.......... 23

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

Al’s Paint & Body............................... 52

Wishful Thinking............................... 45

Old McDurbin Gold & Gifts............. 13

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

STAINED GLASS

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

Bear Hardware’s Bagged Trash....... 52

Brown Co Back Roads Studio Tour.40

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

Blue Elk Family Clinic....................... 53

Sweetwater Gallery.......................... 19

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

Brown Co Eye Care............................ 52

WEDDINGS

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

Brown Co Health & Living............... 53

Artists Colony Inn............................. 14

LODGING/CAMPGROUNDS

Brown Co Tire & Auto....................... 52

Hotel Nashville.................................. 43

Artists Colony Inn............................. 14

Brown Co Visitors Center................. 21

OTHER

Brick Lodge........................................ 43

Brown Co Community YMCA.......... 54

Apple Works....................................... 39

Brown Co Health & Living............... 53

Dunham Plumbing........................... 54

Critser’s Greenhouse /Flowers....... 53

Brown Co KOA................................... 33

Helmsburg Sawmill Inc/

Health For U....................................... 53

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

Pool Enterprises Inc.......................... 54

Ironweed............................................ 25

eXplore Brown Co............................... 4

IN Seamless Guttering..................... 53

Mike Nickels Log Homes................. 23

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

Keyed IN Property Mgt.................... 54

Nashville Christian Church............. 52

Hills O’ Brown Vacation Rentals..... 14

Mainstream Fiber Networks........... 53

Flower and Herb Barn...................... 53

McGinley Insurance (Farmers)........ 53

Salem’s Good Nature Farm............. 13

Contents 13 WHERE IS IT?

15 25 Years – SUBSCRIBE

16 Chrissy Alspaugh

26 Chris & Bob Gustin

28 Ryan Stacy 30-31 Photos by Mike Briner*

32 Rescheduled Events

34 Paige Langenderfer

38 Julia Pearson

44 The Sampler

48 Mark Blackwell

Contributors Chris Gustin retired from the newspaper business in 1999, after decades of balancing careers as both a weaver and a journalist. She operates Homestead Weaving Studio where she specializes in rugs and clothing while offering equipment, supplies, and lessons to other weavers. She worked as a photographer, copy editor, and Lifestyles editor for Colorado, Nebraska, and Indiana newspapers.

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 editorial cartoonist for the Bloomington Herald Times, a graduate of Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Clown College, and a veteran circus performer.

Paige Langenderfer is a freelance writer and communications consultant. She writes for numerous publications. 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. Contact her at <langenderferpaige@gmail.com>.

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.

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>.

Julia Pearson wrote for a Franciscan magazine for ten years and served as its human interest editor. She and husband Bruce now reside in Lake Woebegone Country for life’s continuing adventures. Julia enjoys traveling and visiting museums of all types and sizes, with her children and grandchildren.

50 Jim Eagleman 51 Kara’s Cartoon 52-54 INFO PAGES

Cover: Wes, Kase, and Dane Alspaugh at the Park ~by Chrissy Alspaugh

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

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.

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

*Mike Briner is a Columbus, Indiana native that became interested in photography as a high school yearbook photographer. With a love of travel and the great outdoors and inspired by the natural beauty of nature, Mike’s photography quickly moved from the school to the out of doors. In 1998 he founded Mike Briner Photography and started his professional career as a travel and nature photographer. Mike now has well over 55,000 film as well as over 30,000 digital images in his library.

Thanks, Mom, for making it happen! 10 Our Brown County • May/June 2020

Coloring Contest Win $20

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

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

May/June 2020 • Our Brown County 11

38 Franklin St. E. | Nashville, IN | drinkatthecreek.com | Open Every Day

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 ~Open all year~ TheTotemPost.com

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

Lightspinner STUDIO

Martha Sechler Unique Watercolors Mixed Media Gourd Art

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

12 Our Brown County • May/June 2020

Stay safe and here’s to a great reemergence.

Guess Photo Win $20 WHERE IS IT? Call (812) 988-8807

Delicious! Our own Tzatziki sauce recipe, made from scratch Free samples • Local Delivery Available

Be the first person to call and win the money! Leave a message identifying the location of the photo along with your name and phone number.

<Most items under $10> gyrofoodnashville.com • Gyros Food

S. Van Buren & Old School Way • Possum Trot Sq. Look for the sidewalk signs • (812) 318-0840

C Cinnamon Salted Roasted Nuts Almonds R d Roasted & Pecans Daily Cashews, Fancy Mi Mix, P Pepitas, it Peanuts Delicious Candies - Homemade Fudge Mail Orders - 812-988-7480

S.Van Buren (Shopper's Lane) Nashville

Old McDurbin Gold & Gifts 50%

Last issue featured an oversized painting on an easel in Belmont that acts as a sign for the T.C. Steele State Historic Site. Bob Shook guessed it.

Customized

• Anklets • Bracelets • Necklaces OFFLRY E Watches JEW Sterling Silver Rings 1000’s of Pendants

Blue building in Antique Alley S. Jefferson St. • Nashville, IN

SR 135 Rd S. to 8419 Bob Allen Rd in Southern Brown County (812) 988-7053 • Open Mon.–Sat. 10am–6pm; Sun. 10am–3pm

COMMON GROUNDS COFFEE BAR It’s like a coffee shop in a living room (with things to amuse you)

Hot, Cold & Frozen Drinks • Selection of Teas Froothies (our fruit smoothies) Famous for Cheesy Eggs & Toast • Pastries • Quiche 66 N. Van Buren, Nashville (Molly’s Lane behind the red door) Opens 8:00 am M-Sat; 9:00 am Sun (Closed Wed) 812-988-6449

May/June 2020 • Our Brown County 13

the

Inn & Restaurant

A Charming 19th Century Style Inn and Restaurant

• 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

Fresh In-Store Donuts

Brown County

WINERY WINER WINE RY RY

· AWARD WINNING QUALITY WINES SINCE 1986 ·

Broasted Chicken 812-988-1822

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

14 Our Brown County • May/June 2020

Complimentary Tastings · 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 · Online Ordering

BrownCountyWinery.com

25 YEARS of Our Brown County

e had planned to have a party this April to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Our Brown County, but we had to cancel. Everything was placed on hold because the country was asked to “stay at home” to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Business has been far from usual during this shutdown period. Nashville normally draws some spring break visitors during the months of March and April—but not this year. The streets were empty. The new Music Center, which was bringing in sold-out crowds, was forced to go dark. Restaurants had to close their dining areas and switch to take-out menus, or close all together. Shops and galleries closed their doors. The Brown County Playhouse’s community theatre group had to postpone their plans for a play. Even lodging and campgrounds were closed. Advertisers anticipate being able to resume some level of normalcy very soon. Some are now selling their goods online, too, and want to get that word out. We have never missed a deadline in 25 years and I felt we had an obligation to both readers and advertisers even though an opening up date was not clear. Brown County is expected to become somewhat of a therapy destination when all the restrictions are lifted because it is such a beautiful place, and is just a short drive from many other communities. As a publisher/editor, I struggled with what to cover in this issue. It was going to be difficult to interview people and take photos for articles, or talk about events that got postponed. Then it occurred to me that readers might enjoy learning how our writers spent their extended spring breaks. This issue provided the perfect opportunity to focus on those contributors that give this little magazine its character. This county is made up of a lot of very independent small business owners who are going to hurt badly from this down time. We are a seasonal tourist area and we just had a big chunk of our busy time taken out by lost spring break and IU parent traffic. I encourage everyone who visits to spend a little extra to keep us going. Eat a meal, buy a gift, take a zip line tour, spend the night in a cabin or hotel, or buy a work of art.

I am also asking you to help Our Brown County. Our business took a hit, too. Although this is a free publication, we do offer a year (six issues) subscription of $20 to have it mailed directly to your home. We currently have subscribers in about a dozen states. Just think, for the cost of a fancy coffee drink once every two months, you can have Our Brown County sent to your mailbox. That pays for postage, supplies, and processing time. It helps our little Helmsburg Post Office, too. When you can’t get out to pick one up, it will come to you More subscribers mean more small business support. Thanks to everyone responsible for the past 25 years of Our Brown County and especially to my mom for making it happen in the first place. 

