Sept./Oct. 2017 OUR BROWN COUNTY by Our Brown County

The The Magazine Magazine of of Fun Fun and and Fact Fact FREE FREE

Since Since 1995 1995

Sept./Oct. Sept./Oct. 2017 2017

Stone Carver Sidney Bolam Joe Bolinger g

Policy, Banjo, and Songwriting

Debbie Bartes

and the Nashville Fudge Kitchen

The Liars’ Bench The The Strahls Strahls Past Past Imperfect Imperfect Dr. Dr. Brester Brester Retires Retires The The Village Village Green Green Project Project Sampler Sampler at at Gnaw Gnaw Bone Bone Coffee Coff ffeee Uncle Uncle Pen Pen Days Days at at Bill Bill Monroe’s Monroe’s Back Back Roads Roads Studio Studio Tour Tour Happenings Happenings in in Brown Brown County County MAPS MAPS • CALENDAR CALENDAR • ARTICLES ARTICLES • PHOTOGRAPHS PHOTOGRAPHS

STOP BY FOR THE OLIVE OILS AND BALSAMICS. GET LOST IN ALL THE REST...

W Main St.

Just in time for the holidays: customized gift sets of olive oil and balsamic! Choose your flavors and we fill and label them. Need a batch for your clients or family? Give us a call and we’ll add a custom message or logo for that special touch!

Frank lin Street

Van Buren St

N Honeysuckle Ln

Mound St

Let us help you make your clients or family members feel extra special during this season of giving!

US 46

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

Located at 37 W Main next to Miller’s Ice Cream. (812) 988 WILD- (9453) • www.thewildolive.com

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

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

V NA S H I L L E

INDIANA

The Candy Dish

Yes, we really do make it ourselves!

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

812.988.0815

812.988.7606

Homemade Ice Cream

Harvest Preserve the

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

812.988.7606

Functional and Fine Art Made in Indiana

812.988.6675

61 West Main street · nashville, indiana

Carmel Ridge Rd

Trafalgar

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

Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church Brownie’s Bean Blossom Restaurant HELMSBURG

Monroe Music Park & Campground BEAN BLOSSOM

Bean Blossom Farmers Market

Cordry Lake

Sprunica Rd.

FRUITDALE

Doodles by Kara Barnard

Flower and Herb Barn Farmhouse Café

Plum Creek Antiques Market

GATESVILLE

Gatesville Store Dining

to BL O

Rd.

Adventure

TO N NG

KOA als t Co. k Rd n ent e RetreaMall w R r e i o n r e T r y . e e B lt C io r n Co sid tiqu ffee cat ine a 46 S Brow CrwenekCo.wAnBon’eBCroownowVan Co. BWONE Bro GnaHills o Br GNAW O Overlook M lde to COLUMBUS Lodge Gnaw t. Lib Tim kidscommons Gnaw Bone 19th Hole ert e Fl Deja Vu Store/Bakery Bone y R ea Bar/Grille BBQ d Mk Show Bear Wallow t Distillery

Mike’s Music and Dance Barn Abe Martin Lodge

eXplore Brown County

Rawhide Ranch

135

Rd.

MI to BL OO

BELMONT

Craftsman

Annie Smith Rd.

Old SR 4

Green Valley Lodge Yellowwood Lake

Artist and/or Gallery

NASHVILLE

Country Club Rd

Oak Grove

Cox Creek Mill

ran

Rd.

Musical Entertainment

Ow l Cr eek

Helm

Butler Winery BLOOMINGTON Dr. Lisa Baker, DDS Fireplace Center Harley-Davidson of Bloomington Artisan Guilds of Bloomington Show

sburg

135

Lodging/ Camping

Mike Nickels Log Homes

Val le

OMIN

GTON

Helmsburg General Store Lightspinner Studio

Vaught Rd.

Clay Lick Rd

Lake Lemon

Martinsville

Franklin

to MORGANTOWN

NASHVILLE MAP ON PAGE 6

135

Upper Bean Blossom

Brown County N

MARTINSVILLE TRAFALGAR Berries & Ivy The Apple Works MORGANTOWN Sweetwater Antiques Co-op Lake Art Beyond Crayons Grandpa Jeff’s Trail Rides House of Clocks Las Chalupas Rosey Bolte’s Uncommon Gourd Studio

Indianapolis

Brown County State Park STONE HEAD Rd

Grv

Rd ton Cr k

Hamil

Christia

nsburg

ELKINSVILLE

CHRISTIANSBURG

STORY Monroe Reservoir

la Pop

T.C. Steele State Historic Site

PIKES PEAK

Bob Allen Rd.

Homestead Weaving Studio Salem’s Good Nature Farm

JEFFERSON STREET

Hoosier Artist

Fallen Leaf Books

HONEYSUCKLE LANE

OLD HICKORY LANE

B3 Gallery

Brown Co. Art Guild

Hobnob Corner

ST SR 135 N

Miller’s Ice Cream The Candy Dish The Harvest Preserve

The Wild Olive

Brown Co. Winery

Sweet Cozy Living

Head Over Heels

Heritage Mall

Spears Pottery Juls Etc.

The Sunshine Shack

Fables & Fairy Tales Bookstore

Main Street Shops

Foxfire

Foxfire...Boutique

Gold &Old

Redbud Terrace

McGinley Insurance

Health For U

IHA

Brown Co Art Gallery

Masonic Lodge

SR 46 To Brown Co. Recycle Center

Ol d

RE/MAX Team

Office

County Offices

Woodlands Touch of Silver Gallery

Old McDurbin Gold & Gifts Brown Co Craft Gallery

MAIN STREET Our Sandwich Place

Nashville House

Log JJail L il Nashville Spice Co.

Weed Patch Music Company

Pioneer Village Museum

LOCUST LANE

Village Green

Courthouse

open M-F8-4

Copperhead Creek Gem Mine

Iris Garden Complex

Brown Co Public Library

Brown Co. History Center

GOULD STREET Brown Co. Rock & Fossil Shop

Trolly’s

Hoosier Barn & Table

Holly Shop

MOUND STREET

Hidden Valley Inn

ROBERT “BUCK” STOGSDILL WAY

TO HELMSBURG - 6 MILES

The Emerald Pencil

Big Woods Village

MOLLY’S LANE

LaSha’s

Men’s Toy Shop

Colonial Bldg.

Carmel Corn Cottage

TO BEAN BLOSSOM & MORGANTOWN

Brozinni Pizzeria

Hills O’Brown Realty

J.B. Goods/ Life is Good

Hotel Nashville

ARTIST DR

VAN BUREN

Village Florist

The Salvation Army

JEFFERSON STREET Nashville BP

Artists Colony Inn House of Jerky Toy Chest Mariposa Fawn Hill

Artists Colony

Cathy’s Corner

Cedar Creek Winery

Nashville Express

Rhonda Kay’s

Out of the Ordinary

Gyros Food & Art

Papertrix

Bone Appetit

Coachlight Square

Chateau Thomas Winery

Brown Co Inn Hotel, Restaurant and Bar

Brown Co Community YMCA

Bear Hardware Comfort Inn

Brown County IGA

SR 46 TO COLUMBUS - 16 MILES

Sweetea’s Tea Shop

and Salon

VISITORS Bakery CENTER Ethereal Day Spa

Salt Creek Park

Seasons Lodge & Conference Center

People’s State Bank Pine Room Muddy Boots

Casa Del Sol

Doodles by Kara Barnard

Craftsman

Theatre

Dining Lodging

Artist and/or Gallery

Musical Entertainment Rest Room

Parking

COUNTY MAP ON PAGE 5

map not to scale

Nashville Indiana

Mercantile Nashville Store General Store

Cornerstone Inn

WASHINGTON STREET

Moondance Vacation Homes

Nashville Fudge Kitchen

Possum Trot Sq

Sweetwater Back to Back Yesteryear Gallery Old Time Photos Grasshopper Flats Wishful Simply 4 You Thinking

VAN BUREN ST SR 135 N

SR 46 TO BLOOMINGTON - 16 MILES

Hoosier Buddy

Thrift Shop Community Closet

PAT REILLY DR

Calvin Place

Madeline’s

Schwab’s Fudge

New Leaf Amy Greely

Life is Good JB Goods

PITTMAN HOUSE LANE

Too Cute Abe’s Corner

Melchior Marionettes

FRANKLIN STREET

HONEYSUCKLE LANE

Franklin Sq

Brown Co. Pottery K. Bellum Leather Ferguson House Plum Natural Products

Antique Alley

Brown Co Playhouse

58 South Apparel

OLD SCHOOL WAY

8 Our Brown County Sept./Oct. 2017

ADVERTISER

ANTIQUES

ENTERTAINMENT/MUSIC

Antiques Co-op.............................52 Berries & Ivy...................................59 Brown Co Antique Mall................13 Cathy’s Corner...............................28 The Emerald Pencil.......................19 Gnaw Bone Country Store & Bakery.........................................21 Nashville General Store...............60 Plum Creek Antiques...................68

ART, ART SUPPLIES, ART INSTRUCTION

Deja Vu Arts/Fine Craft Show.....70 Antiques Co-op.............................52 Art Beyond Crayons.....................52 Art Walk..........................................19 B3 Gallery.......................................18 Back Roads Studio Tour...............58 Bear Hardware..............................48 Brown Co Antique Mall................13 Brown Co Art Gallery...................18 Brown Co Art Guild.......................25 Brown Co Craft Gallery................21 Brown Co Forge.............................33 Cathy’s Corner...............................28 The Emerald Pencil.......................19 Hoosier Artist................................19 Lightspinner StudioMartha Sechler..............................59 Papertrix.........................................15 Spears Pottery...............................18 Rosey Bolte-Uncommon Gourd.18

BOOKS

Fables & Fairy Tales Bookstore...21 Fallen Leaf Books..........................27

CHURCHES

Shepherd of the Hills Evangelical Luthern Church.......26

CLOTHING

58 South Apparel..........................36 Abe’s Corner/Too Cute.................61 Artisan Guilds of Bloomington..17 Bear Hardware..............................48 Community Closet Thrift Shop...57 Deja Vu Arts/Fine Craft Show.....70 Foxfire Boutique...........................41 Head Over Heels...........................31 J.B. Goods/ Life is Good...............22 Men’s Toy Shop..............................26

Mercantile Store...........................47 Village Florist Tuxedo Rental......47

CRAFTS, POTTERY, GIFTS

Deja Vu Arts/Fine Craft Show.....70 Antiques Co-op.............................52 Appleworks....................................14 Artisan Guilds of Bloomington..17 B3 Gallery.......................................18 Back Roads Studio Tour...............58 Berries & Ivy...................................59 Bone Appetit Bakery....................13 Brown Co Art Guild.......................25 Brown Co Craft Gallery................21 Brown Co Pottery..........................13 Brown Co Rock & Fossil Shop.....56 Cathy’s Corner...............................28 Cox Creek Mill................................33 The Emerald Pencil.......................19 Fawn Hill.........................................66 The Ferguson House....................41 Foxfire.............................................41 Gnaw Bone Country Store & Bakery.........................................21 Head Over Heels...........................31 Holly Shop......................................12 Homestead Weaving Studio.......18 Hoosier Artist................................19 Hoosier Barn & Table....................40 House of Clocks.............................52 K. Bellum Leather.........................19 Lightspinner StudioMartha Sechler..............................59 Madeline’s......................................31 Mariposa Nashville.......................40 Men’s Toy Shop..............................26 Mercantile Store...........................47 Nashville General Store...............60 New Leaf.........................................19 Papertrix.........................................15 Plum Natural Products................59 Rhonda Kay’s.................................36 Simply 4 You..................................29 Spears Pottery...............................18 Sweetwater Gallery......................29 The Toy Chest................................47 Rosey Bolte-Uncommon Gourd.18 Village Florist Flowers & Gifts.....47 Wishful Thinking...........................29 Woodlands Gallery.......................30

19th Hole Bar & Grill.....................62 Brown County Playhouse............62 Brown Co. Shriners Shoot Event.56 Cinefest...........................................33 Copperhead Creek Gem Mine....56 Hotel Nashville Gazebo Parties..31 kidscommons................................47 Melchior Marionettes..................32 Monroe’s Uncle Pen Days Fest....49 Nashville Express Tour Rides......32 Pine Room–Muddy Boots...........53 Rawhide Ranch.............................27

FLEA MARKETS

Olde Time Flea Market.................67

FOOD & BEVERAGE

19th Hole Bar & Grill.....................62 Abe Martin Lodge.........................65 Appleworks....................................14 Artists Colony Inn.........................28 Bean Blossom Farmers Market...33 Bear Wallow Distillery..................48 Brown Co IGA................................63 Brown Co Inn.................................37 Brown Co Winery..........................44 Brownie’s Bean Blossom Rest.....40 Brozinni Pizzeria...........................27 Butler Winery.................................27 The Candy Dish...............................3 Carmel Corn Cottage...................47 Casa Del Sol...................................30 Cedar Creek Winery......................32 Chateau Thomas Winery.............13 Darlene’s at Hotel Nashville........71 Farmhouse Cafe............................14 Gatesville Store.............................30 Gnaw Bone BBQ & Tenderloin....32 Gnaw Bone Coffee........................61 Gnaw Bone Country Store & Bakery.........................................21 Gyros Food & Art...........................59 The Harvest Preserve.....................3 Helmsburg General Store...........67 Hobnob Corner Restaurant........15 Hoosier Buddy Liquors................57 Hotel Nashville....................... 31, 71 House of Jerky...............................28 Las Chalupas..................................52 Miller’s Ice Cream............................3

DIRECTORY Nashville BP...................................15 Nashville Fudge Kitchen..............72 Nashville General Store...............60 Nashville House............................28 Nashville Spice Co.........................55 Our Sandwich Place.....................30 Pine Room–Muddy Boots...........53 Schwab’s Fudge.............................40 Seasons...........................................32 Sunshine Shack.............................30 Sweetea’s Tea Shop......................36 Trolly’s.............................................67 The Wild Olive.................................2

