NOV/DEC 2011 Our Brown County

Nov. –Dec. 2011

FREE Why Visitors Come Back for Good • www.OurBrownCounty.com

A Living Native American Culture

Early Winter Delights

What’s So Funny?

Abe Still Is

And: Lucky to Live Here Early Artist L.O. Griffith Sampler at Big Woods Pizza Seeing the Trees Gingerbread Contest Upcoming Events

MAPS • CALENDAR • ARTICLES • PHOTOGRAPHS

Plenty of Gifts for the Holidays Clint Bear and the folks at Weed Patch have put their heads together to create an affordable, hand-built instrument for the guitarist that yearns to be heard over all the banjos, fiddles, and beer drinkers.

Hoosier guitar builder, Clint Bear is building the ultimate workhorse.

A brand new cannon with high quality tone woods, a super playable neck, and enough sound to be heard without exhausting your precious digits.

Weed Patch Music Company

OC Bears are known for their loud, even tones and Clint’s incredible artistry. He is building this model without all the eye candy. This is an affordable hand-built work horse you’ll be riding for a long time.

We build our own banjos and offer expert set up and repair

Dulcimers, harps, and a large variety of folk instruments

Locally built fiddles and reliable old friends

Weed Patch Music 58 East Main Street Nashville, Indiana (812) 988-1180 Locally built mandolins and affordable imports

weedpatchmusiccompany.com

Look for the giant banjo next to the courthouse.

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. ·   · Homemade Ice Cream Homemade Candies Homemade Fruit Preserves ·   · Antiques · Art and Craft Galleries featuring over 40 area artists Working studios of local artists

V NA S H I L L E

INDIANA

H I C

Yes, we really do make it ourselves!

..

The Candy Dish

..

Home of the Spinning Taffy and Nostalgic Candy Bins —·— Fine Homemade Candies & Fudge Fine Chocolate Fresh Roasted Nuts

AND WORKING STUDIOS

FINE ART AND CRAFTS OVER 40 ARTISTS REPRESENTED CLASSES AVAILABLE

.. · .

M A  F

..

HOMEMADE FRUIT BUTTERS  SUGARFREE PRESERVES SALSAS  KITCHEN ITEMS  COOKBOOKS

..

A Dreamer’s Gallery Specializing in Art and the Vintage, Local and Unique!

61 WEST MAIN STREET  NASHVILLE, INDIANA

Brown County ROCK & FOSSIL Shop Great selection of one-of-a-kind Rocks and Fossils

COPPERHEAD CREEK

GEM MINE Nashville’s #1 Fun Attraction

IRIS GARDEN

Cottages & Suites In the Heart of the Village nestled in Historic Nashville’s shops, restaurants, and theaters

IRIS GARDEN GALLERY Over 75 Artists • Paintings • Pottery • Blown Glass • Metal Work

Come Christmas Shop with Us The Iris Garden Complex T x Just North of the Courthouse 79 N. Van Buren (812) 988-2422 www.visitbrowncounty.com/welcome.asp

Trafalgar

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

nch R

d.

Country Mouse Weaving Studio

PIKES PEAK

CHRISTIANSBURG

r

Spears Gallery

STONE HEAD

Grv

Rd

Brown County State Park

ELKINSVILLE

135

Explore Brown County

ton Cr k

TO N NG

Abe Martin Lodge

STORY Monroe Reservoir

Rawhide Ranch

Rinnie Seitz Rd

la Pop

Lodge on the Mountain T.C. Steele State Historic Site

to BL OO

MI

46

er Riv gs Big rnishin Fu

BELMONT

Mike’s Music and Dance Barn

o.

Knight’s Trash Removal

46

C f Gol ood eek eaf t Cr & S Sal Steak BC

NASHVILLE

Craftsman

tals Ren n kidscommons o i e y at . Tir wn Vac Winer neto to COLUMBUS o C ro Mo Co. wn Bro ills o’ B rown Camp B H Mt. Libe GNAW r ty Rd BONE

6

Casa del Sol

Artist and/or Gallery

Rd

Helm

sburg

st

Old SR 4

Green Valley Lodge Yellowwood Lake

Tim ber Cre

Faerie Hollow Studio

Val ley

Oak Grove Pottery

Rd. Country Club Rd

Oak Grove

Al’s Paint & BodyAl’s Garage

Musical Entertainment

Rd

Rd.

Historical Society

aum

Ow l Cr eek

Lodging

Brah

BLOOMINGTON Dr. Lisa Baker, DDS Bloomingfoods Elegant Options Fireplace Center Laserlite Laser Tag 4th Street Festival

Mike Nickels Log Homes

Bra

135

Dining

nsburg

Hilltop Cabins and Suites Rd

Lan

ge

Rid

GATESVILLE

.

Rd

Clay Lick Rd

am

Doodles by Kara Barnard

Hamil

TON

Wild Hair & Sun

OMIN G to BL O

Flower and Herb Barn Farmhouse Café

Monroe Music Park & Campground BEAN BLOSSOM

Cordry Lake

Rd

45

McDonald’s Shopworth

HELMSBURG

Sweetwater Lake

TRAFALGAR Appleworks, Scottish Highlander Festival Home in the Country Antique Show

Fruitdale Market

Brownie’s Bean Blossom Inn

to MORGANTOWN

Lake Lemon

Franklin

Christia

N

Martinsville

Carmel Ridge Rd

NASHVILLE MAP ON PAGE 4

135

Sal t Cr eek

Brown County

MORGANTOWN Sheep Street Fibers Ady’s Fabric & Notions House of Clocks Jeepers Miniatures Grandpa Jeff’s Trail Rides

Indianapolis

Bob Allen Rd.

Homestead Weaving Studio Salem’s Good Nature Farm Elizabeth O’Rear Studio

HONEYSUCKLE LANE

Johanna Lee Bathology

Honeysuckle Hideaway

JEFFERSON STREET

The Bookloft Hoosier Artist

OLD HICKORY LANE

Night Owl’s Beading The Candy Dish Café Smashing Designs The Harvest Preserve A Dreamer’s Gallery

Brown Co Art Guild

Hobnob Corner

? info

VISITORS CENTER

ST SR 135 N

Ferrer Miller’s Gallery Ice Cream

For Bare Feet

Pit Bull Leather Bedazzled Jewelry J Bob’s

Brown Co Winery

Head Over Heels

Wishful Thinking

Main Street Shops

Foxfire

Masonic Lodge

Ol d

SR 4

6

IHA

Health for “U” Precise Books & Co Payroll, Inc. Re/Max Brown Art McGinley Insurance Realty Gallery

Redbud Terrace

FirstOffice Merchants Bank

County Offices

Brown Co Public Library

Gold &Old

Townhouse Touch of Silver Gifts

Weed Patch Music Co. His BookShop Glass Planet Gifts Wandering Old McDurbin Past Gold Antiques Brown Co Craft & Gallery Treasures

Log Jail

Pioneer Village Museum

MAIN STREET

Nashville Candy Store Sports Etc.

Heritage Mall

Spears Pottery

That Sandwich Place

Nashville House

Courthouse

open M-F8-4

Copperhead Creek Gem Mine

Iris Garden Gallery and Cottages

Iris Garden Gallery

Brown Co. Rock & Fossil Shop

LOCUST LANE

Village Green Bldg.

Tucker Bldg.

Granny’s Christmas Shop Mercantile Store

MOLLY’S LANE

Men’s Toy Shop Main Street Images Brown Co. Bead Co.

Colonial Bldg.

Carmel Corn Cottage

GOULD STREET

Brown County Historical Soc. Traditional Arts Building

MOUND STREET

Hidden Valley Inn

OLD SCHOOL WAY

TO HELMSBURG - 6 MILES

Jane Gore Realty

The Woodlands Gallery

TO BEAN BLOSSOM & MORGANTOWN

Harvest Moon Pizzeria

Bright & Williamson Insurance

Hills O’Brown Realty

Muddy Boots Cafe

J.B. Goods/ Life is Good

Hotel Nashville

ARTIST DR

VAN BUREN

The Salvation Army

Linda Thomas Massage

New Leaf Amy Greely

Madeline’s

JEFFERSON STREET Hoosier Buddy

Artists Colony Inn Carol’s Crafts • Toy Chest

Artists Colony

Cathy’s Corner

Nashville Express

Male Instinct

The Ordinary

Papertrix

Ole House

Ethereal Day Spa and Salon Chateau Thomas Winery

Brown County IGA Brown Co Inn Harvest Dining Room Bear Hardware • Comfort Inn Corn Crib Lounge Willow Manor Apartments Eye Care of Brown County Brown Co Community YMCA

Pizza King

Salt Creek McDonald’s Inn

Casa del Sol

Seasons Lodge & Winter Conference Center Art and Craft Fair

Doodles by Kara Barnard

Salt Creek Park

The Palace Holy Cow Theatre of Brown County

SR 46 TO COLUMBUS - 16 MILES

Coachlight Sq

Theatre

Dining

Craftsman

Artist and/or Gallery Rest Room

Lodging

Musical Entertainment Parking

COUNTY MAP ON PAGE 3

map not to scale

N

Nashville Indiana

Nashville General Store & Bakery

Cornerstone Inn

WASHINGTON STREET Appetit Camelot Shoppes Bone Coachlight Sq Bakery

Nashville Fudge Kitchen

Possum Trot Sq

Sweetwater Gallery Grasshopper Flats

VAN BUREN ST SR 135 N

SR 46 TO BLOOMINGTON - 16 MILES

PAT REILLY DR

Nashville BP

Daily Grind Abe’s Alley PITTMAN HOUSE LANE

Calzone Jones

Peg Ann’s Boutique

The Original Soup to Nuts

Franklin Sq

White Sands Boutique

Melchior Marionettes

Jack & Jill Nut Shop

FRANKLIN STREET Life is Good Calvin Place JB Goods

HONEYSUCKLE LANE

Michael’s Massage

Through the Looking Glass Wooden Wonders Nashville Image Old Time Photos For Bare Feet • The Purple Fig Nature’s Cabin Brown Co Weavery & Roots Paint Box Gallery, The Clay Purl Brown County Bauble® Boards Head to Toe • K. Bellum Leather Peaceful Valley Arts & CraftsGallery Brown Co. Pottery Ferguson House

Antique Alley

OLD SCHOOL WAY

Our Brown County ANTIQUES

Cathy’s Corner.....................................17 Elegant Options.................................43 Nashville General Store...................18 Townhouse Gifts................................21 Wandering Past Antiques...............45

ART, ART SUPPLIES, ART INSTRUCTION

Antique Alley Shops.........................24 Bear Hardware....................................47 Brown Co Art Gallery........................57 Brown Co Art Guild...........................57 Brown Co Bead Company...............33 Brown Co Craft Gallery....................31 Cathy’s Corner.....................................17 Chateau Thomas Winery.................23 Elegant Options.................................43 Ferrer Gallery.................................. 3, 31 Glass Planet Gifts...............................56 Hoosier Artist......................................31 Iris Garden Gallery............................... 4 Night Owl’s Beading Café...............41 Wandering Past Antiques...............45 The Woodlands Gallery...................49

BOOKS

The Bookloft........................................45 His Book Shop.....................................53

CLOTHING

Antique Alley Shops.........................24 Bear Hardware....................................47 Brown Co Weavery & Roots............30 For Bare Feet.......................................63 Glass Planet Gifts...............................56 Head Over Heels................................27 J.B. Goods/ Life is Good...................17 Male Instinct........................................45 Men’s Toy Shop...................................49 Bill Monroe’s Gift Shop....................47 Peg Ann’s Boutique...........................50 Pit Bull Leather Co.............................47 Sports Etc.............................................27 White Sands Boutique.....................30

CRAFTS, POTTERY, GIFTS

Antique Alley Shops.........................24 Appleworks..........................................13

Big River Cabin Furnishings...........24 Bone Appetit Bakery........................45 Brown Co Bead Company...............33 Brown Co Craft Gallery....................31 Brown Pottery.....................................31 Brown Co Rock & Fossil Shop.......... 4 Brown Co Visitors Center.........12, 62 Brown Co Weavery & Roots............30 Carol’s Crafts........................................39 Cathy’s Corner.....................................17 Chateau Thomas Winery.................23 The Clay Purl........................................26 Country Mouse Weaving................43 A Dreamer’s Gallery............................ 3 Elegant Options.................................43 Faerie Hollow Studio........................43 The Ferguson House........................15 Ferrer Gallery.................................. 3, 31 Foxfire....................................................15 Glass Planet Gifts...............................56 Granny’s Christmas Shop................58 Head Over Heels................................27 Homestead Weaving Studio..........43 Hoosier Artist......................................31 House of Clocks..................................44 Iris Garden Gallery............................... 4 J Bob’s....................................................59 Jeepers Miniatures............................44 Johanna Lee Bathology...................18 K. Bellum Leather..............................20 Madeline’s............................................24 Main Street Images...........................59 Male Instinct........................................45 Men’s Toy Shop...................................49 Mercantile Store.................................58 Bill Monroe’s Gift Shop....................47 Nashville General Store...................18 New Leaf...............................................57 Night Owl’s Beading Café...............41 Oak Grove Pottery.............................20 Ole House.............................................29 Papertrix...............................................29 Peaceful Valley Arts & Crafts..........31 Pit Bull Leather Co.............................47

Sheep Street Fibers...........................44 Smashing Designs............................... 3 Spears Gallery and Spears Pottery....................................43 Sports Etc.............................................27 Sweetwater Gallery...........................17 Townhouse Gifts................................21 The Toy Chest......................................39 Wishful Thinking................................53 The Woodlands Gallery...................49

ENTERTAINMENT

19th Hole Sports Bar & Grill...........25 The Palace Theatre of Brown Co...22 Chateau Thomas Winery.................23 Copperhead Creek Gem Mine........ 4 kidscommons.....................................13 Night Owl’s Beading Café...............41 Rawhide Ranch...................................51 Weed Patch Music Company........... 2