—Cindy Steele

One Year’s Subscription for $20 (six issues)

Name: N Address:

Mail with check or money order to:

Our Brown County P.O. Box 157 • Helmsburg, IN 47435 May/June 2020 • Our Brown County 15

CHRISSY ALSPAUGH

redictability was comforting. Our lives had rhythms: schedules, routines, and usual places and faces. Until we didn’t. COVID-19 became the virus that infected much more than the two million patients (as this is being written) who have tested positive. It stripped each of us of some of the things that make our lives normal. Some felt the shock far greater. No longer could we buy what we normally buy, see whom we normally see, go where we normally go, or do what we normally do. In the blink of an eye jobs were on hold, schedules became blank, finances hung in jeopardy, and churches closed their doors. Life at times felt unpredictable hour-to-hour, let alone day-to-day. I certainly never expected this going-on-two-months-at-

16 Our Brown County • May/June 2020

home vacation. My family’s pre-quarantine rhythm went something like this: on weekday mornings, Mr. Handyman and I tag-teamed getting three boys ready to tackle our day. Our seven-year-old would hop on the bus by 7:15 a.m., my husband would kiss the rest of us good-bye by 7:30 a.m., we’d drop off our five-yearold at preschool by 9 a.m. three days a week, and then our two-year-old and I would spend the rest of the day cleaning, cooking, playing, and potty-training until our crew started trickling home throughout the afternoon. The evenings were always a bit of a scurry, as we tried to squeeze in every last ounce of outside playtime and projects before heading in for homework and baths. Oh, but the weekends. The weekends were sacredly unscheduled, save for church. They gave us room to breathe. We just never expected that soon, we’d have nothing except time to breathe.

A switch flipped and suddenly, no work. No school. Trips, meetings, vacations, and holiday gatherings— cancelled. No trips to see Pop and Gram, the park to see friends, or even Rural King to “aww” at baby chicks. No first year of soccer. No zoo, no museums, no goodbyes to teachers and classes who were robbed of their last nine weeks together. No notice. I’m guessing most of us struggled at first to figure out what the heck we were supposed to do with all of our newfound freedom. At our house, we stepped on each others’ toes a lot, literally and figuratively; we lazed away mornings way too long; we had conflicting ideas about how we should spend our days; we wore on each others’ nerves; and we definitely struggled to find something that felt normal within our new parameters. Thankfully, we slowly began to see past all the things we’d lost and raised our eyes to see that many of the things we’ve always loved were still right there in front of us. We found ourselves with a beautiful abundance of time for fishing, hiking, biking, stomping in puddles and creeks, cleaning the woods, climbing trees, and tackling projects including painting the house. Who would’ve expected that now, every night would be family movie night, or maybe game night? We finally stop with little boys who want to smell every daffodil, feed endless handfuls of grass to the neighbor horses, and spend entire afternoons learning about the turtles and crawdads that cross our path. Our new rhythm has become togetherness—in meals, reading, exercising, art, schoolwork, exploring the world around us, and following the lead of whomever has the most Continued on 20

May/June 2020 • Our Brown County 17

HOMESTEAD WEAVING STUDIO

Brown County

See homesteadweaver.com for remote shopping Quality Handwovens by Chris Gustin

Art Gallery

Yarn • Looms • Supplies • Classes

Southeastern Brown County 6285 Hamilton Creek Road Columbus, IN 47201

812-988-8622

Open 11 to 5 most days CALL AHEAD Visit us on the Back Roads Tour

“Bouquet of View of South Garden” RaymondTurner

“Neighbors” · Mark Burkett

SHOP OUR NEW ONLINE GALLERY WORKS AVAILABLE FROM

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

ARTISTS ASSOCIATION INDIANA HERITAGE ARTS CONSIGNMENT ART · GIFT SHOP bcartgalleryonline.org

812.988.4609

Moonshine Leather Co. Handcrafted Leather Goods Made in the USA

812.988.1326 · moonshineleather.com

38 SOUTH VAN BUREN · NASHVILLE, IN New home of K Bellum Leather! 18 Our Brown County • May/June 2020

Lory Winford Fine Art

Sweetwater Gallery New Location: 158 Old School Way Nashville, IN • 812-988-0449

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

Featuring handcrafted jewelry by owner Amy Greely

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

HeresHome Studio Workshops and Private Lessons Studio visits by appointment only Commission work accepted 15 N. Johnson St. Nashville, IN

Work shown at Hoosier Artist Gallery in Nashville

916-804-2484 • hereshomestudio@gmail.com

Lory Winford Pastelist

Brown County Antique Mall

Celebrating 25 Years as Owner Antique Store since 1972

Over 7,000 square feet of Antique and Vintage Glory Filled with antiques, jewelry, pottery, china, glass, furniture, artifacts, primitives, books, collectibles, and home decor. More than 70 dealers • We buy and sell

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

THE GUILD. FINE ART BY FINE ARTISTS. WELCOME TO THE HISTORIC ART GUILD • Artwork for Sale • Artisan Gift Shop • Permanent Art Collection • Special Exhibitions

Stained Glass • Paperweights Mosaic Mirrors • Pottery Fabric Wallhangings

Pastelist inspired by nature’s colors

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

AFTERNOON HOLLYHOCKS BY THOM ROBINSON

May/June 2020 • Our Brown County 19

CU R GIFTS, BO OKS &

IES T I S IO

20 Our Brown County • May/June 2020

ALSPAUGH continued from 17 fun idea for a project. Without trying, we’ve learned the beauty of devoting each day to a few important things, rather than trying to fit in too many things. In the first few weeks home, I remember keeping a mental list of the things I couldn’t wait to do and the places I couldn’t wait to go once life was back to normal. But now that we’ve been stripped down to the basics, it’s easier to see what’s important. I never would’ve expected that now, sometimes I can hear my heart whisper appreciation for all the unnecessary distractions that have left my life. I still really miss our friends and family. I can’t wait for our church and library to reopen. Eating a meal that I didn’t cook will be nice someday, and playing in a park loud with children will be glorious. But most of all, what I never expected to look forward to is a new normal that feels a whole lot more like now, than then. I hope that when I kiss my boys goodbye before work and school again someday, my eyes remain fixed on the very few things in life that truly make our hearts soar: God, each other, and the earth beneath our feet. And for that, I’ll forever lift up an unexpected, “Thank you, COVID-19.” 

Enjoy a taste-filled journey of Brown County wineries & distilleries.

TAKE A SIPPIN’ TRIP AND LIFT YOUR SPIRITS WITH THIS ONE-OF-A-KIND EXPERIENCE.

Be our guest on a unique excursion to the diverse artisan

Get demonstrations, tips and insights from knowledgeable wine & spirits experts

wineries and distilleries around Brown County. Transportation will be provided by Nashville General Store Express as needed, and special amenities will make this a fun-filled afternoon—planned especially for your enjoyment. Our participants have gone out of their way to create something you will not soon forget. Call us for more information at 812 988-7303 or go to browncounty.com/tours. PARTICIPANTS: BEAR WALLOW DISTILLERY | BROWN COUNTY WINERY | COUNTRY HERITAGE WINERY | HARD TRUTH HILLS | NASHVILLE GENERAL STORE EXPRESS

May/June 2020 • Our Brown County 21

Fresh Homemade Fudge Old-Fashioned Candies Candy by the Pound Cream Filberts/Mothballs Rock Candy • Jelly Belly Chocolates/Turtles Pucker Powder Sugar Free We ship everywhere!

41 S. Van Buren St. Nashville, IN (in the Heritage Mall) 812.200.1077 HeritageCandyStore@gmail.com

Helmsburg GENERAL STORE

Women’s boutique, kids and teen clothing, men’s clothing, and household items Selling gently used items to benefit Brown County. Accepting clothing and household item donations.

Look for the sign 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

Kathryn Richardson Branch Manager 812-327-7462

Open ALWAYS on Tuesdays and Thursdays 10:00 to 5:00 (weather permitting)

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

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

Debbie Fleetwood Kathryn & Donna Team Scroggins Team Broker Brokers Brokers 812-327-6862 812-327-3865 812-327-7462 317-418-2320

Bob Kirlin Broker 812-720-0222

Phil Shively Team Brokers 812-325-2290 812-322-0378

Tom Vornholt Broker 317-989-3323

Janet Gaskins Administrative Assistant 812-988-2227

Real Estate Activity Continues and We are still actively seeking new LISTINGS!