FURNITURE

Antiques Co-op.............................52 The Ferguson House....................41 Hoosier Barn & Table....................40 Mariposa Nashville.......................40 Plum Creek Antiques...................68

HARDWARE

Bear Hardware..............................48

HATS

Head Over Heels...........................31 K. Bellum Leather.........................19

JEWELRY

Deja Vu Arts/Fine Craft Show.....70 Abe’s Corner/Too Cute.................61 B3 Gallery.......................................18 Back Roads Studio Tour...............58 Brown Co Antique Mall................13 Brown Co Craft Gallery................21 Cathy’s Corner...............................28 Ferguson House............................41 Foxfire.............................................41 Grasshopper Flats.........................29 Hoosier Artist................................19 Juls Etc............................................22 LaSha’s............................................19 New Leaf.........................................19 Old McDurbin Gold & Gifts.........59 Rhonda Kay’s.................................36 Spears Pottery...............................18 Touch of Silver Gold & Old..........22

LODGING/CAMPGROUNDS

Abe Martin Lodge.........................65 Artists Colony Inn.........................28 The Brick Lodge............................71 Brown Co Inn.................................37 Brown Co KOA...............................40

Sept./Oct. 2017 • Our Brown County 9 Comfort Inn...................................12 Cornerstone Inn............................53 Creekside Retreat.........................56 eXplore Brown County..................4 Green Valley Lodge......................15 Hidden Valley Inn.........................22 Hills o’ Brown Vacation Rentals..14 Hotel Nashville..............................71 Monroe Music Park & Campground.................................68 Moondance Vacation Homes.....48 The North House...........................71 Overlook Lodge............................63 Rawhide Ranch.............................27 Seasons...........................................32

MUSEUMS

Brown County History Center....67 kidscommons................................47

PET SERVICES/PRODUCTS

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

PHOTOS

B3 Gallery.......................................18 Back Roads Studio Tour...............58 Hoosier Artist................................19 Spears Pottery...............................18 Yesteryear Old Time Photos........29

REAL ESTATE

Berkshire Hathaway-Scroggins..48 Brown County Real Estate...........69 Hills o’ Brown Realty.....................69 RE/MAX-Marg & Brenda..............69

RECREATION

eXplore Brown County..................4 Grandpa Jeff’s Trail Rides............56 Rawhide Ranch.............................27

SERVICES (see also SERVICES DIRECTORY)

Brown County Recycle Center....69 Brown County Visitors Center....23 Dr. Lisa Baker, DDS.......................36 Ethereal Day Spa and Salon........57 Keyed IN Property Mgt................69 Mainstream Fiber Networks.......31 Nashville BP...................................15 Nashville Express Tour Rides......32 New Song Mission........................67 Shepherd of the Hills Evangelical Luthern Church.......26 Village Florist Flowers & Gifts.....47 Voils.................................................37

SERVICES DIRECTORY 68-69

Bear Hardware Bagged Trash Brown Co Community YMCA Brown Co Real Estate Brown Co Recycle Center Brown Co Tire & Auto Farmers Insurance—McGinley Flower and Herb Barn Health For U Helmsburg Sawmill Hills o’ Brown Realty Indiana Seamless Guttering Keyed IN Property Mgt. Monroe Park Campground People’s State Bank Plum Creek Antiques RE/MAX Team Marg & Brenda Waltman Construction Co.

SHOES

Head Over Heels...........................31 K. Bellum Leather.........................19

SPECIALTY SHOPS

Bone Appetit Bakery....................13 Fallen Leaf Books..........................27 Fireplace Center............................47 Harley-Davidson Bloomington..14 Holly Shop......................................12 House of Clocks.............................52 K. Bellum Leather.........................19 Men’s Toy Shop..............................26 Nashville Spice Co.........................55 Papertrix.........................................15 The Toy Chest................................47 Weed Patch Music Company......61 Wishful Thinking...........................29

STAINED GLASS

Artisan Guilds of Bloomington..17 Back Roads Studio Tour...............58 Hoosier Artist................................19 Sweetwater Gallery......................29

WEDDINGS

Artists Colony Inn.........................28 eXplore Brown County..................4 Hotel Nashville..............................71 Village Florist.................................47

OTHER

Brown Co. Chamber Passport.....67 Mike Nickels Log Homes.............40 New Song Mission........................67

Contributors

Contents 16 Sidney Bolam ~by Bob Gustin 20 Joe Bolinger ~by Paige Langenderfer 24 The Liars’ Bench ~by Julia Pearson 34 Nashville Fudge Kitchen

~by Paige Langenderfer 38-39 Photos ~by Marti Garvey*

42-44 Calendar of Events 45 Live Rock Revues 45 Cinefest 45 Collector’s Showcase 46 Dr. Brester Retires ~by Cindy Steele 50 The Village Green Project ~by Jeff Tryon 54 The Strahls ~by Jim Eagleman 58 Back Roads Studio Tour 60 Monroe Uncle Pen Festival 64 Past Imperfect ~by Mark Blackwell 65 Art Colony Weekend 66 Gnaw Bone Coffee 68-69 Services Directory

Bob Gustin worked as a Mark Blackwell makes his home reporter, photographer, in an area of Brown County managing editor, and editor for where “the roadway is rough daily newspapers in Colorado, and the slopes are seamed with Nebraska, and Indiana before ravines and present a meatless, retiring in 2011. He and his barren, backbone effect.” He was wife, Chris, operate Homestead born in the last century and still Weaving Studio. She does the weaving while he spends considerable time there. gives studio tours, builds small looms, and expands He writes for Our Brown County, and only works his book and record collections. when he has to. Jim Eagleman, recently retired DNR naturalist, and his wife Kay, enjoy hiking the many natural areas, preserves, and land trust sites in Brown and neighboring counties. His FIELD NOTES have appeared in this publication for several years. Contact Jim with comments and inquiries at <jpeagleman@gmail.com>.

Cindy Steele is the publisher and editor of this magazine. She sells and designs ads, sometimes writes, takes photos, and creates the layout. For fun, she likes to play the guitar or banjo and sing. Her new hobby is making mosaics.

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.

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

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

Paige Langenderfer is a freelance writer and communications consultant. She writes for numerous publications. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in journalism from Indiana University and her Master’s degree in public relations management from IUPUI. Paige lives in Columbus with her husband and daughters. Contact her at <langenderferpaige@gmail.com>.

Cover: Ogle Lake, Brown County State Park ~by Cindy Steele

*Marti Garvey is a photographer and artist who has lived in Brown County for more than 30 years. She and her husband, Norbert, raised four children in the hills and hollers of Owl Creek. Inspired by light, structures, nature, music, people, and spontaneity her work has been featured in various publications. “Do at least one creative thing a day” is a motto she has lived by her whole life—which is why her camera and art supplies accompany her wherever she goes. Contact her at <momgarvey@gmail.com>, view her photos at <www.momartiphotos.tumblr.com>.

Thanks, Mom, for making it happen!

10 Our Brown County Sept./Oct. 2017

www.ourbrowncounty.com • ourbrown@bluemarble.net P.O. Box 157 Helmsburg, IN 47435 • (812) 988-8807

A Singing Pines Projects, Inc. publication

Coloring Contest Win $20

Publisher’s choice. Send to this address by October 20. Deb Wolfe from Carlisle, IN won last issue’s coloring contest.

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

Sept./Oct. 2017 • Our Brown County 11

Relax in Beautiful Brown County, Indiana Recipient of Two Platinum, Nine Gold Awards, and the Lt. Governor’s Award for Service.

This award-winning hotel offers a quiet getaway with free hot breakfast, complimentary high-speed Internet, heated indoor pool, fitness room, and whirlpool suites. Trolley available to downtown Nashville. 51 W. Chestnut St. • State Road 46 • Nashville, Indiana 812.988.6118 • 800.4CHOICE www.choicehotels.com

Where every day is Christmas!

Over 3000 Ornaments! Mark Roberts · Christopher Radko Nutcrackers · Personalized Ornaments and much, much more… GOULD ST

12 Our Brown County Sept./Oct. 2017

VAN BUREN ST SR 135

MAIN ST

NORTH END OF TOWN · 37 EAST MOUND STREET · NASHVILLE 812.988.4453 · OPEN 10–5 DAILY

Library

STOGSDILL WAY

MOUND ST

History Center

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

Wine Tastings

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

Call (812) 988-8807

Be the first person to call and get the prize money. Leave a message with the specific location of the Mystery Photo, your name, and phone number.

812-988-8500 • www.ChateauThomas.com

Last issue’s photo was the top of Sweetwater Gallery, downtown Nashville. Max Taggart guessed it first.

OVER 7,000 square feet!

Brown County

Antique Mall Open all year–7 days a week Mon.–Sat. 9 to 5:30 Sun. 11 to 5:30

We Buy and Sell

Since 1995

13 miles west of I-65 3 miles east of Nashville, IN

812-988-1025 3288 State Rd 46 East www.bcantique.com

BONE APPETIT BAKERY

Subscriptions make great gifts

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

Name:

Address:

For Dogs

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

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

DOGS WELCOME! (812) 988-0305

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

www.barkingood.com

Send with check or money order to:

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

Sept./Oct. 2017 • Our Brown County 13

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

Homemade Soups, Salads and Garden Sandwiches

· DINNER ·

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

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

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

SAT., SEPT. 2 Folk Music Festival SAT., SEPT. 23 Apple Dessert Bake - Off SEPT. 31 & OCT. 1 Highland Reign SUN., OCT. 29 Howl-O-Ween Dog Costume Competition

farmhousecafeandtearoom.com · Like us on

Curl up by the fire this winter

in your own Brown County cabin

Book your Brown County Winter Getaway today!

BrownCountyLogCabins .com Rates, Reservations & Weekday Specials Online

Vacation LIKE US on for Special Offers . Rentals 812.988.6429 · info@BrownCountyLogCabins.com Brown County’s largest selection of fully furnished 812-333-8300 Hwy 46 Bloomington

14 Our Brown County Sept./Oct. 2017

LOG CABINS, HOMES and COTTAGES

Find what you love… Love what you find

1 1 Yea r Anniversa ry

Dynamic classes and demo table.

Artistic Rubber Stamps For cardmaking, & Scrapbooking collage & altered art The newest items and techniques! Receive

Hot Tub Suites · Intimate Rooms for 2 Quiet & Peaceful · Unpretentious · Free Wi-Fi Mountain Bike Friendly Minutes from Brown County State Park

Enjoy a Classic Motel Experience! Book Online!

GreenValleyMotorLodge.com

3 FREE Sheets of 12” x 12” SCRAPBOOK PAPER* with this coupon.

Shop our excellent selection of scrapbook papers, new releases, sale papers at half off, and our 3 for $1.00 bins. (*coupon scrapbook paper from a select collection) 160 Old School Way in Nashville behind Village Candlemaker

812-988-0231 · 692 State Rd 46 West Just 5 minutes west of Nashville

(812) 988-2002 www.papertrix.com

Fresh In-Store Donuts Restaurant Serving Lunch & Dinner Daily and also Breakfast Sat. & Sun.

Wine-Down Wednesday

Every Wed. 6–8 pm

1/3 OFF select wines and music by Jeff Foster

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

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

Broasted Chicken 812-988-1822

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

Sept./Oct. 2017 • Our Brown County 15

Sidney Bolam

~story and photos by Bob Gustin

ou know you’ve arrived at Sidney Bolam’s Bohemian Hobbit Studio when you see the “Willie Nelson for President” sign on her fence. People of all political leanings live in northern Brown County, but no one has ever complained about the sign. Instead, they stop and take selfies with it. It’s not surprising that Sidney chose Willie. They’re both renegades at heart, both a little unconventional, and both believe in the power of art. For Sidney, that art expresses itself by transforming solid blocks of limestone into sometimes delicate, sometimes bold, but always soulful works of art. The hobbit part of her studio name refers to her diminutive size, and her choice to live as one with nature. The bohemian part acknowledges the rebel in her. Her studio is part of the annual Back Roads of Brown County Studio Tour, a free, self-guided tour of 18 artist studios open to the public every day in October. “It’s a humble little peaceful garden,” she said of her studio. “It’s a hobbity kind of place,” she said, referring to the book by J.R.R. Tolkien, who also wrote the Lord of the Rings trilogy. “I’m a

16 Our Brown County Sept./Oct. 2017

big Tolkien nerd.” And being of German heritage, she notes the woods of Brown County are not unlike the Bohemian forest in Germany. Sidney and her husband Brenden King live at 4912 South Shore Drive in the Needmore area in northern Brown County, where her outdoor stone carving studio is also located. They have two children, Theo, 8, and Violet, 5. She was born in Pittsburgh, but grew up in Lafayette, Indiana, and came to Indiana University to study art in 2002. Sidney discovered she loved being a student, earning a double major in fine arts and anthropology, plus minors in art history and Native American studies. Stone carving was not her first foray into art. She was initially mostly a painter, doing portraits in oils and acrylics, plus doing illustrations for Native American coloring books published through IU. But painting and illustration never touched her soul. “I didn’t feel like it was right for me,” Sidney says of painting. “It never got me going.” Sidney and Brenden have lived in Brown County for about 10 years now. As a young mother, her art took the form of crafting,

including making wooden toys for the kids and felting useful items. “I love being a mom,” she said. “But I couldn’t just be a mom.” Sidney reached out to a friend, Brown County stone carver and artist Jim Connor. She told him she needed an artistic outlet. Connor invited her to his studio, let her use his carving tools and gave her lessons. There she learned to use a Dremel tool, which gives a different look to stone carving. “He took pity on me,” she said. “It was the perfect fit.” Connor says he saw a lot of potential in Sidney’s work. “She really has an artistic eye,” he said, “she just needed someone to show her the fundamentals of stone carving. I knew she had the ability, but what she’s done is simply amazing. She does beautiful work. She took it and ran with it. “I’m really proud of her,” Connor said. “She’s surpassed what I’ve ever done in stone carving.” Sidney loves being outdoors and being a part of nature, while using nature’s own stones to make art. While most of her pieces are limestone, she has also carved from sandstone, alabaster, soapstone, pipestone, and other materials. Her pieces often reflect nature as well, with owls, herons, snakes, and other animals featured. Mermaids and “green men” also regularly show up. Connor is high on the list of people who helped her on the journey to being an artist, including a high school art teacher, other artists, and the community of like-minded people she has found in Brown County. “Art keeps me healthier,” she said, “even if I never sold anything.”

