May/June 2025 OUR BROWN COUNTY

MAY/JUNE 2025 MAY/JUNE 202 2025 20 FREE FREE

Lawrence Family Glassblowers

Park ManagerScott Crossley Clearing the Way to the Great Outdoors

Roadside Cleanup

Library of Things Spring Blossom Parade IHA Show & Sale Goodness Snakes Lessons from Fungi Monroe Festivals

fresh!

high-quality ingredients make it wild & tasty

TIP

For a delicious spring salad vinaigrette combine our Basil Infused Olive Oil with our Strawberry Balsamic in a jar.

Add honey, dijon mustard, garlic, salt or pepper, if desired.

Shake until fully emulsified. The standard ratio for vinaigrettes is three parts oil to one part balsamic.

We’ve been bringing great taste to you since 2012 from our inviting little shop in the heart of Brown County, Indiana.

We have curated a flavorful collection for your tasting pleasure with plenty to offer for foodies, the experienced cook, or the novice. It goes well beyond the high-quality olive oils and balsamics we built our reputation on. We’ve added jams, pastas, dipping oils, salsas, sauces, and much more. Come in for a tour of tastes and let us be your guide. You’ll be wild about our shop.

Shop us online from anywhere, anytime at www.thewildolive.com

www.thewildolive.com | 37 W Main Street, Nashville, Indiana 47448 | (812) 988-9453

OPEN 7 AM

DELICIOUS

SandwicheS and

HOT & COLD DRINKS

Featuring

THE VOLANT

French Americana Layered Donuts

Choose C hoose ffrom rom a vvariety ariety of Volants and enjoy a cup of your favorite drink.

VOLANTS (Donuts & Sandwiches) Coffee • Tea • Cold Drinks 96 S. Van Buren St. • 812-200-1311

oldebartleyhouse.com

at Valley Branch Retreat

ZIP LINE TOURS • PAINTBALL ® ARROW TAG ARCHERY GAMES MOUNTAIN BIKE / HIKING TRAILS CAMPING • VINTAGE CAMPERS • CABINS WEDDINGS • EVENT HALL • OUTDOOR STAGE CORPORATE RETREATS & TEAM BUILDING

812.988.7750

info@eXploreBrownCounty.com 2620 Valley Branch Rd • Nashville, IN 47448 GPS 39.1638298 / -86.1485959

eXploreBrownCounty.com

135 Martinsville

Nineveh Edinburgh Morgantown 31 37 135 I-65 46 Bloomington Columbus 46 NASHVILLE Brownie’s Bean Blossom Family Restaruant Monroe Music Park & Campground

HELMSBURG

BEAN BLOSSOM

Helmsburg General Store Lightspinner Studio

to MORGANTOWN

135

Country Club Rd

NASHVILLE

Hard Truth Distilling Co.

d

Old S Snyder Rd. R 46

Recreation

Days of Old Antique Shoppe ls a t Range 46 to COLUMBUS en e que Wine Co on R . Tir i cati Winery n Co Co. Ant a E w V N o . n O o Br rown w C B o Br wn W B s O’ Bro Away A Day GNA Hill 19th Hole Mt RV Campground Heartland Sports Bar . Li ber Tattoo Friends O’ Mine ty R Salt Creek d Campground Golf Retreat

Kelp G rove R d.

l Mal

Rd.

eXplore Brown County

ran ch

Abe Martin Lodge

yB

Mike’s Music and Dance Barn

T.C. Steele State Historic Site

135

Val le

PIKES PEAK

STORY ELKINSVILLE

CHRISTIANSBURG

k Rd ton Cr

Christi

ansbu rg

ove r Gr

Rd

la Pop

STONE HEAD

Hamil

to BLO O

MI

NG

TON

46

Brown County State Park

Monroe Reservoir

Craftsman

Annie Smith Rd. kR

Rd.

lley Rd.

Yellowwood Rd

Musical Entertainment Artist and/or Gallery

Brick Lodge

Green Va

46

Lodging/ Camping

Mike Nickels Log Homes

Amanda W. Mathis

BELMONT

Hoover Rd

Sal tC ree

Rd.

Oak Grove

Yellowwood State Forest

GATESVILLE

Rd sburg

Ow l Cr eek

Doodles by Kara Barnard

Flower and Herb Barn Farmhouse Café

Dining

Helm

Dr. Lisa Baker, DDS Fireplace Center

Cordry Lake

Sprunica Rd.

Plum Creek Antiques

BLOOMINGTON

Sweetwater Lake

Vaught Rd.

Clay Lick Rd

45 MINGT ON

Trafalgar

to BLO O

South Shore Dr.

Franklin

252

NASHVILLE MAP ON PAGE 6

Lake Lemon

MORGANTOWN

Antiques Co-op Art Beyond Crayons Grandpa Jeff’s Trail Rides The Tasty Plate Cafe

Upper Bean Blossom

Brown N County

Indianapolis

JEFFERSON STREET

HONEYSUCKLE LANE

OLD HICKORY LANE

Hoosier Artist Gallery

Brown Co. Art Guild

Moonshine Leather

ST SR 135 N

Miller’s Ice Cream The Candy Dish The Harvest Preserve Second Story Studio

The Wild Olive

Brown Co. Winery

Head Over Heels

Wishful Thinking

Heritage Mall Heritage Candy Store

Holly Pots Stoneware

MAIN STREET

Grasshopper Flats Spears Gallery Jewelers

The Nashville House

Log JJail L il

Woodlands Gallery

Too Cute Boutique & Hidden Getaway Naughty Dog Rivers Books & Roads

Abe’s Corner

Weed Patch Music Company

Redbud Ter.

Health For U

County Offices

RE/MAX Team

IHA

Brown Co Art Gallery

Masonic Lodge

Old to SR 4 DisHard 6 Gold &Old till Tru ing th Co to to 4 .

Bro -H wn Fai Co rgro Re cyc unds le C en ter Touch of Silver

LOCUST LANE

Village Green

Courthouse

Copperhead Creek Gem Mine

Iris Garden Cottages & Suites

Pioneer Village Museum

GOULD STREET Iris Garden

Brown Co Public Library

Brown Co. History Center

MOUND STREET

Complex Brown Co. Rock & Fossil Shop

Nourish Cafe

Brown Co Community Foundation

ROBERT “BUCK” STOGSDILL WAY

TO HELMSBURG - 6 MILES

Brozinni Pizzeria

Big Woods Pizza

MOLLY’S LANE Big Woods Village

Common Grounds Coffee Bar Too Cute Boutique

Colonial Bldg.

Men’s Toy Shop

J.B. Goods/ Life is Good

North House

TO BEAN BLOSSOM & MORGANTOWN

Doc Tilton House

Michael’s Flowers

Zieg LeDoux & Associates

Fairway Mortgage Corp.

Hotel Nashville

ARTIST DR

OLD SCHOOL WAY

VAN BUREN

The Salvation Army

Precise Books & Payroll

Brown Co Massage

Olde Bartley House Coffee & Donuts

The Totem Post

Brown Co Playhouse

New Leaf Amy Greely

JEFFERSON STREET VAN BUREN ST SR 135 N

SR 46 TO BLOOMINGTON - 16 MILES

Thrift Shop Community Closet

PAT REILLY DR

Nashville BP

Calvin Place

Life is Good JB Goods The Toy Chest

PITTMAN HOUSE LANE

Franklin Square

HONEYSUCKLE LANE

FRANKLIN STREET

The Ferguson House Bistro & Bar

Brown Co Pottery

Clay Purl

Antique Alley

Brown Co Model Trains Old McDurbin Gold & Gifts Rustic Charm Permanent Jewelry

Country Heritage Winery

Nashville Spice Co.

Bone Appetit Bakery

Brown County Inn

Brown Co Community YMCA

Bear Hardware

Brown County IGA

Brown Co Health & Living

Brown Co Sugar Shack

Rafters

Brown Co Music Center

IU Health Nashville

Seasons Hotel & Event Center

Salt Creek Park

Casa Del Sol

Nashville General Store & Bakery

Craftsman

Doodles by Kara Barnard

Lodging

Theatre

Artist and/or Gallery Rest Room Dining

Musical Entertainment Parking

COUNTY MAP ON PAGE 5

map not to scale

N

Nashville Indiana

Coachlight Square

WASHINGTON STREET

Brown Co Craft Gallery

Cornerstone Inn

SR 46 TO COLUMBUS - 16 MILES

Visitors Center

Moondance Vacation Homes

Nashville Fudge Kitchen

Possum Trot Square

Lakehouse Candle Co.

Back to Back

Kith & Lolli’s House Kindred House of Jerky

Artists Colony Shops

Artists Colony Inn

Nashville Express

Out of the Ordinary and Hickory Bar

OLD SCHOOL WAY

Village Green Building celebrating over 100 years in nashville The Nashville

you came to see and love...

Where you can see the work by local artisans — whether it’s ice cream, candy, and fruit preserves made the old-fashioned way, or the artwork of area artists and craftsmen.

• first floor •

Homemade Ice Cream Homemade Candies Homemade Fruit Preserves • second floor •

Second Story Studio Gallery Shop and Studio Space

Homemade Ice Cream Yes, we really do make it ourselves!