FOOD & BEVERAGE

19th Hole Sports Bar & Grill...........25 Abe Martin Lodge.............................12 Appleworks..........................................13 Artists Colony Inn..............................39 Bloomingfoods...................................48 Brown Co IGA......................................41 Brown Co Inn...............................27, 53 Brown Co Steak & Seafood Co......25 Brown Co Winery...............................51 Brownie’s Bean Blossom Rest........18 Calzone Jones.....................................26 The Candy Dish.................................... 3 Carmel Corn Cottage.......................21 Casa del Sol..........................................21 Chateau Thomas Winery.................23 The Daily Grind...................................58 Harvest Moon Pizzeria.....................31 The Harvest Preserve......................... 3 Hobnob Corner Restaurant...........57 Holy Cow..............................................23 Hoosier Buddy Liquors....................47 Hotel Nashville...................................33 J Bob’s....................................................59 Jack & Jill Nut Shop...........................52 McDonald’s..........................................45

Advertiser Index McDonald’s Supermarket...............50 Miller’s Ice Cream.......................... 3, 31 Muddy Boots Cafe.............................26 Nashville BP.........................................29 Nashville Candy Store......................27 Nashville Fudge Kitchen.................64 Nashville General Store...................18 Nashville House.................................27 Night Owl’s Beading Café...............41 Ole House.............................................29 The Ordinary.......................................27 The Original Soup to Nuts..............50 Seasons.................................................27 That Sandwich Place........................52

LODGING / APARTMENTS/ CAMPING

HATS

Abe Martin Lodge.............................12 Artists Colony Inn..............................39 The Brick Lodge.................................33 Brown Co Inn...............................27, 53 Comfort Inn.........................................49 Cornerstone Inn.................................55 Explore Brown County.....................46 Green Valley Lodge...........................29 Hidden Valley Inn..............................49 Hills o’ Brown Vacation Rentals.....25 Honeysuckle Hideaway...................45 Hotel Nashville...................................33 Iris Garden Cottages & Suites.......... 4 Lodge on the Mountain..................45 The North House...............................33 Rawhide Ranch...................................51 Salt Creek Golf Retreat.....................25 Salt Creek Inn......................................45 Seasons.................................................27 Willow Manor Apartments.............19

JEWELRY

Bill Monroe’s Bluegrass Hall of Fame and Country Stars Museum...........47

FURNITURE

Big River Cabin Furnishings...........24 The Ferguson House........................15 Wandering Past Antiques...............45 The Woodlands Gallery...................49

HARDWARE

Bear Hardware....................................47 Head Over Heels................................27 K. Bellum Leather..............................20 Antique Alley Shops.........................24 Brown Co Bead Company...............33 Cathy’s Corner.....................................17 Faerie Hollow Studio........................43 Ferguson House.................................15 Ferrer Gallery.................................. 3, 31 Foxfire....................................................15 Glass Planet Gifts...............................56 Grasshopper Flats..............................17 Hoosier Artist......................................31 J Bob’s/Bedazzled Jewelry..............59 Main Street Images...........................59 New Leaf...............................................57 Night Owl’s Beading Café...............41 Old McDurbin Gold..........................56 Ole House.............................................29 Peg Ann’s Boutique...........................50 Touch of Silver Gold & Old.............21 White Sands Boutique.....................30

MUSEUMS

PET SERVICES/PRODUCTS Bone Appetit Bakery........................45

PHOTOS

Glass Planet Gifts...............................56 Main Street Images...........................59 Spears Gallery and Spears Pottery....................................43

RECREATION

Camp Moneto.....................................18 Explore Brown County.....................46 Grandpa Jeff’s Trail Rides................24 Rawhide Ranch...................................51 Salt Creek Golf Course.....................25

SERVICES (see also SERVICES DIRECTORY)

Dr. Lisa Baker, DDS............................26 Brown Co Visitors Center.........12, 62 Ethereal Day Spa and Salon...........25 Michael’s Massage Therapy...........39 Nashville BP.........................................29 Linda Thomas Massage...................25

SERVICES DIRECTORY 60-61 Adirondac Style Furniture Al’s Paint & Body-Garage Baldwin Tree Service Bright & Williamson Insurance Brown Co Community YMCA Brown Co Tire & Auto Eye Care of Brown County Farmers Insurance—McGinley First Merchants Bank Fruitdale Market Health for “U” Hills o’ Brown Realty Jane Gore Realty Knight’s Trash Removal Mike Nickels Log Homes Precise Books and Payroll, Inc. Remax Team Wild Hair

SHOES

Head Over Heels................................27 K. Bellum Leather..............................20

SPECIALTY SHOPS

Ady’s Fabric & Notions.....................44 Bone Appetit Bakery........................45 Carol’s Crafts........................................39 Fireplace Center.................................43 For Bare Feet.......................................63 Granny’s Christmas Shop................58 House of Clocks..................................44 K. Bellum Leather..............................20 Male Instinct........................................45 Men’s Toy Shop...................................49 Papertrix...............................................29 Pit Bull Leather Co.............................47 Sheep Street Fibers...........................44 Sports Etc.............................................27 The Toy Chest......................................39 Weed Patch Music Company........... 2 Wishful Thinking................................53

STAINED GLASS

Ferrer Gallery.................................. 3, 31 Sweetwater Gallery...........................17

WEDDINGS

Artists Colony Inn..............................39 Hotel Nashville...................................33

The cover is of downtown Nashville during the month of December. Photo by Cindy Steele.

14 A Living Native American Culture ~by Bill Weaver 20 Sampler at Big Woods Pizza Company 28 Early Winter Delights ~by Lee Edgren 40 Create it with Gingerbread Log Cabins

~by Julia Pearson

42 Seeing the Trees ~by Jim Eagleman 46 Chocolate Walk 48 Lucky to Live Here ~by Henry Swain 50 Beavers ~submitted by Tim Ellison 52 Goshen Dinner, Bazaar, & Bake Sale 54 What’s so Funny?

~by Mark Blackwell

56 Early Artist L.O. Griffith ~by Joanne Nesbit 10-11 13 32 34-35 36-38

Contributors 11 Subscribe Where Is It? Contest Coloring Contest Photos by Steve Cale Calendar of Entertainment/Events

contributors

Bill Weaver is an author and radio personality currently living in Bloomington.

He’s published The College of Beer: The Story of Nick’s English Hut, and numerous zines including ER, D’KNOW, and The New York Squid. He writes for Our Brown County, IntoArt, and the Bloomington Herald-Times Homes section. He maintains a website of short stories called The Liars Bunch at <www.liarsbunch.com>. He’s known as Gus Travers, the co-host of WFHB’s The Dark End of the Street.

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 the forthcoming Dada and Surealism for Beginners in the ongoing “for Beginners” series. He is an award-winning editorial cartoonist for the Bloomington Herald Times, a graduate of Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Clown College, and a veteran circus performer. Joe lives with his wife Bess, son Brandon, George the cat, and his dogs, Jack and Max. Mark Blackwell makes his home in an area of Brown County where “the roadway is rough and the slopes are seamed with ravines and present a meatless, barren, backbone effect.” He was born in the last century and still spends considerable time there. He plays music with the “Lost Shoe String Band” when he can get away with it, writes for Our Brown County, and works when he has to.

Julia Pearson is the Museum Director for the Brown County Historical Society. She and her husband, Bruce, reside in Bloomington. Julia is human interest editor and writer for a Secular Franciscan magazine, and is currently writing a column entitled “Leaves of Brown” for the Brown County Democrat.

She loves traveling and visiting museums of all types and sizes worldwide, especially with her children and grandchildren.

inc.

Cindy Steele, publisher P.O. Box 157 Helmsburg, IN 47435

812-988-8807 www.ourbrowncounty.com ourbrown@bluemarble.net copyright 2011 Thanks, Mom, for making it happen!

Jim Eagleman is a 33 year veteran of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources as an interpretive naturalist, first working at Turkey Run State Park for three years and for the last 30 at Brown County. He and his wife Kay have three sons, all graduates of Brown County High School. Kay and Jim enjoy all outdoor activities, especially kayaking. Jim is currently working on his memoirs.

Subscriptions Make Great Gifts M. Joanne Nesbit is a former newspaper reporter, author of three books on the early Brown County artists, and current student of the fascinating history of the Brown County Art Colony. Her books are available at local book stores and galleries. She raised her children on Possum Trot Road. She now lives in Michigan where she is retired after a career as a public information officer for Indiana University and the University of Michigan.

Henry “Hank” Swain moved to Brown County with his bride Mardi in 1947. He supported a family of five daughters by building homes. Hank’s books Leaves for the Raking, and Why Now? are bi-products of writing for Our Brown County. He has served the Chamber of Commerce, the Nashville United Methodist Green Room class, the Bloomington Society of Friends, League of Women Voters, and WRAPS (Writers, Readers and Poets Society). You will sometimes find him relaxing in his kayak on Salt Creek.

Lee Edgren, writing since kindergarten, attended journalism school at the University of Michigan. Her career includes writing for a newspaper, for a government agency, and for UM Medical Center. She became seriously interested in yoga during the late 1980s and traveled widely. Lee has a master’s degree in Wellness Management from Ball State University. She lives in both in Brown County and in northern Michigan and owns River Light Yoga studio.

featured photographer (pictures on pages 34–35) Steve Cale was introduced to photography by his older brother Bill. He learned more about it as photographer for his high school newspaper and yearbook and also through the Butler University yearbook. During his tour of duty in the Air Force (1966–1970), he researched advanced photographic reconnaissance.

Steve moved to Brown County in 1984 and saw a friend’s collection of Frank Hohenberger prints that inspired him.

In 1998, he began experimenting infrared photography.

And in 2002, with the help of Fred Sisson, he took up digital photography. He is an environmental scientist with the Indiana State Department of Health.

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

Name:

Address:

Send with check or money order to:

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

Note from the Editor No deadline in November. Whew!

The pressure of producing the biggest issue of the year and keeping up with customer demands for replenishments is over. It is the time to be “thankful” and I couldn’t be more thankful for the break in pace.

November is my favorite month (next to June). Both are absent of extremes—colors and temperatures don’t fluctuate much. My sinuses settle down from the workout of the fall ragweed and hay fever.

December brings anticipation of gifts and giftgiving. What better place can you go in search of treasures than the village of Nashville?—something shiny like a glass figurine or earrings; something soft like a scarf or pillow; or something musical like a dulcimer or drum. For the hard-to-buy-for members of the family I recommend giving Brown County experiences. Take in a show and have a nice meal with good conversation. Memories outlast many presents.

During these holiday months I encourage you to slow down and hug your loved ones in Brown County.

—Cindy Steele

New for 2012! Frosty Trails Five Mile, Outdoor Equipment & Bike Demos, Refreshments & More!

ILoveBrownCounty ILuvBrownCounty 800.753.3255 | browncounty.com m

Arts • Nature • Adventure • WINTER HIKE

el Slide ter Chann Wa ns ets tai Foun ump Buck l D re rfal Wate and mo

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

We have the room for you!

Our full service restaurant is open daily.

Brown County State Park 160 accommodations: P.O. Box 547 Nashville, IN 47448 Abe Martin Lodge and guest rooms, two-story cabins, 1-877-Lodges-1 • (812) 988-4418 the Little Gem Restaurant and historic cabins. www.indianainns.com We have the perfect setting for any event, Corporate Retreats, Weddings, Getaways and Family Reunions and More!

12 Our Brown County • Nov./Dec. 2011

WHERE IS IT? Win $20 What a trip to the country is all about!

Apples are our specialty, but we offer many other homegrown and homemade goodies during the year.

Relax. Try a warm apple dumpling a-la-mode with a cup of coffee.

Or visit our fudge shop and ice cream parlor for a tasty treat. Browse the country store’s selection of jams, honey, and gift items.

for the HOLIDAYS:

Selection of Christmas Trees We UPS Apples Anywhere in US Custom-made Fruit Baskets Handcrafted Gifts Holiday Bakery Orders Open Daily 9 am to 6 pm thru Dec. 23 317-878-9317

www.apple-works.com

Be the first person to call and get the prize money.

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

(812)988-8807

LAST ISSUE’S CONTEST WINNERS: • The Where Is It? Clown by Melchior Marionettes in Nashville.

Cameron Flesher was the first to call.

• Alisa Smith of Nashville won the Coloring Contest. in Downtown Columbus, a short drive from Nashville

Three floors of learning and Fun! Lightspace Play Wall and Exer-gaming Bikes

Bubbleology Our House Japan Kids at Art

2OFF

$

with ad up to 4 people exp. 4-30-2012

Slide down our giant toilet

Hands-on Exhibits & Activities for Families with Toddlers www.kidscommons.org to Early Teens 309 Washington St. Columbus, IN • 812-378-3046 Tues.–Sat. 10–5,Sun. 1–5 and also Mondays June 6 – Aug. 8

Nov./Dec. 2011 • Our Brown County 13

A Living Native American Culture

~by Bill Weaver

photo by Cindy Steele

call the Powwow dance circuit all the way from North Carolina to Long Beach in California. I’m also part of a warrior society that’s Ponca out of Oklahoma and with the Oklahoma Broken Arrow Color Guard.

“I dance every time I get a chance,” he says. In September he started in North Carolina, then went to Tipton where he taught school, then Anderson where he taught and danced, and finally to Minnesota to dance at Mankato.

“I’m involved with a lot of things only because I’m acceptable,” he says, which means he’s been trained by the right people, who are convinced of his sincerity and commitment. “It’s all social, you would call them powwows. I dance and sing—chorus, not lead,” he laughs, before stressing, “I don’t take part in

Teed Howard in Ojibwe Northern Plains “Traditional Dancer” attire.

14 Our Brown County • Nov./Dec. 2011

photo by Cindy Steele

G

raham “Teed” Howard was in college when he discovered that he had a powerful interest in the culture and society of Native Americans.

“I was going to Purdue and also ran the local Boy Scout troop there,” he remembers. “The older boys said that they wanted to learn about Indians so, with two other guys, I hitchhiked to Wisconsin and talked with some people I’d heard about. They put me on track with the right people,” he laughs. “It was worth the hitchhike.”