She also has a flair for historic time carving, especially “that weird period between the Celts and the Romans where you had a mashing of the two cultures.” She uses all the traditional and modern stone carving tools, including pneumatic chisels, hand chisels, a Dremel tool, sharpened screwdrivers, hammers, and whatever works. And she carves outside year-around, saying that going into the elements to do her art sharpens her focus. “I’m still learning. I’m still an amateur. I have a love for real classically trained stone carvers.” But she loves the folk artists, too. “I was devastated at the vandalism of Stone Head,” she said, referring to an historic stone mile marker created by Henry Cross and located in southern Brown County. Late last year, the head was knocked off the statue and is missing. To soothe herself, she made a little replica of the Stone Head statue after it was destroyed. “I tell my kids you should never be proud of destruction. Creation is so much more to be proud of.” Visit <bohemianhobbittstudio.com>, or contact Sidney at <justsidney@gmail.com>, (812) 720-2007 or (765) 414-8874. 

Artisan Guilds of Bloomington Art Show and Sale Bloomington Spinners & Weavers Guild Local Clay Potters’ Guild Indiana Glass Guild Friday, November 3, 2017 • 4pm–9pm Saturday, November 4, 2017 • 9am–5pm Bloomington/Monroe County Convention Center 302 S. College Ave., Bloomington, Indiana facebook.com/artisanguilds

Sept./Oct. 2017 • Our Brown County 17

HOMESTEAD WEAVING STUDIO

Permanent Collections · Galleries Art For Sale · Consignment Art

Quality Handwovens by Chris Gustin

YEARS of Indiana

Art

EST. 1926

Brown County Art Gallery

Yarn • Looms • Supplies

Brown County’s Original Art Gallery

Visit us on the Back Roads Tour

Southeastern Brown County 6285 Hamilton Creek Road

Open 11 to 5 most days–Call ahead

www.HomesteadWeaver.com • 812-988-8622

SEPTEMBER 15 – OCTOBER 30

Collector’s Showcase The Spirit of Stonehead: Brown County Icons FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15

Studios of Locust Lane VIP Tour · 6-9 pm · $25 Reservations required · Hosted by Sarah & John Lechleiter SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16

Opening Reception · 6 pm · $15 Barbeque and Bluegrass · Pie Raffle SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 17

Exhibition Open · Noon - 5 pm · $5 History of Henry Cross with Professor Jon Kay and stonecarver Casey Winningham · 2 pm

Locally Crafted Pottery • Jewelry • Photography • Wood • Fiber • More... Downtown Nashville (beside the Nashville House) • Open Daily www.spearspottery.com • 812.988.1286 • Spears Gallery on Facebook

18 Our Brown County Sept./Oct. 2017

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

812.988.4609 · BrownCountyArtGallery.org

A VARIETY OF

handmade fine art

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

Sterling Designs by Sharon & Larry Anything But Or dinary

SBJ/LMJ Designs Opals by Larry • Pe n d a n t s • Earrings • Bracelets • Necklaces

812-988-0522 A variety of natural stones and colors N o r t h Va n B u r e n a n d M o l l y’s L a n e • N a s h v i l l e

Doing business for over 25 years

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

Featuring Leather Goods Made in Brown County

Fine Leather Goods

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

Featuring handcrafted jewelry by owner Amy Greely

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

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

Sept./Oct. 2017 • Our Brown County 19

Joe Bolinger

~by Paige Langenderfer

photo by Paige Langenderfer

oe Bolinger’s life has taken several turns, but the constant rhythm through it all has been his love of his Brown County roots and his banjo. Bolinger graduated from Brown County High School in 1999. The recipient of the Brown County Community Foundation Lilly Scholarship, Bolinger set out for Earlham College, where he double majored in philosophy and religion. After graduating from Earlham in 2003, he enrolled in divinity school with the Unitarian Universalist church. “I was interested in becoming a pastor, but I soon decided that I wanted to pursue politics instead,” he said. “I wanted to work on policy from behind the scenes, not as a politician.” In 2007, he graduated from Indiana University’s Master’s of Public Affairs program, but still was unsure of his future. “While in the master’s program, I realized that I really liked research, solving problems, learning new things and writing—all things that

The Lean and the Plenty: Joe on banjo, Eric Fritz, drums, Dakota Curtis, guitar, and Ian Ottinger, upright base. Not pictured: Andrew Van Nieuwenhze and Devin Brown.

20 Our Brown County Sept./Oct. 2017

a professor does,” he said. “So, I started working on my Ph.D. so that I could become a professor.” In December 2016, Bolinger graduated with his doctorate degree in U.S. social welfare policy. His dissertation focused on government housing vouchers. And while he was adequately educated to take on a life of professorship, Bolinger realized that the lifestyle was not what he was looking for. “To get a job as a professor, you really have to follow the job where it takes you,” he said. “You don’t get to choose where you end up, and I wanted to stay near Brown County to be close to my girlfriend, my family and friends, and my bands.”

“Music is a pretty decent part-time job, but to make a living at it takes a big step in commitment. You basically have to live on the road and I don’t really want to do that,” he said. “When you take the individual parts of it, it doesn’t seem worth it because it’s a lot of work without much reward, but as a whole it’s an artistic adventure that I feel good about.” To learn more about the Indiana Boys visit <theIndianaBoys.com>. To learn more about The Lean and the Plenty, visit <theleanandtheplenty.com>.  Indiana Boys: Joe, Kenan Rainwater, Dick Gist. courtesy photo

So, once again, Bolinger is at a crossroads in his life. While he is looking for work in policy research or public management, his life’s one constant, music, remains. He is a member of two bands, The Indiana Boys and The Lean and The Plenty. Bolinger said he can’t remember life before music. Both of his parents play instruments—his mom the piano and his dad the guitar, mandolin, and banjo. It was his dad who first taught him to play the banjo when he was 12 years old. “Everybody played the guitar. I wanted to play something different,” Bolinger said. “I played at home and with friends and occasionally at church and at nursing homes. I never thought it would be my full time job. It’s a very hard way to make a living.” Bolinger said both of the bands he plays with play music that could be described as Americana with Bluegrass overtones. Both bands book shows within a two-hour car ride. Bolinger sings and plays banjo in both, but his greatest joy comes from writing songs. “Music gives me a way to express my thoughts and feelings. It’s about saying things in a way that can be meaningful to other people,” he said. “Our songs have something to say. The hardest part is getting people in front of you and then getting them to listen to the words.” Bolinger has written songs on the Indiana Boys three albums and The Lean and the Plenty’s debut album, which they are recording now. His songs, with titles like “Drunken Poets Dream” and “Black Mountain Blues,” cover the gamut of emotions, from haunting and tragic to sarcastic and scathing. While he loves writing and performing, Bolinger said for now he still plans to look for full time work outside of the music industry.

You can’t spoil children with too many books!

Books, Teepees, and Toys for Tots through Teens Over 430 titles are $10 or less and 95 titles are $5 or less Fables & Fairy Tales (812) 200-1317 fablesandfairytales.com

In the Main Street Shoppes, Nashville, IN Old School Way (directly behind Heritage Mall)

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

open daily 10–5 • 812-988-7058

Gnaw Bone

Country Store & Bakery

*Homemade Baked Goods *Antiques *Local Products *Artist Goods 4883 SR 46 E. Gnaw Bone, IN 812-988-4266 www.gnawbonebakery.com gnawbonecsbakery@gmail.com Mon., Wed.-Sat. 9–7, Sun. 10–6 (Closed Tuesdays)

Sept./Oct. 2017 • Our Brown County 21

Visit America’s First Store

172 N. Van Buren Street in Nashville, IN Second Location in Calvin Place– (S. Van Buren and Franklin Streets)

www.JBGoods.com • 812-988-0900

Albert C. Drake

Goldsmith and Silversmith 42 years of quality service in Brown County

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

22 Our Brown County Sept./Oct. 2017

obc_sep-oct_ad_FIN.pdf

8/18/17

3:48 PM

Christmas IN BROWN COUNTY

Celebrate the holiday season in Brown County, where holiday cheer comes naturally! With plenty of fun and festive holiday events, unique shopping, and quaint old-fashioned charm, Christmas in Brown County is a magical experience that should not be missed. This year, make it a new holiday tradition and create memories to last a lifetime! Believe, A Brown County Christmas November 24-26, December 1-3, 8-10, 15-17, 22, 23 Holiday Art & Craft Show November 24 Tree Lighting Ceremony November 24 Santa Train December 1 Children's Christmas Benefit Auction December 1 Santa's Zip Nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Sip December 1-4, 6-11, 13-18, 20-23, 27-30 Reindeer Romp December 2

Stuff a Stocking December 2 Holiday Lights Parade December 2 Breakfast with Santa December 2, 3 Steele's Country Christmas December 3 Creekside Holiday Open House December 8 Victorian Candlelight Holiday Dinner December 8-10, 15-17, 22-23 Christmas Music Sing-Along December 9 Christmas Bird Count December 16

See Santa at the History Center from 12-5 p.m. on November 24 & 25 and December 2 & 9!

Sept./Oct. 2017 â&#x20AC;˘ Our Brown County 23

The Liars’ Bench B ~by Julia Pearson

enches sitting in front of barbershops, post offices, hotels, and courthouses dotted the landscapes of small towns and villages. They naturally attracted groups of chatterers and people-watchers and in many locations were referred to as liars’ benches, especially by the townspeople who knew the usual characters who stationed themselves in these prime community locations. On the main thoroughfare of the village of Nashville, and shaded by locusts in the courthouse yard, was such a bench. Sheriff Dennis Calvin was said to be responsible for the first benches. Another story passed down is that the first bench was given to the town by a Brown County merchant, who received it as a bonus with goods

24 Our Brown County Sept./Oct. 2017

bought in Bartholomew County. Local folks tended to avoid using them, believing they were meant for out-of-towners. A particular bench became famous in its own time because of a photograph taken by Frank Hohenberger. He had purchased a good second-hand lens for $8 in an Indianapolis shop and fitted it to his camera. Arriving by train, Hohenberger had come to Brown County in search of interesting characters to photograph. An article published in 1933 in American Magazine described how Hohenberger took an iconic photo of Nashville’s Liars’ Bench. One long afternoon, lounging on the bench in front of the old jail and courthouse were Mosey Scott (Scott Moses), well known teacher and fox hunter; Woody Jackson (Jack Woods), county clerk and cobbler by trade; Hen Budderson (Bub Henderson), the village squire; Andy Sampson (Sam Anthony), farmer; Corey Help (Harry Kelp), justice of the peace and barber; and Cal Duard (Duard Calvin), coroner and gold panner. The names in parentheses are the real names of the liars. They were spitting, whittling, and commenting on things that strung into the yarns that made folks smile or gasp. It was often said that whoever told the biggest tale went to the head of the bench. Hohenberger aimed his camera’s eye behind the men and captured that moment on film. The image was published in the Indianapolis newspaper, and soon interest came from all quarters from people wanting to buy a print of the Liars’ Bench. Hohenberger sold more than 500 copies for $2 to $5 a print. The Liars’ Bench was very good to Hohenberger, helping to make his reputation. And it was good for Brown County, becoming one of the sites that attracted tourists. Along with the old log jail and Weed Patch Hill, the Liars’ Bench was repeatedly sought for snapshots to fill family albums. The booming national economy of the 1920s didn’t find its way into Brown County, so a quarter of its population left for better city jobs. Some even sent money home to the folks and it was a good excuse for men who were under-employed or unemployed to go to the post office every day to check the mail. For local merchants, most of

Frank Hohenberger’s iconic photo of the Liar’s Bench.

They read: “The morning after Halloween a group of mournful looking men gazed at the remains of the liars’ bench in Main Street. Scott Hamblen summed up the loss: ‘It’s worse’n bad. It’s th’ ruination uv th’ town.’” Men began meeting in the back room of the Ford garage that winter. The horseshoe games were not resurrected with the arrival of spring. Merchants collected funds to replace the bench and even had “Liars’ Bench” painted on its backrest. It was placed in the same location in the courthouse yard, but no one—local or tourist— would sit on the new bench for some time. The destruction of the Liars’ Bench that Halloween over a century ago has achieved legendary status that continues to this day. 

the cash-carrying customers were tourists on the weekends, so they had time on their hands. After spring planting and before fall harvesting, area farmers also sought companionship to fill the time. Pits for horseshoes were dug along the southwest edge of the courthouse square, which naturally invited the benches to be carried to this corner location for spectators. Horseshoe matches lasting from morning till dark turned into a marathon event that went on for nearly a decade, weather permitting. It’s said that one bench was literally used to pieces and a second bench that had acquired a wobbly leg was just propped against a tree for support. In Dillon Bustin’s book, If You Don’t Outdie Me (a record of the legacy of Frank Hohenberger’s photographs of Brown County and his diary) we learn that the courthouse bench was the focal point of local loafers, and this amused the out-oftown visitors. In 1929, the on-going horseshoe contests greatly occupied the attention of Nashville’s menfolk. It’s said that wives of the guilty men beat the bench to pieces under cover of a dark Halloween night, leaving the mangled remains to be found the next morning. News spread through the local community, but the greater Indiana audience didn’t find out till it appeared on January 5, 1930 in Hohenberger’s Indianapolis Star column, “Down in th’ Hills O’ Brown County”.

WELCOME TO THE HISTORIC ART GUILD

WE’RE NOT SIMPLY A GALLERY. WE’RE THE GUILD. JOEY ON THE TRACKS (OIL) BY WAYNE CAMPBELL

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

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

SOUTH TO NASHVILLE BY VJ CARIANI

BrownCountyArtGuild.org

Sept./Oct. 2017 • Our Brown County 25

Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church St. Rd. 135 N. half mile north of Bean Blossom (5802 Old Settlers Rd. Morgantown, IN) next to Brownie’s Restaurant

812-988-8057 www.shepherdofthehills.org.in

“Share the peace of the Lord with us.”