812.988.0815

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

812.988.7606

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

812.988.7606

www.ssstudio.art

61 west main street • nashville, indiana 8 Our Brown County • May/June 2025

Contents 13 COLORING CONTEST 15 HISTORY MYSTERY SUBSCRIBE 16 Lawrence Glass Blowers ~by Chrissy Alspaugh 22 Scott Crossley, park manager ~by Brian Blair 28 Library of Things ~by Bob Gustin 34 Goodness Snakes ~by Mark Blackwell 38-39 Photos by DeMaris Glazier* 40-42 CALENDAR/EVENTS 44 Monroe Park Spring Festivals ~by Jeff Tryon 50 Spring Blossom Parade ~by Amy Huffman Oliver 58 Lessons from Fungi ~by Jim Eagleman 62 IHA Show & Sale ~by Julia Pearson 68-70 INFO PAGES

Cover: John and Jim Lawrence

~by Chrissy Alspaugh

OUR BROWN COUNTY

P.O. Box 157 Helmsburg, IN 47435 (812) 988-8807

Contributors Jeff Tryon is a former news editor of The Brown County Democrat, and a former regional reporter for The Republic. 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.

Mark Blackwell no longer makes his home in Brown County where “the roadway is rough and the slopes are seamed with ravines.”

He now resides within sight of the sixth green of an undisclosed golf course. He was born in the middle of the last century and still spends considerable time there.

Amy Huffman Oliver has lived Joe Lee is an illustrator and writer. in and around Brown County He is the author of Forgiveness: most of her life and raised two The Eva Kor Story, The History of kids here with her husband, Jim. Clowns for Beginners, and Dante She grew up with “newspaper in for Beginners. He is an editorial her blood” by way of her parents, cartoonist for the Bloomington Jane and Stu Huffman, who were Herald-Times, a graduate of both journalists. She writes as a Ringling Brothers, Barnum freelancer after working most of her career as an & Bailey Clown College, and a veteran circus attorney and a seventh-grade teacher. performer.

Jim Eagleman is a 40-year veteran naturalist with the IN DNR. In retirement, he is now a consultant. His program “Nature Ramblings” can be heard on WFHB radio, the Brown County Hour. He serves on the Sycamore Land Trust board. He enjoys reading, hiking, music, and birding.

Bob Gustin worked as a reporter, photographer, managing editor, and editor for daily newspapers in Colorado, Nebraska, and Indiana before retiring in 2011. He and his wife, Chris, operate Homestead Weaving Studio. He enjoys expanding his book and record collections.

Chrissy Alspaugh is a freelance writer and photographer. View her work at <ChristinaAlspaughPhotography. com>.She lives in Bartholomew County with her husband Matt and three boys.

Julia Pearson loves learning and writing about local history, faith communities, and the radically ordinary lives of people. She continues the work and association of her late husband, Bruce L. Pearson, with the Wyandotte and Delaware tribes, and visits museums of all types and sizes.

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.

Sara Clifford spent the first 20 years of her career as a print journalist and as editor of The Brown County Democrat from 2009 to 2021. She is now managing editor of an earth science research journal. She lives in Brown County with her husband and three sons.

Brian Blair is a former longtime features writer for The Republic in Columbus.

His work has appeared in publications ranging from the Miami Herald to U.S. News and World Report.

*DeMaris Glazier is a stained glass artist with a home studio in Nashville. She specializes in custom windows and offers classes by appointment.

ourbrown@bluemarble.net ourbrowncounty.com Also at issuu.com/ourbrowncounty Facebook at OUR BROWN COUNTY

Thanks, Mom, for making it happen! copyright 2025 May/June 2025 • Our Brown County 9

10 Our Brown County • May/June 2025

ADVERTISER

ANTIQUES Antiques Co-op................................. 52 Brown Co Antique Mall.................... 21 Days of Old Antique Shoppe.......... 27 Michael’s Flowers.............................. 20 Plum Creek Antiques....................... 68 ART, ART SUPPLIES-INSTRUCTION Antiques Co-op................................. 52 Art Beyond Crayons......................... 52 Bear Hardware.................................. 37 Brown Co Antique Mall.................... 21 Brown Co Art Gallery....................... 20 Brown Co Art Guild........................... 20 Brown Co Craft Gallery.................... 21 eXplore Brown Co............................... 4 Hoosier Artist Gallery...................... 19 Kith & Kindred Gifts......................... 27 Lightspinner Studio Martha Sechler................................ 18 Rivers & Roads................................... 18 Second Story Studio.......................... 8 Spears Gallery................................... 32 C. Steele Art....................................... 70 James Tracy........................................ 21 BOOKS Naughty Dog Books......................... 48 CLOTHING Abe’s Corner - Too Cute Boutique.. 36 Community Closet Thrift Shop....... 64 Head Over Heels............................... 57 J.B. Goods/ Life is Good................... 26 Lolli’s House....................................... 64 Men’s Toy Shop.................................. 46 CRAFTS, POTTERY, GIFTS Antiques Co-op................................. 52 Bone Appetit Bakery........................ 61 Brown Co Antique Mall.................... 21 Brown Co Art Guild........................... 20 Brown Co Craft Gallery.................... 21 Brown Co Model Trains.................... 59

Abe Martin Lodge............................. 66 Artists Colony Inn............................. 33 Bonafide Bites Chef/Catering......... 68 Brown Co IGA.................................... 66 Brown Co Inn..................................... 12 Brown Co Sugar Shack..................... 25 Brown Co Winery.............................. 25 Brownie’s Bean Blossom Rest......... 65 Brozinni Pizzeria............................... 37 The Candy Dish................................... 8 Casa Del Sol....................................... 56 Cedar Creek Winery.......................... 61 Common Grounds Coffee Bar........ 59 Country Heritage Winery................ 53 Farmhouse Cafe................................ 47 The Ferguson House Bistro & Bar.. 32 Hard Truth Distilling Co................... 30 The Harvest Preserve......................... 8 Helmsburg General Store............... 65 Heritage Candy Store....................... 49 Hotel Nashville.................................. 67 House of Jerky................................... 65 Miller’s Ice Cream House................... 8 Nashville BP....................................... 47 Nashville General Store & Bakery.. 61 The Nashville House......................... 32 Nashville Fudge Kitchen.................. 72 Nashville Spice Co............................. 71 Nourish Cafe...................................... 64 The Olde Bartley House Coffee & Donuts.................................. 3 Out of the Ordinary & Hickory Bar.36 Rafters................................................. 53 Range 46 Wine Co............................. 49 Seasons Hotel & Event Center........ 31 The Tasty Plate Cafe......................... 52 The Wild Olive..................................... 2 FURNITURE Antiques Co-op................................. 52 Brown Co Antique Mall.................... 21

Brown Co Rock & Fossil Shop......... 24 Clay Purl............................................. 27 Days of Old Antique Shoppe.......... 27 Doc Tilton House............................... 18 Head Over Heels............................... 57 Holly Pots Stoneware....................... 59 Hoosier Artist Gallery...................... 19 Kith & Kindred Gifts......................... 27 Lakehouse Candle Co...................... 48 Lightspinner Studio Martha Sechler................................ 18 Lolli’s House....................................... 64 Men’s Toy Shop.................................. 46 Michael’s Flowers.............................. 20 Moonshine Leather.......................... 20 Nashville Spice Co............................. 71 New Leaf............................................. 21 Rivers & Roads................................... 18 Second Story Studio.......................... 8 Spears Gallery................................... 32 C. Steele Art....................................... 70 The Totem Post.................................. 59 The Toy Chest.................................... 56 Wishful Thinking............................... 65 Woodlands Gallery........................... 64 ENTERTAINMENT/MUSIC Brown Co Inn..................................... 12 Brown Co Music Center................... 43 Brown Co Playhouse........................ 43 Copperhead Creek Gem Mine........ 24 Country Heritage Winery................ 53 The Ferguson House Bistro & Bar.. 32 Hard Truth Distilling Co................... 30 Bill Monroe Music Park & Campground............................31, 61 Nashville Express Tours................... 65 The Nashville House......................... 32 Our Brown County 30 Year Party... 35 FOOD & BEVERAGE 19th Hole Sports Bar........................ 67

DIRECTORY Days of Old Antique Shoppe.......... 27 Plum Creek Antiques....................... 68 HATS Head Over Heels............................... 57 Moonshine Leather.......................... 20 JEWELRY Brown Co Antique Mall.................... 21 Brown Co Craft Gallery.................... 21 Grasshopper Flats Jewelers............ 27 Hoosier Artist Gallery...................... 19 Kith & Kindred Gifts......................... 27 New Leaf............................................. 21 Old McDurbin Gold & Gifts............. 61 Rustic Charm Permanent Jewelry. 26 Spears Gallery................................... 32 The Totem Post.................................. 59 Touch of Silver Gold & Old.............. 25 LODGING/CAMPGROUNDS Abe Martin Lodge............................. 66 Abe’s Corner - Hidden Getaway..... 36 Artists Colony Inn............................. 33 Away A Day RV Campground......... 47 Boulders Lodge Vacation Home.... 18 Brick Lodge........................................ 67 Brooks Run Cabin............................. 37 Brown Co Health & Living............... 69 Brown Co Inn..................................... 12 Cornerstone Inn................................ 60 eXplore Brown Co............................... 4 Friends O’ Mine Campground........ 25 Hills O’ Brown Vacation Rentals..... 36 Hotel Nashville.................................. 67 Iris Garden Lodging......................... 26 Moondance Vacation Homes......... 32 North House...................................... 67 Salt Creek Golf Retreat Lodging.... 33 Seasons Hotel & Event Center........ 31 MUSEUMS Brown Co History Center................. 56 Doc Tilton House............................... 18

