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BIG Candle at Warm Glow Candle Company

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When traveling on Interstate 70 (I-70) between Indianapolis and Richmond, Indiana look for Exit 145. On the south side of the road at the Centerville exit, you’ll see a huge three story tall candle. Yes, a candle.

This is in fact the World’s Largest Candle

This is the home of the Warm Glow Candle Company. According to the Company Website, “Warm Glow is a FAMILY fragrance company that values tradition while delivering some of the most unique scents from some of the best fragrances houses in the world. All of our candles are small batch and handmade in our Indiana production facility which means no two candles are ever the same.”

Entrance to the Candle store

Each one of us got a Chocolate Cake votive.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This store is certainly an attention grabber. Wonderful fragrances greet you at the door. The staff is super friendly and more than willing to help. We were there for the East Central Indiana Chocolate Trail, a series of businesses primarily marketing chocolate. How does a candle store fit in? The have a chocolate cake scented candle! Once we checked in, we all received our votive candle, each in its own glass cup.  Keep an eye out on I-70 near Mile Marker 145. A huge candle awaits you!

Little Sheba’s Restaurant is a gem in Richmond, Indiana

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We were on another day trip, this time to Richmond, Indiana, the county seat of Wayne County on the Indiana – Ohio Border. We took US Highway 40, the National Road, stopping at several yard sales along the way. By 1:30 pm it was time to eat.

Welcoming Entrance

Comfortable well stocked bar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After a stop at one place on The Chocolate Trail in Richmond, the proprietor recommended Little Sheba’s Restaurant for lunch. Her quick description of the menu turned out to be spot on!

Mediterranean salad, delicious and filling

Loaded half pound burger with potato salad and pickle spear

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Little Sheba’s  Restaurant is in one of the historic districts in downtown Richmond. We were very pleased with both the service and the quality of our meals. You should definitely put Sheba on your list for potential eating places in Richmond. This is the Little Shebas’ website.

“Heartbreak Hotel” brings the story of Elvis to Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre

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Indianapolis Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre is excited to bring the official Elvis Presley bio-musical, Heartbreak Hotel, to the stage through October 12, 2025. The show tells the story of Elvis and his rise to fame in a unique way. A young Elvis helps his grown persona cope with his life of fame and fortune through the years.

Kid Elvis (Henry Kirk) appears to guide Elvis Presley (Nicholas Voss), who is in crisis mode

The cast includes Nicholas Voss making his Beef & Boards debut in the role of Elvis Presley. B&B veterans are Sarah Hund as Gladys Presley, Eddie Curry  as Colonel Tom Parker, Benjamin Nurthen as Scotty Moore, and Matt Smolko  as Bill Black.

Elvis Presley, center, performs at the Louisiana Hayride show in 1954

Henry Kirk, also in his B&B debut, is wonderful in his portrayal of Kid Elvis. He is an eight grader in a local Indy school system. His previous experience in national stage productions is evident in the quality of his performance, which is truly a highlight of the Heartbreak Hotel musical.

Heartbreak Hotel  features over 20 Elvis trademark songs including, “That’s All Right,” “All Shook Up,” “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Burning Love,” “Good Rockin’ Tonight,” “Hound Dog,” “Love Me Tender,” “Don’t Be Cruel,” “Jailhouse Rock,” “Are You Lonesome,” and “Blue Suede Shoes.” Couple these classic tunes with chronological events in Presley’s career and you have a fascinating look at the The King of Rock and Roll.

Elvis Presley, center, performs “Viva Las Vegas”

Heartbreak Hotel is on stage through Oct. 12. Tickets to Beef & Boards productions are available exclusively through Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre, either at Beef & Boards website, or by contacting the box office at 317.872.9664. Tickets range from $57 to $85 and include Chef Larry Stoops’ dinner buffet and select beverages.

Indiana Candlelight House built in 1868 now home to ghosts

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Located in Johnson County, Indiana, east of the modern I-65 interstate highway is a stately two story brick home commonly referred to by the name Candlelight House. In olden days the  many windows facing the road were said to have been often lit with candles.

Photo we took from the road, work in progress on the new porch.

Working on the new portico/porch

The owners of the house are currently working on the restoration of the house. The day we drove by a new porch was being installed. This structure was surprisingly made of structural steel, not like the original wood portico that is long gone.