Excellent accessibility for handicapped

• SUNDAY DIVINE SERVICE 10:15 a.m. • SUNDAY SCHOOL 9 a.m.—All children welcome • ADULT BIBLE STUDY 9 a.m.—All welcome FOOD PANTRY last Wednesday of the month 9–11 a.m.

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

’ Luminox Watches (used by Navy Seals)

Fine Pipes and Tobaccos Premium Cigars

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

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

26 Our Brown County Sept./Oct. 2017

Variety of T-Shirts

Wooden Signs made in Southern Indiana

Nashville’s

O N LY

Guest Ranch

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

rawhideranchusa.co

L RIDES RAI

BUCK INN

INES ZIP L

MEAL TIME

Open 7 days a week, Year round

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

812.988.0085

www.butlerwinery.com

info@rawhideranchusa.com

Brown County

3.5 x 4.5 A wonderful mix ofSize: Old, New, Used and Rare Cost: $667.00 Runs: April 2016 - April 2017

AUTHENTIC NEW YORK STYLE PIZZA

A family-friendly pizza place Not your usual bookstore…

PIZZA • SALADS • CALZONES

Journals · Sketchbooks Handmade Greeting Cards Join the FLB Book Club! Call for dates and times

45 S. Jefferson St. · Nashville, IN 812.988.0202 · FallenLeafBooks.com Monday–Saturday 10 am – 5 pm · Sunday 11 am – 5 pm

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

Dine-In or Carry-Out

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

Sept./Oct. 2017 • Our Brown County 27

NEW LOCATION

the

Inn & Restaurant

A Charming 19th Century Style Inn and Restaurant

9 flavors of BEEF 3 flavors of TURKEY 3 flavors of BEEF BRISKET 3 flavors of BEEF STICKS 2 flavors of PORK 2 flavors of BACON Also: Elk, Boar, Buffalo, Venison, Gator, Rabbit, Salmon, Kangaroo, Turtle, Ostrich, and Trout Jerky Seasonings & Dips • Peanuts • Cheese Curds

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

Nashville, IN • (812) 988-1592

“A Historic Brown County Landmark”

Enjoy dining in a cozy country atmosphere with great home cooking and our famous fried biscuits and apple butter. NOW SERVING BREAKFAST, LUNCH, & DINNER

Corner of Main and Van Buren Streets in Nashville, IN • 812-988-4554 28 Our Brown County Sept./Oct. 2017

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

812-988-0600 • 800-737-0255

artistscolonyinn.com

Back-to-Back Complex

145 South Van Buren Street Established 2001

FREE in-store demos!

Old School Way and Pittman House Lane

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

PLY 4 YOU SIM Handmade & Unique Gifts • Hand-painted Signs • Homemade Body Scrubs • Giant Scrabble Letters • Solar-Changing Finger Nail Polish • Biker Bracelets • Painted Ball Jars And much more...

145 South Van Buren Street

Sepia Old Time Color Color Black & White

OVER 200 BACKGROUNDS 145 S. Van Buren St. Nashville, IN

Wild West • Prairie • Civil War • Roaring 20s and more!

812-350-8806

145 S. Van Buren Nashville, IN

Simply 4 You Gift Shop Simply_4_you@aol.com

Next to Artist Colony Inn, behind Sweetwater Gallery

Weekdays 10–6, Sat. 10–7, Sun. 10–6

812-988-7305

est. 1972

Doug Stoffer, Designer/Jeweler

Sweetwater Gallery featuring locally crafted:

Sterling Silver • Fine Diamonds Opals • Gemstones • Wedding Rings Titanium Bands • Austrian Lead Crystal For Quality and Price call 812-988-4037 Top Dollar Paid for Old Gold 150 S. Van Buren St. • Nashville

Stained Glass Paperweights Mosaic Mirrors Fabric Wallhangings 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

Sept./Oct. 2017 • Our Brown County 29

Our

SANDWICH PLACE At the corner of Main & Van Buren Street (underneath the Nashville House) 812.988.2355

Family Friendly Menu Cooked from Scratch Breakfast • Lunch • Light Supper Breakfast Served All Day Tuesdays – Sundays, 8:30 – 5:30 or 6:00

Bob Knight Memorabilia and Brown County Sports

The Sunshine Shack

* REFRESH Something to “hit the spot” as you shop * REBOOT •Hot Dogs •Beer-soaked Brats * RE-ENERGIZE •Baked Beans •Tiny Pies •Slushees •Homemade Soft Drinks •Snow Cones •Floats •Tea •Coffee •Water •Homemade Ice Cream and Popsicles •Shakes and Sundaes • Cotton Candy •Fresh Squeezed Lemonade & Orangeade

Not pretentious. Not fancy. JUST REAL GOOD FOOD. GATESVILLE COUNTRY STORE. It’s one of those places that you are excited to tell your friends about—a best-kept secret that’s too good to keep. A place where the people are real and friendly, and they’re likely to know your name before long. The food is good, honest food that’s tasty and genuine. Made with heart and soul. We’re located off the beaten path, and maybe a bit hard to find—but worth the effort. It’s where the local folks go. So, if you’re interested in finding a place that’s a little old-school and truly authentic Americana, come see us at Gatesville Country Store. Enjoy browsing the antiques, panning for gold in Salt Creek (behind the store), or just relaxing with a good meal or a piece of pie and some conversation. 4525 Salt Creek Rd. Nashville, IN 47448

(812) 988-0788

Served with a smile Little shack on S. Van Buren Street near the stoplight in Nashville

AAuthentic Mexican Cuisine Family Owned and Operated •Daily Specials •Kid’s Menu

FULL BAR AVAILABLE 812-988-4535 Carry Out Available COACHLIGHT SQUARE 101 E. Washington St. one block east of S. Van Buren St. (in front of the high school) in downtown Nashville

30 Our Brown County Sept./Oct. 2017

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

Want High Speed Internet in Your Neighborhood?

Outdoor ebo Par ties z a G Food • Drinks • Live Music • Fun

Our goal to bring exceptional Internet speed, reliability, and customer service to Brown County.

We are expanding!

Sign up for service or complete our 2 minute survey to help us determine where to expand next at msfiber.servicezones.net/brown

Why Mainstream’s Fiber Optics? • Greater bandwidth than traditional copper wires —no reduction in speeds when neighbors are online • Unlimited data—no caps or speed reductions • Fiber all the way into your home or business • Reliable hard-wired service with no interference from devices • Ready for the future—TV, phone, security systems, etc. • Live customer support during business hours, 24 hour support line • Expedited support for all business plans • Local business that supports the community

Cookout Buffet (menu varies) • Cash Bar • Live Music (6–9 pm)

Friday, June 5:(6–10 pm) Sunday, May 25: (5–9 pm)

Friday, July 28 “Barry Johnson”

Friday, Aug. 25 “Barry Johnson”

Friday, Sept. 8 “The McGuires”

Mainstream Fiber Networks (formerly BG Broadband)

Friday, Sept. 29 “The McGuires”

Providing high speed fiber Internet to rural Indiana communities, branching out from our Brown County roots

Dates subject to change

(812) 720-9423 • msfiber.net

Head over

Heels

• Minnetonka • Stetson n • Tilleyy Hats • Merrell

245 N. Jefferson Street in Nashville, IN 812-988-8400 • www.hotelnashville.com

Gifts for home and happiness

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or more French Country Décor $20purchase Locally Made Items • Quilts Unique Gifts • Mona-B Handbags Madeline’s Famous Soy Candles

HATS HA ATS • FOOTWEAR • ACCESSORIES

Van Buren & Franklin Streets Nashville • 812.988.6301

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

Vicki@MadelinesFrenchCountryShop.com www.MadelinesFrenchCountryShop.com

Sept./Oct. 2017 • Our Brown County 31

Lodge & Conference Center 4974 State Road 46 East

Nashville Express Sightseeing Tours

TUESDAYS: Tex-Mex served in the bar 5–7:00 p.m. FRIDAYS: Prime Rib Buffet served 5–9:00 p.m.

• Balcony Rooms

2 1/2 mile scenic tour of Nashville Board at Fearrin’s Ice Cream • Franklin & Van Buren also service to Seasons, Brown County Inn, Comfort Inn

May – October • $5 per person • 812-988-6690 available for field trips, business functions, private tours 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. longer on weekends (ask the driver)

Melchior Marionette Theatre

• Restaurant • Lounge

“Comedy Cabaret on Strings” Free Popcorn! Tickets $5 (sold 15 min. before show) Showtimes 1:00 and 3:00 extra times in October Westside of S. Van Buren St. Downtown Nashville

September: 2, 16, 23

“Slightly Haunted Puppet Theatre” September: 30 October: 1, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20,21, 22, 27, 28, 29

• Enclosed pool

800-849-4853 • www.melchiormarionettes.com

There’s a wine for any palette! Free tasting of our locally made wines. You can choose from bold dry reds to refreshing whites and sweet fruit wines.

38 Franklin St. E. (Near the train) Nashville, IN (812) 988-1111 • cedarcreekwine.com Open 7 days a week 12 pm to 5 pm

32 Our Brown County Sept./Oct. 2017

• Conference facility for up to 600 people

560 State Road 46 East, Nashville, IN 812-988-2284 • SeasonsLodge.com

COX CREEK MILL home of

The Iron Gate by Brad Cox

Unique Metal Art Studio

4705 Annie Smith Rd. Nashville

Brad Cox and his wife Stephanie invite you to discover their studio and mill located along the banks of Salt Creek just 10 minutes from Nashville. Hours vary. Call ahead. theirongatebybradcox@yahoo.com

PRESENTS

3 Women Outrageous

Challenging the Early 20th Century Culture

Onya LaTour · Peggy Guggenheim · Mabel Dodge Luhan 2 Films - 1 Slide Presentation

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15 Seasons Conference Center · Nashville, Indiana $25 includes lunch and snacks · Cash bar Doors open at 11:30 · Lunch served at Noon Reservations encouraged · For tickets and information visit

ArtAllianceBrownCounty.org/cinefest

Sept./Oct. 2017 • Our Brown County 33

Nashville Fudge Kitchen

~story and photos by Paige Langenderfer

he smell inside the Nashville Fudge Kitchen is like something out of a childhood dream —straight out of Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. Walking out without purchasing at least one sweet treat is nearly impossible. Located on the corner at 175 South Van Buren Street, the shop is full of confections of all shapes, colors and flavors. The Nashville Fudge Kitchen, open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., has been fulfilling the needs of those with a sweet addiction since 1983, and like their business card says, it’s “so much more than fudge.”

34 Our Brown County Sept./Oct. 2017

Owner Debbie Bartes.

There are currently more than 27 different fudge flavors, 97 mouth-watering gourmet popcorn flavors, and countless candy, ice cream, and gelato options. Owners Vic and Debbie Bartes developed their own recipes. Visitors can watch as the team makes their creamy fudge, gourmet popcorn, roasted almonds, and gelato. The current most popular store items include peanut butter fudge and caramel corn. Debbie has her own favorites, though. In the rainbow of popcorn varieties available, the snickerdoodle recipe holds a

special place in her heart because it was inspired by a batch of blueribbon snickerdoodle cookies she took to the county fair as a young girl. “And the caramel apples are probably the best I’ve ever had in my life,” said Debbie. The apples are bought from a local orchard and the caramel is slow cooked from scratch. While the Fudge Kitchen is now considered a must-see confection stop, the store had a humble start. When they bought the store from the previous owner, Debbie and Vic had only one day of training before opening to the public. With only that very basic training, the store only sold a handful of fudge flavors. “I bought text books about chocolate and went to tradeshows to learn more,” Debbie said. “And vendors were very knowledgeable and helpful.” Fudge was selling well, but Debbie realized she needed to offer more than just fudge. “Parents would always come in with their kids and say, ‘Do you want fudge or ice cream? You can’t have both,’” she said. “And I thought to myself, we can’t keep losing business to ice cream.” So, Debbie enrolled in an ice cream short course at Penn State University. She also traveled to New York City to study with gelato masters from Italy. “While traveling I had fallen in love with gelato,” she said. “Nashville had ice cream shops, but nobody sold gelato.” Gelato is a frozen delicacy similar to ice cream but made with whole milk instead of cream. It has about 70 percent less fat, a more silky texture, and more intense flavor. Gelato also has less sugar and less air churned into it

in the freezing process. Shortly into the business, Debbie said customers also started asking about popcorn and caramel corn. The previous owner had left an old popper in the store, so Debbie decided to learn yet another craft. “I got hooked up with a vendor who had a mix and I worked with that mix until I understood how it was made. I knew I wasn’t going to sell something made with a mix, but it helped me learn,” she said. “Once I had that figured out, we started developing all of our own recipes and began selling our homemade popcorn.” Today, they sell traditional popcorn and caramel corn, but they also sell original flavors like Mediterranean Herb, Sriracha and Cincinnati Style Chili. The popcorn is so well received that it has become a popular corporate gift and brides are incorporating it into their wedding receptions. Every year in January, the Fudge Kitchen team sits down to discuss which flavors of all of the products worked well and which did not sell as well as they would have liked. They

also brainstorm new recipes and potential products. Debbie said she continues to look for new ways to satisfy customers’ sweet cravings. She is considering developing a line of marshmallow products and potentially a line of ice cream cakes and novelties. “I really love what I do,” she said. “I still love being hands on. It’s really fun to work in front of people and explain how everything is made.” She is also currently challenging herself in a completely new direction—as a business property owner. This spring, she and Vic bought Possum Trot Complex, which includes the Fudge Kitchen, a couple of other businesses, and an outdoor courtyard with tables and chairs for guests. They are currently in the process of renovating the property and plan to convert currently unused space into rooms for overnight guests. “I think you reinvent yourself a few times in your life and I have a lot more to learn,” Debbie said. To learn more about the Nashville Fudge Kitchen, visit <nashvillefudgekitchen.com>. 

