History

The haunted Willard Library and ghost cams

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Evansville, Indiana is home to one of the most documented haunted structures in the country. It is listed on many “Top Ten Haunted Places”. The library is Indiana’s oldest operating public library, it was opened in 1885. The beautiful building is filled with period furnishings and some magnificent interior wood work. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.

The library’s reading room. The Gray Lady is often seen here.

The Willard library started its journey as a haunted site in the 1930’s. A custodian was greeted one evening by the vision of an apparition that is now known as “The Gray Lady”. This translucent form has made many more appearances throughout the decades and has been seen by many. No one knows for sure who this ghost is nor the reason for her continued presence in the library.

One thing for certain is the fact that strange and unexplained happenings have and continue to occur in the building. Water faucets have mysteriously found to be opened, books have been moved and other objects have been found in new places. No one feels that the lady is malevolent but her identity remains a mystery.

The 2nd floor conference room, sightings also seen in this room

Some feel that other spirits other than the Gray Lady also haunt the library. Interest in the hauntings have resulted in many paranormal investigations. Photographic evidence abounds that shows what many think can only be apparitions.

One of several Ghost Cams scattered throughout the building and on 24/7/365.

The library has installed several “ghost cams” that are functional 24/7/365. A trip to the ghost cam website allows you to participate in anytime ghost hunting!. Go ahead, open up the Willard Ghost Cams Website and maybe you’ll see the Gray Lady!

Zaharakos Ice Cream Parlor and Museum

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When three Greek brothers opened Zaharakos as a candy store in Columbus, Indiana in 1900 they opened what has become one of the finest historic ice cream parlors in America. Located in the heart of downtown Columbus this shop has become a marvelous place to get ice cream treats, excellent dining and exposure to hundreds of original artifacts from the heydays of 1900 era soda fountains. In addition there are multiple original and replica mechanical music instruments.

The 50′ marble topped mahogany backed soda bar. This is where all those ice cream delicacies are created for your pleasure

Sher and I have enjoyed several trips to Zaharakos over the years including introducing family members to the wonderful treats with ice cream made on site. The restaurant menu is filled with classic Hoosier comfort food. Walking around the facility feels like being in a museum with all of the beautiful items from the history of soda fountains through the years.

Sher behind the counter of a second full soda fountain, with a Welte Machine on the left.

There are several mechanical musical instruments including the 1908 Welte orchestrion that play occasionally in the shop. The Welte machine is one of the few remaining that are still in their original location. The Banjo-Orchestra machine  arrived at Zaharakos June 26, 2013. This replica was built by the D.C. Ramey Piano Company in Marysville, Ohio.

I caught all but the first few bars of the banjo pickin’ classic.

Zaharakos Ice Cream Parlor is without a doubt worthy of a visit when you are in or near Columbus. Always a delight to see, this unique store always goes overboard during holidays with beautiful seasonal decorations.  This is the Zaharakos website.

Village of Story is found south of Nashville Indiana

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The community of Story dates back to 1851. It began as a lumber town that was founded by Dr. George Story. At its peak of development it boasted a non-denominational church, grain mill, blacksmith shop, two general stores, a post office, slaughter house and a few homes.  Between 1930 and 1940 about half of the residents left Brown County during the Great Depression.

Exterior of General Store/Restaurant

Former Service Station Sign

Nice outside patio

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Story nearly became a ghost town after the main road between Columbus and Bloomington was cut off by the completion of Lake Monroe in 1960 by the Army Corps of Engineers. In the late 1980’s the General Store became a bed and breakfast, and in 1999 the entire town was purchased by one individual.

Inside the first floor dining room

Cozy dining areas

 

 

 

 

 

Posing with the bear

The Story Inn offers a wide variety of dining and lodging options from which to choose. The main floor of the store is now the rustic dining room with gourmet items on the menu. Many rooms are ready for visitors on the second floor. Yarns aplenty are told about “The Blue Lady”, who many claim still haunts the second floor. The tavern is in the basement. All bar seating is provided with original iron tractor seats.

In front of the store

Stairway to the Still Tavern

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sher going into the basement Tavern

The Story motto through the years remains “-One inconvenient location since 1851-“. You can rent the entire town if you want to have one huge wedding or family reunion. Many different packages are available to fit any size group or time of stay. Many events occur during the year including a Bourbon Festival, Wine Fair, 1880’s style Baseball games, comedy shows and other events. When visiting Nashville, consider taking a little side trip down Highway 135 and check out Story. This is the Story Inn Website

The peaceful Mt. Zion Cemetery in Brown County Indiana

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Highway 135 in Brown County, Indiana is know for its beautiful scenery, as a winding road in the hills, and the location for many historic sites. The Mt. Zion Cemetery is one of those sites.

At the entrance to the grounds

Arched sign over road: MT ZION CEM I834

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Located half way between Stone Head and Story on 135, the cemetery is on high ground overlooking the road bed. The entrance stone monument  name also displays the inscription “Since 1834” under the Mt Zion Cemetery name.

The shelter where the church stood

The Mt. Zion Church edifice stood on the highest point of the property since 1878 but eventually did not survive a massive windstorm in 1986. After the church debris was buried a concrete slab was poured covering the remains of the church. A shelter-type structure was constructed and it survives to this day..

Cremation Garden, Plots in Background

Close up of the Bronze Plaque

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As soon as you  pull into the site from 135 you are greeted with a beautiful flower garden with a bronze sign on a massive boulder. The signage identifies the Mt Zion Cremation Garden and includes an appropriate Scripture.

Well maintained cemetery grounds

The burial spots are identified with a variety of gravestones. A search for the oldest graves take you from the top of the hill following down the slope to the end of the grounds at a tree line. There are many Federal provided military gravestones for Civil War Veterans providing information of their units in which they served.