Teed trained with both Kiowa and Delaware tribes.

“I still do some things with the Delaware,” he says. “I help them teach the 4th grade of all the elementary schools in Anderson once a year. I had a youth group that’s now involved with a Tecumseh lodge group out of Indianapolis—White and Indian. We travel what I

Sarah Kincer from Brown County as a “Fancy Dancer.”

photo by Cindy Steele

Dancers at the Columbus Ethnic Expo in October. Faces visible (left to right): Sarah Kincer, Robb Biddinger, Teed Howard, Karen Kincer, Larry Kincer.

ceremonies because I’m not Native American. I don’t interject myself in anything where I’d be questionable.”

There are three types of dancing he performs. The first is called Powwow Dancing, which is strictly social. Another is Show Style, which is for the public. “We did that last Saturday over at the Ethnic Festival in Columbus,” he says. “We also dance what we call Gourd Dancing, which is

The Ferguson

House

Visit rooms of:

• Iron Decor

• Swan Creek Candles • Holiday Decor • Home Accessories

• Collegiate Gifts

• Fashion Jewelry

• Accent Tables

• Garden Accents

and more . . .

78 W. Franklin Street Nashville 812-988-7388

Foxfire

a warrior type of thing that’s very formal. They’re held in five places across the US—you can watch but you can’t dance unless you’re invited.”

Before Anglo settlers arrived, Brown County was governed by the Shawnee tribe. They gave rights to the Delaware to hunt here and the Miami got the ceremonial rights to Browning Mountain. “They met there at least once a year,” Teed says, “probably during the solstice, although it’s not part of their oral history today.

“At the end of Miller Road (at SR 46), right across where Jack Weddle used to live, was a Wyandotte settlement—that’s why Jack always had plenty of arrowheads,” he laughs. “The Wynadotte was called the Huron by the French. They had a fight with the Iroquois and lost.”

Continued on 16

59 E. Main St. in Nashville 812-988-8707

• Gifts and Home Decor • Willowtree Angels • Swan Creek Candles • Kitchen Accessories • Baby Gifts • Holiday Decor • Rhythm Clocks • Fashion Jewelry and Purses • Garden Decor Nov./Dec. 2011 • Our Brown County 15

courtesy photo

NATIVE continued from 15 Howard’s interest in Native American history in Brown County, which he says “is not static or historical but a living culture that progresses,” has led him to try and verify some of the myths and stories of Brown County, including the mystery of the jog in the 1809 Ten o’ Clock Line—the treaty boundary that once split Brown County.

While the story is unverified, it’s part of a local family’s oral history. “When they did the 10 ’o clock line the surveyors found that the white settlers were not going to get the salt part of Jackson Creek so they did a jog in it. There was a fight with the Shawnee and the Delaware about that and the Delaware lost about 40 native men. They buried them standing straight up in a field that was below the family’s house. I asked everybody why they were buried standing up and nobody knew until I was doing some dancing down in North Carolina and the head of the FFA (Future Farmers of America) for the high school said, ‘I used to live with a Delaware in Pennsylvania and they buried everybody straight up because that left more room to farm.’”

Howard first arrived in Brown County as a young man. “I worked for Herman Powell two summers at Yellowwood State Forest back in the 40s,” he says.

“When I retired in 1989 I had two places I could go but felt most at home here.

16 Our Brown County • Nov./Dec. 2011

“I have a foot in both worlds,” he says of his life. “There are some of the old ways that I really enjoy and I wish were ours. I try to live the best of each world.”

If you’re interested in Native American culture and dancing the best thing you can do is attend a powwow and talk with some of the participants. Visit <www. powwow.com>, which lists all the social powwows in the United States. You can also contact Teed Howard at <teed@blumarble.net>. 

courtesy photo

Joyful dancers of an Oklahoma Indian Masonic ceremonial team.

Broken Arrow Color Guard—all Masons and veterans (left to right): Butch McIntosh, Muskogee; Tully Choste, Creek; Teed Howard (as a sub and not Native American); and Ford Griggs, Shoshone.

Sweetwater Gallery featuring locally crafted:

Stained Glass Paperweights Mosaic Mirrors also offering:

Pottery Kaleidoscopes Metal Sculpture Owners, Ron and Penny Schuster

145 S. Van Buren Nashville located in the Back-to-Back Complex

812-988-0449 www.schusterglass.com

est. 1972

Two Nashville Locations: The Original – 172 N. Van Buren Life is Good Kids – Calvin Place (S. Van Buren & Franklin)

Estate Jewelry Antiques Paintingg

Doug Stoffer, Designer/Jeweler Sterling Silver • Fine Diamonds Opals • Gemstones • Wedding Rings Titanium Bands • Austrian Lead Crystal

Things you can’t find anywhere else!

For Quality and Price call 812-988-4037

Painting Lessons available, call for times

Top Dollar Paid for Old Gold 150 S. Van Buren St. • Nashville

39 E. Franklin St. (next to train) in Nashville 812-988-4091• cathyscorner@att.net Also buying estate and vintage jewelry gold and silver (will travel).

Nov./Dec. 2011 • Our Brown County 17

Johanna Lee

Bathology

Made in Brown County

Transform your home into a spa!

We make Baskets and Ship

BEAN BLOSSOM Restaurant Good Food, Good Service, Good Prices

• All Natural Cold Press Soap • Glycerin Soaps • Bath Bombs • Lotion Bars FREE SOAP ...and lots more SAMPLE

All-You-Can-Eat

Catfish on Friday Nights Daily Specials Breakfast Served All Day

with ad

We moved to 58 W. Main St. • Nashville, IN

Bean Blossom SR 135 North • 988-1147

812-988-6898 johannaleesoaps@yahoo.com

Nashville General Store & Bakery

Step Back in Time...

Gift Baskets filled with Jams, Jellies, Fried Biscuits with Apple Butter Shagbark Hickory Syrup Chicken Salad full of Grapes and Pecans w/ Pumpkin Bread. Sandwiches on Baked Breads or Kaiser Rolls. Smoked Turkey w/Cranberry Mustard, Pit Hams. Pulled Pork BBQ marinated in our own Vidalia BBQ sauce. Mama Marie’s Meatloaf.

Beans and Cornbread.

812-988-6362

Pumpkin, Banana, and Cinnamon Breads Homemade Pies and Cakes Cinnamon Rolls Caramel Apple Nut Pie Hot Apple Dumplings Muffins, Persimmon Pudding Variety of Ice cream Flavors Shakes, Sodas, and Floats

Open 7 days a week

Visit our shop next door.

The yellow building 118 E. Washington St., Nashville 18 Our Brown County • Nov./Dec. 2011

Antiques, Quilts, Kitchen Curtains, Lamps, Shades, Rugs Keeper of the Light Candles

Willow Manor Apartments Nashville's Premier Senior Apartments 55+

Available NOW 1 and 2 Bedroom Apartments

Apartment * Full size washer and dryer * Patios and Balconies * Central air conditioning * Full set of kitchen appliances * Garbage disposal * Cable TV hookups * Pets welcome * 24 hour emergency maintenance * Built to ADA standards * Elevator

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Call Today (812) 720-9400 Nov./Dec. 2011 â&#x20AC;˘ Our Brown County 19

The Sampler

Big Woods Pizza Co. T

he local handcrafted brewpub on Molly’s Lane has crossed the alley and moved up to the main drag with the opening of their satellite venture, Big Woods Pizza Company in the first floor of the F.C. Tucker building in the heart of the Village of Nashville.

For all the thousands or, I suppose, millions of cars that go through it, Nashville is at heart a pedestrian town, best enjoyed afoot. Accordingly, I collected the wife, found parking somewhere within the town limits, and strolled in a leisurely fashion over to assay the pizza pies.

It’s a wonderful space, with lots of wood. A barnboard faced counter separates the large, comfortable dining room from the kitchen, where all the pizza magic happens in full view. The tables and chairs are of that sort of “made from tree-limbs” type that my wife is so fond of.

There’s even a small stage space in one corner, where, one can imagine, gifted young troubadours

hammer out anthems on life’s great toppings, …er, topics.

My long time readers will know that I have a method for evaluating pizza, carefully devised over long years of rigorous testing, to wit: at each new pizza place I Sample, I order exactly the same toppings; this way, we establish a baseline of fair comparison between pies, so we’re not comparing pepperoni to anchovies.

Mrs. Sampler seems to think that this is just some kind of cheap trick to get pizza with only the toppings I prefer, with no compromise additions of things which really have no business on a pizza, like, say artichokes or olives, even though I patiently explain to her that it is all very scientifically thought out.

“Maybe they’ll make it half and half,” I say. (They will, of course.)

“That’s ok,” she says in that little voice that reminds me of someone, “You just get what you want….”

Fine Leather Goods ds Handbags, Belts, Hats, Accessories Also selling shoes:

Island Slipper, Haflinger, Arcopedico, Sanita, moccasins and sheepskin slippers

Featuring Leather Goods made by Brown County Craftsmen Also leather, tools, dye, and supplies

812-988-4513 • www.kbellum.com 92 W. Franklin, Antique Alley in Nashville, IN

20 Our Brown County • Nov./Dec. 2011

My regular test pizza is simple: sausage and mushroom, green peppers and onion with extra cheese. That’s what I call a classic, middle of the road pizza. Besides, I can’t change it now, because it would render my huge previous database of comparison pizzas utterly useless!

Now, it goes without saying that in a restaurant opened by a brew pub that the beer is going to be pretty good, and I admit to being a particular fan of their stout, but on this evening, I went another way and opted for the hand crafted, locally brewed premium root beer they have on tap. That’s right, root beer. It was delicious.

The salads are outstanding: a classic Caesar, the “Greek goddess” with kalamata olives and sliced Chevre, or the caprese; blobs of oh-so-fresh mozzarella with sliced tomato and fresh basil—yummy!

If you’re in a certain mood, and it’s probably a summertime thing, punt the pizza and go for the full entrée antipasto: Genoa salami,pepperoni, artichoke hearts, boiled egg, roasted red peppers, kalamata olives, marinated red peppers, mozzarella, and pepperoncini peppers over a bed of mixed greens and Romaine lettuce; a feast fit for the emperor.

I was there to eat the pizza, so I went for the house salad, which was plentiful and scrumptious with tomato, cucumber, shredded cheese, and croutons on mixed greens with the house vinagrette. It tided me over nicely until the pie arrived, all warm and crusty and gooey and fantastic right from the oven.

We had the 10-inch “signature” size, but for a few more bucks, you can move up to the 16-inch “Sequoia.”

Continued on 26

CARMEL CORN COTTAGE Sweet Treats

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Mention Ad for IN-STORE DISCOUNT 87 E. Main St. • Nashville 812-988-2229 • www.townhouse-gifts.com

Nov./Dec. 2011 • Our Brown County 21

22 Our Brown County â&#x20AC;˘ Nov./Dec. 2011

Van Buren and Washington Streets in Downtown Nashville, IN Coachlight Square • Shop, Dine, Sip some Wine, and Enjoy a Show

Fresh-cut Steaks Chicken BBQ Ribs Seafood

“Best of Taste of Brown County”

Sun.–Thurs. 11–9 Fri. & Sat. 11–10

Call Ahead Seating Available

Non-Smoking

Tour Groups Welcome

812-988-0444

Dine Inside or on the Patio

A Menu for the Whole Family Salads • Sandwiches • Kids Menu Beer, Wine, & Spirits

We’re More Than Just International Award-winning Wines!

Wine Bar Open Daily for Tasting and Sales Classic Movies Thursdays 6 pm • Live Music Friday and Saturday 7-10 pm Sunday Songwriter Showcase 3–5 pm Cheeses and Gourmet Foods • Unique Wine Gifts 812-988-8500 • 888-761-WINE (6463) • www.chateauthomas.com Open Monday thru Saturday at 11 am and 12 Noon on Sundays

Nov./Dec. 2011 • Our Brown County 23

GRANDPA JEFF’S

Southern Indiana’s premier cabin furnishing store

Trail Rides We offer fine hickory furniture, along with reclaimed barnwood, pine, white and red cedar, sassafras, walnut, and aspen.

Many pieces are handcrafted by local artisans.

We also have upholstered sofas and chairs.

Relax on a journey with Grandpa Jeff.

Take in the scenery and wildlife.

No two rides will ever be the same —sunny summer days, fall colors, winter snowfalls, spring blossoms.

(812)597-4630 www.GrandpaJeffsTrailRides.com cell (812)272-0702 info@GrandpaJeffsTrailRides.com 5889 S. Skinner Rd. Morgantown, Indiana

Gifts for home and happiness French Country Décor Locally Made Items • Quilts Brown County Redware Pottery Madeline’s Famous Soy Candles Calvin Place, Van Buren & Franklin Streets Nashville, IN 812.988.6301 Like us on Facebook @ Madeline’s French Country

24 Our Brown County • Nov./Dec. 2011

4413 E. State Road 46 in Gnaw Bone 812-988-0500 • www.bigriveronline.com Open Tues.–Sat. 10 to 5, Sun. 10 to 4 ; Closed Monday (or by appt.)

Brown County Bauble® Boards Brown County Pottery Brown County Weavery and Roots The Clay Purl For Bare Feet Ferguson House Head to Toe K. Bellum Leather Nashville Image Old Time Photography Antique Alley on the West Side Nature’s Cabin Nashville House Paint Box Art Gallery Peaceful Valley Gallery The Antique Ordinary The Purple Fig Alley Shoppes Through the Looking Glass Wooden Wonders FRANKLIN ST The Bookloft Hoosier Artist

Brown Co. Art Guild

Jack and Jill Nut Shop

VAN BUREN ST

Trail Ride Reservations can be made by phone, e-mail, or through our website.

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

JEFFERSON ST

All trail rides are 45 minutes long.

We also offer pony rides and hayrides.

Accessories include quilts and bedding, candles, picture frames, artwork, dinnerware, and lighting.