Sept./Oct. 2017 • Our Brown County 35

We appreciate our loyal customers!

Our market fresh product selections are the result of your requests is located in the heart of for the items you like best. downtown Nashville on This season we display: South Van Buren Street Tervis Tumblers, Swan Creek, next to Out of The Ordinary Sanuks, Woodstock Chimes, and across from the Melissa & Doug, DaVinci Beads, Brown County Playhouse Stony Creek Lighted Vases, Essential Oils and Diffusers 69 S. Van Buren St. P. Graham Dunn personalized, Nashville, Indiana and our favorite handcrafted jewelry. Did we mention all 812-988-2050 the hats, scarves, and fashion jewelry? rhondakays@msn.com

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Renovated rooms! Sept./Oct. 2017 • Our Brown County 37

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calendar

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

Brown County Playhouse

Pine Room - Muddy Boots

Moonlight and Magnolias Sept. 7-9, 14-16, 21-23 Clever comedy play about writers of “Gone with the Wind” movie The Birth of Rock ‘n’ Roll Sept. 1 & 30, Oct. 14 & 19, 27 two shows (2:00 & 7:30) The early days of Elvis, Chuck Berry, Ray Charles, Jerry Lee Lewis Heart & Soul Sept. 2 & 29, Oct. 7, 12, 20 & 26 Featuing Motown, R&B, and Soul Dylan, The Times are Still Changin’ Sept. 3 (2:00) Michael Schulbaum performs Dylan Elizabeth Eckert Concert Sept. 24 (2:00) Singer, songwriter, piano player Respect Oct. 5, 8, 13, 21, 28 Songs of best female vocalists Hit musical. The Little Sisters of Hoboken put on a variety show. Working Class Heroes Oct. 6 Songs from great rockers. The Rocky Horror Picture Show Oct. 28 (11:00) Costume contest, specialty drinks FIRST RUN MOVIES ON THE BIG SCREEN Check website for schedule 70 S. Van Buren St. 812-988-6555 www.BrownCountyPlayhouse.org

Melchior Marionettes “Comedy Cabaret on Strings” Sept. 2, 16, 23 “Slightly Haunted Puppet Theatre” Sept. 30, Oct. 1, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29 Showtimes 1:00 and 3:00 —extra times in October Free Popcorn! Tickets $5 Westside of S. Van Buren St.

Outdoor Gazebo Parties Hotel Nashville Sept. 8, 29 The McGuires 6:00-9:00 Cookout buffet, cash bar, music 812-988-8400 www.hotelnashville.com

Sept. 1 Kade Puckett 6:00 Lean and Plenty 9:00 Sept. 2 Elkins Family 8:00 Sept. 3 Chris Dollar Bluegrass 6:00 Sept. 4 Native Harrow 8:00 Sept. 5 Doug Dillman Sept. 6 Open Mic 8:00 Sept. 7 Chuck Wills & Friends Sept. 8 Kade Puckett 6:00 Flatland Harmony 9:00 Sept. 9 Gnaw Brew warm up 8:00 Sept. 10 Robbie Bowden 8:00 Sept. 11 Eunan McIntyre 8:00 Sept. 13 Open Mic 8:00 Sept. 15 Kade Puckett 6:00 Steve Plessinger & Friends 9:00 Sept. 16 Chris Dollar, Pat Otto, Aaron Smith 9:00 Sept. 17 Dave Sisson 8:00 Sept. 18 Eunan McIntyre 8:00 Sept. 19 Doug Dillman 8:00 Sept. 20 Open Mic 8:00 Sept. 21 Don Pedigo & Tawna Reynolds Sept. 22 Kade Puckett 6:00 New Augusta Bluegrass 9:00 Sept. 23 Silver Sparrow 8:00 Sept. 27 Open Mic 8:00 Sept. 28 Travers Mark 8:00 Sept. 29 Kade Puckett 6:00 Kristen Kuiper 9:00 Sept. 30 Luke Knight 8:00 Oct. 1 Chris Dollar Bluegrass Jam Oct. 4 Open Mic 8:00 Oct. 6 Kade Puckett 6:00 Oct. 8 Robbie Bowden 8:00 Oct. 11 Open Mic 8:00 Oct. 13 Kade Puckett 6:00 Oct. 15 Dave Sisson 8:00 Oct. 18 Open Mic 8:00 Oct. 19 Silver Sparrow 8:00 Oct. 20 Kade Puckett 6:00 Oct. 25 Open Mic 8:00 Oct. 27 Kade Puckett 6:00 Music most days—Not all dates were booked at press time 812-988-0236 and on Facebook

42 Our Brown County Sept./Oct. 2017

Chateau Thomas Winery Sept. 1 Impasse Sept. 2 Robbie Bowden & Friends Sept. 8 Robbie Bowden Sept. 9 Cari Ray Band Sept. 15 TBA Sept. 16 Sal Barbera & Marty Martin Sept. 22 Gary Applegate Sept. 23 Cari/Singer Songwriter Series Sept. 29 Barry Johnson Sept. 30 Phil Hipskind Oct. 6 Chris Sutton Oct. 7 Cari/Singer Songwriter Series Oct. 13 Retro Brothers Oct. 14 Warrior Kings Oct. 20 Paul Bertsch Oct. 21 Barry Johnson Oct. 27 Cliff Ritchey Oct. 28 Cari Ray Band Music Friday and Saturday 7:00-10:00 812-988-8500 www.ChateauThomas.com

Brown County Inn Sept. 1 The Acre Brothers Sept. 2 The Acre Brothers Sept. 8 The Sean Lamb Band Sept. 9 The Sean Lamb Band Sept. 15 Top Shelf Sept. 16 The Hammer & The Hatchet Sept. 22 The Luke Carol Project Sept. 23 On The One Sept. 24 Bluegrass Brunch w/The White Lightning Boys 12:00-3:00 Sept. 29 The 1-4-5’s Sept. 30 Homemade Jam Oct. 6 The Hammer & The Hatchet Oct. 7 Big Daddy Caddy Oct. 13 The Amanda Webb Band Oct. 14 The Sean Lamb Band Oct. 20 Top Shelf Oct. 21 Flea Bitten Dawgs Oct. 27 The Luke Carol Project Oct. 28 The Acre Brothers Oct. 29 Bluegrass Brunch w/The White Lightning Boys 12:00-3:00 Music Friday and Saturday 8:30 to 11:30 Bluegrass Brunch last Sunday of the month, Noon-3:00 www.BrownCountyInn.com

Pavilion Music Series

pARTake Workshops

Music at the Village Green in Nashville Sept. 16 Hamilton Creek, rain Sept. 23 4:30-6:00 Oct. 14 Celtica 5:30-7:00 Oct. 21 Brown Co. H.S. 5:30-7:00

Howard F. Hughes Community Room 209 N. Van Buren St. 2:00-4:00 Workshop $40 ;Art Alliance members: $35 includes materials and light refreshments Sept. 23 Paint Brown County in Oils Oct. 28 Autumn Landscapes www.artalliancebrowncounty.org/ events/partake

Indiana RedBarn Sept. 2 Amanda Webb Band Birthday Bash with Rainwater 8:00 Sept. 28 Harpeth Rising 7:00 Sept. 29 Dead Horses 8:00 Sept. 30 The Schwag 8:00 Oct. 12-14 DeadBarn Music Fest Oct. 26 April Verch Band 7:00 71 Parkview Rd. Visit on Facebook

Mike’s Music & Dance Barn Mondays: dance lessons 6:30-9:00 Sept. 2 Free show -Mike’s House Band Sept. 9 Lloyd Wood Show Sept. 15 Marlinaires Sept. 19 Terry Lee Oct. 13 Marlinaires House Band also Sept. 16, 23, Oct. 7, 14 812-988-8636 www.mikesmusicbarn.com

Other Friday and Saturday Night Music Venues: Salt Creek’s 19th Hole, Seasons Lodge, Big Woods

Village Art Walk Second Saturdays, 4:00-8:00 May–Nov. Free self-guided walking tour of downtown Nashville art galleries www.artalliancebrowncounty.org/ events/artwalk

Bean Blossom Farmers Market Fridays, 4:00-7:00 April 28-October 6 Intersection of SR 135 and SR 45 in Bean Blossom. Produce, live music, jams, baked goods, herbs/plants, artisan crafts

Nashville Farmer’s Market Sundays, Noon-3:00 May-October Brown County Inn Parking Lot Local vegetables, herbs, flowers, more

15th Annual Bean Blossom Bikerfest Sept. 5-10, all day at Bill Monroe Music Park and Campground in Bean Blossom Music, bike rides, poker runs, field events 812-988-6422 ballsbiker.com

Brown County Art Colony Weekend Sept. 8-10 at various venues in Brown County. See more on page 65.

45th Annual Cider Run Custom Car Show Sept. 9,10 Brown County State Park Sat. at Brown Co Inn 8-noon-awards, food Sun.“Flag Drags” at Brown Co Dragway See some of the nicest rods, customs, muscle cars, trucks, and antiques.

29th Annual Great Outdoor Art Contest Sept. 9, 7:00 am-4:00 at TC Steele State Historic Site in Belmont. 812-988-2785 tcsteele.org See more on page 65.

Brown County Art Gallery Collector’s Showcase Sept. 15-Oct. 30 Events and exhibits honoring Brown Co. treasures Sept. 15 tour of Locust Lane studios Sept. 16 reception, BBQ & bluegrass Sept. 17 lecture and carving demo Oct. 1 at 2:00 courthouse lecture, free

8th Annual Gnaw Brew Beer Art & Music Festival

Abe Martin’s County Picnic & NASHCAR Outhouse Race Sept. 16 W. Main St. in Nashville Sat. 10:00 am-5:00 Abe Martin Pig Roast Picnic, cornhole competition, plunger toss competition, parade, time trials, and NASHCAR race wecaregang.org

Quilt Show Pioneer Women’s Club Sept. 22-24, Fri. & Sat. 10:00 am-5:00; Sun. 10:00 am-3:00 Brown County History Center $5 Adults (12 and under free) Over 100 quilts. Spinning/weaving demos, music,lunch cafe, drawing Sun. Apply browncountyhistorycenter.org

43rd Bill Monroe Hall of Fame & Uncle Pen Days Fest Sept. 20-23 at Bill Monroe’s Music Park & Campground in Bean Blossom Four great days of bluegrass. Bring your lawn chair. Daily combo tickets available 800-414-4677 beanblossom.us

6th Annual BucCornEar Festival Sept.23, 8:00 am-6:00 pm, at Jackson Twp Fire Dept. in Helmsburg. Pirates, Popcorn and Fire Prevention. Music, food, vendors BucCornEar Festival Facebook page

William Bentley Hillbilly Wagon Train Jam Sept. 27-30 at Bill Monroe’s Music Park & Campground in Bean Blossom 800-414-4677 beanblossom.us

Old Settlers Reunion Sept. 30, 10:00-4:00 at the Brown County History Center and Pioneer Village Activities include music and demos.

Betty Begonia’s Upscale Tag Sale

Sept. 30, 9:00-4:00 Sept. 15 & 16 presented by Quaff On eXplore Brown Co. 2620 Valley Branch Rd. 1641 Oak Grove Rd., Nashville Group sale in a 1920s-era barn. Includes: Bigfoot Yancey, Split Rail, Fabulous finds. EarPhorik, Rainwater, Derick Howard, The Houseburners, Rusty Bladen, The Continued on 44 Hammer & The Hatchet Sept./Oct. 2017 • Our Brown County 43

continued from 43

Brown County Rock and Mineral Show and Swap Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, 10:00-6:00 Brown County History Center 90 East Gould Street Features rocks, minerals, and fossils.

Back Roads of Brown Co. Tour of Studios Month of October. Free self-guided tour. Works for sale and artists demonstrations. BrownCountyStudioTour.com

Fall Fare - Methodist Church Oct. 7, 8:00 am-3:00 Village Green Food, arts, crafts, flea market

Brown Co. Shrine Club’s Still Board & Trap Shoot Oct. 28, 9:00-4:00 Pittman Farms 6088 E. State Road 46 Nashville. Prize—Turkeys! Shotgun Raffle Proceeds benefit Brown Co. Shrine Club.

Bucks & Does Square Dances Sept. 8, 8:00-10:00 at Abe Martin Lodge in Brown County State Park Oct. 6, 8:00-10:30 at YMCA The YMCA is located at 105 Willow Street.

Déjà Vu Art/Fine Craft Show

Olde Time Flea Market

Nov. 11, The Commons downtown Columbus, 10:00-4:00 Held in celebration of America Recycles Day featuring more than 60 artists who repurpose materials into jewelry, sculpture, weaving, wearable art, woodworking, leatherwork, and mosaics. Featured artist Kent Epler creates mixed media fiber art sculptures of people/ animals. Five artists live in Brown County. Visit the Déjà Vu facebook page.

Every Saturday, Sunday, and Holiday Weekends, 9:00-5:00 State Road 46 East in Gnaw Bone

Artisan Guilds of Bloomington Show & Sale

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

NEARBY HAPPENINGS: 31st Annual Col. Vawter Day Sept. 16, 8am-5pm in Morgantown A day full of fun with street vendors, live entertainment, car show, arts & crafts, food, KidZone, bake off, tours and more.

Celebrating 30 Years

Nov. 3 & 4, Bloomington Convention Center, 302 S. College Ave. Fri. 4-9, Sat. 9-5 The Bloomington Spinners & Weavers Guild and Indiana Glass Guild display on first floor. Second floor displays Local Clay Potters’ Guild members work. Includes demos and educational exhibits. Ample free parking. For more info visit Artisan Guilds of Bloomington Facebook page, localclay.net, bloomspinweave.org, and bloomingtonglassguild.org.