May/June 2025 • Our Brown County 11

PET PRODUCTS Bone Appetit Bakery........................ 61 Bear Hardware.................................. 37 PHOTOS Brown Co Craft Gallery.................... 21 Hoosier Artist Gallery...................... 19 Spears Gallery................................... 32 REAL ESTATE Bear Real Estate - Scroggins Team.49 RE/MAX Team.................................... 70 Sycamore Real Estate Group Alexandra Fettig............................... 70 RECREATION eXplore Brown Co............................... 4 Grandpa Jeff’s Trail Rides................ 52 Salt Creek Golf Retreat.................... 46 SERVICES Amish Roofers................................... 57 Dr. Lisa Baker, DDS........................... 37 Bear Hardware’s Bagged Trash....... 68 Blitz Builders...................................... 47 Bonafide Bites Chef/Catering......... 68 Brown Co Convention & Visitors Bureau.................................. 14 Brown Co Health & Living............... 69 Brown Co K9................................26, 68 Brown Co Massage........................... 36 Brown Co Tire & Auto....................... 68 Brown Co Community YMCA.......... 70 CES Clarke Electrical Services......... 68 Heartland Tattoo............................... 69 IN Seamless Guttering..................... 69 IU Health Nashville........................... 60 McGinley Insurance.......................... 69 Michael’s Flowers.............................. 20 Mike Nickels Log Homes................. 56 Nashville BP....................................... 47 Nashville Express Tours................... 65 Precise Books & Payroll.................... 68 Rainwater Studios............................ 70

Rambling Dog Design - SIGNS....... 70 Randy’s Guttering/Home Improv.. 69 Weed Patch Music Company.......... 21 Zieg LeDoux & Assoc........................ 68 SHOES Head Over Heels............................... 57 Moonshine Leather.......................... 20 The Totem Post.................................. 59 SPECIALTY SHOPS Bone Appetit Bakery........................ 61 Brown Co Model Trains.................... 59 Clay Purl............................................. 27 Fireplace Center................................ 65 Head Over Heels............................... 57 Health For U....................................... 69 House of Jerky................................... 65 Lakehouse Candle Co...................... 48 Men’s Toy Shop.................................. 46 Michael’s Flowers.............................. 20 Moonshine Leather.......................... 20 Nashville Spice Co............................. 71 Rustic Charm Permanent Jewelry. 26 The Toy Chest.................................... 56 Weed Patch Music Company.......... 21 The Wild Olive..................................... 2 Wishful Thinking............................... 65 WEDDINGS Abe Martin Lodge............................. 66 eXplore Brown Co............................... 4 Brown Co Inn..................................... 12 Hotel Nashville.................................. 67 OTHER Amish Roofers................................... 57 Bear Hardware.................................. 37 Blitz Builders...................................... 47 Flower and Herb Barn...................... 69 Health For U....................................... 69 Mike Nickels Log Homes................. 56 WFHB Radio....................................... 70 WFIU Radio........................................ 70

brown County Inn HOTEL, RESTAURANT & BAR

On the corner of 135 & 46 just 3 blocks of downtown with free parking

Serving Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner 7 days a week

8am to 9pm Sunday to Thursday

8am to 10pm Friday & Saturday

www.browncountyinn.com

12 Our Brown County • May/June 2025

(812) 988-2291

Coloring Contest WIN $30

Publisher’s choice. Send to this address by June 20.

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

May/June 2025 • Our Brown County 13

Angela Ja ckson Ph otograph y

There’s no better place for you and your friends to get away.

@barne ttbab

ys123s

Organizing a family reunion, corporate retreat, or bachelorette party?

Planning a birthday party, family trip, or best friends’ getaway?

Brown County’s spectacular scenery, unique event venues, and endless things to do make it the ideal destination for groups of any size! @alex x _ bondd

Chris Harnish Photography

@kate_ nolan23 Lance M

iller Pho tography

Let’s be friends @ILoveBrownCounty @ILoveBrownCounty @ILuvBrownCounty Brown County Visitors Center. 211 South Van Buren Street. Downtown Nashville.

14 Our Brown County • May/June 2025

Brown County Visitors Center 211 South Van Buren Street Downtown Nashville

WIN $30 History Mystery

812-988-8807 FIRST to leave a message with the answer along with your name and phone number WINS!

You can have Our Brown County mailed to your postal address. A year’s subscription (six issues) is just $20, which covers postage, supplies, and processing time. You can subscribe by sending in the form below or visit our website ourbrowncounty.com –select the SUBSCRIBE option and follow the payment instructions.

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This woman ran a Nashville shop for many years, displaying a crowded accumulation of all kinds of stuff, including a scary skeleton. She delighted in pushing the limits of propriety. She would overhear tourists commenting on some odd item in her collection, shout out some insulting comment, and then wait with a straight face to see their stunned reaction. What historic building housed her antique/ junk store? And for a bonus, what was the name of this woman (also known as the “old stuff lady”)?

The answer to last issue’s mystery was The 10 o’clock Line.

Mail with check or money order to:

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

Makes a great gift.

May/June 2025 • Our Brown County 15

Lawrence family glass blowers

John and Jim Lawrence, owners of Lawrence Family Glass Blowers.

~story and photos by Chrissy Alspaugh

T

he soft hum of flame meeting glass echoes through two cozy Nashville studios/shops, Quintessence Gallery on the main drag of South Van Buren Street, and Lawrence Family Glass Blowers around the corner on East Franklin Street. For nearly 60 years, magic has come to life one breath, one flame, one delicate curve at a time. Identical twin brothers Jim and John Lawrence mesmerize visitors with glass blowing artistry—sculpting molten glass into exquisite flowers, intricate figurines, whimsical creatures, and even exact replicas of human arteries.

Passers-by don’t just watch glass objects take shape. They become part of a theatrical experience infused with storytelling, banter, and more than a few laughs.

16 Our Brown County • May/June 2025

The brothers’ secret always has been part chemistry and part showbiz. But to understand the fascination with the Lawrence Family Glass Blowers, you’d have to pull up a chair and spend a while listening to the stories about their father’s fascination with glass during his tenure as a Ball State University physical chemist, as well as the ruckus tales of the boys first cutting their teeth traveling with their dad as glass artists in the circus.

Traveling and working alongside their father, Dick Lawrence, the brothers learned early on that the art was only part of the equation. In the carnival world, you didn’t just sell a piece—you sold the experience. They learned to perform, and charisma was as important as craft. Audiences invariably lined

“It’s tough getting someone to commit to a five-year trades apprenticeship today.

Now, imagine telling them they won’t even be good at something for 25 years..”

—John Lawrence up to purchase the piece they’d just watched come to life, and the savvy young entrepreneurs made sure to keep boxes of nearly-identical pieces ready-for-sale behind the counter.

Through it all, Dick immersed the boys in a deep understanding of the chemistry making their art possible.

After high school, the looming Vietnam War prompted the brothers to enroll in college. John planned to make use of his glass blowing dexterity and eye-hand coordination to become a surgeon. Jim began studying to become an architect. But college money dwindled as glass sales soared. John and Jim headed straight to Nashville, convinced a local banker to take a chance granting them an $8,000 loan, and rented a shop. They slept on the floor because $100 monthly apartment rent was out-of-reach.

Living at work in a town lacking entertainment past 6 p.m. prompted the twins to routinely work 16-hour

Jim Lawrence creating a nature piece.

days honing their craft. That was the kind of commitment it took to learn at a trade that many in the industry say takes 25 years to be considered a master glass blower. Not surprisingly, that length of apprenticeship is making glass blowing a dying art, John said.

“It’s tough getting someone to commit to a five-year trades apprenticeship today,” John said. “Now, imagine telling them they won’t even be good at something for 25 years.”

The fascination of an uncommon art lures visitors into the brothers’ two Nashville studios, where the sight of molten glass spinning inside a flame is instantly mesmerizing. Their design repertoire includes more than 800 glass items they create regularly, and the brothers welcome the challenge of custom requests: figurines playing an uncommon sport, replicas of WWII pilots’ particular aircraft, or even the opossum a Brown County tourist once encountered on a getaway. “I thought that opossum would be a one-time thing, but we’ve sold more than 300 of those little buggers,” John laughed.

Still performers at heart, the brothers handily craft breathtaking art seemingly effortlessly, while teasing crowds with banter that their twin is “the ugly one,” who is only “kept around for spare parts.” Jim said the business has brought an unimaginable amount of fun over the past 58 years. He laughed, remembering a story from years ago, when one of John’s customers was dismayed to learn he was not in the store that day. Without missing a beat, Jim changed into one of his brother’s shirts in the back room and reemerged in character as John. And, of course, he made the sale.

Their customers know that beneath the wit and laughter is a reputation of quality, honesty, and the belief that people will always recognize and appreciate something made with care. “Our whole business is built on three things,” Jim said.

“Make the highest quality product you can. Sell it at the fairest price you can. And service it like it’s going to outlast you. Do those three things, and you’ll never stop working.”

Though the brothers have formed relationships with thousands of customers Continued on 18

May/June 2025 • Our Brown County 17

GLASS BLOWERS continued from 17

The Historic

Doc Tilton House

Lightspinner Studio Martha Sechler Unique Watercolors Mixed Media Gourd Art

4460 Helmsburg Rd. Nashville, IN • 812-703-3129 Open June thru December — Call Ahead

Ideal for families, reunions, large groups, and celebrations 317.850.0907 • BouldersLodge.com

18 Our Brown County • May/June 2025

throughout their careers, very few know about the scientific side of their business.