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104 South Jefferson Street in Nashville

812-988-6429 · RATES, RESERVATIONS & WEEKDAY SPECIALS ONLINE

BrownCountyLogCabins .com 4118 State Road 46 East 4.5 miles east of the Village of Nashville Office Hours 9 AM–5 PM · Monday through Saturday

Brown County, Indiana

peace · rejuvenation · relaxation Couples Suite with Rainforest Shower

Hot Tub · Sauna Tranquility Room with Fireplace

Overlook Lodge Condominiums Brown County Steak & Seafood Restaurant 19th Hole Sports Bar Always open late

Gift Cards

Brown County’s only Golf Course

Fridays & Saturdays After 5 Sundays at the Spa

Winter Specials

40% off packages

Book your next event with us!

812.720.9009 · EtherealVillage.com 211 S. Van Buren, 2nd floor · in the Village of Nashville Monday–Saturday 10 -7 · Sunday by appointment Walk-ins based on availability · Late hours by appointment

18 hole championship course, Golf Carts with GPS, Driving Range and Fully Stocked Pro Shop valid through April 1, 2012

Lodging – 15% off total stay, 2 night minimum Restaurant – $10 off check totaling $50 or more

2359 State Road 46 East Nashville, IN 47448

812.988.7888 SaltCreekGolf.com

Nov./Dec. 2011 • Our Brown County 25

Muddy Boots

Café

New Late Hours: Mon.–Sat. 7 to Midnight, Sun. 8 to 8 Scrumptious Entrees • Vegetarian Selections Handmade Desserts • Specialty Coffee Drinks Breakfast Served All Day

Live Music Daily

812-988-6911

www. muddybootscafe.com

136 N. Van Buren Street • Nashville

the clay purl welcome!

Unique Yarns, Supplies, Locally Made Pottery & Jewelry, Classes, Knit Groups, and More!

90 W. Franklin St.• 812.988.0336 • claypurl.com

Lunch and Dinner

“This is a Nice Place.”

• Calzones • Gourmet Pizzas • Deli Sandwiches • Speciality Salads • Homemade Soups • Desserts • Carry Out Items Closed Sun. Abe’s Alley 145 S. Jefferson and Mon.

(812) 988-8884 • calzonejones.com 26 Our Brown County • Nov./Dec. 2011

SAMPLER continued from 21 You can build your own pie by choosing from a grocery-list of ingredients: 15 veggies, 11 cheeses, and at least ten meats including lamb and morta della, the sausage that put the bologna in bologna.

It’s a sort of pay-as-you-go system.

Or, you can go for any one of several Specialty Pizzas on the Big Woods menu, including the “margherita”, the “kimosabe” or the “black and bleu”—Cajun Alfredo sauce, lamb, roasted red peppers, green peppers, red onion, gouda, and mozzarella. I’m going to have to go back and give that one a whirl.

Our pizza was tasty and fulfilling, and I seemed to enter a state of pseudo-bliss, calling to mind the ghosts of all those pizzas I’ve ever eaten, in a long unbroken chain back to the ancient of college days, and they were all chanting like choirs of aboriginal holy men, and they were saying: “There is no bad Pizza.”

“No Bad Pizza.”

“Just Pizza, and better Pizza.”

So, I gorged myself on pizza, got a little silly on fine root beer, and entertained my wife with many a witty bon mot and clever tale of things I’ve done and seen, and there was even a cute little box to take home a couple of slices for breakfast.

Walking slowly through the darkening summer streets of the little village in Peaceful Valley with my best girl on my arm and my belly full of marvelously pleasing and satisfying food, I reflected on just how good life sometimes can be.

And I was profoundly satisfied. 

Family Cosmetic Preventive Dentistry 812-332-2000 www.drlisabaker.net

Lisa J. Baker, DDS 4217 E. 3rd Street • Bloomington, IN 47401

HERITAGE MALL Shops South Van Buren Street Nashville, Indiana

SPORTS etc.

Your Team Headquarters for Y Licensed Sports Novelties and Collectibles

• Collegiate • NFL • MLB • NBA • NASCAR

New rooms with balcony view, restaurant, lounge, and enclosed pool. Conference facility for up to 600 people.

812-988-2284 • SeasonsLodge.com

Visit our website

www.browncountysports.com 41 S. Van Buren St. Heritage Mall Nashville, Indiana

A Brown County Landmark renowned for savory home cooking and old-fashioned hospitality 812-988-4554

812-988-6809

• Memorabilia • Apparel • T-Shirts by The Mountain • Vintage Photos • Postcards

Head over

Heels • Minnetonka • Stetson • Tilley Hats

HATS • FOOTWEAR • ACCESSORIES 49 South Van Buren Street

in Nashville • 812-988-6535 headoverheels@switched.com • fax: 812-988-6505

Featuring comfortable rooms, restaurant, bar, and indoor pool. Meeting space for up to 275 people.

812-988-2291 • BrownCountyInn.com

Nashville’s extraordinary eating and beverage experience 812-988-6166

Nashville Candy Store Old-Fashioned Candy Homemade Fudge Peanut Brittle

Heritage Mall 41 S. Van Buren (3 doors south of Nashville House) www.nashvillecandy.com (812)988-8745 toll free (877)735-8657

Buy a pound of FUDGE Get a half pound FREE

Nov./Dec. 2011 • Our Brown County 27

S

Early Winter Delights

he wrote, “I love Brown County most in November and December...late fall, early winter, when you can see the ridges and the contours of the land, and the first snows.”

From my west-facing windows, I watch the light from the rising sun behind me wash down the high ridge behind my house, lighting first the leafless tree tops, then the branches and then the strong, dark trunks.

The world flames orange, peach, and silver for a few minutes only. Then as the earth and sun continue to dance their eternal circular dance, the morning light flattens and the colors fade.

Ground fog hovers along Salt Creek, twisting up and away in misty pillars, giving a platinum shimmer to the morning. On those windless, sunny, frosty days, the long needles of the crystals catch the light, winking and shimmering like diamonds.

All of Brown County is a Tiffany’s of the natural world, no blue box needed.

Wallace Stevens wrote a poem in which he condemned the timidity in the love of “half colors of quarter things.” But looking at what I now think of as the half colors of quarter things is a deep, early winter delight for me. Grasses go red and goldbrown, cinnamon, and the color of blanched almonds. Beech trees retain champaign colored leaves that flutter like oval prayer flags all winter long. The deer look like moving gray-brown clods of earth in the gray-brown

28 Our Brown County • Nov./Dec. 2011

~by Lee Edgren

soybean field across the road. The pewter sky is pebbled and hard.

The landscape seems to glow with its own inner light.

While the wild is receding from us, Brown County is still wild enough to offer the possibility of magic sightings. One late November night, I was awakened by the brightness of the full moon and went outside. It was one of those totally silent frosty nights, shimmering sky, strong shadows, the moonlight and the reflected light from the skiff of snow washing out most of the stars.

I looked up through the branches of the old silver maple tree across the driveway, just to admire their tracery over the face of the moon. And there was the silhouette of the largest owl I’d ever seen, silently perched just a few feet from where I was standing. Maybe I startled the owl as much as it startled me, or maybe it was just time for the owl to go. Into the silence came the eeriely loud “whuff whuff” of the huge wings. The owl vanished in the nearby woods. And then it was moon, tree, cold, silence again.

Flowing through the beauty of this experience, giving it its power, was the stark awareness that I had interrupted the owl’s hunting.

Brown County wasn’t easy to get to in the early days. The artists came by train to Helmsburg and then walked or hired wagons to make the trip to Nashville.

Now, we are an easy car trip from Cincinnati, Louisville, Indianapolis, Continued on 30

5 Ye

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Ole House

62 E. Washington St. Nashville, IN across from Coachlight Square/Circle K Indiana Salsa • Jams (free samples) H d ft d W d k Handcrafted Woodwork Magnetic Mailbox Covers Sports Items Custom Glass-Bead Jewelry Goose Clothes Indiana Blacksmith Ironworks Concrete Decorative Items www.ole-house.com • 812-988-4770

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Dynamic classes and demo table.

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160 Old School Way in Nashville behind Village Candlemaker

(812) 988-2002 www.papertrix.com

Nashville BP 14 ” PIZZA $9.98 from 4:00–7:00 pm State Roads 46 & 135 270 S. Van Buren St. in Nashville

988-1822 Nov./Dec. 2011 • Our Brown County 29

We Moved! New Location*

White Sands Boutique “A Caché of Fabulous Stuff”

HOT • NEW • STYLISH

“Dahling, You’ Love this Shop!

You’ll I a Fabulous It’s L Boutique” Little

White Sands Boutique

A Fun Place to Shop

Women’s Apparel, Handbags, NEW LOCATION Jewelry, We moved across the street behind Hats, Old Bartley House— formerly Ruth’s Garden’s and more!

*

courtyard Nashville, IN (812) 988-6980

30 Our Brown County • Nov./Dec. 2011

EARLY WINTER continued from 28 even Chicago, not to mention all the smaller towns dotted all around.

Slowing down, walking without purpose in the woods, taking in the colors that drew the artists in the first place, looking for evidence of that parallel universe, the animal world, the natural world, secretive and powerful, should be, I think, part of the entire Brown County experience. Even here in Brown County, where much seems unchanging much of the time, it is clear that nothing is ever still.

You might think of “layering” your visit, just as you would your clothes. The outer layer might be all the delights of the shops and restaurants, the mid-layer, all the galleries that give you an opportunity to see Brown County through the artists’ eye: the TC Steele State Historic Site; the in-town History Museum operated by the Brown County Historical Society. Don’t miss the Hohenberger photographs on the lower level of the Brown County Public Library. Add in those active recreational pursuits. Zip the zip lines, ride your bike.

Participate in the Nature Center walks at the Brown County State Park.

But then, for the layer closest to your skin, spend time and then some more time alone, in silent appreciation for and communion with the earth in November and December. Don’t rush it.

As poet Mary Oliver wrote: “The farthest star and the mud at our feet are a family; there is no decency or sense in honoring one thing, or a few things, and then closing the list.” After all this is the season of Thanksgiving and renewal. Step away from all the familiar delights, steep the mind in simply being awake to the world around you, and allow it to open to the mysteries that can be experienced only in silent presence. Yes. If you haven’t already, do see Brown County this year. 

•PIZZA •PASTA •SANDWICHES • SALADS Dine in or Carry Out

988-6565

open daily 10–5 • 812-988-7058

58 East Main Street Nashville, Indiana (next to Brown County Courthouse) www.browncountycraftgallery.com

140 W. Main Sun.–Thurs. 11–9 • Fri. & Sat. 11–10

The Peaceful Valley Arts & Crafts Shop Located in Antique Alley 75 S. Jefferson, Nashville

• Woodstock chimes Featuring Indiana handmade items including: • Colorado glass ornaments soaps and candles, crocheted items, and • Vermont origami Dillman Farm jams and jellies at lowest prices • Indiana artwork, new/vintage (317) 783-6726 • www.peacefulvalleyartscrafts.com

the HISTORIC VILLAGE GREEN BUILDING

V NA S H I L L E

INDIANA

REPRESENTING OVER 40 LOCAL & REGIONAL ARTISTS Also the working studios of

Yes, we really make it right here!

Dick & Dixie Ferrer · Fine Art Barb Brooke Davis · Textile Art

Homemade Ice Cream since 1977 812-988-0815 · www.millericecream.com

www.ferrergallery.com · 812·988·1994

Classes Available · Gallery on the 2nd level

61 WEST MAIN STREET · NASHVILLE INDIANA Nov./Dec. 2011 • Our Brown County 31

32 Our Brown County â&#x20AC;˘ Nov./Dec. 2011

HOTEL NASHVILLE

• Accommodates 8 Guests • 2 Bedrooms and 2 Baths • Game Room w/ Pool Table • Cable TV–DVD Player • Fully-Equipped Kitchen • Central Heat and Air • Gas Fireplace • Gas Grill • Outdoor Hot Tub

BRICK LODGE 245 N. Jefferson St., Nashville (812) 988-8400 • (800) 848-6274 www.hotelnashville.com • Suites, Studios, Hot Tubs • Restaurant and Bar • Indoor Pool, Sauna, Whirlpool • Conference Facilities • Weddings and Receptions • Special Getaway Packages

1878 N. State Rd. 135, Nashville (812) 988-8400 • (800) 848-6274 www.bricklodge.com

NORTH HOUSE 194 N. Van Buren St., Nashville (812) 988-8400 • (800) 848-6274 www.northhousegetaway.com • Accommodates 8 Guests • 3 Bedrooms and 2 1/2 Baths • Cable TV–DVD Player • Fully-Equipped Kitchen • Central Heat and Air • Electric Fireplace • Secluded Hot Tub • Gas Grill

Nov./Dec. 2011 • Our Brown County 33

Photos by Steve Cale

Calendar

The schedule could change. Always check if planning a special trip.

The Palace Theatre It’s Only Temporary Nov. 4, 18 at 8:00 Platinum Girls Nov. 2 at 1:30, Nov. 10 2:00 Forever Vegas Nov. 5, 19 at 8:00 Cowboy Sweethearts Nov. 12 at 8:00 Robert Shaw Show: Good Rockin’ Live!

Nov. 1 at 8:00 A special show to honor the superstars of Sun Records including Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Roy Orbison Believe: The Brown County Christmas Show Nov. 25, 26 at 8:00, Nov. 30 at 7:00 Dec. 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17 at 8:00 Coachlight Square • Van Buren and Washington Streets in Nashville Info 812-988-2101 www.palacetheatreobc.com

Brown County Playhouse Children’s Holiday Show with Peggy Melchior and Kid Kazooey Dec. 18 at 2:00 $10 ticket/ students $6 Jacob Marley’s Christmas A prequel to A Christmas Carol Dec. 15-17 at 7:30 $15 ticket/ students $10 Tickets and info 812-988-6555 Located on South Van Buren Street in Nashville

Chateau Thomas Winery Music 7:00-10:00 Fri. and Sat. Nov. 4 Ken Wilson & Company Nov. 5 Impasse Nov. 11 Ronny Lee Nov. 12 Barry Johnson Nov. 18 Bloodshot Moon

Nov. 19 Lazy Saints Nov. 25 Bomar & Ritter Nov. 26 Fire in the Dawn Dec. 2 Davis & Devitt Dec. 3 Marvin Parish Dec. 9 Mark LaPointe Dec. 10 Gary Applegate Dec. 16 The Richmonds Dec. 17 Lasy Saints Dec. 23 Triple Play Dec. 30 Dave Miller Dec. 31 The Paul Bertsch Band Info 812-988-8500 www.ChateauThomas.com

Muddy Boots Cafe Live music: Monday-Thurs.

