Hello Everyone,

My name is Donna K. Adams and I will be submitting blogs occasionally on the WVGS blog site.  Looking forward to adding some interesting items for you to read and see!

Covered Bridge Season!

Sanatorium Covered Bridge, built in 1912. 
Also known as the State Sanatorium Bridge, it is the only bridge in Indiana with lightening rods.


It's October, and many individuals are gearing up for the turning of the leaves, pumpkin flavored treats, bonfires and perhaps a festival or two! Many may already have attended the annual Covered Bridge Festival that entertains every year beginning the second Friday in October. The gathering brings together vendors, crafters and many kinds of unique delicacies to be sampled and enjoyed. Highlighted, though often times in the background of the festivities, are the numerous covered bridges that reside in Parke County, Indiana-- 32 to be exact! Lucky for us, a large array of information about these Parke County relics can be found on the Wabash Valley Vision and Voices website! Check out a couple of these famous covered bridges below!

Mill Creek Covered Bridge, built in 1907.
The inscription warns "Cross Bridge at a Walk." This dates back to 1880, and warns teams of horses to cross at a walk. It was believed that the vibration from the cadence of a trotting team of horses would damage the wooden bridge. 

Inside the Mill Creek Covered Bridge.
This bridge crosses the Mill Creek and is also referred to as the Tow Path Bridge. 

Billie Creek Covered Bridge, built in 1895. 
The bridge was built by J.J. Daniels and crosses the Williams Creek, nicknamed Billie Creek. 

Merom Conference Center Meet & Greet!

Photograph of Union Christian College teachers and students from 1894. 

Wabash Valley Visions and Voices (WV3) will be hosting a Merom Library Meet & Greet Wednesday, Sept. 30th at 1:00 pm at the Merom Conference Center. The presentation, given by WV3 Project Director Cinda May, will highlight the digitized collection of the historic Merom Conference Center. 

The Merom Conference Center began as the Union Christian College in 1859. Merom was selected to house the twenty-seven acre facility over five other potential destinations, winning the bid of the "New Light Church," now formally known as the United Church of Christ. The New Light Church was seeking for a faith based institute of learning to be erected in Indiana, prompted in part by Rev. E.W. Humphreys,  a cheery Welshman who had arrived in Merom in the early 1850's. At the time, Humphreys was promoting education in the Merom area as well as teaching at the Merom Bluff academy, which was being housed in the former court house. A bid of $35,000 sealed the deal-- on May 17, 1859 Merom was chosen as the future site of Union Christian College. The college would remain rooted in the heart of Merom until its close, which followed commencement exercises on June 4, 1921. 

Union Christian College Faculty and Assistants, April 27, 1984. 

Brown, Robert A. Story of Union Christian College Merom (Sullivan County) Indiana 1859-1924.
     Prairie Creek, Indiana: Robert A. Brown, 1981. Print.

Country Stores

John Like's General Store, Monroe City, Indiana. 

A trip down memory lane, provided by the Wabash Valley Visions and Voices archive, brings to light the swift differences between our past and our present. Quickly these juxtapositions educate us on the difference between then and now. A prime example being a  task most of us complete on the regular, and seemingly with little inconvenience. "Out of necessity, country stores, or general stores, got their start during the colonial period for the many pioneers who lived outside urban markets. Many owners... began as roving peddlers and once they had accumulated enough capital and inventory, they often established permanent locations in settlements where there was a need and likely profit" (Weiser). Before the installment and development of the supermarket, a cache all for all things necessary, small family-owned general stores supplied local communities with basic needs: "In addition to often being the only provider of 'store bought goods' and the post office, the country store served other roles, including the social center of the community" (Weiser). The country general store, a community epicenter, was an important part of rural business and industry. John Like's General Store, pictured above in 1910, was located between 10th and 11th streets in downtown Monroe City. Clothing, household goods and bolts of cloth can be seen displayed in the narrow shop. Below, the Prairieton General Store is pictured with customers gathered on the porch beneath a sign advertising "Groceries, Hardware & Drugs," as well as inside near the stove.  A horse and buggy can be seen to the left of the building patiently waiting for the potential long ride home.

Prairieton General Store, Prairieton, Indiana. 

Prairieton General Store Interior

Weiser, Kathy. "Country Stores." Legends of America. Legends of America. Feb. 2013. Web. 14
     Sept. 2015.

Labor Day: A Wabash Valley Tradition

American Federation of Musicians Local 25 Labor Day Parade of 1988. 

American Federation of Musicians Local 25 Labor Day Parade of 2004. 

 Labor Day: the last hoorah of summer. Long weekend family trips and a couple of burgers on the grill bring to mind past celebrations of the holiday. Seldom do we think of the history and meaning of the three day weekend, though many of us are more than happy to celebrate the extra day off.  "Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country" ("History"). The Wabash Valley seems to be adequately celebrating the holiday appropriately,  as "the form that the observance and celebration of Labor Day should take was outlined in the first proposal of the holiday — a street parade" ("History").  This tradition continues for the Wabash Valley this coming Monday, as many areas, including Terre Haute, will be hosting a parade to commemorate Labor Day. Families will be enjoying an extra day off, and just maybe a parade or two. 

Labor Day Parade on State Street in Princeton, Indiana,1926. 

"History of Labor Day." United States Department of Labor. United States Department of Labor, n.d.

       Web. 31 Aug. 2015. 

Back to School: A Glimpse into the Indiana State Normal School

Indiana State Normal School main building, 1870-1888. 

The evidence of a yellow school bus driving by in the early morning is just a small inclanation that our initiation into Fall is forthcoming. While commercials airing back to school specials, deals and even freebies can be seen rampant on many social outlets, the Wabash Valley Vision and Voices Digital Memory Project can give us a glimpse of school days gone by. While glancing through the Indiana State University Archives collection, you are sure to happen upon the universities ornate history, beginning with it's establishment as the Indiana State Normal School in 1865. In 1929 the school became the Indiana State Teachers College until 1961, in which year it became established as the Indiana State College. Four short years later, Indiana State College became designated as Indiana State University, the flagship it is known as today.  Fortunately, archives of the Sycamore, the Indiana State Normal School yearbook, exist, allowing modern readers the ability to envision university excitement during the late 19th and early 20th century. See below a peek into Normal's student life, taken directly from the pages of Sycamore 1926. 

Indiana State Normal School basketball game against Purdue, who won 24-29. 

Indiana State Normal School Debate Team 1926

Kick-off: Normal vs. Indiana University. First game in the new Memorial Stadium.

Afternoon Treasure Hunt Anyone?

When the land-locked state of Indiana comes to mind, hidden treasure is generally not at the top of the list, even with the prevalence of a summertime sea of green (soybeans that is!). And yet, an afternoon spent treasure hunting in Greene county may gather the individual more than just a cache of golden corn kernels. According to the Indiana State University Folklore Archives rumors of hidden treasure prevails: silver leftover by Native Americans, sunken whiskey marooned in the wake of a ship demolished by an explosion, and the tale of a woman so overcome by heatstroke while picking berries that she buried her entire life savings in the woods near her home. If these circumstances are not influence enough for some afternoon shovel digging and map searching, then perhaps one more intriguing tale can be of assistance. A cave once utilized by miners now serves as the resting place for stolen treasure acquired by a stagecoach robbery. Did we mention that this cave is also forbidden and guarded by an old man? Get your shovels folks, lets go hunt some treasure!