Glass blowing plays a crucial role in medical training and research, with many scientific companies and universities employing specialized glass artists who create detailed anatomical models used for educational purposes and surgical planning. Jim said because of their father’s connections to the world of chemistry, the Lawrence Family Glass Blowers have been involved with scientific projects including anatomical models and custom lab equipment since the early years of the business. The brothers have created intricate pieces for pharmaceutical and research institutions, including exact replicas of the human cranial and carotid arteries for nearby Cook Medical.

Jim said while robots and other forms of artificial intelligence are overtaking many industries around the world, glass blowing isn’t one of them. Glass art and scientific creations demand the creativity and precision that cannot be outsourced to machines, he said. The decline of skilled glass blowers isn’t poised to just leave a hole in the art world—it’s a looming crisis for science and medicine, John said.

The brothers still love what they do, though the business pace has slowed slightly. Their father died in 2020, and John said family health issues are prompting him to cut back to working “only fulltime” this year.

As automation and cheap imports continue to shrink the American craft industry, Jim and John remain hopeful that their story—and others like it— will spark something that one day might draw future generations back toward hand-crafted arts. “Things come and go,” Jim said. “At some point, people are going to get tired of buying the same IKEA furniture and start saying, ‘I want something real.’”

Until then, the Lawrence brothers will keep showing up, torches in hand, joyfully sharing their craft and stories with everyone who walks through the door.

“We’re the last of an era,” John says, “but maybe not the last forever.”

Because when you watch fire transform sand into something delicate, lasting, and soulful—maybe, just maybe, you tell someone else.

For more, 812-988-2600 or lawrencefamilyglassblowers.com. 

n ther Sou d e lent cor. y ta ing de b s n ft e gi stun 10-5 niqu fts and -DEC u R P d A i t an ul g 1-4 & d ar oughtf AR 1 e M ft AN dcra to th 8 / J han ewelry -688 f 8 o 8 j 9 n tive ctio / 812 sele distinc 74 4 8 l 4 u m N f ti E, I t.co eau sts, from VILL rtis H b A S r a A sie / N ore arti EET Hoo Expl diana ST R N n O I FERS 45 S

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May/June 2025 • Our Brown County 19

Brown County Art Gallery Flowers

June 7 – July 12, 2025

IHA 47th Annual Exhibition & Sale

MOONSHINE LEATHER C

O

M

P

A

N

Y

June 14 • 10AM–5PM

Painting Selma’s Garden 5:30-8:00 Reception with special program. $45 pp BrownCountyArtGallery.org

Handcrafted Leather Goods · Made in the USA

CORNER OF MAIN STREET & ARTIST DRIVE NASHVILLE, IN • 812-988-4609 OPEN DAILY • FREE ADMISSION • FREE PARKING

812.988.1326 · moonshineleather.com

© 2025 Brown County Art Guild, Inc.

38 SOUTH VAN BUREN · NASHVILLE, IN

The Guild.

Fine Art by Fine Artists.

Fd

Artist View

Special Exhibition&Sale MARCH 7 – JULY 13, 2025

GALLERY AND MUSEUM 48 S. Van Buren Street Nashville, IN 47448 812 988-6185 BrownCountyArtGuild.org DETAIL OF PLEIN AIR SOLITUDE BY DONNA SHORTT

20 Our Brown County • May/June 2025

Brown County Antique Mall Antique Store since 1972

Over 10,000 square feet in three buildings

Filled with antiques, jewelry, pottery, china, glass, furniture, artifacts, primitives, books, collectibles, and home decor.

More than 76 dealers • We buy and sell

3288 State Road 46 East 3 miles east of Nashville, IN • 13 miles west of I-65 Open 7 Days a week till 5:30 • 812-988-1025

Weed Patch Music Company Your favorite lil’ music store in Brown County, Indiana

NEW LEAF

812-200-3300 www.weedpatchmusicshop.com

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

58 E. Main St. Nashville (by courthouse)

Musical instruments for all ages and skill levels

Offering affordable instruments to inspire the beginner and locally handcrafted beauties to awe the professional

Lessons, workshops, and more...

Featuring handcrafted jewelry by owner Amy Greely

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

May/June 2025 • Our Brown County 21

Scott crossley clearing the way to the great outdoors

Scott Crossley, Brown County State Park property manager. photo by Brian Blair

I

~by Brian Blair

nside Scott Crossley’s office at Brown County State Park surfaces a figurative snapshot of his often dual roles in his first 14 months as property manager: his computer screen amid his wideranging administrative duties, and some of the forlornly fallen timber in the grass, just beyond the window behind his desk.

The toppled trees, when Mother Nature hurls them across the roads, require him and his staff and others to pull out chainsaws and clear paths for a park population that easily can top 30,000 on a picturesque fall day.

22 Our Brown County • May/June 2025

One storm alone in the first week of April had strewn some 35 such scenarios by next morning. He mentioned that it helps that he and his family live on the property so he can respond immediately.

Yet, more than anything, the 53-year-old Hoosier native, a 28-year Indiana Department of Natural Resources staffer, said that he sees his broad, overview role as preemptively clearing the way for park visitors to safely and happily unwind outdoors amid streams, lakes, overlooks, wildflowers, trails, campsites and much more.

“Around here, every weekend especially, is like our big game.”

—Scott Crossley

Future project for the Friends: firetower next to the park office. file photo

“Really, this is very much like a national park,” Crossley said.

That is fitting for the nearly centuryold,15,776-acre, hill-laden sprawl, considered one of the largest such natural attractions in the Midwest.

As much as Crossley steered a recent conversation to the work of such advocates as volunteers with the Friends of Brown County State Park or the park’s burgeoning mountain bike supporters (“We can’t sufficiently do our job without so many volunteers and groups”), he realizes that he is the most visible representative of a local treasure with history predating the Depression.

For the upcoming centennial celebration in 2029, his staff of 18 and others will work with the Friends group to restore the park’s iconic fire tower and to make its cabin at the top accessible again.

But he also finds joy in more immediate celebrations.

Come May 3, for instance, Crossley will be doing the wave. Oh, not the sports fan wave.

He will engage in the gleeful, processional wave instead when he serves as grand marshal of the annual Spring Blossom Parade in Nashville.

More than anything, though, he mentioned that the parade represents just another outlet for him to better link with the community, which he considers part of, well, the roots of such a leadership role.

“This is a little like being the mayor of a small town,” he said.

In that role, he occasionally just happens to be sometimes rescuing injured hikers or even quickly smoothing over neighbors’ misunderstanding in the campground.

He did the same while serving as property manager at Mounds State Park in Anderson, his previous post, and where his family often visited during his childhood marked overall by hunting, fishing, you name it.

“I know that he’s probably had to deal with a bit of a learning curve,” said Doug Continued on 24

May/June 2025 • Our Brown County 23

Away from his desk, Crossley’s responsibilities require a physical fitness that he hones off duty on the park’s hiking trails and also on the weights, treadmills, and ellipticals at the Brown County YMCA. He is grateful for a spinal fusion 13 years ago that relieved long-term, scoliosis-born back pain that once left him overweight and woefully out of shape.

“I’m laid back,” Crossley said. “But I don’t sit still all that well.”

He aims to do as much as possible in order for others to be active. As the dad of adult son Dylan, who battles a disability, Crossley loves the fact that an electric mobility chair with rugged, oversized tires sits outside his office for visitors to use for free in the park, including on a level, half-mile trail nestled near the rear of the park office.

Just like with storm-felled trees, Crossley wants nothing in the way. The former girls high school basketball coach still sometimes thinks in sporting lingo.

“Around here,” he said, “every weekend especially, is like our big game.”  Crossley’s park pass collection. photo by Brian Blair

STATE PARK continued from 24 Baird, the former decades-long property manager who now serves as president of the Friends group.

“But I also know that his experience already has meant an awful lot.”

Baird acknowledged that, in his own tenure, maybe among the more significant staff challenges and successes was overseeing the first public deer hunts to healthily balance the property’s wildlife and natural habitat.

“I simply tried to do the best I could do with all the resources I had available,” Baird said.

Crossley’s boss, Carl Lindell, central region manager for Indiana State Parks, views Crossley as appropriately active in the right areas.

“Mountain biking currently presents a big opportunity to us,” Lindell said, adding that Crossley is diligently working to enhance relationships among cyclists nationwide and globally while also improving the park’s nearly 40 miles of such trails. Crossley himself is a mountain biker.

24 Our Brown County • May/June 2025

Nashville, Indiana’s #1 Fun Attraction

COPPERHEAD CREEK

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BROWN COUNTY

ROCK and FOSSIL SHOP

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Touch of Silver, Gold & Old

87 E. Main St. • Nashville, IN 47448 (812) 988-6990 • (800) 988-6994 Hours: 10am – 5pm • 7 days a week touchofsilver@gmail.com

Located in the Salt Creek Plaza 51 E. Chesnut St. Suite F, Nashville, IN browncountysugarshack.toast.site

812-988-8576

MENU

COFFEE - PASTRIES LOCAL MAPLE SYRUP

May/June 2025 • Our Brown County 25

BROWN

COUNTY C

K9

in Nashville, IN

Dog Training & Grooming Daytime, Weeknight, and Weekend Services to fit any busy lifestyle

172 N. Van Buren Street AND

Alice Waltermire AKC Evaluator • Foundational Puppy Work • Basic Obedience • Behavior Modification • Scent Work • Agility • Group Walks around town

812.994.9245 www.browncountyK9.com

AKC Fit Dog Club meets twice weekly

26 Our Brown County • May/June 2025

102 S. Van Buren Street (Calvin Place)

www.JBGoods.com • 812-988-0900

Find us at the Artists Colony Shops

GRASSHOPPER FLATS Jewelers EST. 1970

125 S Van Buren St, Nashville, IN

Best Be est prices p in the area!