6:30-8:30 Friday and Saturday 7:30-9:30 Nov. 1 All Star Jam w/ Picker Dan Nov. 2 Clayton Ruston Nov. 3 Kara & Chuck Nov. 4 Stephen Thomas Nov. 5 Bonz (12-2:30)

Brian Wallen (7-9:30) Nov. 7 Grant Eversoll Nov. 8 Ken Wilson Nov. 9 Don Ford Nov. 10 TBA Nov. 11 Mizfits Nov. 12 Whipstich Sallies (12-2:30)

Kentucky Hollow Player (7-9:30) Nov. 14 Mitch Milhof Nov. 15 Robbie Bowden Nov. 16 Bonz Nov. 17 TBA Nov. 18 Andy Young Nov. 19 Travis Creek Nov. 21 Elmo Taylor Nov. 22 Uncle Phil Nov. 23 Billy Young Nov. 25 Johnny Nevada & the Rockets Nov. 26 David Brykaski Nov. 28 Angela Bradley Nov. 29 Carl Ray Nov. 30 Richard Groner Dec. 1 Kara & Chuck Dec. 2 Stephen Thomas Dec. 3 Jeb Brester Dec. 5 Grant Eversoll

36 Our Brown County • Nov./Dec. 2011

Dec. 6 Uncle Phil Dec. 7 Johnny Nevada & the Rockets Dec. 8 David Dwyer Dec. 9 Mizfits Dec. 10 Bonz Dec. 12 Angela Bradley Dec. 13 Robbie Bowden Dec. 14 Don Ford Dec. 15 TBA Dec. 16 Indiana Boyz Dec. 17 Travis Creek Dec. 19 Clayton Ruston Dec. 20 Richard Groner Dec. 21 Billy Young Dec. 22 All Star Jam Dec. 23-28 TBA Dec. 29 Clayton Ruston Dec. 30 Carl Ray Dec. 31 TBA Info 812-988-6911 North end of Van Buren Street in Nashville

Night Owl’s Beading Café Nov. 4 Wakefield 6-8:30

PowderKeg StewGrass 9:30-11:30 Nov. 5 Whipstitch Sallies 6-8:30

Lexi Minnich 9:30-11:30 Nov. 6 Grant Eversoll 1:30-3:30 Nov. 7 Open Jam w/ Richard Groner 7:30-10:30 Nov. 11 Retro Brothers 6-8:30

Brian Fortner 9:30-11:30 Nov. 12 Steven Thomas Band 6-8:30

Kara Barnard & Friends 9:30-11:30 Nov. 13 TBA Nov. 14 Teen Open Jam 7:30-10:30 Nov. 18 WhoaMan Band Open Drum 7-11:30 Nov. 19 The Hidden List 6-8:30

Whiskey Mystics 9:30-11:30 Nov. 20 Hickory Wind 1:30-3:30 Nov. 21 Open Jam w/ Richard Groner 7:30-10:30 Nov. 25 The Hutchisons 6-8:30

Sounds of Shelter 9:30-11:30 Nov. 26 Shelf Life 6-8:30

Whiskey Bent & Hellbound 9:30-11:30

Nov. 27 TBA Nov. 28 Poetry Reading 7:30-10:30 Dec. 2 Wakefield 6-8:30

PowderKeg StewGrass 9:30-11:30 Dec. 3 Whipstitch Sallies 6-8:30

Lexi Minnich 9:30-11:30 Dec. 4 Grant Eversoll 1:30-3:30 Dec. 5 Open Jam w/ Richard Groner 7:30-10:30 Dec. 9 Bart Fortner 6-8:30

Brian Fortner 9:30-11:30 Nov. 10 Steven Thomas Band 6-8:30

Kara Barnard & Friends 9:30-11:30 Dec. 11 Retro Brothers 1:30-3:30 Dec. 12 Teen Open Jam 7:30-10:30 Dec. 16 WhoaMan Band Open Drum 7-11:30 Dec. 17 The Hidden List 6-8:30

Whiskey Mystics 9:30-11:30 Dec. 18 Hickory Wind 1:30-3:30 Dec. 19 Open Jam w/ Richard Groner 7:30-10:30 Dec. 23 TBA 6-8:30

Sounds of Shelter 9:30-11:30 Dec. 24-26 Closed for holiday Dec. 30 TBA Dec. 31 Night Owl New Years Party

Abe Martin Lodge Little Gem Restaurant Music Saturdays Dave Miller 6:00-8:00 Info 812-988-4418

Mike’s Music & Dance Barn Mondays Country Dance Lessons Saturdays Mike’s Smooth Country Band Special Events/Info: Nov. 4 Stardusters Ballroom Dance Nov. 11 Ballroom Dance w/ House Band Nov. 12 Lloyd Wood Show Nov. 18 Closed-Mike in Bedford Nov. 25 Closed Dec. Saturday Shows 3, 10, 17 Info 812-988-8636 www.thedancebarn.com

Salt Creek Golf Retreat 19th Hole Bar

4th Annual Chocolate Walk

Music Fridays and Saturdays Info 812-988-7888 www.saltcreekgolf.com

Brown County Inn Corn Crib Music Fridays, Saturdays 9:00

Seasons Lodge

Nov. 12, Downtown Nashville 10:00-5:00 Sample yummy chocolate treats while strolling through the village of Nashville.

Proceeds go to Brown County Humane Society.

Info 812-988-7303, 812-988-9962 bchumane.org chocolatewalk@hotmail.com

Cabin Fever 5K Run/Walk

Music Fridays and Saturdays 9:00

OTHER ACTIVITIES: Bucks & Does Square Dances Nov. 4, 18 and Dec. 2, 16 (Christmas Party) at Historical Society 135 N, 8:00-10:30 Nov. 25 and Dec. 9 at Abe Martin Lodge in Brown County State Park, 8:00-10:00

Brown County Art Guild Nov. 1 – 30: Patron & Senior show together this year, upstairs in Loft Gallery Joint reception during Village Art Walk Nov. 12 5:00-8:00 Dec. Artist Holiday Show and Art in the Round

Brown County Art Gallery Nov. 1-Feb. 2012 Fall/Winter Exhibit Nov. featured artist Sandee Hazelbaker Nov. 1-6 Fall Patron Show Nov. 25-Dec. 31 Holiday Exhibit

Nov. 12, Brown County High School, noon $22 admission to benefit Brown County youth programs through Parks and Rec.

Create it with Gingerbread Log Cabin Competition Nov. 20-Dec. 3, Traditional Arts Building 46 E. Gould St. 10:00-5:00 Open House Nov. 20 at 11:00 a.m. $1,000 Best of Show prize Other prizes including different age groups. The “Doot” Family of Dressings, JWS Enterprises, Small Dog Design, Ferrer Gallery, and Jack & Jill Nut Shop, with the Brown County Historical Society’s Traditional Arts Building are sponsors of this year’s competition. Silent auction of entries will support event.

Info 800-753-3255 CreateItWithGingerbread.com

Visitors Center Holiday Open House Nov. 25, Downtown Nashville

SPECIAL EVENTS: Village Art Walk

Pioneer Village Open House

Second Saturdays April–December 5 to 8 pm. 11 participating galleries.

Restaurant discounts on tour Sat. and Sun. www.artalliancebrowncounty.com 812-340-8781

Nov. 26, Downtown Nashville

Goshen Church Bean Dinner, Holiday Bazaar and Bake Sale

Dec. 2, 6:00, The Ordinary Auctioning off all kinds of stuff...art, antiques, and more! All proceeds to benefit children in need.

Nov. 12 at Goshen Church on Gatesville Road east of Bean Blossom from 11:00 to 3:00. A quilt will be raffled off.

Winter Art and Craft Fair Nov. 25, 26, Seasons Conference Center

Children’s Benefit Auction

Continued on next page

Nov./Dec. 2011 • Our Brown County 37

Winter Art and Craft FAIR

November 25, 26, 2011

V

isit the Brown County Winter Art and Craft Fair at the Season’s Conference Center in Nashville, IN the day after Thanksgiving, November 25, and following Friday, November 26. This annual show has been a serene, arty escape from the rat-race of bigbox store shopping for more than 30 years.

The Winter Fair is juried and administered by members of the Brown County Craft Guild, a not-forprofit group of area artisans. There is room in the Season’s Conference Center for 45 booths and there is usually a waiting list for the spaces.

Among the arts and crafts that will be available this year are painting, ceramics, baskets, weaving and knitting, dolls, stained glass, rugs, jewelry, quilted wall art, furniture, metal art, photography, mosaics, folk and gourd art. Other booths will display hand-milled soap, recycled vintage textiles, knitted clothing and socks. Most of the exhibitors come from Indiana.

About 75 percent of the exhibitors are regulars.

Hours at the Conference Center, located at 560 State Road 46 East in Nashville are 10 am to 6 pm on Friday and 10 am to 5 pm on Saturday. Admission to the show is by $1 donation or a special invitation post card. There is ample parking at the Conference Center. More information can be obtained by calling Cathy or Paul Hendrickson at (317) 604-5254 or e-mailing <cparts@comcast.net>.

CALENDAR continued from 37

Santa Train Dec. 2, around 8:00 in Helmsburg Santa arrives by train via the Indiana Railroad. Children and adults are invited to board the train and visit with Santa.

Also, many other Christmas and cartoon characters. Fun for the whole family.

Brown County Craft Gallery Holiday Open House Dec. 10, East Main Street in Nashville, 10:00-8:00 Info 812-988-7058 www.browncountycraftgallery.com

Reindeer Romp Dec. 3 at Brown County State Park Nature Center

Spears Gallery Open House Dec. 3 & 4 Featuring Larry Spears pottery Spears Gallery on SR 135 South Info 812-988-1287

Steele’s Country Christmas Dec. 3, T.C. Steele State Historic Site in Belmont, 10:00-2:00 Find out how the Steele’s celebrated the holidays at the House of the Singing Winds during the 1920s

A celebration to dedicate Nashville’s new Village Green Pavillion was held on Sunday October 15, 2011. The Johnson family donated the structure to Brown County in honor of the late Dick Johnson. Daughter Jenny Johnson and others spoke to honor all the people who contributed to the project. The White Lightning Boys performed. Big Woods and the Hobnob provided food.

38 Our Brown County • Nov./Dec. 2011

Michael’s Massage Michael Rebman, Certified Therapist

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 • Free Guest Parking Serving Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

104 South Jefferson St. • Nashville by appointment only

812-988-4447 www.michaels-massage.com

Since 1981 • Open 362 Days a Year

Find something special for you and your loved ones from our selection of

Quality Gifts & Collectibles including distinctive hand-painted Brown County ornaments and Locally-made pottery

Friendly, knowledgeable staff We ship every day Visit our website www.CarolsCrafts.com E-mail: Sales@CarolsCrafts.com 800-345-6388

Artists Colony Shops, S. Van Buren St., Nashville

Breakfast Buffet 7:30 am–10:30 am “Early Bird” Specials Mon.–Thurs. 3–5 pm At the corner of Van Buren and Franklin Streets in Nashville, Indiana

812-988-0600 • 800-737-0255

artistscolonyinn.com

Artists Colony Shops Toys and Games for All Ages Fea Featuring toys on ASTRA’s 2011 Best Toys for Kids List 201

AB Brown County Tradition Bro Located in the Artists Colony Shops 125 S. Van Buren St. – Nashville, IN www.browncountytoychest.com

Since 1972

Nov./Dec. 2011 • Our Brown County 39

Log Cabins

T

he Second Annual Create It with Gingerbread Log Cabin Competition and Show will take place at the Traditional Arts Building at 46 East Gould St., Nashville. Organizers expect the number of entries to top 2010’s total of 45. Adults with entries will be competing for a first place prize of $500, second place prize of $250, and third place prize of $100.

Prizes for a category for teens 12 to 17 years of age are first place, $100; second place, $75; and third place, $50. Children aged 11 years and younger will have a first place prize of $50, second place prize of $25, and a third place prize of $10. All entrants under the age of 18 on the day of competition require a signature from a parent or legal guardian.

The entry that is judged “Best of Show” will win $1,000, regardless of age of the contestant. Except for the base, all building and decorating materials must be edible, with the main structure itself being of tasty, aromatic gingerbread. Originality, use of gingerbread in the actual structure, decoration, overall appearance and difficulty, and decoration will be used as judging criteria.

Delivery of entries is scheduled for Friday, November 18 from 4 to 8 p.m., and Saturday, November 19

~by Julia Pearson from 8 a.m. to 12 Noon. An Awards Ceremony and Open House will take place on Sunday, November 20 at 11 a.m. at the Traditional Arts Building. Everyone who attended the 2010 awards ceremony will remember the crowds on the porch and standing-room-only inside as the winners were announced and received their prizes.

The exhibit of gingerbread log cabins will be daily from November 20 through December 3, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., except for Thanksgiving Day when the exhibit will be closed. There will be a silent auction of all the gingerbread log cabins, with the funds generated going to the support of the event itself. An exciting responsibility for everyone viewing the exhibit of gingerbread entries is voting for the People’s Choice Award.

On Saturday, December 3, at 12 Noon, the People’s Choice Award will be announced and the winner receiving the most votes from visitors viewing the exhibit will receive $300.

This wonderful event is the brainchild of Mary Howard, a co-owner of the locally owned family business, Hootie Doot salad dressings. The “Doot” Family of Dressings, JWS Enterprises, Small Dog Design, Ferrer Gallery, and Jack & Jill Nut Shop, with the Brown County Historical Society’s Traditional Arts Building, are the proud and enthusiastic sponsors of this year’s Gingerbread Log Cabin Competition.

