We had a nice short 2.5 hour re-positioning from Ohio to the near south side of Indianapolis. We like these uneventful travels with very few road changes. Our campground here just served as a spot to plug in the camper and then to visit with some family. The title of this post is the theme song of the state and is sung before the Indy 500 mile race. Used to be sung by Jim Nabors. Jim is still living and is best known for this song. He may have also been on the Mayberry show.
The Lake Haven Retreat campground really only had the location to offer as the sites were small, all gravel, and no or few trees. We had a pull through site at just over $200 per week. It did have a small fishing lake, but I never had the time to try it out.
We began the week with a great cook out with my brother Kevin and his family, wife Heather and son Drew. Getting caught up with family was the main reason for our stay in the Hoosier state. We also took one full day to drive by our prior homes and home towns. Some looked great, but other homes were quite disappointing. We also worked in a museum in Danville, In., and three breweries during the week. And finally, we spent a few days with Pat’s mom helping her with a few projects and looking at tons of old photos as we continued the trip down memory lane.
I was very surprised at how many changes have occurred in this area since we left 21 years ago. In fact, the Indiana University campus (IUPUI) that I attended in Indianapolis back in the 70’s was not recognizable anymore with some amazing growth. Not only were there probably 100 new buildings, but many of the streets were also gone to make way for the building. I’m sure the administration is proud of the growth, but this old alumni was looking for something to recognize. Oh well, more progress I guess.
As I write this, only the beginning of Hurricane Irma damage is becoming known for the Florida residents. I hope and pray for everyone’s safety and for their properties.
Enjoy the photos!
Our Greenwood Indiana home looking almost exactly as it did in 1991 when we bought it. A nice 3 bedroom in a great location.Photo of the old 1850’s home that was a major project to rehab. I did much of the work and brought in contractors for the work that was beyond me. It looks kind of tired now. Bought it in 1993 and sold in 1996 when we moved to Virginia.This is one of the old Little (Pat’s family) homes on Center St in Plainfield Indiana.Pat’s former workplace at a Martinsville In bank. She pointed to her old teller cage. Looked the same as it did about 40 years ago.One of the old historic building in Martinsville is being restored. This was good to see in this town with little or no growth. Martinsville was known as the City of Mineral Water during the late 1800’s up until 1968. Visitors would come to the dozen health spas or sanitariums as they were called then..A visit to the old sheriffs office and county jail. Just visiting…I had to book her into the slammer with this mug shot. She appears way too happy.It would not have been any fun to have this view. The jail was built in 1866 and was in operation until 1974.The Danville history museum had this cool old kitchen set up. I can recognize a few items that I remember. Hmmm, I might be getting old.This kitchen in the museum reminded me of the old Little farmhouse where Trish grew up.We had a nice picnic lunch with some wine at the Danville city park that has a suspension walking bridge. Very cool.After lunch, we sought out the best coffee shop (ok, maybe the only one listed). This one is the Courthouse Grounds, in Danville. They had just changed their theme from a coffee shop to a proper tea house. All decked out like one from London. The owner looked a little put off when we asked for American coffee, not one of the 42 English teas.In our tours, we found the old Irons Cemetary just outside of Plainfield. You had to actually know where it was located as it is about a block off the US-40 along an over grown path. We found about a dozen headstones from Pat’s family. The latest ones from the early 1900’s.
More Indiana posts will be up next. Have a great day.
4 Replies to “Back Home Again in Indiana!”
Looks like you had a great time in Indiana. It’s fun to go back and visit yet at times it can be disappointing to see things change.
Looks like you had a great time in Indiana. It’s fun to go back and visit yet at times it can be disappointing to see things change.
Yes, very true. It is hard to believe that it was 25 years ago that we left Missouri, where we are now parked. Time flies.
Randy, I think I have seen that jail door on our offices in BB a few times.
Yes, sometimes I feel like that I served a 44 year sentence! Actually, many good times and especially the people like yourself that made it work.