Shop a variety of gifts, collectibles & local artwork

Jewelry • Home Decor Clothing • Fragrance • Gifts and more!

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SSterling terli Silver and Gold Jewelry Diam Diamonds • Opals • Gemstones Repai Repairs • Wedding Bands

47 E. Main St. (Old School Way Alley) Behind Brown County Winery Grasshopper Flats Jewelers 812-988-4037 • Closed Tues. & Wed.

come see us in antique alley, next to brown county pottery online: claypurl.com

VENDOR MALL

OVER 14,000 SQ FT • MORE THAN 100 VENDORS

Antiques • Vintage • Collectibles • Jewelry • Trading Cards • Furniture • Much More 92 w franklin st • nashville, in • 812.988.0336 sun & tues 12 - 4, wed - sat 11-5, closed mon

3850 25th St. Columbus • 812-799-0347 Open 7 Days a Week • Just 30 short minutes from Nashville

www.daysofold.store

Days of Old Antique Shoppe

May/June 2025 • Our Brown County 27

library of things ~story and photos by Bob Gustin

P

ublic libraries in America have long been a place where ordinary citizens can share the wealth of a community, borrowing items free of charge, then returning them so others can do the same.

Benjamin Franklin founded the first free lending library in 1790, and since then, the items citizens could borrow have grown from books, documents and periodicals to include vinyl records, videotapes, CDs and DVDs, and finally an array of media accessed electronically, among other things.

That list keeps expanding, and the collection of the Brown County Public Library in Nashville keeps growing with it.

One shelving unit at the library, now titled the “Library of Things,” offers patrons the ability to check out portable tables and chairs, a sewing machine, reduced admission to statewide attractions, glasses which may allow colors to be seen by those with color blindness, weaving looms and supplies, enough ukuleles to put together a little orchestra, and more.

28 Our Brown County • May/June 2025

The local Library of Things has been available since 2021, Library Director Stori Snyder said.

“It’s an expansion of what we’ve always done,” she said, “sharing materials with the community.”

The glasses for color-blind people were among the first items offered by the library. She said the glasses are expensive, ranging into the hundreds of dollars, and don’t work for everyone. But by checking out a pair of them, patrons can try them out and see for themselves before committing to the purchase.

“One man checked out a pair and came back to say he was able to see colors for the first time. It made him cry,” Snyder said.

Two of the newest items in the collection are a lifelike robotic kitten and puppy. These are not children’s toys but are intended to be “companion pets” for older adults with memory problems, including dementia, and can also be checked out by caregivers.

The feline model purrs, blinks its eyes, moves its head, feet and legs, meows, and takes a catnap.

The canine counterpart barks and rolls around, blinks and moves about. Both have brushable soft fur, and the library kits come with rechargeable batteries and a charging unit.

The battery-operated pets are a gift to the library from Thrive Alliance. The Columbus-based organization serves as the state’s Agency on Aging for Bartholomew, Brown, Decatur, Jackson, and Jennings counties.

Library Director Stori Snyder showing a sample of items offered.

Other memory kits in the Library of Things include activities and material to explore art and different parts of the world.

Tables and chairs are library property, are usually kept in storage, and brought out only for special events, but Snyder said libraries are by nature frugal, and it made sense to lend them out to help people get through a one-day event.

“That’s what we do here, we share stuff,” she said. Checkout times vary from one to three weeks.

Family-focused backpacks are available to check out, including a nature-themed one which includes a state park pass,

field guides, binoculars, and a magnifying glass. Another backpack sponsored by the Special Olympics includes items and activities for special needs children.

The library also has “hot spots” available for checkout, which allow users connection to the internet without paying for the service but is not intended as a replacement for Internet hookup.

There is always a hold list for the limited number of hot spots available, and service to individual units are suspended the morning they are due back. These units can be checked out for a one-week period.

A bank of computers is available for public use during regular library hours.

Sidewalk kits can be checked out for use on the sidewalks in the library’s children’s garden, and Legos and other items can be used inside the library.

“Kids get tired of the things they have at home, and toys are expensive,” Snyder said.

“This is a great way for a family to come here and let the kids play with new toys.”

Local tax money is not used for the Library of Things, with 90 percent of the funds for items coming from discretionary funds raised by the Friends of the Library nonprofit group. Other items are purchased with grants or donated to the library, such as the robotic pets.

Friends of the Library recently raised funds to purchase an electric vehicle for the library staff. Money raised, in conjunction with a $15,000 grant from the Brown County Community Foundation, purchased the Toyota vehicle to replace a 2009 Dodge Caravan.

Solar panels and charging stations installed in the library parking lot in 2022 mean the library now has zero fuel costs for its vehicle, and the library’s electricity costs have been eliminated except for a monthly connectivity fee. The library installed an array of 324 solar panels, costing nearly $850,000, without raising taxes or going into debt. The savings are Continued on 31

May/June 2025 • Our Brown County 29

tours & experiences

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30 Our Brown County • May/June 2025

LIBRARY continued from 29 expected to pay for the cost of the panels and their carport-style structures within 10 years.

Funding cuts proposed or enacted on the state and federal levels will have an impact on libraries, Snyder said, and she urged people to stay engaged with decisions made by government officials.

The Brown County Public Library, located at 205 Locust Lane in Nashville, is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Bob Gustin is a member of the Brown County Public Library Board of Directors. 

Hotel & Event Center Across from the Brown County Music Center

2025 events New Restaurant, Bar, Patio

Balcony Rooms

Conference facility–up to 500

billmonroemusicpark.com • 812.988.6422

560 State Road 46 East, Nashville, IN 812-988-2284 • SeasonsLodge.com May/June 2025 • Our Brown County 31

Antique Cabin 1 bedroom | 1 bathroom | Ideal for groups Close proximity to nature | Modern amenities Great romantic hideaway * Log Cabins * Game Rooms * Pet Friendly * Hot Tubs * Private Pools * Lake Fronts

Call, Book Online, or Stop in!

812.988.6554 • 30 Washington St. • Nashville, IN Like and Follow Us! MoondanceVacationHomes.com

EST 1927

Brown County’s Most Historic Restaurant Serving our famous fried biscuits and apple butter, fried chicken and other traditional favorites all made in our own kitchen from scratch.

Come check out our Old Country Store, beautiful new patio, expanded menu and HOHENBERGER BAR 15 South Van Buren Street 812-988-4554 www.nashvillehousebc.com

32 Our Brown County • May/June 2025

May/June 2025 • Our Brown County 33

Musings Goodness snakes

~by Mark Blackwell

L

ate spring has come to Brown County. The rain has abated. The weather is noticeably warmer. The leaves are out, and so are the snakes.

According to the people who keep track of these sorts of things, there are eleven types of snakes in Brown County.

Twelve if you count the guy who sold me a map to his secret hidden mushroom patch.

The snakes that a person might encounter hereabouts include both the harmless and beneficial variety, and a couple that you might want to shy away from. In that way, snakes are kinda like people, because there are more of the harmless to beneficial types than there are the ones that can cause you some serious discomfort or even have you “knock, knock, knockin’ on heaven’s door.”

While a lot of folks are pretty phobic about serpents, I, myself, have never cared to know them well enough to hate ’em. So, I have adopted the attitude of “they were here first.” And, since I am smart enough to acknowledge my ignorance when it comes to the

34 Our Brown County • May/June 2025

importance of their part in the ecosystem, I just try to enjoy our brief encounters when they occur.

This last part is significant in that most snakes are not aggressive. They prefer to keep to themselves, minding their serpentine business and hoping to avoid human interactions.

They like feeding and basking; those are the situations when you’re most likely to come across one. Also, they are generally crepuscular, which means they are more active in the evening after a luxurious afternoon in the sun.

Most of the snakes are fairly dull, both in color and personality, although they do have a serious genius for camouflage. They tend to disappear into their surroundings. In fact, there’s a good chance that while you are enjoying your picnic in the park there is an undetected snake within twenty feet or so just biding their time, waiting for you to leave.

I was surprised by the list of snakes that inhabit Brown County because, out of the eleven listed, there are five that I can’t remember ever having seen; the eastern worm snake, the redbelly (looks more brown than red in the pictures I’ve seen), the rough green snake, the ringneck, and the northern water snake. All of those are non-venomous.

The snakes that I have had encounters with are; the common garter snake and the eastern milk (both harmless), the timber rattlesnake and the ubiquitous copperhead (both of which are dangerous), and the black racer (which, while technically harmless, could give you a heart attack, because, they will actually chase you).

The snakes that a person really needs to keep a sharp eye out for are copperheads. They are just about everywhere in the county and they don’t behave like other snakes. Most snakes will avoid human encounters. They will stay hidden or they will just slither away. Copperheads, though, are very defensive and will attack. Their bite is very rarely fatal but always painful.