Call your agent above TODAY 812-988-2227 • 158 N. Jefferson St. • Nashville, IN • callcarpenter.com 22 Our Brown County • May/June 2020

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

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

11 flavors of BEEF 3 flavors of TURKEY 3 flavors of BEEF BRISKET 4 flavors of BEEF STICKS 2 flavors of PORK 2 flavors of BACON

Locally built instruments and affordable student models meticulously displayed, making this little music store a destination point in Brown County Lovingly owned and operated by

Kara Barnard and Kristin Thompson

musicians, instructors and instrument adoption specialists

58 E. Main Nashville, IN—Look for BANJO by courthouse

812-200-3300 • www.weedpatchmusicshop.com

Lil Black Bear Inn B&B Breakfast Bre Br Bre rea ak akf kffa k ast as sstt Daily Daily Da illy ly

Also: Elk, Boar, Buffalo, Venison, Gator, Rabbit, Salmon, Kangaroo, Turtle, Ostrich, Trout, Camel, Python, Ahi

Jerky Seasonings & Dips • Peanuts

Your Home away from Home

125 S. Van Buren St. Artists Colony Shops (Between Toy Chest and Carol’s Gifts)

On three acres with a pond, grill, firepit, hot tub, and large patio

Nashville, IN • (812) 988-1592

8072 State Rd 46 East • Nashville, IN • 812-988-2233

houseofjerkybrownco.com

Close to Nashville and Columbus • Kid and Pet Friendly lilblackbearinn.com • lilblackbearinn@gmail.com

’

Luminox Watches (used by Navy Seals)

Variety of T-Shirts

Things you can live Thi li without... ih bbut who h wants to! Old Colonial Bldg. 60 N. Van Buren St. Nashville, Indiana•812.988.6590 menstoyshop@yahoo.com•Visit us on Facebook

Pipes, Tobaccos, and Premium Cigars

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

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

Wooden Signs made in Southern Indiana

May/June 2020 • 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 All Suite Hotel in Downtown Nashville

48 years of quality service in Brown County

Private Bedroom with King Bed Dining Area and Fully Equipped Kitchenette Living Room with Queen Sofa Sleeper Private Porch/Balcony Fireplaces and Whirlpool Baths Available

812-988-9000

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

24 Our Brown County • May/June 2020

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

Arts Village Brown County ART VENUE

Every item in our store is

HANDMADE IN NASHVILLE

Delivering Joy

Custom Bouquets, Unique Gifts, Plants, Cards and Balloons Delivered Locally

Specializing in:

• Live Edge Hardwood Benches • Tables • Sun Catchers • Cutting Boards • Serving Trays Many other beautiful items Digitally Carved Signage Custom Work Available Customized Wedding Gifts

Hand-poured Candles Made in our store 59 East Main Street (Old School Way Alley) Nashville, IN

www.ironweedgifts.com

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

Homemade Soups, Salads and Garden Sandwiches

· DINNER ·

Steak · Salmon · Pork 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

812 200 3151

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.

May/June 2020 • Our Brown County 25

s winter 2020 waned, the threat of the coronavirus pandemic seemed very far away. Life went on as usual here at Homestead Weaving Studio in southern Brown County, and preparations were being made for April’s Indiana Artisan Marketplace show in Indianapolis. Suddenly pockets of people infected with the virus began appearing closer to home and everything changed. With our spring show cancelled, we didn’t know what direction our home business would take. We just planned to “hunker down” and work on some projects around the house. For Bob, that included gathering geodes from the creek, reorganizing closets, and working on his massive CD, record, book, and license plate collections. For me, it meant doing things I usually didn’t have time for, including long-neglected computer work. By mid-March, local stores had cut hours or offered remote gift shopping, and many finally just closed to adhere to the stay-at-home order from the governor.

26 Our Brown County • May/June 2020

We didn’t need much convincing to stay home. We’re in the old-folks high risk category anyway, and since we live a long way from town, we’ve always stocked up on essentials. For once, having freezers and a pantry full of food, and an abundance of toilet paper, paid off. And Corrie, a big-hearted 20-something we’ve known for years, took pity on us and offered to do our shopping, Orders for our potholder loom kits started to pick up. These kits contain Bob’s handmade wooden looms and stretchy sock loops to weave potholders just like you used to make when you were a kid. Years ago, I connected with SolMate Socks and began getting “waste” from the factory to cut up and weave into rugs. But some of the socks are good enough to repair. I fix or finish them, and then give away hundreds each year to the local Weekend Backpack program, St. Vincent DePaul, homeless shelters, and other charities. Sock loops (which are the toe clips created after a knit sock is sewn shut) are an essential part of our kits but require cleaning and sorting to make them usable. The other main part of the kits is a loom, which Bob

CHRIS & BOB GUSTIN

makes from local poplar wood. We hired Brown County High School’s Eagle Manufacturing to handle one of the many steps involved, the drilling of holes for the pins. Luckily, we got our last batch of looms back from Eagle on the day students began spring break (which has since been extended until next school term). Finishing the looms took us another week. By late March, it became clear what our business needed to do. We increased the stock of the kits to fill demand from families needing activities at home. We added new items available through our website and Etsy. We found work for my apprentice, Stephanie, which she could do while we practiced wearing masks and social distancing. And we tried to help others. I decided I could help the facemask shortage by sewing cloth masks and providing them to friends and neighbors who needed them. What I didn’t anticipate was that an item we had in abundance—small stretchy sock loops—turned out to be a solution to an elastic shortage for the others making masks. Some of these cotton loops are rounder than others, and we discovered those work great to hook around your ears for facemasks. The happy accident means we have donated thousands of sock loops for others to use in making masks for

personal use and for health care workers. We also began shipping orders to other weavers in need of yarn and supplies. And we somehow found time to weave and work in the garden. We used the phone to stay in touch with our daughter in Hawaii and our son in Minnesota. Along the way, we took some time to listen to John Prine. He died in April after being infected with the coronavirus, and his music meant a lot to us. We’ve been married for more than 47 years, but we’ve loved his music for even longer than that. Growing more of our own food seemed like the thing to do when daffodils announced that spring, indeed, would come as usual. Bob prepared the garden beds and I planted seeds in the greenhouse. The peace and centering I found while planting gave me hope for the future. If this seed, the size of a pinpoint, can grow into a beautiful petunia, our country can get through this scary time. Some of the seeds I planted this spring were way past their prime, some even dating back to the 1990s. While I was tempted to throw them out, something in me wanted to give them a chance. Maybe they’ve just been waiting for that. Maybe that’s what we’re all waiting for—a chance to show that we’re better than Continued on 51

May/June 2020 • Our Brown County 27

n the Before Times, shaking the hand of a Nashville artisan or shop owner was as natural as the timber floorboards we stood on. The size of my appetite and thickness of my wallet were my only restrictions on a night out at one of Brown County’s many great places to eat and drink. Enjoying a local park or live musical event meant being among people—mingling, laughing, sweating people, lots of them. And talking with folks in the community for Our Brown County assignments meant just that: talking with them, being where they were, taking in the smells of their workshop or studio, seeing their eyes focus close on me. Ah, yes. The Before Times. The Friday before Saint Patrick’s Day, I got the news at my day job: due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the public library where I work would be closing down until further notice. Like millions of other Americans that weekend, I suddenly had some time on my compulsively-scrubbed hands. I didn’t know how long my family and I would be at home, waiting for life to return to normal, but I promised myself one thing: this was not going to be time wasted.

28 Our Brown County • May/June 2020

I’ve spent half my life lamenting that I “don’t have time” to do the things I want to do, and now I had plenty of that missing ingredient. But I knew that if I didn’t make a conscious effort otherwise, the time I now had would be wasted on napping and Netflix. (Okay, I may have done just a bit of those over the past weeks too.) Anyhow, I figured I already had two advantages when it came to enforced isolation: I’m an introvert, and I’m super nerdy. To keep my mind and my body from going to mush, I’ve carved out some time every day to exercise them both. Our new puppy has been faithful in keeping us active, making sure we get our daily walks in, and my wife has even coaxed me into joining her for a few calisthenics. Between my own books and the great free e-lending my public library offers, I’ve also focused on some blind spots in my learning (I’m shamefully ignorant of Africa’s nations and peoples, for instance, and I’m catching up on the classic literature I pretend to have already read). I’ve even managed to find a couple of free online courses that have been keeping me busy.