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Collector’s Showcase

Live Rock Revues Cinefest 2017 Three Outrageous Women: at Playhouse La Tour, Guggenheim, Luhan O C ne Pulse Entertainment is back at the Brown County Playhouse for 19 live rock revues featuring powerhouse vocalists, top musicians, and classic songs. The company is owned by Jenn Cristy and Eric Brown, nationally touring pop and rock performers. Here are some of the shows this fall: BIRTH OF ROCK ‘N’ ROLL Starring Bloomington’s piano pumpin’ rock sensation Ross Martinie Eiler, this show is a live celebration of the history of rock ‘n’ roll including a full band, vocals, and video. HEART AND SOUL: BEST OF MOTOWN, SOUL AND R’N’B New show by One Pulse stars Jenn Cristy and features IU Campus Superstar winner, Troy Thomas Jr. DYLAN: THE TIMES ARE STILL A’CHANGIN’ Michael Schulbaum positively channels singer/songwriter/poet Bob Dylan and takes the audience on a journey through the tumultuous times of the 60s and 70s. RESPECT: THE WOMEN OF ROCK ‘N’ SOUL From Etta James to Madonna to Aretha Franklin to Lady Gaga, the live band takes the audience on a 60-year journey of legendary female vocalists. WORKING CLASS HEROES Featuring Eric Brown & The L Street Band performing hits by many great rockers. Adult beverages are served. New movies are shown Thursday through Sunday (except during live events). Visit <browncountplayhouse.org> for call (812) 988-6555. Box office is open Thursday–Sunday, noon to show time. 

October 15

inefest 2017 “Three Outrageous Women: Challenging the Early 20th Century Culture” will take place October 15, noon–4:30 p.m. at the Seasons Lodge and Conference Center in Nashville. The three women are: Onya La Tour, Peggy Guggenheim, and Mable Dodge Luhan. Onya La Tour (1896-1970) was a Hoosier, worked as an artist’s model and ran a gallery in New York City, Her own Brown County “modern art” gallery was shunned by local artists, but popular with locals and tourists. Peggy Guggenheim (18981979) is featured in a film Art Addict. Guggenheim was noted as a “patron of the arts extraordinaire.” Mabel Dodge Luhan (18791962) was a salon hostess, art patroness, social activist, and Taos promoter. The program opens with a luncheon and the La Tour presentation, and then follows with the Guggenheim film, a break, and a screening of the Luhan film. Admission is $25 and includes the food. Initial sponsors include Art Alliance Brown county, Wanda Jones, Attorney at Law, Kathy Anderson, Lucinda Davis, LCSW, Christina McGinley of Farmers Insurance, Psi Iota Xi, Tri Kappa, and Pam Gould, owner of Cornerstone Inn. For reservations visit <ArtAllianceBrownCounty.org/ Cinefest>. Contact Anabel Hopkins (812) 340-8781 with any questions. 

he Brown County Art Gallery’s “The Spirit of Stonehead: Our Brown County Icons” Collector’s Showcase 2017 will be held September 15 through October 30. When vandals took a hammer to the 160-year-old Stonehead marker on State Road 135 South and spray painted the historic Bean Blossom Covered Bridge, folks felt both anger and concern. The Brown County Art Gallery will present a series of events and exhibits to highlight some of our iconic locations. The annual Showcase exhibit will be combined with a fundraiser to install a new marker at the Stonehead site. Other icons featured are: the Bean Blossom Covered Bridge, the Brown County Courthouse, the Old Log Jail, the T.C. Steele State Historic Site, the Brown County State Park, and the Brown County Art Gallery. Their stories will be told through paintings by the early masters, etchings, and Frank Hohenberger photographs. There will also be work for sale from current artists and Norberto Nunes, a photographer The Showcase is in collaboration with Peaceful Valley Heritage and Preservation, the Brown County Historical Society, and the Brown County Democrat. Continued on 61

Sept./Oct. 2017 • Our Brown County 45

Dr. Brester Retires ~by Cindy Steele

ames “Doc” Brester retired this August after 50 years of his Bean Blossom veterinary practice. It is hard to fathom the number of animals he saw in over a half a century. The prices Brester charged were a factor in drawing the clientele, but it was Doc’s gentle touch and kind nature that really made the difference. We posted something about Doc Brester’s retirement on the Our Brown County Facebook page and hundreds of people shared and commented on the post. Here are just a few: “I am so very honored that my precious dog was treated by you. She was very sick and needed to be put down. But you had a different idea. A gentle kind approach!” “One of the best men we have ever known!! Thank you Doc for all the years of selfless practice, and everything you have done for the kids and families of 4-H!” “Thank you Dr Brester! This is our horse that you tended to his mother and him when he was born 36 years ago on John McDaniels farm! He is still going. Not many teeth, but a big heart!” “You have cared for many of my pets. You have cared for me as well as I cried for my pets....And you did it from your heart, which allowed pets to have the care they needed when times were hard.”

Doc is a man of few words and is reluctant to talk much about himself, so we reached out to family members for some background on this humble community servant. James was born in Indianapolis to parents Max and Ruth Brester in 1942. His family had moved to Bean Blossom in 1949 after buying the farm where Doc lives. Brester attended school in Helmsburg and was class valedictorian in 1960. He went to vet school at Purdue University. He and his younger brother Fred worked their way through college doing drywall construction. After graduating, he bought an old building for his vet practice in Bean Blossom on contract from Carl Brumley. His spent 10 years there and then built his own building, where he worked for the next 40 years. When Brester started his practice, everyone in the area had a cow and a pig, so he made a lot of farm calls. If he showed up around dinner time folks would often ask him to join them. His son Jeb recalls going along on farm calls as a kid and meeting all the people and the animals. Doc’s routine was to wake up very early in the

46 Our Brown County Sept./Oct. 2017

morning, do surgeries, go on farm calls, and get home in the late afternoon for lunch. Once a deer jumped onto his vehicle and busted the windshield. Instead of stopping to fix it, he just got some goggles to protect himself from the wind, and finished his farm calls. That’s dedication. His wife Paulette made every day function like clockwork. Doc would take a quick nap and then go off to the clinic in the evenings. A lot of nights he would come home after nine. “Workaholic” doesn’t come close to describing his dedication to his practice. The family seldom vacationed. The focus was always on work. They worked hard at home, too, putting up hay in the summer and cutting wood in the winter. There was always a huge garden that required a lot of their attention. The business focus shifted to the smaller animals over the years but Dr. Brester continued to service some larger animals. He donated a lot of his time to 4-H, and did testing for livestock. Although Brester has dedicated much of his life to hard work for the community, he still managed to find time to be a loving, caring parent and grandparent to his family. Now that his routine has slowed, Doc spends a lot of time in the garden. When asked if he was going to go on a big vacation after his retirement, he said, “No, he was just going home.” Dr. Brester has left his practice in good hands. The clinic continues to serve the community now as Bean Blossom Veterinary Clinic. The new owners also operate the Franklin Animal Clinic. You will see familiar faces there because much of the staff remains, including Dr. Brester’s daughter, Anna Gartner, who will serve as practice manager. New services are offered such as X-rays and blood work. Five vets will rotate at the clinic until a full-time vet is hired. 

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48 Our Brown County Sept./Oct. 2017

I am here to help with extensive knowledge of Brown and Monroe counties, buying or selling.

I wanted to let you know about my exciting career change! Curt and I have spent the last 18 years as owners of Bear Hardware and have also bought and sold many properties. I earned my Indiana Real Estate License and am now working with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services. Please contact me with ANY of your real estate needs.

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Realtor®Indiana Realty

812-327-3865 cell 812-334-2021 812-988-8888 Penny.Scroggins@homefinder.org

Sept./Oct. 2017 â&#x20AC;¢ Our Brown County 49

photo by Jeff Tryon

The Village Green Project ~by Jeff Tryon orkers are wrapping up a major project at the southeast corner of the Village Green in downtown Nashville. The project includes a complete renovation and restoration of the old town pump house and the creation of a community “play space,” taking the area back to its roots as a community gathering place. “People played down there,” said Nashville Town Manager Scott Rudd. “There were horseshoe pits and that’s where kids played. There are some great Hohenberger photographs of kids playing marbles in the dirt right in the exact spot where we’re building a play space.” The new Village Green area will serve as a community focal point as it did a century ago. There is a “front porch” feel to the large roofed portico that runs along one side of the lot. “Really, we hope it’s used even more by locals than it is for visitors,” Rudd said. “It’s the first place in downtown Nashville specifically for kids to play.” The project has involved the cooperation of different governmental entities, local businesses, and local artisans. Artisans and contractors were chosen by the Nashville Arts & Entertainment Commission to create a “fun, interactive play area and gathering space in the center of downtown Nashville,” according to the grant award. The Beamery, a firm based in Helmsburg, designed elements of repurposed logs to be used as balance beams and stepping logs for kids.

50 Our Brown County Sept./Oct. 2017

Robb Besosa created benches and game tables out of salvaged wood. His Nashville business, Hoosier Barn and Table Company, saves wood from old barns and cabins and turns them into furniture. Local metal artist Brad Cox, of Cox Creek Mill, created a metal sculpture border element with interactive panels for kids. Stone carvers Mary Ann Whitaker and Tommy Thompson will carve some pieces for the space at their nearby studio in Antique Alley. Dynamic Concrete is pouring, stamping, and staining some concrete on site. The town pump dates back to about 1890, according to the Brown County Historical Society. It served not only as a valuable water resource at a time when there were no public water projects, but also as a community meeting spot, where the ebb and flow of everyday life in a small rural town could be sampled and gauged. By July of 1949, the town had installed a new water system fed by Ogle Lake in Brown County State Park. The pump was laid to rest with an elaborate funeral. The Brown County Rotary Club raised funds for the pump house effort—including $3,500 raised in raffle ticket sales, which was matched with a grant from districtlevel Rotary. The Rotary Club obtained a donated pump, historically similar to the original pump, which could be used in a future water feature. The water, however, would come not from the old well, but from new town water lines which were added.

photo by Jeff Tryon Bird Snider and crew with the new pump house.

The Beamery brings more logs for the play space.

Frank Hohenberger’s early photo of playing marbles.

Local builder/craftsman Brian “Bird” Snider and local stone masons the Bay & Sons, in collaboration with Steve Miller Architects, created a new pump house to cover the well. Snider logged and hand-hewn the yellowwood beams for the structure. Snider will create a kiosk that will mimic the design of the pump house. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources and the Brown County Visitors Center will support the kiosk with a graphic rendering of maps of the county and town, guiding people to interesting things to do. “We’re partnering in a new way with them to crosspromote all of the activities in the county regardless of who oversees them,” Rudd said. “It’s a great partnership.” There will be similar kiosks at the park and the Hoosier National Forest, he said.

Local contractors Wheeler Electric and Wagler Brothers Excavating added their skills to the project. The project began in earnest last May, when the town of Nashville received a $50,000 grant for “Place Based Investments” from the Indiana Office of Tourism Development and Office of Community and Rural Affairs to build an all-ages play space on the corner. “The key has been extensive public involvement in shaping the future of this space and relating it directly to our history,” Rudd said. “That’s the really neat thing that I’ve seen evolve out of this project. “It’s hard when you bring that many people to the table and it’s not something we’re used to doing,” he said. “That’s kind of a new way of working together even within the town. The Arts and Entertainment Commission and the Food and Beverage Commission, both town entities, have been really strong partners. “Getting everyone to work together has been a learning experience and we’ve learned a lot. It’s going to be a great thing.” 

Sept./Oct. 2017 • Our Brown County 51

Visit

Morgantown 10 miles north of Nashville on scenic State Road 135 Clock Sales & Repair

House of Clocks Horology Since 1971 . Morgantown, IN www.TheClockConnection.com 812-597-5414 houseofclocks@att.net 75 W. Washington St. Morgantown, IN 46160 Open Tue. - Sat. 11-5pm Sun. & Mon. Closed Su

ANTIQUES CO-OP 129 W. Washington St. • Morgantown, IN 46160

Colonel Vawter Day September 16, 2017

(In the old hardware store building)

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

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

(812) 597-4530

Layaway Available

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

• Birthday Paint Parties • Home Schooled Instruction

Judy D. Wells • owner, K–12 Licensed Educator • judydenisewells@gmail.com 79 S. Marion St. • Morgantown, IN • (317) 403-7147 Flexible hours including weekends and evenings

52 Our Brown County Sept./Oct. 2017

Check out C our full bar f Sunday Special: Bucket of Bud Light or Miller Light $9.99

Breakfast• Lunch • Dinner Open Mon.–Sat. 7 am–9 pm • Sun. 7 am–8 pm Breakfast served 7–10:30 am

329 S. SR 135 Morgantown (812) 597-5900 • www.LasChalupas.com

#1 Rated on TripAdvisor m Custo cates i rt fi gift ce ailable av

PINE ROOM MUDDY BOOTS

Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner Open Every Day 8 am–Midnight View our menu at PineRoomTavern.net

All Ages Welcome

Visit our website for best deals and availability: cornerstoneinn.com

• Kids Menu •E Espresso D Drinks i k • Homemade Desserts • Breakfast until 5:00 pm • Pool P l Tables T bl • Dart Boards • Craft ft B Beer/Wine /Wi & S Spirits

Live Music 7 Nights a Week (812) 988-0236

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

51 E. Chestnut St. • (behind Salt Creek Inn) State Road 46, Nashville Free Parking

Sept./Oct. 2017 • Our Brown County 53

The Strahls ~by Jim Eagleman

n Brown County State Park’s Trail 6, down a prominent ridge from the Nature Center, you will negotiate a wooden stairway and meandering path through a clearing as you approach Strahl Lake. Young timber stands on this hillside hinting of early days. Strahl Lake was named after Jimmy Strahl, a hard-working Brown County farmer. Like his neighbors in this valley, he came to make a home and make it work. In the early 1800s, a chance to homestead in the wilderness Indiana Territory brought explorers, surveyors, and hopeful farmers. By 1890, cutting quantities of timber and dragging trees with work teams was daily work in this little valley. When a field was ready to plant, they moved on to another hill.

Louie and Lawrence Strahl in 1985 with their family photo.