And then there is our other venomous reptile, the timber rattlesnake. The main difference, between copperheads and rattlesnakes is that rattlers are fairly docile. They only get aggressive when threatened. And they will let you know that they feel threatened by vigorously shaking their tail, making a relatively loud noise. If that fails to warn off the threat, then they will coil themselves up to strike. When that happens it’s time to back-pedal. While your chances are slim for coming across a copperhead and slimmer yet for a rattlesnake encounter, it is a good idea to leave your sandals and flip-flops back in camp and wear boots when hiking back country trails.

I am not terribly enthusiastic about our little footless friends and do not seek to involve myself with them unduly, but I will confess to having been charmed by the eastern milk snake. I find them very attractive in their own way. Unlike their camouflaged cousins, they are easy to spot, being colorful, with red, black and yellow bands. But, given their similar colors and banding, they are sometimes confused with the venomous coral snake (which, I am happy to report, does not reside in Indiana).

However, coral snakes do reside in Florida, along with a host of other deadly reptiles. While Brown County has two venomous snake species, Florida has twelve that can do you bodily harm. They have five different rattlesnakes, two kinds of coral snakes, and two kinds of copperheads.

I have even heard that they have a snake that will squeeze you to death while it eats you alive.

Where I was going with all that was that it might be safer to vacation in Brown County than in Florida when it comes to dangerous snakes.

Our area is a garden of sylvan delights, and like that fabled garden back in the beginning, we too have our serpents. 

PARTY SUNDAY, MAY 4

2:00 2:00to to5:00 5:00••at atthe theSEASONS SEASONS

THE HAMMER & THE HATCHET FRANK JONES PICKER DAN & BARRY SWEET PEA & BEARCAT HOT TUB STRANGERS ending with open jam May/June 2025 • Our Brown County 35

Brown County

Michael Rebman Certified Therapist

Chair Massage: $25 • Table Massage: $85 EFT Tapping $49 • ION Footpath $49

104 S. Jefferson St. • Nashville, IN 47448 browncomassage.com

812-988-4447

2 Locations at Abe’s Corner

BOUTIQUE

Large Selections of Women’s and Children’s Clothing Handmade Purses Open Daily 9:00–7:00

58 E. Main St. (next to courthouse) and 60 N. Van Buren St. (Colonial bldg.) Nashville, IN

Abe’s HIDDEN GETAWAY Corner Apartment for Daily Rental Inquire inside boutique $90 on the weekdays $100 on the weekends

812-720-7071

Open Daily at 11 a.m.

Open Year-Round for Lunch & Dinner

Fresh made to order starters, salads, sandwiches and house specialties

Brown County’s only “Husband Day Care”

Guinness on tap • Full bar • Specialty drinks • Bloody Mary • Islander • Margarita

Full menu available in Bar • Large TV Out of the Ordinary Restaurant & Hickory Sports Bar

61 South Van Buren St. • Nashville, IN Across the street from the Brown County Playhouse

(812) 200-1999 •

36 Our Brown County • May/June 2025

OutOfTheOrdinaryRestaurant

BROOKS RUN CABIN

AUTHENTIC NEW YORK STYLE PIZZA

­

A family-friendly pizza place PIZZA • SALADS • CALZONES

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

Open 11am–9:00pm • Closed Mondays

Lisa J. Baker, DDS

Dr. Lisa Baker, tooth artist and smile specialist

Amazing While-you-wait Crowns!

• Fishing Tackle • Horse Tack • RV Replacement Parts • Bee Keeping Supplies • Maple Syrup Supplies • Pet & Livestock Food • Antiques YOUR OUTDOOR HEADQUARTERS Tents, Camping Lights, Sleeping Bags, Grills, Fire Starters, Coleman Heaters & Lanterns, Cooking Utensils

WE FILL PROPANE TANKS • WE SELL & DELIVER BULK MULCH & TOPSOIL

Salt Creek Plaza Nashville (812) 988-8888 www.BearHardware.com Mon.–Sat. 7:30am–7:00pm • Sun. 10:00am–4:00pm

Family Cosmetic Preventive Dentistry

Call for an appointment today:

812-332-2000 • www.drlisabaker.net 4217 E. 3rd Street • Bloomington, IN 47401

May/June 2025 • Our Brown County 37

photos by DeMaris Glazier

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

Submit calendar info to ourbrown@bluemarble.net

Brown County Playhouse May 2

SOLD OUT! Return of the King: An Unrivaled Tribute to Elvis May 3 Gutty’s Comedy Night May 9 Terry Luttrell’s REO Classics Band May 10 Indy Annies May 11 Never Not Yours - movie shot in Brown County May 16 Solitary Man: Neil Diamond Tribute May 17 Stairway to Zeppelin June 6, 7, 13, 14 Live Theatre Doublewide Texas June 19 The Nelsons Acoustic June 20 Summer Breeze: A Yacht Rock Experience June 26 Journeyman: Eric Clapton Tribute June 27 Blair Carman as Jerry Lee Lewis June 28 The Ultimate Doors: A Tribute to The Doors Most shows at 7:30 70 S. Van Buren Street • 812-988-6555 www.browncountyplayhouse.org

Brown County Music Center May 8 May 9

Charley Crocket So Good! The Neil Diamond Experience May 15 Little Feat May 23 The String Cheese Incident June 3 Daniel O’Donnell June 11 Buddy Guy June 12 Boney James June 13 Gaither Vocal Band June 14 The Bacon Brothers June15 Gipsy Kings June 19 Josh Turner June 24 CoComelon: Sing-A-Long LIVE June 28 Touch a Truck (10:00 am-1:00) June 28 Greensky Bluegrass 812-988-5323 www.browncountymusiccenter.com

Brown County Inn Open Mic Nights Wed. 6:00-9:00 Hill Folk Music Series Thurs. 7:00-9:00

Fri. & Sat. Live Music 8:00-11:00 May 1 Steve Plessinger & Devin Brown May 2 Troubadours of Divine Bliss May 3 Davey & The Midnights May 7 Open Mic May 8 Breanna Faith May 9 Window Payne Band May 10 The Blankenship Band May 14 Open Mic May 15 Coner Berry Duo May 16 Silver Creek Revival May 17 The 1-4-5s May 21 Open Mic May 22 Tay Bronson May 23 Steve Smith May 24 BengeBreakers May 28 Open Mic May 29 Flick N Rainwater May 30 The Circle City Deacons May 31 Steve Houk Band June 4 Open Mic June 5 Dave Sisson June 6 Eric Hamblen Trio June 7 BA Blues June 11 Open Mic June 12 Eric Lambert & Char June 13 Black Cat & The Bones June 14 Homemade Jam June 18 Open Mic June 19 Scrapper & Skelton June 20 Paul Bertsch Band June 21 Nick Dittmeier & The Sawdusters June 25 Open Mic June 26 Limestone Nomad June 27 The Super Chief Band June 28 Big Dog Blues Band 51 State Road 46 East • 812-988-2291 www.browncountyinn.com

Country Heritage Winery Music Fri. & Sat. 6:00-9:00 May 2 Karaoke / Lip Sync Battles May 3 Gary Applegate & Joe Rock May 9 Steve Fulton May 10 Wallow Hollows May 16 Austin James

40 Our Brown County • May/June 2025

Calendar May 17 JC Clements May 23 Gene Fugate - Songwriter Showcase in the Round May 24 The McGuires May 30 Carolyn Dutton & Steve Houk May 31 Clearwater Band June 6 Karaoke June 7 Steve Coner June 13 Ruben Guthrie June 14 Paul Bertsch Trio June 20 Amanda & Brian Webb June 21 Gary Applegate & Joe Rock June 27 The McGuires June 28 Two For The Show 225 S. Van Buren Street • 812-988-8500 www.countryheritagewinery.com

19th Hole Sports Bar Music Fri. 7:00-10:00 & Sat. 8:00-11:00 May 2 John Ryan Band May 3 Jordan Roberts May 9 Gene Fugate May 10 Homemade Jam May 16 Clearwater Band May 17 Past Tense May 23 Two For The Show May 24 Coyote 5.0 May 30 Brett Denney May 31 Deadeye Drifters June 6 John Ryan Band June 7 Jordan Roberts June 13 Gene Fugate June 14 Sweet Pea & The Pods June 20 Clearwater Band June 21 Past Tense June 27 The Vanguards June 28 Gene Fugate Band 2359 East State Road 46 812-988-4323 www.saltcreekgolf.com

Nashville House Music Fri. & Sat. 5:00-8:00 | Sun. 1:00-4:00 May 2 Dave Sisson May 3 Jaylen Martinez May 4 Taylor Hernly May 9 Aiden Blankenship

May 10 Ryan Ranard May 11 Travers Marks May 16 Gene Fugate May 17 John B Collins May 18 Forest Turner May 23 LeRoy McQueen May 24 Doug Dillman May 25 Ruben Guthrie May 30 Caitlin May May 31 Austin James June 1 Ryan Ranard June 6 Dave Sisson June 7 Jaylen Martinez June 8 Taylor Hernly June 13 Michael Staublin June 14 TBD June 15 Doug Dillman June 20 LeRoy McQueen June 21 HOOMAC June 22 Steve Hickman June 27 Austin James June 28 John Collins June 29 Ruben Guthrie 15 S. Van Buren Street 812-988-4554 www.nashvillehousebc.com