RYAN STACY The slowing down of daily life allowed me to pay better attention to the space around me. Now that I had time to cook, I could make dishes from scratch, using the tools and ingredients I already had, without feeling rushed or extravagant. Checking off a few long overdue to-dos by tackling some minor fixes around the house was more satisfying than I expected. And now I could actually listen to the hundreds of hours of music I’d collected for years, enjoying the re-discovery of such a simple pleasure. I even went through the crates and boxes of junk I’ve somehow accumulated over decades past—turns out I didn’t want a lot of what I was in them. I’ve also made time to pursue creative interests, old and new. Paper pop-ups have always fascinated me, so learning some new cuts and folds has been a lot of fun. My sketchbooks are filling up with drawings again. And although I can’t pursue photography outside like I used to, I’ve found a great new alternative for using my camera: a makeshift stop-motion animation setup in my basement. Though I didn’t realize it at the time, I picked a good year to try my hand at growing vegetables in straw bales. Normally, watching my plant seedlings sprout indoors each year, while pleasant, is pretty routine. But something about nurturing beautiful organisms, envisioning what they would become later in the season, was extra meaningful during lockdown. Getting my bales conditioned through a fertilizingand-watering process in the weeks leading up to planting day was also a welcome exercise in patience and reward: they’re doing great now, and I’m laying in my plants and seeds with lots of optimism for a good summer harvest. I could say my wife and I are “lucky” or “fortunate” to be able to weather the current crisis without too much worry. Instead I’ll call it what it is: we’re privileged enough to have jobs that allow us to work from home, and to have the resources to be flexible in our response to the pandemic. A quick look around makes it clear that not everybody enjoys the same privilege, so in a time of need, it won’t cut it for us to neglect the community that’s been so good to us. We’re digging a little deeper into our pockets to support the local businesses that remain open these days, and checking in on our more vulnerable friends and neighbors. We’ve also tapped into the efforts of some of the community

groups mobilized to get necessities where they need to go, volunteering our time and money as we’re able. (I’ll take this opportunity to give a big thanks to our grocery and health care workers, our delivery drivers, our public servants, and everybody else who has kept our community going at their own personal risk.) This pandemic has changed the world around us, maybe forever. I still don’t know when Nashville’s shops will be filled with locals and visitors again, or when the lights will come up onstage at the Brown County Music Center, or when we’ll pass each other at the State Park with close-up with smiles, rather than careful glances from a safe distance. But when that happens at last, I’d like to think we’ll be more appreciative of what and who’s around us, and more intentional about how we spend our time and energy each day. And while I’d never say I’m glad a public health crisis disrupted our lives in such a dramatic way, I’m grateful for the lessons it’s taught me about what’s important and what’s merely a distraction. See you when we’re up and running again! 

May/June 2020 • Our Brown County 29

photos by Mike Briner

Rescheduled Events and Cancellations

e don’t have a calendar for this issue because so many things were uncertain at the time we sent pages to the press. Some events have been rescheduled with late summer and fall dates, and some things have been cancelled. Always call ahead to verify the specifics about an event before planning a trip, especially in 2020. May and June are usually the prime months for festivals at Bill Monroe’s Music Park in Bean Blossom, but the ones previously scheduled for this year have been postponed until the fall. See the new dates below.

OUR 2020 FOR 2020 PROGRAM

It’s good for us. It’s good for you. Introducing 2020 for 2020. Let’s be honest—we are all concerned at this moment about the future. Understandably, we are thinking about the long-term sustainability of the Brown County Playhouse. SUPPORT NOW & ENJOY LATER!

Take us up on one of our 2020 for 2020 offerings, and help yourself to some quality upcoming entertainment. It’s a great way to help support us and help yourself at the same time! It’s good for us. It’s good for you.

The wineries, breweries, and bar/restaurants that offer entertainment on the weekends can’t tell when groups of people will be able to congregate on their properties, much less who will be playing on what days. The Spring Blossom Parade held every year on the first Saturday in May has been cancelled. The Brown County Playhouse and the Brown County Music Center have to stay dark for now. The Indiana Wine Fair held at Story, Indiana every May, has been postponed until Saturday, August 8. The Dances with Dirt Gnaw Bone race event is cancelled for 2020. You will have to wait till next year to run that one. The Brown County Historical Society’s Quilt Show scheduled for the end of May is cancelled. The Brown County Art Gallery’s Mabel B. Annis Student Art Competition was cancelled but the June Indiana Heritage Arts Show has been rescheduled for November 14 through December 5. The Dawg Gone Walk and Fiesta held by the Brown County Humane Society in May has been postponed until fall with a new date yet to be determined. Please see the list below for a quick reference of rescheduled or cancelled events: SPRING BLOSSOM PARADE Cancelled INDIANA WINE FAIR AT STORY August 8 DANCES WITH DIRT TRAIL RUN Cancelled DAWG GONE WALK & FIESTA Moved to fall JOHN HARTFORD MEMORIAL FESTIVAL Sept. 30 - Oct. 3 HISTORICAL SOCIETY QUILT SHOW Cancelled

$20.20 / FOREVER SHOW TICKETS

$2020 / UNLIMITED SHOWS FOR 2

Buy any number of show tickets, redeemable for future events—at a reduced rate—NOW. Save around $5-10 on these future shows.

Invest $2020, and receive an Unlimited Shows for 2 Card, allowing you 2 seats for unlimited shows for 12 months after we re-open.

Of course, you can always donate or support in many other ways, too!

812.988.6555 | BrownCountyPlayhouse.org Showtimes, tickets & schedule online Box Office: Thursday-Sunday | 70 S. Van Buren St. Nashville, IN

32 Our Brown County • May/June 2020

INDIANA HERITAGE ARTS SHOW Nov. 14 - Dec. 5 BILL MONROE BEAN BLOSSOM BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL (Combined w/ Uncle Pen Days) Sept. 19 - 26 Keep checking the websites for the Brown County Playhouse <BrownCountyPlayhouse.org> and the Brown County Music Center <BrownCountyMusicCenter.com> for any news regarding restrictions on large gatherings. 

Brown County

KOA

>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<

Open April–October

2248 State Road 46 East • Nashville, IN Minutes away from fine dining, shopping, museums, live entertainment, and theater

A mile from the new Brown County Music Center

Info: 812-988-4675 • Reservations: 800-562-9132 www.browncountykoa.com

All aboard!

NASHVILLE NASHVILLE EXPRESS EXPRESS Historical Hiis H st tor oric ca all Sight-seeing Sight ig gh ht t--s se ee eiin ng Tours Tou To Tour ur rs of of Nashville Nas ash hv viillle le

Kids 5 & Under Ride FREE 25 minute narrated historical and informational tour with a scenic loop along Old State Road 46 also service to Seasons, Brown County Inn, Quality Inn

Board at Fearrin’s Ice Cream Depot Corner of Van Buren & Franklin Streets

812-988-6690

Available for field trips, business functions, private tours

Brown County

History Center Displays and Exhibits

Pioneer Village Museum

Design Your Own or choose from Ready Made Garments Hundreds of choices! • Something for all ages and sizes • T-Shirts • Hoodies • LS Tees • Hats

• Tanks • Jackets • Jerseys • Tye Dye

• Night Shirts • Swim Shorts • Beach Towels • Flip Flops

Corner of Washington and Van Buren Street (Across from Visitors Center) Nashville, IN • 812-988-6939

Bringing Brown County’s Past to Life

Looking for event space? or more info 812-988-2899 Open Tues., Wed., Fri., Sat. 11–4, Archives: Tues. and Fri. 1–4 North of the courthouse • Donations welcome

May/June 2020 • Our Brown County 33

PAIGE LANGENDERFER

recently asked my 88-year-old grandmother if she could recall another time in her life when the world was so apprehensive or so wearied. Without a moment to think, she said, “no, I haven’t lived through anything like this.” Granted, she was a very young child during the Great Depression and just a teenager during World War II, but having lived through those difficult times and still finding today’s environment uniquely challenging is a major statement. While this is certainly not war time, I feel very anxious for our two young daughters. This pandemic has changed some of our routines. Going to the grocery now makes me sad. People will not even look at each other or talk. At home, my husband works 40 hours a week in our basement office, most of the time with an earpiece in trying to communicate issues that are far easier to explain in person.

My daughters Quincy and Amelia, ages four and three, want to know why the “germs” have closed the playgrounds and parks, and why the neighbor kids won’t play with them anymore. They ask me almost daily if the “germs are gone” so they can see their friends or go to school. And while all of that is scary and stressful, there is one part of our lives that has been absolutely untouched. My husband and I raise goats, sheep, and chickens (with a llama named Bob and a giant dog named Artie for protection). The animals have been our source of comfort.