Pre-registration is required and the application deadline is the first of November. Information, rules, and application form (can be completed on-line) are found at <www.CreateItWithGingerbread. com>. 

40 Our Brown County • Nov./Dec. 2011

NIGHT

OWL’S

Beading Café We have a large inventory of gemstones, pearls, wood and shell beads. We also offer silver jewelry, custom pieces, and a comprehensive line of silver findings.

Join us for a variety of music on Wednesday through Saturday nights in the “Owl's Nest” on our back deck.

Night Owl's Beading Café invites to you enjoy our fresh, varied menu of healthy food, delectable desserts, locally roasted coffees, and custom blended smoothies.

Check us out on Facebook

Located at the corner of S. Jefferson and W. Main St., Nashville’s Village Green • (812) 720-0072 Starting November open Friday and Saturday Noon to 12:00 a.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Monday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

BROWN COUNTY

HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE DEC. 15 Sales and Great Product Samples!

See Store and Website for Details

CUSTOMER CASH PROMOTION

• Certified Ang us Beef • Large Beer an d Wine Section s • Picnic Suppli es • Full Service B akery/Deli • Custom Cake Decorating Organic Grocery • Dairy • Produce • Frozen • Cust om Deli Trays, Veggie Trays, Organically Grown Wines and Olive Oil Fruit Baskets, and Gift Baske Hometown Proud Local Grocery Store ts

Going On Now~Every Ticket is a Winner and all $1.00 are entered into our Second Chance Drawing for a 46 inch LCD TV! Drawing December 28

Serving Beautiful Brown County Since 1975!

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

Nov./Dec. 2011 • Our Brown County 41

~by Jim Eagleman

Seeing the Trees

M

ention to anyone your fall experience will include a trip to Brown County, Indiana and you’ll most likely get nods of agreement, smiles, and maybe even a few shouts. A Hoosier fall can’t be fully appreciated without a car ride along our beautiful ridge-tops, forested hills, and ravines. Every curve or view through the county’s woods greets you with new color, light, and texture. Does the autumn of the year occur anywhere else in Indiana? Of course, but here you get a chance to take it all in with views of 15 to 20 miles from cleared overlooks and pull-offs, or from the turns and curves along the park and county roads.

Fall shades of reds, yellows, oranges, and tans every year, long credited as the county and park’s “claim to fame”, are trademarked with this rolling terrain and hazy

photo courtesy of DNR

horizons. No wonder we witness the onslaught of crowded Nashville streets, businesses, and county roads. Everyone love a spectacular fall.

I enjoy the vista views and scenic overlooks as much as visitors— watching changes from morning to evening, day to day. A view from a favorite park vista makes me stop. I look to see if shaded areas from clouds overhead stretch on to nearby slopes, or if bright, sunlit hillsides allow the common turkey vulture to soar, the warm thermals giving it lift. Chips and calls from a nearby bush could be a migrating warbler, and I move to see. A colorful, morning view is highlighted with intense sun, but the same view appears muted and drab by four o’clock. Conversely, long shadows by late afternoon make some mundane tree colors explode. “Your park vistas are

42 Our Brown County • Nov./Dec. 2011

spectacular!” says a visitor with a camera. “Yep!” I wave back.

It’s this mixed-deciduous, young Brown County forest I’ve written about many times that continues to inspire. Intrigued by the story of abuse and loss of forest cover and curious, I accumulated sufficient material to author a Master’s thesis in the early 1980s. In it, I documented how tremendous quantities of trees were first cut off this landscape and what happened to the timber. Piankeshaw, Wea, and Delaware, among others were the first Native Americans to inhabit southern Indiana, and occasionally used fire to create seasonal gardens in forested bottomlands and flood plains. They wintered in southern Indiana caves and hunted deep forests of large timber for deer and bear. Their impact on the resource Continued on 51

THE FIREPLACE CENTER

Complete line of: • Wood Stoves and Inserts • Gas Stoves and Inserts • Fireplaces Your first step to Energy INDEPENDENT LIVING

Homestead

WEAVING STUDIO

Visit us on the Studio Tours

812-336-2053 1-800-344-3967 1210 W. 2nd St. Bloomington TheFireplaceCenter.net

Open 11 to 5 most days

Southeastern Brown County 6285 Hamilton Creek Rd. Columbus, Indiana 47201

812-988-8622 Quality Handwovens www.homesteadweaver.com

by Chris Gustin chris@homesteadweaver.com

Antiques and Fine Gifts Discover a Casual Elegance

Wearable Art Silver, Bronze and Copper Jewelry Lampwork Beads · Hand Painted Silk Scarves Home of the Unique and Unusual

4741 E. SR 46 Bloomington • 812-332-5662 20 minutes from Brown County “Your friends in the house by the side of the road”

Country Mouse Weaving Studio

Classes available year-round in PMC Silver & Jewelry Techniques TUESDAY–SUNDAY · 10–5 1650 Salt Creek Road · Nashville, IN 47448 812-988-8378

www.cheriplatter.com Look for our Spears Pottery location Downtown next to the Nashville House

Take part in our new hands-on Raku pottery glazing

Pottery by Larry Spears

Joan Haab Hand Woven Chenille Designer Garments

7965 Rinnie Seitz Road • Nashville, IN • (812) 988-7920

Open Weds., Thurs., Fri. and by appt. • countrymouseweavery@gmail.com

Also available at Brown County Craft Gallery and Spears Gallery in Nashville

Open Daily 10–5

5110 St. Rd. 135 S. • Nashville, IN 47448 (on your way to Story) • 812.988.1287 Shop on-line, too, at www.spearsgallery.com

Nov./Dec. 2011 • Our Brown County 43

Visit

10 miles north of Nashville on scenic State Road 135

Morgantown Serving Central Indiana for 40 Year s Since 1971

Visit our website

www.theclockconnection.com Lay-a-way and Gift Certificates available 75 W. Washington St. P.O. Box 29 Morgantown, IN 46160-0029 812-597-5414 Tues.–Sat. 11–5 pm (closed Sun. & Mon.)

Fabric & Notions s ‛ y d A 79 W. Washington St. Morgantown, IN

812.597.0578 • www.adysfabrics.com Learn a Special Project by Request BOMs, Retreats and Monthly Clubs Fabrics • Threads • Classes • Kits • Notions Patterns • Quilting • Sewing • Redwork Embroidery • Long Arm Quilting Available Hours: Mon.–Sat. 10 to 5 • open Weds. till 8:00pm

Holiday Sales and Specials Santa Train Arrives First Friday of December around 7 pm Visit quaint shops Sample great food Build family traditions

A dollhouse is… … a child’s toy … an adult hobby … a family heirloom Let us help you choose the one that’s right for you!

69 West Washington Street Morgantown, Indiana 46160 812-597-4346 Open Year Round Monday – Saturday: 10 am until 5 pm Visit us online at www.jeepersminiatures.com

Decorating supplies, building materials, dollhouses (kits, pre-assembled or ready to decorate), workshops, miniature dolls, classes, accessories, electrical supplies, furniture, friendly service, helpful guidance!

44 Our Brown County • Nov./Dec. 2011

Knitting, Weaving, Spinning

Classes, Yarns, Fleeces, Looms, Wheels Weds. 6-8:30; Thurs, Fri., Sat. 10–5; Sun. 1–5; Closed Mon. & Tues.

2.5 miles west of Morgantown SR 252 (at the sheep farm)

BONE APPETIT BAKERY For Dogs

• Quality all-natural treats since 1997 • Over 20 wholesome varieties from low-fat to wheat and corn free • Fancy Gourmet and Seasonal Snacks • Barkingood Boutique

Bring this ad get a FREE bag of DOGS WELCOME! (812) 988-0305 natural dog treats 211 S. Van Buren St. (behind Shell station) with your $10 purchase www.barkingood.com

Regional Au Authors and Subjects Brown County Books Br Nature Guides Cookbooks Fiction Non-fiction Open All Year Genealogy 45 S. Jefferson Nashville Children’s Books 812-988-0202

Male Instinct “A Different Spin on a Man’s Store”

• Northern Sportswear • Premier Garden • Ultimo Fragrance • Life is Crap Tees • Knives • Military

BOOK STORE

551 E. St. Road 46 Nashville, Indiana Half mile from downtown New Management Pet Friendly Smoking rooms–limited availability

(812) 988-1149

www.SaltCreekInn.com

75 South Van Buren St. • Nashville, IN • (812) 988-1964

LODGE on the MOUNTAIN Two Secluded Guest Rooms Overlooking a Private Lake

Convenient to Nashville/Bloomington

S

AL SPECI

FRI.&SAT.—BUY ONE get 2nd 1/2 OFF SUN.–THURS.—BUY ONE get ONE FREE (Excludes Sept.–Nov.)

812-988-6429 www.browncountylogcabins.com

Serving Brown County

Cottage Accommodations in the Heart of Nashville

Innkeeper 812-720-0222

Bob & Chris Kirlin 26 Honeysuckle Ln. • Nashville, IN

McDonald’s ®

501 E. SR 46 Nashville, IN.

www.honeysucklecottageofnashvilleindiana.com

Nov./Dec. 2011 • Our Brown County 45

4th November 12, 2011

T

at Valley Branch Retreat 2620 Valley Branch Rd Nashville, IN 47448

812.988.7750

eXploreBrownCounty.com

he Brown County Humane Society’s 4th Annual Chocolate Walk is on Saturday November 12 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Nashville, Indiana.

Chocolate Walkers will be able to sample different chocolates by visiting 31 participating retailers. Local chocolate-makers and premier Indiana chocolatiers will be giving away treats to each Chocolate Walker.

For the price of a ticket, a person can stop at as many shops as they wish, sample the delectable creations, all while seeing the beautiful town of Nashville at the start of the holiday season. Tickets are $20. All proceeds go directly to our homeless pets. For more details or to purchase tickets: <www.bchumane.org>. 

46 Our Brown County • Nov./Dec. 2011

zip line canopy tours paintball · atv tours mountain biking party rental hall cabins · camping discount adventure group passes The Longest, Fastest, Tallest Zips in Indiana!

Open Year Round • Shop this Holiday Season at

Bill Monroe’s

Visit our Morgantown Location

Bean Blossom Gift Shop

Your Headquarters for the Great Outdoors • Camping Supplies: • Fishing Tackle Tents, Camping Lights, • Horse Tack Sleeping Bags, Grills, • RV Replacement Parts Fire Starters, Coleman Heaters and Lanterns, Cooking Utensils • Huge Selection of Carhartt Clothing • Lodge Cast Iron Cookware Salt Creek Plaza • Nashville

(812) 988-8888

www.BearHardware.com Mon.–Sat. 7:30am–7:00pm Sun 10:00am–4:00pm

We Fill Propane Tanks

Be amazed at the Great Selection of Gifts for

Bluegrass Music Lovers • Huge number of hard-to-find CDs and Tapes • T-Shirts • Souvenirs • Videos • Hats • Signs • Bluegrass Books • Picker Supplies • Things that make you smile • Song Books • Bill Monroe Music Park Shirts • iHeaters The Bill Monroe Bluegrass Hall of Fame and Country Star Museum is also open year round

812-988-6422 or 800-414-4677 www.beanblossom.us

BILL MONROE MUSIC PARK & CAMPGROUND 5 miles north of Nashville on SR 135 Bean Blossom

Pit Bull L EATHER CO. Fierce gear for bikers... and anyone along for the ride!

HOOSIER BUDDY offers more than 100

different kinds of ice cold beer, a large selection of domestic and imported wines (from Boone's Farm to Dom Perignon), and all your favorite spirits. Plus, we carry ice, snacks, and other party supplies.

Located at the Junction of HWYs 46 and 135 in Nashville

Motorcycle Apparel: •Jackets •Saddle Bags •Chaps •Fork Bags •Vests •T-Bags •Gloves

Handbags & Wallets T-Shirts: •Biker •Music

Sunglasses & Goggles

•Colts •Attitude, etc.

Hours: Mon.–Thurs. 8–10, Fri. and Sat. 8–11

20 N. Van Buren (across from courthouse) P.O. Box 398 • Nashville IN 47448 812-988-6007 • e-mail: pbl101@sbcglobal.net

(812) 988-2267

Sponsor Miracle Ride for Riley Hospital for Children

Hoosier Buddy reminds you to drink responsibly • Don't Drink and Drive •

www.pitbullleather.com

Become our Facebook fan and learn about NEW ARRIVALS and WEEKLY SPECIALS

Nov./Dec. 2011 • Our Brown County 47

Lucky to Live Here

~by Henry Swain

B

rown County has just experienced another October tourist rush. The crowds have been good but we will leave it to the merchants to determine whether they left behind many dollars in the shops.

My formative years were spent in the flat farmland of north central Indiana. It was the custom in my family to make a week-end pilgrimage to our southern Indiana state parks during early spring and in the leaf changing month of October. It was a delightful change of scenery to visit the forested hill country of southern Indiana.

It was from those pleasurable visits that my wife Mardi and I ended up choosing to live here. How lucky we were to find a forty acre plot with hills and a stream running through it off Clay Lick road. At that time the new highway to Columbus had yet to be built and a winding black-topped road headed east from the courthouse to the state park and on to Columbus.

The first October peak week-end we found cars coming up our road because the traffic was backed up as far as the state park entrance with motorists attempting to return to Nashville after visiting the park.

Some visitors who may have come from Indianapolis took Clay Lick road believing they could get back to Bean Blossom and avoid the crunch of returning to Nashville. Mistakenly they would take Wallow Hollow road for it was the first road west, instead of going on to Gatesville road which would have returned them to Bean Blossom.

48 Our Brown County â&#x20AC;˘ Nov./Dec. 2011

The steep hill west of the intersection of the blacktop with Clay Lick road was plagued with cars stalled on the hill. Most cars at the time were stickshift and motorists were not accustomed to starting cars on the steep grade. There was a lot of lurching as motorists tried to engage the hill. Bob Gregg and George Tucker had a lumber supply business in Nashville and would drive their semi-truck to Louisiana frequently for lumber. They said that hill was the steepest on their trip.