Dignity of Earth and Sky in South Dakota

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Traveling on I-90 through South Dakota provides some remarkable scenery. In addition to the natural wonders of the state, one man-made marvel really stands out. Near Chamberlain at Exit 294 you’ll see the signs for a rest area with a Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center. As you exit the interstate and drive up a decent slope you see a very large stainless steel sculpture with a geometric pattern. Then you soon realize that it is a star quilt being held by a beautiful Native American woman.

Person on the left to give you the sculpture’s scale.

This 50-foot-tall statue portrays an Indigenous woman in traditional Plains-style dress.

This is the statue titled “Dignity of Earth and Sky”. The creation of South Dakota Artist Laureate Dale Claude Lamphere is a magnificent example of very large scale public art. The  statue represents the courage and wisdom of the Lakota and Dakota people who come from the area. The star quilt pattern is traditionally used to honor people or peoples. The statue was placed in 2016.

We enjoyed our rest stop. Oh, and the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center? Well, it was closed for the season, to reopen mid-May. We were there mid-October, 2018. At least the public restrooms were still open for those without their own facilities in an RV.

Huge old driftwood logs in Olympic National Park

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Washington State Olympic National Park is on the Pacific coast in the north part of the state.  This national park has stunning scenery and beautiful coastlines. Dramatic “sea stacks”, rocks remaining after ocean weathering, are visible from the shore. Highway 101 follows this coast and near the north end of the park it runs next to Ruby Beach.

On the shore line

Islands in the background

 

 

 

 

 

Ruby Beach is one of a few Olympic National Park beaches that have massive amounts of driftwood stacked randomly by the tides on the shore. Tidal currents have for centuries been responsible for the migration up and down the coastline  of these driftwood logs. Many of these weather worn logs have no doubt been on different parts of the beach over the decades.

Huge driftwood log, Sea Stacks in background

Old driftwood logs, shore in background

 

 

 

 

 

The Olympic National Park covers nearly a million acres. It protects a vast wilderness, thousands of years of human history, and several distinctly different ecosystems. Ruby Beach and other ocean views from Highway 101 show just a fraction of the park’s acreage. The Olympic Peninsula is a remarkable part of our United States. Visit there someday, you will not  be disappointed.

 

Harry Evans Covered Bridge, one of 31 in Parke County Indiana

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Parke County, Indiana is known as the covered bridge capitol of the world. It is home to 31 covered bridges which is more than any other county in the nation. Every October over two million visitors converge on Parke County for the world famous 10 day Covered Bridge Festival. People come to see the bridges and shop any of the thousands of vendors who occupy building’s or temporary tents that sprout up allover the county.

Harry Evans Bridge, 65 ‘ long, built by JA Britton in 1908

Showing the Burr-Arch support design of the Evans bridge. This design is found in 30 of the Park County bridges including one double Burr-Arch.

We enjoy road trips to Parke County several times each year. The crowds are huge with heavy traffic during the festival, so we avoid Parke County then. There are five different well marked self driving routes that will take you directly to nearly all of the 31 bridges. The county is also home to two Indiana State Parks and the 2,110 acre Raccoon Lake State Recreation Area. Go enjoy Indiana outdoors in Parke County!

 

Renaissance Faire in Central Indiana

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This weekend was the first of two weekends when several acres of the Johnson County Park, Nineveh, Indiana transformed into a setting right out of Renaissance Europe. Scores of tents, wagons and other structures have sprung up on the grassy fields.

Some of the vendor tents

The Indiana Renaissance Faire is one of several similar events during the year. With the same basic theme, vendors and entertainers from all over come to peddle their wares and entertain the crowds of all ages that enjoy these Faires.

Vendor “wagon” plus tent

Watch out for the pirates (but buy their mead)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anything and everything you would need to dress in period costume is available at the vendor displays in the tents. Musical instruments, belts, bags, tunics, even correct footware.

Every faire needs a dragon

Yes that is a real sword shop.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And speaking of costumes, it seemed like more than half of the people in attendance were is some kind of costuming. We saw elves, wizards, fairies, warlocks, pirates, knights, tradesmen and many others.

Knight at the ready

Lance ready for the joust

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Entertainment was everywhere. We got there in time to catch the 12 noon Jousting demonstration. Two knights in armor on horse back showed their skill in the use of the long joust. Foot soldiers in support of the knights demonstrated small arm weaponry.

Holding RedTail Hawk

Two birds waiting their turn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another unique and fascinating offering presentation was by a chap who brought hawks and falcons to show and explain. A most fascinating  demonstration.

The Renaissance Faire will be open next weekend, June 20 – 21st for two more days of revelry, music, food and fun. Huzzah!

 

Chief Tecumseh “Trail of Whispering Giants” statue at Vincennes Indiana`

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Sher and I always enjoyed discovering interesting attractions when we were travelling. We found this striking likeness of the famous Chief Tecumseh near the Wabash River levee in Vincennes, Indiana. The statue is the creation of Peter “Wolf” Toth, a Hungarian artist, and is his most recent addition (the 74th) to his “The Trail of Whispering Giants” series of statues scattered across the country.

Chief Tecumseh, Wabash River levee in background

The history of the Chief

Signage and Tecumseh

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Toth’s first monumental “Whispering Giant” was completed in 1972. He now has statues in all 50  states. His only tools were a hammer and chisel, with rare use of an ax and a mallet. Each statue is made using a native log from each state. Toth always meets with local Native American tribes and local lawmakers prior to beginning his work. While on your road trips keep an eye out for the magnificent “Trail of the Whispering Giants”.