Ferguson House Beer Garden Music Fri. in May 5:00-8:00, June 6:00-9:00 | Sat. 1:00-4:00 AND in May 5:00-8:00, June 6:00-9:00 Sun. 1:00-4:00 May 2 The Hammer & The Hatchet May 3 Gene Fugate 1:00-4:00 Ben Fuson 5:00-8:00 May 4 Travers Marks May 9 Sweet Pea May 10 Doug Dillman 1:00-4:00 Dave Sissons 5:00-8:00 May 11 John B Collins May 16 Steve Hickman May 17 Rich Hardesty 1:00-4:00 Austin James 5:00-8:00 May 18 Taylor Hernly May 23 Aiden Blankenship May 24 Ruben Guthrie 1:00-4:00 LeRoy McQueen 5:00-8:00 May 25 Buck Knawe May 30 Dave Sisson

Story Inn

May 31 Jaylen Martinez 1:00-4:00 TBD 5:00-8:00 June 1 Michael Staublin June 6 TBD June 7 Gene Fugate 1:00-4:00 Sweet Pea 6:00-9:00 June 8 Dave Sisson June 13 Forest Turner June 14 Rich Hardesty 1:00-4:00 Doug Dillman 6:00-9:00 June 15 Travers Marks June 20 Ben Fuson June 21 HOOMAC 1:00-4:00 Steve Hickman 6:00-9:00 June 22 Ruben Guthrie June 27 Ross Benson June 28 Buck Knawe 1:00-4:00 Austin James 6:00-9:00 June 29 Corey Flick Antique Alley 78 Franklin Street 812-988-4042

Fri. Love Shack Karaoke 9:30-12:30 Sat. pianist Ted Seaman 6:00-9:00 Check social media for more info.

6404 State Road 135 • 812-988-2273 www.storyinn.com

Nashville Farmer’s Market Sundays 11:00-2:00, Brown Co. Inn parking lot at State Road 135 & 46 intersection Local produce, meats, eggs, food, arts, plants, music.

Spring Blossom Parade May 3, downtown Nashville Sponsored by Brown Co Lions Club

Free Recycling Event

Hard Truth Distilling Co. May 4 Andy Griggs Concert May 10 On the Rocks Opening Day Michelle Robinson performs Mellencamp Whiskey Co. and American Odd Release May 11 Mother’s Day Brunch May 16 Steve Hickman & Co 6:00-9:00 May 17 Brad Lemmons, Lexi Len & The Strangers, Dakota Curtis & The Dark 6:00-9:00 May 23-26 Memorial Day Weekend Live Music, BBQ & Bourbon May 24 Mid Town Mad Men 6:00-9:00 May 25 King Bee & The Stingers 2:00-5:00 May 30 Rainwater V 6:00-9:00 May 31 Rusty Bladen & Livin’ Daylights w/Kenan Rainwater 6:00-9:00 June 6 Cask & Still Social 6:00-8:30 Check website for additional info. & dates Hard Truth Distilling Co. 418 Old State Road 46 • 812-720-4840 www.hardtruth.com

May 3, Brown Co. Recycling Center 8:00am-Noon Computer & Electronics plus document shredding service Charge for TVs, monitors, & large copiers 176 Old SR 46 812-988-0140

OUR BROWN COUNTY 30 YEARS PARTY May, 4, The Seasons Event Center | 2:00-5:00 Music, Food, Cash Bar 2:00 Frank Jones 2:30 Picker Dan & Barry 3:00 Sweet Pea & Bearcat 3:30 The Hammer & The Hatchet 4:00 Hot Tub Strangers Ending with open jam The Seasons Event Center 560 SR 46 Nashville Continued on 42

May/June 2025 • Our Brown County 41

CALENDAR continued from 41

War in the Woods

Dawg Gone Walk & Fiesta

Wildest No Prep Race in the Country May 30-31, Brown County Dragway 480 Gatesville Rd. in Bean Blossom warinthewoodsnoprep@outlook.com 317- 340-1789 War in the Woods FB

May 18, Deer Run Park, noon-2:30 Brown Co Human Society fundraiser www.bchumane.org

48th Shelby Spring Fling May 16-17, Brown County State Park Car show, vendors, picnic.

Info: 812-483-1818 www.insaac.org

Americana Bean May 23-24, Bill Monroe’s Music Park Jan Bell w/ Marina Stant & Devin Brown Tom Roznowski & Carolyn Dutton Elizabeth Lee Shelby County Sinners Tim Easton Silver Creek Revival Tim Grimm CPR Revival Nick Dittmeier & The Sawdusters 5163 N. SR 135 812-988-6422 https://billmonroemusicpark.com

Indiana Wine Fair May 31, Story Inn, noon to 6:00 Indiana wineries, food trucks, music.

6404 State Road 135 812-988-2273 www.storyinn.com indianawinefair.com

Art in the Garden Brown Co Art Guild Benefit May 31, 5:00-8:00 Bill and Jenny Austin welcome you to their countryside retreat near Nashville for a celebration of art, music, and nature.

Live music, heavy hors d’oeuvres by Nashville House Catering, cash bar, Guild artist demonstrations, paintings, pottery, and art for sale. Rain or shine. $100 per person. 812-988-6185

47th Indiana Heritage Arts Show and Sale June 7-July 12, Brown Co. Art Gallery June 6 Reception 6:00 Main St. & Artist Drive 812-988-4609 https://browncountyartgallery.org

Bill Monroe Bluegrass Fest June 11-14, Bill Monroe’s Music Park 5163 N. SR 135 812-988-6422 https://billmonroemusicpark.com

Cody’s Ride June 21, Bill Monroe’s Music Park 5163 N. SR 135 812-988-6422 https://billmonroemusicpark.com

Touch-A-Truck June 28, Brown Co. Music Center 10:00am-1:00. Rain date June 29 Free event to help children understand vehicles and equipment, and to raise funds for the Weekend Backpack program.

https://browncountyartguild.org

Dawg Gone Walk and Fiesta Brown County Humane Society Fundraiser May 18, 2025

Brown County Humane Society’s annual Dawg Gone Walk and Fiesta takes place Sunday, May 18 from noon to 2:30 p.m. at Deer Run Park in Nashville. This event is a guaranteed great time for you as well as your dogs who will go home tired after a busy afternoon.

The event kicks off with a ceremonial walk around beautiful Deer Run Park.

Dogs are invited to participate in any of the 23 contests, which are free to join. Some contests allow dogs to show off their skills while others just let them enjoy lots of attention by simply being them. Categories include contests like cutest smile, best bark, biggest dog, littlest dog, best dog trick and the everpopular best costume contest. Dogs will also be able to run free and make new friends in the designated off-leash area.

Bobbing for Hot Dogs, Fastest Fetch, Sneaker Sniffer and Doggie Dash are just some of the games dogs can compete in with the winner receiving a medal at the end. New this year are Leap Dog (hurdle jumping) and Smarty Paws (obedience tricks). Each game requires one ticket to participate, $1 per ticket, and tickets will be available for purchase with cash or credit card.

Back by popular demand, wristbands for purchase that allow dogs unlimited game play.

The event will conclude with an exciting ball drop ending. Participants will be able to purchase tennis balls for $5 each. The balls will be dropped from a fire truck into the contest area and a shelter dog will retrieve the winning ball. If your ball is the winner, you will

42 Our Brown County • May/June 2025

receive half of the proceeds from the ball sales, which could be as large as a $625 cash prize.

This is a day of fun for both dogs and their people. You won’t want to miss it.

All funds raised go directly to supporting the homeless dogs and cats at the shelter. Not only do you get a day of fun with your dog, but you are saving a life at the same time.

Visit bchumane.org/dawg-gonewalk-fiesta/ today to learn more and register for this year’s Dawg Gone Walk and Fiesta.

Don’t wait too long to register as only the first 125 dogs registered will receive one of exciting goody bags filled with treats and surprises for humans and dogs alike.

Brown County Music Center May 8 May 9 May 15 May 23 June 3 June 11 June 12 June 13 June 14 June 15 June 19 June 24 June 28 June 28 July 10

Charley Crockett So Good! The Neil Diamond Experience Little Feat The String Cheese Incident Daniel O’Donnell Buddy Guy Boney James Gaither Vocal Band The Bacon Brothers Gipsy Kings Josh Turner CoComelon: Sing-A-Long LIVE Touch a Truck Event (10:00 a.m.-1:00) Greensky Bluegrass Robin Trower

July 11 July 16 July 17 July 18 July 24 July 26 July 28 Aug. 15 Aug. 22 Sept. 11 Sept. 13 Oct. 2 Oct. 24 Nov. 8

Jon Anderson and The Band Geeks Railroad Earth, Yonder Mountain String Band & Daniel Donato's Cosmic Country Gabby Barrett Get The Led Out Foghat Travis Tritt Matthew West Boys in the Band: The Alabama Tribute The Del McCoury Band Leonid & Friends Free Fallin - Tom Petty Concert Experience Celtic Thunder Joe Nichols Lee Greenwood

For additional shows and tickets visit: www.BrownCountyMusicCenter.com ww.BrownCountyMusicCenter.com

UPCOMING LIVE EVENTS! 5/2 • SOLD OUT! Return Of The King: An Unrivaled Tribute to Elvis 5/3 • Gutty’s Comedy Night 5/9 • Terry Luttrell’s REO Classics Band 5/10 • Indy Annies 5/11 • MOVIE SHOT IN BROWN COUNTY Never Not Yours 5/16 • Solitary Man: A Neil Diamond Tribute 5/17 • Stairway to Zeppelin 6/6-7 & 13-14 • LIVE THEATRE Doublewide Texas 6/19 • The Nelsons Acoustic 6/20 • Summer Breeze: A Yacht Rock Experience 6/26 • Journeyman: Eric Clapton Tribute 6/27 • Blair Carman as Jerry Lee Lewis

JUNE 19 | 7:30pm

6/28 • The Ultimate Doors: A Tribute to The Doors

812.988.6555 | BrownCountyPlayhouse.org Showtimes, tickets & schedule online

May/June 2025 • Our Brown County 43

Brown County Jamboree. Photo by Frank M. Hohenberger, courtesy The Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.

bill monroe park spring festivals

T

~by Jeff Tryon

wo festivals are coming up at Bean Blossom’s Bill Monroe Music Park this spring of 2025. The first is the Americana Bean on Memorial Day weekend, followed by the Bill Monroe Bluegrass Festival, beginning Wednesday, June 11, and continuing through Saturday, June 14.