Although I grew up in the flat farmland near the town of Pendleton, we were not farmers. We had a mini-farm of five acres surrounded by larger farms.

Many of our neighboring farmers also would come to Brown County in the fall not only for the hills and changing leaves but to purchase corn baskets.

Members of the Bohall family were basked makers and anticipated the flatland farmersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; autumn visits.

A corn basket is a large round basket about the size of a bushel basket but with an arched carrying handle.

They were made of oak spines and would last many seasons. Farmers would use the baskets to carry ears of corn to feed their pigs or to feed their cows at milking Continued on 53

Not a member? Not a problem!

Stop in at the co-op for fresh, delicious, affordable food - to eat in or take away.

3220 E THIRD ST

near College Mall

419 E KIRKWOOD

right up the alley

316 W SIXTH ST

2 blocks west of courthouse square

BLOOMINGTON IN BLOOMINGFOODS.COOP

Your locally grown co-op since 1976

Hidden Valley Inn

Escape to Country Elegance. Warm and inviting all suite hotel with fully equipped kitchenettes. Located in the heart of historic downtown Nashville. HVI provides exceptional service and affordable value in an atmosphere that is conducive to peace of mind and relaxation for our guests.

Call today for our weekday specials.

201 North Van Buren Street • Nashville, IN (812) 988-9000 or (877) 988-9099 www.hiddenvalleyinn.net

Men’s Toy Shop Things you can live without ... but who wants to!

Fine Pipes and Tobaccos Themed T-Shirts Premium Cigars Great Gifts for Guys

Gold Award Hotel

Light up your

Holidays

Enjoy the Village Festivities.

Visit Unique Shops, Restaurants, and Live Theatre.

• Complimentary Hot Breakfast • Indoor Pool/Fitness Center • Room Packages Available • Wireless Internet • Whirlpool Suites 75 W. Chestnut State Rd 46 • Nashville, IN Trolley available to Downtown Nashville.

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

Call or Visit our Website for Information about Holiday Packages.

Old Colonial Bldg. North Van Buren St. in Nashville 812.988.6590

www.SpragueHotels.com • (812) 988-6118 • 800-4-choice Spraguehotels.com/Sprague-comfort-inn-nashville

Nov./Dec. 2011 • Our Brown County 49

Beavers

- established 1891

Oldest family owned business in Brown County

One Stop Grocery Shopping

Grocery • Meat • Deli • Beer/Wine Produce • Lottery • BUFFET PIZZAS Visa • Discover • MasterCard accepted Open Daily 8 - 8, 8 - 6 Sunday

Bean Blossom • 988-4629 OK —I think it is time we dispel A little myth about beavers…

Everyone says, “Busy as a Beaver” Well, I saw all sorts of unfinished beaver work…

They’re slackers!

They start work on one tree Get bored, and then start on another Hardly ever finishing what they start!

There is a method to their slackerness – They always “girdle” only the side of the tree Facing away from the lake.

The shore-side of the tree stops growing…

While the lake-side continues to grow…

And the tree starts leaning out over the lake with bigger and bigger limbs pulling it over.

Maybe beavers discovered the secret Of working smarter, not harder.

—Tim Ellison

812-988-4411 theoriginalsouptonuts@gmail.com www.facebook.com/theoriginalsouptonuts

East Franklin St., Nashville • Located across the street from The Ferguson House, next to Peg Ann’s Boutique in beautiful Franklin Square

NEW LOCATION!

Peg Ann’s Boutique Classically Whimsical Brown County’s “Unique Boutique”

Clothing • Accessories • Jewelry In the courtyard of Franklin Place on West Franklin St. (behind Daily Grind)

812-988-7950 • Open 7 days a week 50 Our Brown County • Nov./Dec. 2011

SEEING THE TREES continued from 42 (and a few remaining lodges) were barely noticed by arriving farmers.

Homesteading ventures soon brought in settlers— timber-clearing well underway by the mid-eighteen hundreds. They found trees in their way, since they had come to farm and scratch out a living on these hills. With extensive land-clearing, and farming in and around tree stumps, woodland species soon dwindled.

Overhunting and habitat destruction prevailed.

In time, landowners moved out. The Brown County Game Farm project and a neighboring state park incorporated abandoned farmlands as wildlife habitat.

Early Department of Conservation employees reared captive game birds here, along with other animals, releasing them onto similar cut-over and brushy lands throughout the state.

But restoration success in the late 1920s was discouraging. Natural mortality on woodland wildlife took its toll. In time, managers learned it was manipulation of the habitat, not turning loose pen-reared animals that helped replenish depleted populations.

A deed transfer from the department’s Division of Fish and Game to the Division of Lands Parks and Waters in 1940 combined acreage and created the tract that became (and since has been) the state’s largest state park.

The CCC era (mid-to late 1930s) brought in workers who completed roads, lakes, and shelters. Planting many walnut, spruce, and pines also helped curb erosion on abused slopes and ravines.

Word is out that Brown County, Indiana is the place to go. Do visitors come here knowing the past use of this forest? Do they care it first started out as a game farm, and hunter dollars helped pay for it? Probably not, and it won’t make a difference or bring them back.

Nor do they know, or care, that trees once considered a liability to the first land-owner are now our best assets!

What is seen and remembered is the uninterrupted views, the long shadows, the bright mornings. Fall accentuates this young forest’s natural beauty—we’ve come to expect it, almost taking it for granted. It’s certainly a bonus for all of us who live here and a reason why many come.

And as if on cue, with November fall colors fading, I’ll hear another statement from a happy visitor:” I bet this place is pretty in winter!” 

Brown County Winery

7 Days a Week Year Round

2 Locations:

Winery and Tasting Room in Gnaw Bone

Downtown Nashville le Tasting Room

5 minutes East of Nashville 4520 State Road 46 East 812-988-6144 • 888-298-2984

Corner of Main Street and Old School Way 812-988-8646

Complimentary Wine Tasting

Gift Shop • Cheese • Gourmet Food Items

www.browncountywinery.com Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

Nashville’s only Guest Ranch ...because a campfire 11-room inn helps you see things 1 vacation home in a different light. TM Public trail rides New ZIP LINES! Family reunions Women’s retreats Kids’ horse retreats Murder mysteries Lighted basketball court Playground equipment Hiking and relaxation Perfect for group outings!

Fishing Nightly campfires Hayrides Team building Low ropes course Weddings Church events Guest horse stalling Riding area 54 acres of land

812-988-0085 888-94-RANCH (79624)

1292 State Road 135 South Three miles east of Nashville www.rawhideranchusa.com Nov./Dec. 2011 • Our Brown County 51

G

oshen Community Church, located three miles east of Bean Blossom at 2798 Gatesville Road, will be holding its 5th Annual Bean Dinner, Holiday Bazaar, Bake Sale, and Quilt Raffle from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, November 12. This is Goshen’s big fundraiser of the year and continues to get bigger and better each year.

Goshen is one of the oldest churches in Brown County. It is a small one-room church established in 1874. At the time the church was built, it was the custom that men and women entered through separate doors, so you will notice the church has two front doors. The church was heated with a pot-bellied stove in the center and men sat in pews on one side, women on the other.

The bean dinner/bazaar has been a learning experience over the previous four years. Goshen has a very small congregation and the first year of our event was a lot of trial and error, but turned out to be successful.

The second year, our event was inadvertently held on the same day as another, more well known, church’s event. Due to a bridge renovation, Gatesville Road was closed and detours

Salted Nuts R d Roasted Daily

November 12, 2011

Goshen Dinner, Bazaar, & Bake Sale were in effect that year as well. The next year we bounced right back! In fact, we were so successful we ran out of cornbread muffins and had to hurriedly bake more. This would not seem to be a big problem except there is no kitchen at the church. Last year, we ran out of bean soup. Poor planning? No, success beyond our wildest expectations! Each year, the two small parking areas are full and cars line the road in both directions as far as the eye can see.

This year’s menu consists of ham and bean soup, cornbread muffins, salad, choice of drink and dessert for a

C Cinnamon Roasted Almonds & Pecans

C ashe ncy Mix epitas Peanuts Cashews, Fancy Mix, P Pepitas, Delicious Candies - Homemade Fudge Mail Orders - 812-988-7480

S.Van Buren (Shopper's Lane) Nashville 52 Our Brown County • Nov./Dec. 2011

$5 donation. More options will be available.

The Bake Sale will offer cookies, pies, breads, brownies, and much more—all at reasonable prices.

The Holiday Bazaar includes handcrafted items such as potholders, oven mitts and aprons for the kitchen; afghans, hats and stuffed animals for babies; greeting cards; and homemade jellies.

Copies of the church cookbook, Heavenly Delights, will be available for sale, as well as many other items.

Two sisters take turns making the quilts to be raffled each year at the end of the bazaar.

This year’s quilt, Missouri Star, in shades of blue, is Queen Size and was made by Margi Underwood.

Tickets can be purchased for $1 each or 6 tickets for $5 by contacting Pastor Barb Wood at (812) 597-0018 or Ruth Fox at (812) 988-7892. Tickets will also be available at the event.

Plan on attending Goshen Community Church’s 5th Annual Bean Dinner/Holiday Bazaar/ Bake Sale on November 12 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Drawing for the quilt will be held at 3 p.m.

You need not be present to win but we hope to see you there! 

Largest Collection of Bobby Knight Memorabilia Breakfast 8:30 - 11 a.m.

Sandwiches & Salads 11 a.m. - ?

At the corner of Main & Van Buren Streets (underneath the Nashville House) - 988-2355

Holiday

Getaway

in BROWN COUNTY Shopping ~ Dining ~ Entertainment

November 24 to December 29, 2011

The Holiday 2-Night

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2-day/2-night overnight stay, plus $30 restaurant voucher, plus $10 breakfast coupon

$169* (2 nights–Sun. to Wed. arrival) $189* (2 nights–Thurs. or Sat. arrival) $209* (2 nights–Friday arrival)

LUCKY TO LIVE HERE continued from 48 time. Brown County was one of the few places farmers knew they could find them. Calvin Hardware occupied the first floor of the three-story Masonic building and stocked the Bohall baskets along with hog feeders, harness, and other small farm items.

My friend, the late John Dixon, was instrumental in finding our forty acres through the Calvin Hardware store. Mabel Calvin, daughter of Durward Calvin, operated the store along with her husband Ralph Burkholder. John asked if they knew of any acreage for sale. Mabel had inherited 40 acres from her father’s estate and said she might consider selling it. She told us to come back the next day and she would think about it overnight. It was our good fortune she had a good night’s sleep. She offered to sell us the forty acres for six hundred dollars, the exact amount we had in savings. We spent our first October clearing a building site for our first home while living in a tent.

Many October’s ago John and I were sitting on the Liar’s Bench watching tourists coming to a stop at the traffic light. We looked at them and wondered where they were from and if they came to see the leaf color.

They looked at us and wondered if we lived here and were we hillbillies? Finally after a time of silence John said, “Just think, we live here.” That says it all. 

Celebrate the Season at the 200+ shops, galleries, and theater Visit www.browncounty.com for a list of Holiday Events On site: Year-round Pool / Playground / Game Room Tennis Courts / Shuffleboard / Miniature Golf / Basketball Volleyball / Horseshoes / Bocce / Ping Pong / Board Games Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge

FREE in-store demos!

Main Street Shoppes Old School Way & Main Visit our website for class schedules www.wishfulthinking-in.com • 812-988-7009

State Road 46 East in Nashville, IN

800-772-5249 www.browncountyinn.com Advance reservation and deposit required. Limited number packages available. Above offers valid based on availability, for arrival from Nov. 24 to Dec. 29, 2011. Not valid for group room bookings beyond 4 rooms per stay. Children (up to age 17) stay free with parents – Max occ. per room is 2 adults/2 child. *Add 12% sales tax to all rates (food vouchers are not taxable)

HIS BOOK SHOP Specializing in New, Used, and Rare Christian Books

We Buy Christian Books Across alley from Courthouse (812) 988-4873 58 East Main St. P.O. Box 365 www.hisbookshop.com Nashville, Indiana 47448

Nov./Dec. 2011 • Our Brown County 53

I

t was my great privilege and honor to be in the company of a bunch of talented individuals and all-round good sports for the first live broadcast of a Brown County radio show a few weeks back. There was a passel of local music groups representing Celtic, Folk, Bluegrass, and some other genres. And we had a radio theater group consisting of both local and imported thespians, a sound effects feller, and a live audience.

We spent most of the Saturday afternoon and a fair chunk of the early evening on the script, schedule, and sound checks. Then we rehearsed until the troupe was as slick as Ogle Lake goose poop. We commenced at eight o’clock with a musical number and then launched into a skit.

There was some more music and then there was a skit about some music—then another skit. Poetry recitations and quotes from Abe Martin interspersed through the whole thing added a little garnishing.

That’s the way all the big shows are put

54 Our Brown County • Nov./Dec. 2011

What’s So Funny? ~by Mark Blackwell together—according to the director.

All that mixing of music and skits is what you do to keep the audience from nodding off or changing the station to something more stimulating like a Presidential Primary Debate. But there is another ingredient in a successful broadcast—and that is humor. Humor is like ketchup—if you’re afraid that your meal just ain’t up to par all you have to do is pour on the ketchup. It’s the same with any kind of performance, if it seems a little bland or tasteless all you have to do is slather on some humor and folks can choke it down. (I’m often surprised that more preachers don’t know about this.)

Well, our show was liberally seasoned. And the humor was as predictable as Heinz 57 in that it employed the time-worn stereotypical Brown County rube (me) who turns out to be slyer than the city slicker. It was also not as predictable when the image of twenty naked Pentecostals was conjured up in both skit and song. And it was these elements of the script that I thought about after the show.