By the early 1900s, worn out and abandoned farmland in southern Indiana was too remote and foreboding to attract new arrivals. Even though the sloped fields were nearly cleared and free of trees, residents tired of hard work and moved on. Farming rough hill country was difficult and often unprofitable. Folks heard talk of better land—rich, black, topsoil two feet thick on the flat, Illinois prairie and beyond. Most packed up and headed out. A young Louie Strahl, and his older brother Lawrence, had labored alongside their father. All through their young years and as teens, they worked the farm every day. They had little schooling but learned about determination, life, and love from parents, relatives, and neighbors. As men in their eighties, I talked with them as they reminisced at the Abe Martin Lodge in October of 1985. “Dad had the team hitched up and ready to go by daybreak,” said Louie. “I walked behind them horses all day ’til I thought my legs would fall off. In the beginning, we plowed up and down the hills, ’til we saw it all wash away when the rains came. Then we started across the hill. I guess this was about 1920 or so.” The Strahls heard stories about a state project of some kind for Brown County right about the time they had timbered and tilled nearly all of their land. Timing is everything in the real estate business. It was the perfect opportunity for Lee Bright, a Nashville businessman, to propose his park idea. Bright’s “bright idea,” his friends called it, took some convincing. An insurance salesman, Bright had little or no luck in selling policies to the county’s poor. Barely able to make ends meet, farmers struggled to keep their eroded, worn out lands in some kind of production. They didn’t have money for improvements, roads, or schools, and certainly none to insure buildings and equipment.

Strahl Lake today.

54 Our Brown County Sept./Oct. 2017

Bright realized his message, “the state wants to buy your land,” to landowners had to be perceived as sincere. Supplemented with federal monies, the state would purchase the land initially as a game refuge. Price was set at $4 an acre, though Bright was told he could negotiate. Lawrence Strahl told me his dad had heard of the purchase plan for Brown County land. He recalled his dad saying if the state wanted their land that badly, they could have it, whatever the offer. “That was our daddy’s ticket out of here.” The Strahl brothers recalled Bright’s visit to their farm. They received a better price of $10/acre on their 189 acres. Some neighbors wanted to hold out for top dollar. Eminent domain was never exercised by the state in any of Bright’s transactions. All private lands acquired for the game farm were secured willingly. Once pending farm sales were announced, many were anxious, but few objected. Those that did object got more for their land. One farmer, Harry Smith, got top dollar, $40/acre. The abandoned hilly farm fields slowly reverted to natural cover. Land accumulated during the mid1920s, for the game farm totaled nearly 15,500 acres. By 1929, and with Bright’s dogged persistence, the county commissioners secured a portion for the state park.

Eventually the small valley where the Strahls lived was flooded for the lake, one of the game farm’s first water sources for woodland animals. The Strahl family’s farming struggles were mentioned at nearly all interpretive programs scheduled at the lake. Louis Strahl told me they took turns helping neighbors, so I never failed to mention this communal effort. The winter landscape of Strahl valley is a favorite in the park. With no leaf cover you see the lake from almost all overlooks above. The pine plantations are hidden from view during the long, green summer, but appear again from the vistas dark, almost black-green, every late fall. The Strahl brothers ecalled plowing one particular hillside every year. It was fairly flat and showed signs of erosion and wear, but it always produced some kind of crop. It was one of the hills where the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) planted pine trees in the 1930s. Like a forest that endures many changes over time, so has this small valley. Change is inevitable. People came, made their mark, and left. Now more people come, but for a different purpose. There’s a story to be told to the Brown County park visitor, one that is rich with personal, family, and community history, luck, twists and turns, and a loving connection to the land. 

Sept./Oct. 2017 • Our Brown County 55

Nashville, Indiana’s #1 Fun Attraction

COPPERHEAD CREEK

GEM MINE Pan for Gems Fossils Arrowheads

All New Guest Rooms and Suites with Kitchenettes

Fun and Educational for All Ages Book Your Meeting, Banquet, or Reception at our Conference Center

At the

BROWN COUNTY

ROCK and FOSSIL SHOP

Just North of the Courthouse 79 N. Van Buren ~ (812) 988-2422 www.visitbrowncounty.com/welcome.asp

Brown County Shrine Club 9th Annual Still Board & Trap Shoot Prize: Turkeys!

2450 State Road 46 East, Nashville, IN Close to Salt Creek Golf Course, Brown County State Park www.creeksideretreat.net Toll free 844-4RETREAT (844-473-8732)

GRANDPA JEFF’S

Trail Rides

Saturday, October 28 (9 am to 4 pm)

Pittman Farms 6088 E. State Road 46, Nashville (6 miles East of Nashville; 9 miles West of Columbus)

Shotgun Raffle:

Mossberg Mdl. 930, 12 Ga., ported Drawing on October 28 at 4 pm

Don't miss it! Contact : Aaron Harden 812-720-1616 or Gerhard Weber 812-327-7770 IGC License No. 145064

All proceeds benefit the Brown County Shrine Club and are not tax deductible

56 Our Brown County Sept./Oct. 2017

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

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

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

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

Ethereal

Day spa & Salon Specializing in Couples Massage

Relax and renew in the comfort of your room…

New Look and Expanded Hours

We offer the following mobile services Massages · Facials · Hair Cut & Trim · Body Scrubs Pedicures · Bachelorette & Bridal Parties

Travel charge $15 per person + service · Prices do not include gratuity and tax

Full Services available at the Spa Call to book · 812.720.9009 EtherealDaySpaAndSalon.com 211 S. Van Buren · Nashville, 2nd floor

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

Hoosier Buddy offers more than 150 different beers, including more than 80 craft, micro, and imports. We proudly offer a wide variety of beers from Indiana’s finest brewers.

Fine Wines:

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

Select Spirits:

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

284 South Van Buren (next to Subway) Nashville, IN 812-988-2267

Follow us on Twitter @HoosierBuddy1 As always, Hoosier Buddy Liquors A reminds you to celebrate safe —don’t drink and drive.

Women’s boutique, kids and teen clothing, men’s clothing, and household items Designer Labels: Anne Klein Chico Stone Mountain Duluth Coldwater Creek Eddie Bauer Coach

Talbot’s Gloria Vanderbilt Tommy Hilfiger Harley Davidson Calvin Klein Vera Wang Liz Claiborne and many others

Selling gently used items to benefit Brown County. Accepting clothing and household item donations.

Tuesdays and Thursdays 10:00 to 5:00 Fridays 12:30 to 5:00 And April–October: 1st and 3rd Saturdays 10:00 to 1:00

Look for the signs Like us on Facebook at Brown County Community Closet, Inc.

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

Sept./Oct. 2017 • Our Brown County 57

Studio Tour E

verything from stone carvings to stitched paper will be showcased in the 2017 Back Roads of Brown County Studio Tour, as an expanded tour of 18 studios featuring 27 local artists gets under way in October. The free, self-guided tour occurs every day during the month. Most studios are open 10 a.m.–5 p.m. daily. The T.C. Steele State Historic Site, which preserves the famed artist’s home, gardens, and studio, is again a part of the tour, offering a discount for Back Roads tour participants. Three new studios and one new guest artist are participating in this year’s tour. Many artists will be giving demonstrations of their craft during tour hours in studios filled with their handmade items. Monique Cagle has completed her studio, converted from an old grain bin on her farm property. Sleepy Cat Studio is located at 4687 Yellowwood Road. She has been a guest artist on the tour in past years. Also new to this year’s tour is The Wood Frog, the studio of Scott and Jill Stowers at 1294 McLary Road, and Sarabeth Noggle, who has opened a printmaking studio at 3113 Clay Lick Road. Cindy Steele of Singing Pines Designs is a new guest artist at Chris and Bob Gustin’s Homestead Weaving Studio, 6285 S Hamilton Creek Road. “It’s a heck of a way to make an excuse for going Christmas shopping or to get a special gift for somebody,” said artist Brad Cox. “And along the way you can get lunch or desserts at historic restaurants, travel across a covered bridge, and see the natural beauty of Brown County.” Brochures containing a map of all studios, along with hours and other details, are available at many locations around Brown County, and also at <browncountystudiotour.com> and Facebook.

58 Our Brown County Sept./Oct. 2017

The following artists are part of the tour: • Kathy Sparks, The Hand Maiden, handspun yarns and hooked rugs and traditional basket making. • Sidney Bolam, Bohemian Hobbit Studio, fine stone carvings and other surprises. • Martha Sechler, Lightspinner Studio, watercolor and gourd art. Guest artist Ann Woods, layered paper relief. • Scott and Jill Stowers, The Wood Frog, homestead arts, wooden furniture and games, soap, candles, jams. • Amanda W. Mathis, acrylic primitive paintings. Guest artists Mindy Weddle, Carmel Ridge Clayworks, and Anne Ryan Miller, stained glass, metal overlay and transformed photography. • Monique Cagle, Sleepy Cat Studio, acrylic paintings, fiber art and jewelry. • Dixie Ferrer, oil, acrylic and mixed media. Guest artist Joy Sims, glass art. • Laura Bulla, Phillorra Studio and Gallery, oil and acrylic paintings. • Rosey Bolte, The Uncommon Gourd, mixed media gourd art. Guest artists Amy Greely, metal jewelry, and Brian Newton, Broomcorn Johnny’s, handcrafted brooms. • Mary Burkhart, Wallow Hollow Creek Studio, stone carving, calligraphy and jewelry. • M.K. Watkins, Haven Hollow Studios, oil, acrylic and watercolors. • Sarabeth Noggle, relief prints and letterpress. • Sarah Noggle, natural fiber weaving, household items. • Michele Heather Pollock, Lost Lake Studio, stitched paper art, paper sculptures, handmade books. • Brad Cox, Cox Creek Mill, metalwork. • Joe and Peggy Henderson, Hickory Hills Gallery and Studio, hand-dyed silk scarves, gourds, jewelry, sculptural wooden wildlife. • Chris and Bob Gustin, Homestead Weaving Studio, handwoven “recycled rugs,” clothing, scarves and looms. Guest artist Cindy Steele, Singing Pines Designs, glass mosaic designs on tables and other items. 

Lightspinner STUDIO

Martha Sechler Unique Watercolors Mixed Media Gourd Art

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

Old McDurbin % Gold & 50 Gifts

Customized

OFFLRY E JEW

• Anklets • Bracelets • Necklaces

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

Bath th Bomb Mania

Soaps

Natural Products

Bath Bombs

Bubble Bars B

Shampoo Deodorant S Sugar

Scrubs

Antique Alley Nashville, IN • 90 W. Franklin St. (513) 276-2170 • plum-natural-soap-co.myshopify.com Our own Tzatziki sauce recipe, made from scratch

Delicious! A blend of beautiful things —antiques, home décor, and more... Downtown Martinsville, IN on the Courthouse Square

28 N. Main St. • 765-342-7722 • facebook.com/Berries&IvycountryStore

Free samples • Local Delivery Available <Most items under $10> gyrofoodnashville.com • Gyros Food

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

Sept./Oct. 2017 • Our Brown County 59

43rd Annual

Hall of Fame Uncle Pen Days Festival

September 20–23, 2017

he Bill Monroe’s Bluegrass Hall of Fame and Uncle Pen Days Festival will take place in Bean Blossom over four big days, September 20–23, 2017. The festival features more than 30 bands and includes a Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Saturday. This is the 43rd fall festival honoring Bill Monroe’s mentor Uncle Pendleton “Pen” Vandiver. Monroe lived with his Uncle Pen as a teenager after his parents died and was influenced by Pen’s huge repertoire of fiddle tunes. Bill Monroe, the father of Bluegrass music, established his Bluegrass Hall of Fame in 1992 as a tribute to the musicians who helped to develop and disseminate the music that he originated. This year’s inductee is Tony Rice. Tony Rice is a master of the guitar. Born in Virginia in

photos of The Grascals and Tony Rice by Cindy Steele

1950, his career has taken chances and grown through decades of playing with the best including Allison Krauss, who considers Rice her greatest mentor. Though his career did not bring him a rock star fortune, his influence in progressive bluegrass and acoustic guitar are now part of the mythology of the genre and the instrument. Rice started in his first band at around 12. His big break came when he moved to Louisville, Kentucky to join the Bluegrass Alliance in 1970. He played with Sam Bush and J.D. Crowe, pushing bluegrass in new directions. He later relocated to be a part of David Grisman’s band. This was a harmonic stretch from the idiom he’d just left and involved lessons in theory and sight reading. The collaboration produced notable jazzy and bluegrass

Nashville General Store & Bakery Nashville’s Unique Dining Experience (1800s Cabin)

Jams, Jellies, Preserves, Specialty Linen, Rugs, Candles Curtains, Stitcheries Antiques, Billy Jacobs Prints

118 E. Washington St. (by the creek) Nashville, IN • 812-988-6362 Open Sun.–Thurs. 9–5, Fri. 9–6, Sat. 9–7

Breakfast and Lunch BBQ, Chicken Salad, Soups, Pit Ham Cinnamon Rolls, Cobblers, Cookies, Brownies Coffees and Cappuccino

NASHVILLE GENERAL STORE EXPRESS SHUTTLE Reserve the Nashville General Store Express for your charter needs.

60 Our Brown County Sept./Oct. 2017

ART GALLERY SHOWCASE continued from 45 During the 1800s Brown County stone carver Henry Cross created ombstones in cemeteries across southern Indiana. He also created three road markers. The marker at Stonehead directed travelers to Columbus and Story from 1864 until last year when vandals destroyed it. Sarah and John Lechleiter own the land where Cross lived and quarried. They offered to help replace the marker and build awareness of the of our Brown County treasures. Their son Dan Lechleiter, Professor Jon Kay, and stone carver Casey Winningham retrieved a five foot piece of yellow sandstone for a new marker. The new marker will not be a replication of the original Stonehead figure. Instead, it will commemorate the work of Henry Cross. Winningham will use hand tools from the 1800s to create the piece. The new design will be on display as part of the exhibit. 