34 Our Brown County • May/June 2020

While the rest of our lives are messy, the work on the farm remains exactly the same. Every day they greet us with the same excitement and anticipation for food. Just like every spring, the goat’s feet need trimmed, the sheep’s wool needs sheared, and the fence for the spring pasture needs built. In the time our community has been quarantined, we have hatched 14 chicks and welcomed five new baby goats and one little lamb to the farm. We had to cancel Amelia’s third birthday party. She spent the day at the farm instead, chasing baby goats and playing imaginary games that reminded me of my childhood. I absolutely look forward to the day when we can visit friends and family and enjoy our community again, but it is also comforting knowing that even in the chaos some things never change. 

May/June 2020 • Our Brown County 35

AUTHENTIC NEW YORK STYLE PIZZA

You will find traffic stopping items at 58 South! Our porch review has attracted many of you already. We enjoy offering today’s fashion. You’ll find affordable items that are wearable every day or for those special occasions. Our accessories, hats, and scarves complete the outfit or add new fresh looks to your existing wardrobe. Our Fitflops will bring comfort to your tired and weary feet—come hear the testimonies!

58 South Apparel 58 S. Van Buren St. • Nashville, IN

Located in downtown Nashville next to the Brown County Playhouse 812-988-8440 • fiftyeightsouth@gmail.com

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

We appreciate our loyal customers!

Our market fresh product selections are the result of your requests. This season we display: Flags & Gazing Balls, Dog & Cat themed items, Tervis Tumblers, Swan Creek, Woodstock Chimes, Melissa & Doug, Stony Creek Lighted Vases, Simply Southern T’s & Ivory Ella, Lizzie James and Katie Lofton, Our Favorite Handcrafted Jewelry

Located in the heart of downtown Nashville next to Out of The Ordinary and across from the Brown County Playhouse

Did we mention all the hats, scarves, and fashion jewelry?

Rhonda Kay’s 69 S. Van Buren St. • Nashville, IN 812-988-2050 • rhondakays@msn.com

36 Our Brown County • May/June 2020

Open Daily at 11 a.m.

Hotel Hotel & Conference Conference Center Center Located across from the NEW Brown County Music Center

Open Year-Round for Lunch & Dinner

Fresh made to order starters, salads, sandwiches and house specialties

Brown County’s only “Husband Day Care” Back Door Alley Entrance

Guinness on tap • Full bar • Specialty drinks • Bloody Mary • Islander • Margarita

Full menu available in Bar • Large TV Out of the Ordinary Restaurant & Hickory Sports Bar

61 South Van Buren St. • Nashville, IN Across the street from the Brown County Playhouse

• Balcony Balcony Rooms Rooms

come see in antique alley… (812) 778-9730 • us OutOfTheOrdinaryRestaurant

• Restaurant Restaurant • Lounge Lounge

sunday 12-4, tuesday—saturday 11-5, Tuesday evening 6:30-8:30

92 w franklin st ¥ nashville, in ¥ 812.988.0336 vist www.claypurl.com for current information, and online shopping now available!

• Conference Conference facility–up facility–up to to 500 500 560 State Road 46 East, Nashville, IN

812-988-2284 • SeasonsLodge.com May/June 2020 • Our Brown County 37

JULIA PEARSON

fter several weeks of sheltering in our Minnesota residence due to the global hammering of the coronavirus, signs of spring at last are appearing through our windows. Robins, redwing blackbirds, warblers, and amorous wood ducks are achingly seen by both heart and eyes. The stone mantelpiece in Selma and T.C. Steele’s “house of the singing winds” comes to mind. It was engraved by Gustave Baumann with the salutation: “Every morning I take off my hat to the beauty of the world.” It feels authentic in my own home in this strangest of times. I like to sit with the morning’s coffee and savor the visits in memory of friends and kin. It can’t be labeled “sentimental” since everyone is doing it now, because it is soothing and entertaining at once—the funny stories around proms and graduations, June weddings of earlier years, and newborn animals in forest and barnyards. Brown County always presented one of the best places for star-gazing due to its lack of light pollution.

38 Our Brown County • May/June 2020

photos by Kate Remmes

Universal problems and tiny personal ones seem smaller with the sky looking down on us, so Brown County becomes a chosen mental sanctuary and setting in daydreams. An afternoon visit in years past with Pauline Hoover comes to mind. She told how she attended a one-room schoolhouse in Brown County. Fridays were special “hot lunch” days—students brought hotdogs and their teacher cooked them in a coffee on the school’s woodstove. Another native Brown Countian told me how he carried a lunch of butter or jelly bread wrapped in newspaper to school. From the time he was nine or ten years old, he bought his own school books. After school he worked for 25 cents a day and dinner: cleaning chicken houses, mowing lawns, cutting firewood, and carrying water for home use. Another woman spoke in earnest of the hard winter months—when poverty was a constant neighbor in the Indiana hills. Children trudged

through snow drifts to get to school, their feet wrapped in burlap sacks for extra warmth. One Christmas cash money was in such short supply that oatmeal was the family’s supper. When winter passed, picking blackberries was a way to bring in funds. She told me how her grandma was sad because Grandpa had no shoes to wear as he went into the prickly berry canes to fill the baskets of berries. I always thought “salt of the earth” aptly described the people who lived through these earlier times. The salty flavor of life must have come through the salt in the sweat of all their hard work and the salt of their tears—tears of hearty laughs and tears of deep sorrows. I remember the story of how Ralph Parsley wooed his honey, Garnet. He said that he found her at church in Spearsville. The young couple hung out with friends at Poore’s Watermelon Patch, and wed in Trafalgar on August 14, 1938 after a courtship of three years. Ralph lived and farmed on Gatesville Road for around 70 plus years. At his funeral in 2012 at Unity Baptist Church, Parsley’s son, John, recalled that the hymn “Love Lifted Me” was hummed or whistled by his father during his daily farm work. Springtime in Nashville is colored with the purple of wisteria on building walls and fences and irises in beds. Daffodils, jonquils, and tulips are their own punctuation for the awakening season. I miss the white blossom riots of dogwood trees on the hillsides on route 46 between Bloomington and Nashville. It’s just too cold for dogwoods to plant their feet here in the “Land of 10,000 Lakes.” Ralph Waldo Emerson said “Earth laughs in flowers,” and it seems especially true in 2020. The

season is ripe for smiles from the ground up. I can hear the excited chatter of school children arriving in big yellow school buses at the Pioneer Village—field trip season. The smell of coal smoke and the clang of the hammer against anvil at the blacksmith shop beside the chestnut tree. In this phantom scene in my mind’s eye, Ada Jones and Nel Hamilton are directing students to Dr. Ralphy’s office, the pioneer homestead, the loom room, and the old log jail. All the activity draws the attention of shoppers who ask if they can join the school children and learn about early Brown County pioneer life. After ten inches of snow this past Easter Sunday, our Minnesota spring is several weeks behind Indiana. My husband, Bruce, and I are finding it a delightful “stay-cation” to wander through our backyard—siting a rabbit hunkered down under the pine trees and chipmunks peeping out through the cracks of the retaining wall. We can see where our dog, Suki, has found hidey-holes to watch for squirrels and rabbits. We join the rest of our global citizens appreciating Mother Earth for the unfolding daily miracles of springtime. And I agree with Ralph Parsley, “Love Lifted Me” is the best music playing in the background. 

Greenhouse is open Hope Hoopppee toto see see you you ddown doown on on the th e ffarm arm

Farms and greenhouses are essential. We are open and here to serve you. We offer curbside service or you may enter the retail barn and/or greenhouse while practicing 6 feet social distancing. Masks and gloves are recommended.

317-878-9317 www.apple-works.com 8157 S 250 W. Trafalgar, IN

Visit us on Facebook for the latest happenings

May/June 2020 • Our Brown County 39

Head over

Heels

• Minnetonka • Stetson n • Tilleyy Hats • Merrell

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

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

1210 W. 2nd St. Bloomington BloomingtonFireplaces.com

CARMEL CORN COTTAGE Assorted Ice Cream Bars New Popcorn Flavors

Double Dipped Bacon Popcorn Pickle Popcorn

Sweet Treats

Butter Toffee Chocolate Delites Chocolate Coated Bacon Strips Carmel Coated Bacon Strips

Free Samples

Show this ad & receive a FREE small drink or Caramel Puff with popcorn purchase.