Unknown date, unidentified people. Photo from Franklin Daily Journal files

Since the house was built three generations of the same family have lived in the house. The only son of the third generation, named Otho Henry Pritchard, died in the house in 1995. According to many accounts Otho still walks the rooms of the house, even writing his name with his finger on windows. There have been paranormal investigations at the house.

The Artcraft Theatre, entertaining patrons since 1922

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November 1922 witnessed the opening of the Artcraft Theatre in Franklin, Indiana. It was first utilized for vaudeville shows. The theater was also the first in town to show silent movies, which it did from 1922 until 1929. The orchestra pit was perfect for the musician(s) accompanying the silent movies.

The Artcraft Theatre exterior

Restored ticket booth and theater entrance/exit doors

The Artcraft operated as a venue for first-run movie showings for 78 continuous years before closing in 2000 after the development of multi screen theater complexes drastically reduced patron business.

Through the front doors, looking towards the lobby

Concession stand and exit aisle

Over the years the theater saw many changes and improvements including a 1929 sound system for “talkies”. Franklin’s first ever air- conditioning “swamp box system” was installed in 1935. The first marquee was erected in the 1940’s.

We want to come back when it is open to see the whole theater.

A local historic preservation group, Franklin Heritage, Inc. bought the theater in 2001. Restoration work began immediately to save the building from condemnation. Currently the theater regularly offers showings of classic movies. The Historic Artcraft Theatre website has information about events and shows. (It lists the times for senior citizen free movies!)

Historic 1901 Indiana school suffers extensive damage in 2022 fire

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While on a recent day trip to Parke County, Indiana to enjoy the many covered bridges we came across a sad sight.  A large sign explained that we were viewing the Wabash Township Graded School that was open from 1901 until 1986 in the town of Mecca.

Front face with bell tower

Main Entrance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A devastating fire occurred in November, 2022. This fire completely destroyed the pitched roof of the 1901 main building and the flat roof of the gymnasium that was a 1923 addition.  Both roofs collapsed during the fire.

View of gym addition

Gym wall, roof gone

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The structure was listed on the  National Register of Historic Sites. Following is from the original application for this listing: The architectural style of the 190l-l9l0 main section of the building shows Richardsonian Romanesque influence, which is evident in the bell tower, rock-faced lintels and voussiot’s, arched doorways and belfry openings…

Sign placed well before the fire

Local references report that sometime after the school closed in 1986 the structure was used as a community center. The fire damage that is visible is quite extensive. Rebuilding would be very costly, if not cost prohibitive.

Another Bison-tennial bison in Connersville Indiana

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In 2016 Indiana celebrated its bicentennial of the 1816 year of statehood. One very unique way to celebrate was the distribution of at least one fiberglass bison to each of the 92 counties in the state.

“Monty” lives next to the courthouse.

In our travels over the years Sher and I have seen many of these delightful bison around Indiana. All have custom paintjobs with a variety of environments for the location of each bison. Our road trip today to Connersville lead to yet another Bison-tennial Public Art discovery.

 

Parke County, Indiana, Covered Bridge Capital of the World

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Park County Indiana is home to two Indiana State Parks and the 2,110 acre Raccoon Lake State Recreation Area. In addition Parke County is home to 31 covered bridges, more than any other county in the nation. Rockville is the county seat and also is the starting point for 5 different well marked self driving road tours to see most of the 31 bridges.

The 245′ Bridgeton Bridge and associated mill, The bridge was burned by arson in 2005, rebuilt in 2006.

These historic bridges are fairly evenly scattered over the 444 square miles of the county. Every October over two million visitors converge on Parke County for the world famed 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.

Crooks Bridge, 132′ long, built in 1856 by Henry Wolfe

Neet Bridge, 125′ long, was built in 1904 by JJ Daniels

Note the Red Arrow. This shows the easy self driving tour routes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We took the 34 mile long Red Route starting at the Rail Road Depot in Rockville. This drive brought us up close and personal to eight old covered bridges. Some we could drive across, some were closed to traffic with a new roadway running next to the bridge.

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.

Our road trip to Parke County was, in our opinion, most successful. Along with our drive along the Red Route of covered bridges, we also had some other stops that we’ll share in other articles here. Just know this: a road trip to Parke County Indiana offers country roads and viewing historic bridges, enjoyable dining and shopping opportunities. Click here for the Park County Visitor’s Center website.