E W BON COFFE A N

stylings and attracted Jerry Garcia to the project. Like many, aging has not been easy for Tony. He is starting to get his beautiful baritone voice back somewhat, after losing it for twenty years. He has an arthritic condition in his elbow that makes it difficult and even painful to play guitar at all. Rice has won every music award in his genre, and toured for over 40 years. His recordings have sold well and influenced new generations of guitarists. Bluegrass legends scheduled to appear at this year’s festival include Raymond Fairchild, Jessee McReynolds, Bobby Osborne, Doyle Lawson, Ronnie Reno, and Larry Sparks. The festival is packed with performances from over 30 bands with a variety of bluegrass sounds. The list includes: Karl Shiflett & Big Country Show, Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper, Lonesome River Band, Flatt Lonesome, Ralph Stanley II & Clinch Mountain Boys, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, and The Grascals The fun doesn’t stop when the last band of the day has left the stage. If you play a guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, or bass it’s not hard to find someone to jam with. And if you don’t play an instrument, people are just glad to have enthusiastic listeners. Tickets are sold for a 4-day combo, or by individual day. You get a discount if you order the tickets in advance. Camping is extra. Call 800-414-4677 or go online at <beanblossom.us> to make your reservations. Festival tickets include the entrance to Bill Monroe Bluegrass Hall of Fame & Country Star Museum. On display you will find Bill Monroe’s personal collection of memorabilia, and instruments, clothing, and pictures donated by legendary bluegrass and country stars. 

Coffee, Espresso Beverages, Teas ((Hot Hot or or IIced) ced)

GnawBuns • Cinnamon Rolls Muffins • Cheesecake Fresh Bread Fridays Specials

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

Kara Barnard and Kristin Thompson

musicians, instructors and instrument adoption specialists

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

812-200-3300 • www.weedpatchmusicshop.com

Too Cute

Large selection of

at Abe’s Corner

Open daily 9:00 - 7:00 • Free Parking

Women’s and Children’s Clothing

Handmade Purses 145 S. Jefferson, Nashville, in the little white house Visit our Facebook page “Too Cute at Abe’s Corner”

Sept./Oct. 2017 • Our Brown County 61

• FLAT SCREEN TVs to watch your favorite sports • GREAT MENU: sandwiches, appetizers, & salads • FULL BAR w/GREAT DRINK SPECIALS every day • LIVE ENTERTAINMENT most Friday & Saturday nights • KIDS always welcome until 9pm • KIDS Menu • Outdoor Seating

Open 7 days a week

Located on the lower level at Salt Creek Golf Course • 2359 State Rd. 46 E., Nashville 812-988-4323 • View full menu & entertainment schedule @ www.saltcreekgolf.com

BROWN COUNTY September 7, 8, & 9 14, 15 & 16 · 21, 22 & 23

P E R F O R M I N G

Sept. 1 & 30 · October 14 & 19 October 27 · 2 shows · 2 & 7:30

A R T S

C E N T E R

September 2 & 29 October 7, 12, 20 & 26

September 3 · 2pm

Moonlight and Magnolias Clever comedy play about writers of movie “Gone With the Wind.” Some old-fashioned swearing. Directed by Gerard Pauwels | $18.50 & $19.50

September 24 · 2 pm

Elizabeth Eckert Concert Nashville, TN singer, songwriter and piano player who studied at IU Jacobs School of Music | $15 Opener: Brown County’s Amanda Webb and Carolyn Dutton

Starring Jenn Cristy and Troy T. Thomas Jr. — featuring Motown, R’n’B, and Soul from then and now! | $19.50 & $20.50

With the power of his words, Dylan changed the rock world. Michael Schulbaum brings those words to life while celebrating Dylan’s legacy | $19.50 & $20.50

October 5, 8, 13, 21 & 28

October 6

October 28 · 11 pm

Incredible harmonies take you through 60 years of some of the best female vocalists and songwriters | $19.50 & $20.50

Songs from the great rockers who gave voice to working class values — Springsteen, Petty, Mellencamp, Bob Seger and more $19.50 & $20.50

The Birth of Rock ‘n’ Roll The early days of Elvis, Chuck Berry, Ray Charles, Jerry Lee Lewis $19.50 & $20.50

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND MOVIES 812.988.6555 · BrownCountyPlayhouse.org Showtimes 7:30 pm · Tickets & schedule online · Beer, wine & concessions available Box Office: Thursday–Sunday | 70 S. Van Buren · Nashville, IN

62 Our Brown County Sept./Oct. 2017

The Rocky Horror Picture Show r

Costume contest, specialty drinks Tickets $10 Authorized prop bags | $5

Movie Events

and the latest releases

THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY, EXCEPT FOR SPECIAL EVENTS

Get away in comfort

The Overlook Lodge Full size living room, dining area, kitchen and a deck or patio

Every room has an outstanding view of the golf course and Brown County State Park

One or two bedroom units with the luxuries of home Great rates

A Condominium-Style Hotel

Golf packages available

2359 State Road 46 East 2.5 miles east of Nashville

Stay one night or long term

812.988.7888 SaltCreekGolf.com

Seasonal outdoor pool & hot tub 18 hole golf course Driving range & pro shop 19th Hole Sports Bar & Grille

Visit us at Facebook/SaltCreekGolf

BROWN COUNTY

Hometown Proud Local Grocery Store Serving Beautiful Brown County Since 1975! • Certified Angus Beef • Large Beer and Wine Sections • Organic Grocery • Dairy • Picnic Supplies • Produce • Full Service Bakery/Deli • Frozen • Custom Cake Decorating • Wine • Custom Deli Trays, Veggie Trays, Fruit Baskets, and Gift Baskets Ever-Growing Selection of Gluten-Free Products 30 Hawthorne Dr. • Nashville • East SR 46 at light • 812-988-4546 Sept./Oct. 2017 • Our Brown County 63

Past Imperfect

~by Mark Blackwell

or those who are new to Brown County or just haven’t been paying attention, Abe Martin is the 113 year old character brought to being and set in the “Hills o’ Brown” by Frank McKinney “Kin” Hubbard. In February, 1905 Abe declared he was movin’ to Brown County, and he did. And ever since I settled on the ridge he has come by from time to time just to pass the time. I was talkin’ to old Abe Martin just the other day. He caught me on the back porch with my feet up contemplating the great void. I didn’t have to open my eyes to know it was Abe coming up the steps because he carries around the aroma of Brown County. It smells like a new mown hayfield, with a whiff of ripe apples and autumn leaves. Not lookin’ up, I said, “Howdy Abe.” Abe said, “Howdy young ’un.” He went on, “What’s got yer brain in a tangle?” “Well, Abe,” I said, “I am trying to get a hold on my future. I am trying to understand what might be comin’ around the bend so I can prepare for it.” “Yup, I can see yer predicament right

off,” said Abe. “Yer tryin’ ta git a holt o’ sumthin’ that jist ain’t.” He went on, “The future ain’t come into bein’ yet and jist as soon as it does, well, it ain’t the future no more. It shifts itself into the past afore you kin ketch it.” “Well, I suppose I’ll just have to shift my contemplatin’ over to the domain of the past.” And so I did. It turns out that I do spend considerable time in the past. I like history and history is just stories about the past. Unlike the future, which is a slippery thing, the past is not all that hard to get a hold of. The past has tangibles and touchstones like 8-track tape players, ringer washing machines, wood stoves, and photographs. When I crank my old telephone, it doesn’t ring-up the future but I can lift the ear-piece and almost hear somebody say, “Hello, Operator?” I find it deeply satisfying to crank up my old gramophone and put on a 78 rpm record to hear Jimmy Rodgers sing to me from the 1920s. I also like to thread 16mm film into the old Bell and Howell projector and watch “The little Tramp” bedevil a mean, rich guy and run off with his pretty daughter in the end. When I am using one of my grandfather’s old tools I can feel his hands guiding mine. But, before I go waxing too blissfully about the past—it does have its deficiencies. To me there two different kinds of pasts. There is the “past” with a small “p” which consists of memories and then there’s history. That’s “Past” with a capital “P.” The past I tend to visit most is a summer afternoon on the screened-in-porch shelling peas with

64 Our Brown County Sept./Oct. 2017

my mom and grandma, or wading in a clear running creek with a sandy bottom, and riding my trusty bicycle. Then there was a hurtful love affair or two, a hitch in Vietnam, and losing loved ones. It seems like where folks’ “past” slams up against history, things don’t work out so well. There is the “past” where I shook hands with Bobby Kennedy and the “Past” where Bobby was murdered two months later. Sometimes whole generations get caught up in history and it can cling to you so close that it feels like reality. So, the past ain’t perfect, but unlike the future, you know what’s there. I reckon the past is inescapable, unless you’re one of them characters in a soap opera who suffers from chronic amnesia. The good thing is that you can edit your past. You can go back to the good times and the good feelings and let the bad stuff fade. You don’t get to pick and choose the future—it will be what it will be. I think places like Brown County kinda work at bringing to mind the slower, simpler, creative times that live in memory. Brown County is a place where you can live in a cabin back in the hills, grow your own garden, heat with a woodstove, and burn kerosene lamps for light. You can live in the past and bend it towards the future. I see folks all time, working in the old ways and making the old ways work for them. That is why a lot of folks come to Brown County. 

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Brown County Art Colony Weekend

September 8–10, 2017 his September, Brown County will pay tribute to its roots during the third annual Brown County Art Colony Weekend. The event, scheduled for September 8 through 10, is a celebration of the rich artistic history and exciting future of Brown County. Events will begin with a private Plein Air Gathering for Guild artist members only on September 8, and end with the closing reception at 4 p.m. September 10 at the Brown County Art Guild. The 29th annual Great Outdoor Art Contest will be held from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on September 9 at the T.C. Steele State Historic Site. Contest judges will offer two painting demonstrations .The day will feature a live concert by Amanda Webb Band, a beer garden, and lunch.

The paint out is open to everyone with registration available at <bcartguildshop.com/classes-workshops>. A reception will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Guild. First place and the People’s Choice winning artwork will be displayed. Paintings by Guild members will be on display and available for purchase. There will be light refreshments and beer and music by Amanda Webb. The Villagescape Paint Out (open to all) will take place from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on September 10 at the Brown County Art Guild. Registration is $15 for Guild members and $20 for nonmembers and includes entry into the paint out and refreshments from Muddy Boots Café, plus one drink coupon from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Brown County Playhouse. First place will

receive $1,000, second will receive $500, third will receive $250, and Honorable Mention will receive $125. Award-winning artist Luke Buck of Ninevah will judge the contest. The closing reception will take place from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Brown County Art Guild and is free and open to the public. The reception will showcase paintings from the Nashville Villagescape PaintOut. The Brown County Art Colony Weekend is a revisioning of the Brown County Renaissance Weekend that was celebrated for 13 consecutive years from 1993 to 2006. For more information on Brown County Art Colony Weekend, please visit <www.browncounty.com/ calendar/event/brown-county-artcolony-weekend>. 

Sept./Oct. 2017 • Our Brown County 65

Sampler at Gnaw Bone Coffee

s regular readers of these columns know, there is nothing the Sampler likes better than a good cup of coffee. Mystically speaking, there’s a perfect spot to enjoy the perfect cup of coffee, and that spot may change from day to day, or week to week due to circumstances. I had been picking up a little intel on the coffee underground about something brewing out Gnaw Bone way. So one recent Saturday morning, I collected up Mrs. Sampler and headed out to Gnaw Bone Coffee. It’s on the north side of SR 46 just at the western edge of Gnaw Bone, next to the Brown County Vacation Rentals office. It is a large and airy space, immaculately clean. The furnishings are new and modern. The brand new java joint is owned and operated by Joy and Cecil Martin. They’ve just been at it a couple of weeks, so you might want to cut them some slack if they experience a few glitches or delays. Their offerings are extensive but not overwhelming, touching nicely on all things enjoyed as a treat beverage. There’s coffee, of course, in a medium roast, dark roast or decaf in different sizes or by the pot. Now, if you are the sort of person who flavors up their coffee, there are plenty of flavors to choose from

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66 Our Brown County Sept./Oct. 2017

including: mocha, salted caramel, white chocolate raspberry, hazelnut, vanilla, and pumpkin. You could try a chai tea latte or maybe a flavored espresso. I will be honest. I don’t really care for all of the frills. When I say coffee, I mean dark-roasted black coffee. I don’t mind if you follow that path yourself. Let each pilgrim of the holy bean choose his or her own way. Mrs. Sampler, likes quite a bit of cream in her coffee, a café au lait—but I don’t hold that against her. Maybe you’re a tea person adrift in an ocean of coffee drinkers. The Sampler sympathizes. A wide variety of teas are on offer, sweet or unsweetened: chai tea, ginger peach, chai spice, fusion green, green, earl grey, jasmine blossom, orange spice, pomegranate raspberry, Moroccan mint, English breakfast, peppermint, lemon, hibiscus, chamomile, and wild raspberry. We received our dark, hot brew in the customary tall paper cup with a paper heat shield thingy. We elect to sit at one of the comfortable tables while we enjoy a warm, gooey Gnaw bun. A Gnaw bun is the Brown County sticky cinnamon roll, baked on site by the owner and excellently tasty. They come with and without nuts, but either way they are by themselves worth the drive to the outer fringes of the county. Along with the hard-to-resist Gnaw Bun, those with a sweet tooth can get classic style cheesecake with traditional cherry topping, or a banana or apple muffin. They’ve been running a special of a Gnaw Bun and a 12 ounce latte for five bucks. I don’t know what right minded coffee break lover could resist that deal. Look for future breakfast/lunch offerings and specials. You sit in a little coffee shop with your best friend on a Saturday morning and watch the parade of life go by. The coffee is dark and delicious, the sweet roll tender, gooey, and delectable. We sit and talk about the coffee shop and the different folks who stop in to grab a coffee to go. All in all, it was a very pleasant experience. The address of Gnaw Bone Coffee is 4040 State Road 46 East, just five minutes east of Nashville. You can contact them at (812) 374-3981. 

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SERVICES

68 Our Brown County Sept./Oct. 2017

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