Look for the red & white building at the north end of town

812-988-6011 • CarmelCornCottage.com 40 Our Brown County • May/June 2020

The

Ferguson House • Holiday Decor • Swan Creek Candles • Home Accessories • Fashion Jewelry • Garden Accents • Iron Decor • Man Cave and more…

78 West Franklin Street • Nashville, IN • 812-988-7388

Fashion Apparel Jewelry and Purses 59 East Main Street, Suite B • Nashville, IN • 812-988-8707

Foxfire • Gifts and Home Decor • Kitchen Accessories • Personalized and • Baby Gifts Memoriam Gifts • Holiday Decor • Swan Creek Candles • Garden Decor 59 East Main Street, Suite A • Nashville, IN • 812-988-8707 May/June 2020 • Our Brown County 41

GRANDPA JEFF’S

Buffalo Nickel

Trail Rides Relax on a journey with Grandpa Jeff. ff. Take in the scenery and wildlife. No two rides will ever be the same —sunny summer days, fall colors, winter snowfalls, spring blossoms. Trail Rides, Pony Rides, Hay Rides Cattle Drives, and Custom Excursions

At least one hour notice. Trail Ride Reservations can be made by phone, e-mail, or through our website.

• Log Cabins • Game Rooms • Pet Friendly • Hot Tubs • Private Pools • Lake Fronts

Grandpa Jeff personally trained our horses to take exceptional care of your family and friends of all ages.

Located in the heart of Nashville. 300 sq ft deck with hot tub and view of downtown. Accommodates up to 4 people.

Call, Book Online, or Stop in! 812.988.6554 • 30 Washington St. • Nashville, IN Like and Follow Us! MoonDanceVacationHomes.com

call or text www.GrandpaJeffsTrailRides.com cell (812)272-0702 info@GrandpaJeffsTrailRides.com 5889 S. Skinner Rd. Morgantown, Indiana

Wine Tasting Daily Choose from multiple Award Winning Wines! Patio & Indoor Seating Gift Shop Live Music Every Friday & Saturday 7-10 pm S. Van Buren & Washington, Nashville IN 42 Our Brown County • May/June 2020

812.988.8500

countryheritagewinery.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

text NA SHV

990o0

Ever-Growing Selection of Gluten-Free Products

ILLE

30 Hawthorne Dr. • Nashville • East SR 46 at light • 812-988-4546

Brown County Getaways

HOTEL NASHVILLE

BRICK LODGE

NORTH HOUSE

Suites, Studios, Hot Tubs, Restaurant & Bar Indoor Pool, Sauna, Whirlpool, Conference Facilities Weddings & Receptions, Special Getaway Packages

Accommodates 8 Guests, 2 Bedrooms & 2 Baths Game Room w/Pool Table, Cable TV, DVD Player Full Equipped Kitchen, Central Heat & Air Gas Fireplace, Outdoor Hot Tub, Gas Grill

Accommodates 8 Guests, 3 Bedrooms & 2 1/2 Baths Cable TV, DVD Player, Fully Equipped Kitchen Central Heat & Air, Electric Fireplace Secluded Hot Tub, Gas Grill

245 N. Jefferson St. | 812-988-8400 |800-848-6274 www.hotelnashville.com

1878 N. State Rd. 135 | 812-988-6429 www.bricklodge.com

194 N. Van Buren St. | 812-988-6429 www.northhousegetaway.com

May/June 2020 • Our Brown County 43

THE SAMPLER

Temporary

Take Out

’ve got to admit, this whole thing kind of caught me unprepared. Suddenly, before I really realized what was going on, there was a gubernatorial “Stay Home!” order in place, and the bars and restaurants were closed. How is a Sampler to survive? More than most, the Sampler depends upon the well-appointed dining rooms, the wayside bistros, the cozy cabarets of the Brown County restaurant industry. Without them, where will I get my deep-fried appetizers, my thought-provoking entrees, my profoundly satisfying desserts? In light of the emergency would the Sampler survive? I was bound to wonder as I surveyed the food on hand: a couple of cans of sardines and lima beans; a bag of dried lentils; half a jar of peanut butter with age; plus a couple dozen take-home boxes in various stages of mold and decay. I had to leave the house to go do my laundry. Not all Brown Countians are blessed with home facilities, and we all need clean drawers sooner or later. At the laundromat, I noticed the attendant eating something from a white foam container. Was it…? Could it be…? It was. Biscuits and Gravy! That seminal, nurturing breakfast which has been an object of my intense study. “Is that from Heavenly Biscuit?” I asked. “Yup,” she replied, between mouthfuls. And then, I started seeing the signs all around town: Open for Take-out. Yes! Take-out will save us!

44 Our Brown County • May/June 2020

FREE in-store demos!

Old School Way and Pittman House Lane

(next to the Toy Chest, behind Yesteryear Old Time Photos) Visit our website for class schedules www.wishfulthinking-in.com • 812-988-7009

local artisans

Established 2001

One of the ways I have been amusing myself during the emergency is just by driving around Brown County. After all, you’re in the safety and comfort of your own vehicle. It’s much like sitting on the sofa, except the sofa is moving around to various Brown County scenes. A little drive in the country took me to The Farmhouse Café in the north east part of the county. They offered a limited take-out menu that included tenderloins, chicken salad, and Reuben sandwiches with potato salad, chips, and fruit. I confess I do not enjoy this enforced separation from the everyday jostle and casual encounter of life in a small town—the low hum of a well-appointed dining room. I look back fondly on all the meals I have consumed in all the eateries and beaneries around old Brown County. I hope to sit there again, soon, at the window seat, enjoying the special things that make a meal more than just food; the style, the smiles, the personal touch; the careful preparation and presentation; the polite and thoughtful staff. This too shall pass. Until then, I will scoot the kitchen table up near the window and put on a fresh linen tablecloth and perhaps a small vase of flowers. I will place the food from the take-out containers on nice china plates, set the table with real silverware. I will dine in splendid leisure as I gaze out upon the onrushing spring in Brown County with the usual wonder and delight. And I will be profoundly satisfied. 

created by hand

Even though we couldn’t visit our favorite restaurants and bask in the glory of the window table while being waited on hand and foot, we could partake of the gustatory delights they would normally offer inside, on the outside, in the comfort of our own home, or the car, if we’re too hungry to wait. Accordingly, I set about investigating the various comestibles-to-go from around the little town that loves to eat. The Hobnob Corner, that bastion of Nashville dining offered carry-out. They even brought it to the car. They offered their regular sandwiches and soups (love that Rube Martin), plus, the day I checked it out, quiche, spaghetti, and Mandarin chicken. Out of the Ordinary was serving their regular menu with a few exceptions. You could pick up your order in the alley next to the bar. The day I went, they had a Ribeye steak sandwich with Cole slaw and chips as a special. Also, soup of the day. Brozinni Pizzaria offered their regular menu every day. You could call ahead or order at the counter. Casa del Sol took call-in orders off their regular menu and brought it to your car. There were others. Details varied at the time I wrote this. Some restaurants had limited hours and days of the week. It was sort of a seek-and-ye-shallfind type of situation. Then there were places that always offer food on the go like Subway and McDonald’s. And the Brown County IGA sells fried chicken and other hot meals during the day—God bless ’em.

E S T

1 9 7 8

BROWN COUNTY

Fine arts and crafts by local and area artists View their work on Facebook & Instagram See something you want? Just message us! Shipping & Local Delivery

Gallery viewing by appointment text 765.414.8874 to schedule

BrownCountyCraftGallery.com

May/June 2020 • Our Brown County 45

Visit

Morgantown 10 miles north of Nashville on scenic State Road 135 Sales . Repair . Watch Batteries

75 W. Washington St., Morgantown, IN 46160

www.TheClockConnection.com Like us on Facebook Open Tue-Fri 11-5pm & Sat 10-2pm Closed Sun & Mon 812-597-5414 . houseofclocks@att.net

ANTIQUES CO-OP 129 W. Washington St. • Morgantown, IN 46160 (In the old hardware store building)

Country Primitives Advertising Antique Garden Old Paint Early Smalls Open 6 Days (Closed Mon.)