The rustic rube is an ancient archetype in humor. I was reminded of that when the program presented a slightly updated version of the “Arkansas Traveler.” The “Arkansas Traveler” is a fiddle and spoken work piece that concerns a city feller who is lost and asks a farmer for directions. It dates back at least to the early nineteenth century. For those of you who didn’t see or hear the show and aren’t from the early nineteenth century, it goes something like this: City Slicker—“Hey there, old-timer, can you tell me where this road goes?”

Farmer—“Well, I been here forty years and it ain’t gone any place yet.”

Slicker—“Have you lived here all your life?”

Farmer—“Not yet.”

And it goes on from there, interspersed with some fancy fiddle music.

The skit can be as long as the actors want to keep going because there is infinite dialog. I have looked back over scripts for the skit but haven’t found the definitive earliest version yet. I suspect the earliest version may be written in ancient Greek. But Brown County can lay claim to its own rendering of the wily rustic in Kin Hubbard’s creation of Abe Martin.

Abe Martin was a comic character who inhabited a one-panel comic on the back page of the Indianapolis News starting on December 17, 1904. The comic was called “From down in the hills of Brown County” and ran six days a week for over twenty-five years. Abe’s observations and witticisms put Brown County on the map for folks in Indiana. In1911 “Abe” was syndicated in newspapers across the country. Abe Martin was funny looking and decidedly rural, but rarely a fool.

He had a way of looking at his environment and summing up a situation in a sentence or two. Some of Abe’s sayings are not very understandable removed from their context of a hundred years ago. But many of them are still pertinent today, such as: “Nobuddy kin talk as interestin’ as th’ feller that’s not hampered by facts er information.” It sounds like he was describing a whole class of modern politicians and pundits. Or, “If th’ gover’ment wuz as afraid o’ disturbin’ th’ consumer as it is o’ disturbin’ business, this would be some democracy.” It just goes to show ya things don’t change very much…even when they need to.

Abe didn’t specialize on politics either, almost nothing escaped his notice. I find Abe’s sociological observations to be thoroughly thought provoking— “Some fellers are like a hen, fer ther allus gittin’ credit fer somethin’ they couldn’t help doin’.” And, “It often happens that a feller’s usefulness ends when his salary is raised.” Occasionally, Abe would come out with somethin’ like—“To dream of rhubarb denotes that you are of a jovial nature and will stand for almost anything. To dream of eating it means that you are failing mentally.” That kinda makes me wonder if Mr. Martin didn’t partake of a little wildwood weed from time to time.

If you have been to the Brown County Library or the Nashville House you may have noticed portraits of some of our own gone but not forgotten Abe-like characters—rustics, tricksters, and rubes. We should be proud of all the folks from the old families to the newcomers who live in Brown County and make it a place to fell free enough to be yourself. And, as Abe sez, “You’re never successful till you’re happy.” 

Downtown Nashville

Gift Car Cards rds and Custom Printed Gift Certificates

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CornerstoneInn.com

facebook.com/TheCornerstoneInn Nov./Dec. 2011 • Our Brown County 55

Early Artist L.O. Griffith L. O. Griffith at his etching press. Frank Hohenberger

~by Joanne Nesbit

H

e was once described as so quiet and reserved that he could be mistaken for the village watchmaker or the town printer. His daily routine included smoking cigars. He seldom drank alcohol, was spiritual but not religious, and belonged to a Masonic Lodge. L.O. Griffith was recognized as one of Indiana’s foremost painters whose subject was the scenery of Brown County.

Born in Greencastle, Indiana in 1875, “Griff,” as he came to be known, started his art career in Chicago as a commercial illustrator for Barnes-Crosby Engraving. But he always wanted to be an artist and

Old McDurbin % Gold & 50 Gifts

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Customized

• Anklets • Bracelets • Necklaces

Watches Sterling Silver 1000’s of Pendants Rings 58 E. Main Street (next to courthouse)

56 Our Brown County • Nov./Dec. 2011

left his six-day work week with the engraving company to become a freelance artist. By his 20s, Griff made painting and printmaking his primary focus. This dual career as painter and printmaker gained him many awards. He also worked in watercolor and occasionally did woodcuts and sculptures. He even made his own frames. A man of strict scheduling and precision, he rose every day at 6:00 a.m. and painted in his studio at a slow and methodical pace, often from sketches he had made in the field. His etchings in particular were works of perfectionism, whether in black and white or in multilayers of color, bringing the artist fame for the subtle tonalities of his aquatints.

As a painter Griffith worked primarily outside, especially in the fall and spring. He invented a portable, easily mountable alcohol burner to warm his glue so he could paint outside even in freezing temperatures.

When he was five, his family moved to Texas. He left home at the age of thirteen and worked on a ranch, then as a bellhop in a Dallas hotel. He continued drawing obsessively during his entire childhood. “I drew everywhere, and on every available surface,” Griffith once said. With his various jobs he earned enough money to pay for some art lessons.

Continued on 58

Art Glass • Photography • Jewelryy • Clothing …and more

We are behind the courthouse in Nashville • (812) 988-0210

Restaurant Serving Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Soups • Salads Sandwiches • After Five Menu Fine Wines Available

The Art and Soul of Nashville

Brown County

Art Guild

Breads, Pastries, and Danish Baked Here Daily Center of Nashville Main and Van Buren Streets Open Daily • (812) 988-4114

visit www.BrownCountyArtGuild.org for our seasonal hours 48 South Van Buren Street in the historic Minor House PO Box 324 • Nashville, IN 47448 • (812) 988-6185

NEW LEAF

Featuring locally handcrafted jewelry by owner Amy Greely.

An eclectic mix of creative items from local, regional, and global artists.

Located in Calvin Place, Franklin & Van Buren (812) 988-1058 • www.amygreely.com

the Historic

art gallery Quiet of Eventide · Adolph Shulz

NEW LEAF in Nashville, IN

Featuring

The Marie Goth Collection and works by 50 Contemporary Member Artists

Amy Greely

Jewelry Designs

• SINCE 1954 •

Monday–Saturday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Sunday Noon to 5:00 pm Free Parking and Admission

Brown County’s original art gallery, established in 1926, offers works for sale by Gallery Association members in the Main Hall, plus consigned old Indiana art. The newly remodeled exhibition space now includes the Indiana Heritage Arts Gallery, featuring many of Indiana’s top professional artists. Browse our gallery where you will find the work of the early art colony masters, many of whom founded the Gallery and the original art association.

Main Street and Artist Drive · Two blocks east of the Courthouse

812-988-4609 · www.browncountyartgallery.org

Nov./Dec. 2011 • Our Brown County 57

No visit to Nashville is complete without a visit to

George George Ge org rge C Tucker Tu r Building Bu dingg

Across from Brown County Courthouse

44 N. Van Buren St. north of stoplight

Granny’s Christmas & Gift Shop

• Santa • Snowmen • Precious Moments • Dept. 56® • Snow Village • Dickens • Nutcrackers and much more!

(812) 988-6208 • second floor

MERCANTILE STORE

GRIFFITH continued from 56 By the late 1890s when he started at the Chicago engraving company, his talents and practiced skills were easily recognized. He became a member of the Palette and Chisel Club in Chicago. It was there that he was able to continue his art studies. He was known as the “Old Bachelor Guard” by his fellow members because they were married and Griff was still single. As a group, the club took sketching trips outside the city and set up to paint the outdoor scenery. Adolph Shulz, who was a member and had already visited Brown County, encouraged Griff to travel to this artists’ retreat in Southern Indiana in 1907. A Chicago writer remarked of the returning artists, “Their enthusiastic response to the region’s pristine beauty enticed other members to make excursions, thus seeding the establishment of a new art colony in the Midwest.”

While working in Chicago, Griffith married Carolyn Maulsby in 1920. In 1922 he sent off an illustration of a ham to a meat-packing firm. The company’s art director sent it back with the notation, “Make ham more graceful.” This comment didn’t set easily with Griff, so he, his wife and young son began packing for the county seat of Brown County where they had visited for a number of years. A couple of years later he built a home and studio out of what once had been a creamery.

Griffith painted in Indiana for about 50 years. But those cold Midwest winters still did no favors for the artist, so from 1926 to 1930 Griffith returned to Dallas for visits that lasted sometimes for several weeks to several months. But come spring in the Hoosier state, he always returned to Brown County where he became active in local politics and the burgeoning art colony.

“Brown County is conducive to thought and work,” Griffith once said. He remained in his Brown County home until his death in 1956. 

“Old and Young Love this Shop!”

Brown County

• T-Shirts • Toys • Gifts • Collectibles • Brown County Souvenirs

January–March 2012 we’ll serve BREAKFAST ALL DAY every day (but Tues.)

Something is always brewing at the Daily Grind. We offer a fine selection of sandwiches and desserts, and a full breakfast menu including egg dishes, bagelwiches, and delicious Belgian waffles.

Call us for takeout, too.

(812) 988-2725 CALVIN PLACE Nashville, Indiana

58 Our Brown County • Nov./Dec. 2011

Open 8 am daily • (812) 988-4808 Closed Tues. (except in Sept. & Oct.) Seasonal closing hours

Prints, Jewelry, Frames, Metal Signs and Gifts

Looking for a Gift They will Remember?

No more ties or house slippers, please!

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All canvases are $20 OFF!

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Locker Room: Current NFL, MLB, NHL, some College

Local Landmark Prints, Brown County Photos, Beatles, Marilyn Monroe, Bands, Sports Teams In Old Colonial Building across from the Courthouse 812-988-4898 • www.mainstreetimagesonline.com

Knives Swords Sling Shots Blow Guns OPEN ALL YEAR

Stadium Prints: NFL, MLB, some College (Sample Tasting)

Large Selection of Nostalgic Metal Signs Peace Frogs Merchandise

Things are Hoppin’ at J Bob’s

Team Hangout: Current NFL, MLB, NHL, some College

Purses

BEDAZZLED JEWELRY Quality Jewelry at Affordable Prices Large Selection of Rings and Necklace Sets Glass Necklace and Earring Sets

Create your word, message, or name with Alphabet Photography

16 N. Van Buren Street (812) 988-6844 Nashville North of stoplight downtown

Nov./Dec. 2011 • Our Brown County 59

Our Brown County BOOKKEEPING & PAYROLL

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Precise Books and Payroll Inc. Small Business Bookkeeping and Payroll Services

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Kristina Terrill

Full Collision Repair 24-Hour Towing Bring in this ad get

EYE CARE NAME YOUR CATEGORY

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GAS / CONVENIENCE

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Garage

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812-988-7518

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Medical Building at Nashville YMCA

27 Salt Creek Rd (Intersection SR 46) Nashville

(Behind Comfort Inn)103 Willow Street

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Walk-Ins Welcome stylist: Tabitha Davis stylist/owner: Susie Woodall

812-988-4599 4933 N. SR 135 Nashville (Bean Blossom) Mon. – Fri. 9 – 5; Sat. 9 to Noon; Evenings by appt.

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72

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Expires 12/31/11.

Save $2.00 on Gel, Roll-On, Spray, or Wipes “Indiana Raw Honey sold here!”

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30 years experience SHOP/OFFICE

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INSURANCE

BRIGHT & WILLIAMSON Insurance Agency Auto • Home • Business Health • Life • Bonds 24 N. Jefferson St. • P.O. Box 698 • Nashville, IN 47448

Bob Gredy Sr. (812) 988-2275 fax: 988-7670 home: 988-7185

Made to Last

INSURANCE

Right Here in Brown County Chairs Rockers Side Tables Footstools For Info: 812-988-9267 REAL ESTATE

Jane Gore Realty “Personalized, Not Franchised” Serving Brown County Since 1982 jane.gore@sbcglobal.net www.janegorerealty.com

(812) 988-6512 cell: (812) 325-5419

91 W. Gould St. P.O. Box 9 • Nashville, IN 47448

AUTO • HOME • LIFE BUSINESS Christy McGinley

146 E. Main St. Redbud Terrace Nashville, Indiana

812-988-6399

cmcginley@farmersagent.com

TRASH REMOVAL

LOG HOME SERVICES

Knight’s

• Log Cabin Repairs • Chinking & Repair • New Construction • Cabin Inspections

Trash Removal

Residential • Commercial 15 yd Roll-Off Service (812) 988-8000

(812) 988-2689 3497 Clay Lick Rd. • Nashville

TREE SERVICE

REAL ESTATE

Pruning • Planting Removals Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Matt Baldwin ISA Certified Arborist #IN-3202a

(812) 988-9998

www.browncountyhomes.com

WELLNESS

REAL ESTATE

RE/MAX Team

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Brown County Property Management Locally Established / Internationally Recognized

877-988-4485 Email: margd@remax.net MargAndBrendaTeam.com Corner of E. Main Street and Artist Dr. in Nashville, IN 47448

FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT FOR HEALTHY LIVING FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

The Brown County YMCA is located behind the Comfort Inn Now open at 5:30 a.m. Mon.–Fri.

812-988-9622 • www.browncountyymca.org

MBER

NOVE 012

2 RY 1,

ANUA

11 - J WIN $500 AND A BROWN COUNTY GETAWAY DURING THE HOLIDAY PASSPORT PROMOTION NOVEMBER 11 – JANUARY 1, 2012

www.BrownCounty.com 800-753-3255 Art • Nature • Adventure

BROWN COUNTY VISITORS CENTER Stop by the Visitors Center at the corner ner ne of Van Buren and Main Streets to learn more mor oree about all Brown County has to offer.

HOLIDAY EVENTS Chocolate Walk • Cabin Fever 5k Run/Walk • Reindeer Romp • Steele’s Country Christmas • Gingerbread Log Cabin Competition and Exhibit • Gravel Grovel • Christmas Tree Walk • Visitor’ss Center Holiday Open House • Lighted Village Christmas Bird Count • Santa Sightings • Santa Train • Winter Art and Craft Fair • Pioneer Village Open House • Village Art Walk • Art in the Round • Tecumseh Trail Marathon • Spears Gallery Open House • Carriage Rides • Brown County Craft Gallery Holiday Open House • Strolling Carolers

Nov./Dec. 2011 â&#x20AC;˘ Our Brown County 63

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