Furniture, Art Architectural Elements Pottery The Odd and Unusual and A General Line Like us on Facebook

(812) 597-4530

Layaway Available

ART Beyond Crayons Creativity beyond the classroom Pick your • Art Lessons for All Ages Palette: • Group Painting Parties

• Birthday Paint Parties • Home Schooled Instruction

Judy D. Wells • owner, K–12 Licensed Educator • judydenisewells@gmail.com 59 S. Marion St. • Morgantown, IN • (317) 403-7147 Flexible hours including weekends and evenings

46 Our Brown County • May/June 2020

Colonel Vawter Day every September

Nashville, Indiana’s #1 Fun Attraction

COPPERHEAD CREEK

GEM MINE

“A Lil’ Taste of Heaven” SERVING BREAKFAST AND LUNCH

Pan for Gems Fossils Arrowheads

Fun and Educational for All Ages

BROWN COUNTY

ROCK and FOSSIL SHOP

Featuring Fabulous:

Biscuit Biscuit Sandwiches Sandwiches Homemade Homemade Biscuits Biscuits and and Sausage Sausage Gravy Gravy Cinnamon Cinnamon and and Pecan Pecan Rolls Rolls Bottomless Coffee and Ice Tea

812-720-3440

5000 lbs. of NEW Beautiful & Unique Specimens for 2020

165 N. Van Buren St. • Nashville, IN

Just North of the Courthouse 79 N. Van Buren ~ (812) 988-2422

CHECK OUR FACEBOOK PAGE FOR HOURS Delivery within a mile radius when available Pet-friendly patio

Find us on Facebook at Heavenly Biscuit Inc.

“Smack Dab in the Heart of the Village” Nashville, Indiana

Located just North of the Courthouse across from Big Woods Restaurant and Brewery

www.VisitBrownCounty.com

(812) 988-2422

The Iris Garden rests comfortably in the heart of the village of Nashville. Simply walk out of your door to explore the wonderful shops, restaurants, wineries, and breweries without having to drive anywhere.

May/June 2020 • Our Brown County 47

MARK BLACKWELL

iving in the country, a person learns that there are things that can be put off and there are things that necessitate immediate attention. You can put off painting the chicken coop for a while but if the chickens start disappearing, then you must take action and stick with it until the threat is dealt with. In the case of disappearing domestic fowl, it is usually a predator like a weasel, raccoon, or hawk. First you must identify the offender, then find out how he, she, or it is getting to the chickens. That takes patience and diligence. You can’t just run off to the movies or down to the tavern. You have to stay home and plug the hole in the coop. That’s where we are with this COVID-19 stuff. We have all been inside for a while now, and we might have a ways to go, but that doesn’t mean we can’t dream a little and get ready. One thing about Brown County is its ability to inspire. I imagine that a lot of folks can’t really say what it is about the county that draws them here. I believe that it is the inspiration to appreciate nature with a more artful approach to life. A good place to start might be to ask, “What makes Brown County a special place?”

48 Our Brown County • May/June 2020

The first thing that jumps to my mind is the scenery: the hills crowned with trees and veiled in early morning mist; or a winding path through the forest that beckons with the promise of a glimpse of Trout Lilies or morel mushrooms. It could be a fragrant, freshly mown backroads field of hay on a sunny afternoon. Artists discovered our county’s scenic charms over a hundred years ago. It was back in the summer of 1900, when a Chicago newspaper printed an article praising the natural beauty of Brown County. An artist named Adolph Shulz read the article and came down to see it for himself. He was entranced, sent word out to his fellow artists, and started the art colony. Painters came from all over to capture Brown County on canvas. Another Brown County inspiration is craftwork. The first settlers had to be self-reliant and talented enough to make useful items. They made it all—from cabins to cabinets, dishes to furniture, and everything in between. Today, the county is home to weavers, potters, stained glass artists, quilters, blacksmiths, and woodworkers. These are the people who are inspired to work with their hands to create beautiful useful objects. When you wrap yourself in a handwoven shawl or

drink your coffee out of a hand thrown mug, you can sense the communion of material, maker, and yourself. It is a strange phenomenon, but I have heard folks say that they were just poking around in some shop and a piece of pottery called out to them. I think craftwork is like music. A musician works and hones a song, polishes the delivery, then turns it over to the person who should hear it. Music is a sure Brown County inspiration. To paraphrase a famous lyric, “These hills are alive with the sound of music.” A fiddle player was no doubt among the first half dozen or so settlers here. Back in the early part of the last century there was a couple of musicians from Brown County by the names of Doc and Diner (that would be dialect for Dinah) Biesel who got semi-famous. They played “Old Time” music in the old-time way. The Brown County Jamboree was established in the 1940s. It showcased local talent as well as national touring acts. In 1952 a Kentucky mandolin picker with a high tenor voice bought the Jamboree. His name was Bill Monroe and he set the Jamboree on a new course resulting in the longest running Bluegrass festival in in the country. The beauty of Brown County inspired Hoagy Carmichael to compose “Brown County in Autumn.” Back in the 1960s, the local Stringbean String Band was burnin’ up the woods with their music. We once had a venue called The Little Nashville Opry that hosted lots of famous country music stars. Now we have the new Brown County Music Center. This center is still in its infancy, but from the shows I’ve seen, it is one of the best venues for music that you can imagine. The Brown County Playhouse is also a wonderful smaller venue that goes back 70 years. While I’m on the subject of music, about half the residents of the county are pickers of one kind or another, and the other half wishes they were. So, that’s my take on Brown County and why we love it. It speaks to our individual souls. The question remains. “What to do we do until we can get back to being inspired?” Well, I think maybe we could put our memories and dreams on paper or canvas. We could learn a musical instrument—maybe take up the banjo. I’m workin’ on a new hiking staff. We can all put in time doing the things Brown County has inspired us to do. When it’s safe to venture out again, Brown County will still be here to inspire us. 

COX CREEK MILL

Unique Metal Art Studio home of

The Iron Gate

by Brad Cox Brad Cox and his wife Stephanie invite you to discover their studio and mill located along the banks of Salt Creek just 10 minutes from Nashville.

4705 Annie Smith Rd. Nashville theirongatebybradcox@yahoo.com

Hours vary. Call ahead.

Your Headquarters for the Great Outdoors CAMPING SUPPLIES: Tents, Camping Lights, Sleeping Bags, Grills, Fire Starters, Coleman Heaters & Lanterns, Cooking Utensils • Fishing Tackle • Horse Tack • RV Replacement Parts • Bee Keeping Supplies • Maple Syrup Supplies • Pet & Livestock Food • Antiques We Fill Propane Tanks

WE SELL & DELIVER BULK MULCH & TOPSOIL Salt Creek Plaza • Nashville (812) 988-8888 • www.BearHardware.com Mon.–Sat. 7:30am–7:00pm • Sun. 10:00am–4:00pm

May/June 2020 • Our Brown County 49

“I have my books, and my poetry to protect me. I am shielded in my armor.

JIM EAGLEMAN

Hiding in my room, safe within my womb, I touch no one and no one touches me…” —Paul Simon I Am A Rock

y biologist training is getting tested these days, especially when I hear terms like epidemiology and virulence. I look up definitions, watch the news, try to educate myself, and wonder if there will ever be an end to the confusion? The Coronavirus is at the forefront of everyone’s mind—how to prepare, stay safe, and simply exist. The virus continues to infect its way into our everyday lives, directly, and indirectly. Each day brings something new: more uncertainty, graphs of low and high curves, more hospital overload. As we continue to maintain seclusion, home becomes sanctuary. Simply stepping outside to feel the sun and breeze, hear birds, can be comforting. We often hear nature can cure melancholy, clear heads, add clarity to busy lives. In these troubling times particularly, I want to experience more of nature’s healing. But what can I do if my favorite trail is crowded, and parking lots at natural areas are full? While parks remain open with free admittance, hikers, dog walkers, and campers line up. Parks are people’s places, but social distance can be compromised. Many popular places were closed at the time of this writing. How can I enjoy nature from home? Like me, you may have already turned to some of your favorite authors. Reading can complete my day when I’m done with projects. It can comfort when restlessness or worry sets in. I scan the shelf for what’s next. Authors like Abbey, Leopold, and Teale provide a historic look, while writers like Weidensaul, McPhee, and Quammen write of today’s issues.

50 Our Brown County • May/June 2020

My favorite nature books and authors are enjoyed again leisurely, with no time constraints or deadlines. Reading takes on more significance with a second or third go round with a favorite. I am grounded with these treasured works. They are genuine and safe. I am brought back to a nature site or scene by the author with close observation or study. I admire that. Inspired, I hope to experience the same thing, to get out soon to see for myself. I read more closely and note particulars, not to miss anything. Then I think, “Will it ever be the same? Will things ever return to normal?” Reading about calamities I start to see parallels. Biologists tell us interruptions in nature are part of the plan. Natural disturbances like fire, earthquakes, and flooding temporarily impact normal life. In natural systems, animals adjust over time as new environments

are exploited. Widespread diseases in nature that reach epidemic proportions disrupt and may take years to recover. Yet nature will respond. There’s resilience. Nature abhors a vacuum and recovery of some kind inevitable. Uncertainties always exist— predictions can be well off target. Observations are reviewable from a perspective of trend and place. A pandemic is far different. With this never before assault on modern worldwide humanity, we trust the medical experts and heed their warnings while understanding the assault can continue and strike again. We follow precautions and remain secluded. This appears to be the best method to lessen the spread of the attack. As I follow the mayhem, try to make sense of what we learn, and follow stay-at-home protocols, my faith is science. Understanding how things work keeps me together. I am self-quarantining, playing music, reading, hiking our property, and finding enjoyment in house projects. Recently several junk drawers and shelves

in the house have never been better organized. And perusal of nature journals, stories, and discoveries continues to be a healing source of joy. While I am sequestered I am not sentenced to solitary confinement. I still have my freedoms and rights, and fortunately, my health, in my place of refuge—my home where I’m supposed to be. I can do this. I am a rock! 

GUSTINS continued from 27 we thought we were, better than other people thought we were. Now is the time that we need to help each other. In a way, that is creating, too. Creating friendships, community, family. It reminds us of the saying which stems from the first century philosopher Hillel the Elder, but has lately been attributed to everyone from Malcolm X to Mikael Gorbachev to Emma Watson: “If not me, who? If not now, when?”

Kara Barnard

May/June 2020 • Our Brown County 51

INFO PAGES

Precise Books and Payroll, Inc. Locally owned since 2010

• Individual Income and Business Taxes • Business Set Up • Business Financial Statements • Payroll Preparation and Payroll Taxes

ANTIQUES

ACCOUNTING & PAYROLL

52 Our Brown County • May/June 2020

(812) 988-4031

www.precisebooksandpayroll.com

COMPLETE COLLISION REPAIR

Full Service Mechanical Garage 24 Hour Towing–Big or Small, We Do it All

CHURCH

1814 State Rd. 135 N. • Nashville, IN 47448 812-988-7518 • 812-325-9209 (after hours)

AUTO - TIRE, REPAIR, TOW

AL’s PAINT & BODY

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

Your Ad Can Appear Here

Reach thousands of readers for just $70 an issue (6 a year)

(discounts for multiple issues)

Contact Cindy at ourbrown@bluemarble.net or call 812-988-8807

Brown County Tire TIRE &

AUTO Repair

24 hr. Wrecker Service

812-988-8473

27 Salt Creek Rd (Intersection SR 46) Nashville

Sunday Services: 9:00 am & 10:30 am Youth Group meets Wednesdays 6:30–8:00 pm Kids Worship & Nursery Sunday mornings

160 S. Van Buren St. • Nashville, IN

812-988-2889 • www.nashvillechristianchurch.org

EYE CARE

YOUR CATEGORY

BAGGED TRASH DROP OFF

AUTO COLLISION, REPAIR, TOW

138 S. Jefferson St. Suite C • P.O. Box 953 Nashville, IN 47448

Plum Creek Antiques Open-Air Market Bean Blossom • Fruit Jars • Garden Art • Furniture • Iron Things, • Lots of Junk and more 5 minutes north of Nashville (intersection of SR 135 & SR 45) (812) 988-6268

Checking eyes in Brown County for over 50 years!

50 Willow Street • Nashville, IN 812-988-4937

INFO PAGES Continued on 54

May/June 2020 • Our Brown County 53

CRITSER’S

Greenhouse

Indiana Seamless GUTTERING

Flowers & Gifts

Annuals Perennials Plants

FFresh Cut Flowers and Plants for All Occasions

SR 135 N. at Brown County line 812-597-5388

559 W. Washington St. Morgantown 812-597-4551

GUTTERING

FLOWERS & PLANTS

INFO PAGES

812-344-4167

Blue Elk Family Clinic

Dr. Sanchez MD Family Practice 50 E. Willow St. Suite 2 • Nashville, IN (Salt Creek Medical Arts Building) 9 to 5 weekdays except 9 to 12 on Thursdays

Acute Care and Chronic Care (no chronic pain) Behavioral Health (anxiety/depression) GeneSight Testing, DOT/Sports/College physicals, etc.

HEALTH

HEALTH CARE

Matt Hunter

Quality Workmanship since 1992 Fully Insured

critsersflowersandgifts.com

Opening May 2020

Free Estimates

Gutter Cleaning and Leaf Cover Available

INSURANCE

HEALTH & LIVING

Contact office 812-200-8265 or Facebook to schedule appointment. Clinic is CASH PAY ONLY. Visit Facebook page for services/pricing.

www.BrownCountyHealth.us

CARDON - EXPERT SENIOR LIVING SOLUTIONS

LANDSCAPING

INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER

REHABILITATION • LONG TERM CARE • MEMORY SUPPORT

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

We Can Do It All!

Complete Landscaping/ Design Services

INFO PAGES Continued from 53

INFO PAGES

LOGGING - LUMBER

Helmsburg Sawmill Inc. Pool Enterprises, Inc.

Logging to Lumber

812-988-6161

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

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

54 Our Brown County • May/June 2020

helmsburgsawmill@gmail.com • facebook.com/helmsburgsawmillinc

Repair, Remodel, Pump Service, Water Conditioning, Drain Cleaning, Water Heaters

Broker/Owner Cell: 812-360-4083 • margd@remax.net

Art byy Cindydyy Steele,, Singing g g Pines Designs g

SIGN MAKER

UPCYCLED ART

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

BROWN COUNTY YMCA

1 per person, expires 12/31/20

Personal Training Swim Lessons Day Camp Climbing Wall

812-988-9622 • www.browncountyymca.org

YOUR CATEGORY

WELLNESS

Open at 5:30 a.m. Mon.–Fri.

Swimming Pool Fitness Center Gymnasium Exercise Classes

Associate Broker Cell: 812-360-3889 • shaht@mibor.net

10 Artist Drive, P.O. Box 1609 • Nashville, IN 47448

812-822-2933 • RamblinDogDesign@gmail.com

BUY 1 GUEST PASS, GET 1 FREE

Brenda Longtin CSSS, CDPR

812-988-4485 • www.MargAndBrendaTeam.com

SIGNS THAT DELIVER: Digital Print & Vinyl to Hand Lettered, Carved & Gilded

FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT FOR HEALTHY LIVING FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

812-720-7022

Marg DeGlandon CSSS, CDPR

All Types of SIGNS by CHRIS A. SHUSTER

BOATS • TRUCKS • MURALS • LOGO DESIGN •

Call for listings or free estimates.

TEAM

812-988-0248 • Nashville, IN

• HOMES • BANNERS • BILLBOARDS • STORE FRONTS

Property management for rentals for a month or longer. Let us find a rental for you or manage your property.

REAL ESTATE

PLUMBING

Bonded • Insured #CO89000011

Let us find your next door.

The Marg and Brenda Team is Your Brown County Team

Dunham Plumbing Co., Inc. Licensed Plumbing Contractor since 1981

Keyed IN Property Management

Your Ad Can Appear Here

Reach thousands of readers for just $70 an issue (6 a year)

(discounts for multiple issues)

Contact Cindy at ourbrown@bluemarble.net or call 812-988-8807

the art of food

nashville spice

OVER 430 SPICES, RUBS & BLENDS

co.

Gourmet Jams & Sauces · Artisan Salts · Mixology · Baking · Mustards · Hot Sauces

NashvilleSpiceCompany.com

227 S. Van Buren Street · Nashville, IN · Coachlight Square 812.200.1069

Artisan Home Store 58 East Main Street · Nashville, IN next to the Courthouse

812.200.3400

NSC Home

Creamy Fudge 路 Gourmet Popcorn All Natural Gelato 路 Seasonal Treats 175 South Van Buren Street 路 Nashville, IN 路 812.988.0709

NashvilleFudgeKitchen.com ORDER ONLINE! WE SHIP ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD! BOOK ON

NEW! Stay at Lucy's Loft vacation rental above the Nashville Fudge Kitchen!

FREE BOX OF REGULAR POPCORN with this ad

May/June 2020 OUR BROWN COUNTY

Articles inside

JIM EAGLEMAN

MARK BLACKWELL

THE SAMPLER - Take Out

JULIA PEARSON

PAIGE LANGENDERFER

photos by Mike Briner

RYAN STACY

CHRIS & BOB GUSTIN

CHRISSY ALSPAUGH