Bean Blossom music has deep roots in the Brown County soil, reaching back even before Bill Monroe, “the father of Bluegrass music,” purchased the property back in the 1950s.

One day in the early 1940s, a man came to town in a panel truck with horn speakers on the roof that projected sound from a record player and microphone located inside. People gathered at the filling station to listen to the music and some of the locals got the idea to put on a free show.

Musicians congregated on the Bean Blossom property of Francis and Mae Rund and organized performances that became known as the Brown County Jamboree. The show was modest but successful, with a single microphone and amplifier.

Performers played popular songs both live and on recordings.

One of the original founders and performers, Guy Smith, had some experience organizing country

44 Our Brown County • May/June 2025

band performances and dances. Another, Denzel Ragsdale, also known as “Spurts” or the “Silver Spur” was a performer and took on the role of soundman and promoter. Ragsdale created a series of “ballyhoo cars” painted with the words “Brown County Jamboree,” that projected sound from inside the car.

For the first couple of years the regular Sunday shows were held in an enormous circus-style tent. Shows were presented on Sundays from April through October. There were afternoon and evening shows, and in the early years (1941–1957) a one-hour portion of the show was often broadcast over various local radio stations.

The Indianapolis Star described the Jamboree as “a co-operative program providing real, homespun talent, rail-fence variety of music and frivolity, old fiddlers and rural crooners, who would sing and warble Brown County ballads brought over the mountains by their pioneer ancestors.”

The artists appearing at the Brown County Jamboree were local, regional, and national in reputation, including well-known names such as Uncle Dave Macon, Curly Fox and Texas Ruby, Roy Acuff, Minnie Pearl, Pee Wee King, and Little Jimmy Dickens.

Bill Monroe Bean Blossom photo collage from a 2004 bluegrass festival program.

In October of 1951, Bill Monroe traveled to Bean Blossom to perform at the Brown County Jamboree.

He fell in love with the area immediately, and in December of 1951 decided to purchase the property.

The large crowds coming to the Jamboree caused traffic and parking problems. More seating was needed, so construction began on a building to house the shows.

Built to seat 2,500, the “barn” was low and dark, with rough benches for seats, and included a radio control room near the stage for the radio broadcasts.

The barn remained the primary site of weekly shows until the late 1980s.

Weekly attendees from the county sustained the Jamboree through the difficult World War II years and beyond. Beginning in the 1960s, bluegrass festivals began to draw national and international fans.

In June 1967, Bill Monroe held his first twoday bluegrass festival, which he called a Bluegrass Celebration, in the old barn. That first festival was so well attended that Bill decided to build an outdoor stage at the bottom of a wooded amphitheater to accommodate a bigger audience. Attendees gathered in the fields, the woods, and at campsites, to pick and sing the music they loved.

The 1968 festival attracted ten thousand people from all over the country. By 1969 the event was billed as “Bill Monroe’s Bluegrass Festival” and the location referred to as the “Brown County Jamboree Park.”

The June event has become the oldest continuous running bluegrass festival in the country.

Despite his death in 1996, the sounds of bluegrass still echo through the hills and trees of Bean Blossom and the spirit of Bill Monroe is all around.

This year’s Americana Bean event includes: Jan Bell with Marina Stant & Devin Brown Tom Roznowski & Carolyn Dutton Elizabeth Lee • Tim Grimm CPR Revival • and more.

The Bill Monroe Bluegrass Festival highlights: Ralph Stanley II & The Clinch Mountain Boys Lonsesome River Band • Special Consensus Po Ramblin Boys • Clay Hess Band and many others.

Lineups are subject to change.

For more details, ticket, and camping reservations contact the Bill Monroe Music Park & Campground at billmonroemusicpark.com or 812.988-6422. 

May/June 2025 • Our Brown County 45

MEN’S TOY SHOP Old Colonial Bldg. 60 N. Van Buren St. Nashville, Indiana

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46 Our Brown County • May/June 2025

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A small, intimate restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating LUNCH Every Day 11 – 3 farmhousecafeandtearoom.com

Like us

May/June 2025 • Our Brown County 47

LAKEHOUSE CANDLE COMPANY 158 S. OLD SCHOOL WAY | NASHVILLE, INDIANA WWW.BROWNCOUNTYCRAFTS.COM

Specializing in new books, classic literature, and bookish gifts for every reader

LOCATED IN THE HISTORIC STATE BANK BUILDING 76 1/2 East Main Street Nashville, Indiana www.naughtydogbooks.com Follow us on Facebook & Instagram

48 Our Brown County • May/June 2025

­

Felicia Cook

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812-583-0055

Betty Mullis

812-320-0765

May/June 2025 • Our Brown County 49

Lions leading the parade back in 2008 included the two fellows on the right: Jim Oliver and Stu Huffman.

spring blossom parade

“I

’ll see you on parade day,” is something I say a lot this time of year.

If you’ve been here a while, you know that “parade day” anchors the spring calendar in Brown County and refers to the annual Spring Blossom Parade that steps off from the high school parking lot at 11:00 a.m. in Nashville on the first Saturday in May. This year, the date is May 3, rain or shine.

It’s my favorite day in Brown County. Neighbors greet neighbors again after our winter slumber in these hills and hollers.

The 2025 parade continues a long legacy of spring celebrations started in 1929 by painter and apple grower, Dale Bessire. The first Apple Blossom Festival lasted a week and crowned

~by Amy Huffman Oliver

Mary “Grandma” Barnes as the first “Spring Blossom Queen.”

Today, it is thanks to the volunteer power of our local Lion’s Club that the parade continues as a free event, both for participants and the audience.

This year’s theme is “Celebrating Brown County State Park.” The blaring sirens of fire engines, a costumed lion, and this year’s grand marshal, park property manager Scott Crossley, will announce the start of the parade.

Bringing up the rear you’ll hear the sputtering engines of antique farm tractors which congregate at the Antique Tractor Show at the 4H fairgrounds held on parade weekend each year.

The very last unit is a battleshipsized American flag donated to the community after the terrorist attacks

50 Our Brown County • May/June 2025

on 9/11 in 2001, first displayed on the side of the Hob Nob restaurant in 2001. The flag’s immense size requires a dozen or more to carry it over their heads.

Volunteering on parade day has been a staple of our family history for three generations starting in 1972 when my mother walked the parade route in a pioneer dress with Psi Iota Xi philanthropic sorority.

My first memory of walking in the parade was around 1981 when I marched with my junior high school band from Columbus.

In 1997, I moved back home to Brown County and brought my husband, Jim, with me. Every four years, when he ran for local office, we walked the parade route with

family and friends. My favorite was the year we decorated a friend’s royal blue VW Beetle with a huge red check on the side to match his yard signs that read “Oliver for Prosecutor.”

Starting in 2000, our sons became part of parade day even before they could walk. We pushed them in strollers as part of the Nashville United Methodist Church “Lawn Mower Almost Precision Drill Team,” a performance that was a big hit with the crowd.

Later, parade day for the boys meant creating the Cub Scout float with Dad or walking with their T-ball team. In high school, our youngest son proudly kept the high school marching band in rhythm with his drumbeat while I ran alongside taking photos.

Cindy Steele’s photos from last year’s parade.

On other parade days we were stationed on the Village Green selling biscuits and gravy at the Boy Scout Auction or assembling pulled pork sandwiches for Mother’s Cupboard.

Parade day brings up happy memories of my dad. Lion Stu relished parade day like no one else. Folks would do a double take seeing him first carrying the Lions Club banner at the start of the parade and again as a flag bearer at the end.

My husband, Lion Jim, continues the family tradition this year, marshalling the floats before the parade steps off.

Join us on May 3 to celebrate. 

May/June 2025 • Our Brown County 51

Visit MORGANTOWN

ANTIQUES CO-OP 129 W. Washington St. • Morgantown, IN 46160 (In the old hardware store building)

Furniture, Art Architectural Elements Pottery The Odd and Unusual and A General Line

Country Primitives Advertising Antique Garden Old Paint Early Smalls

Like us on Facebook

Open 6 Days (Closed Mon.) (812) 597-4530 Layaway Available

Grandpa Jeff’s

TRAIL RIDES TRAIL RIDES, Pony Rides, Hay Rides, & Custom Excursions Relax on a journey with Grandpa Jeff.

Take in the scenery and wildlife.

No two rides will ever be the same —sunny summer days, fall colors, winter snowfalls, spring blossoms.

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

10 miles north of Nashville on scenic State Road 135 Plant-Based Food

For People Who Love to Eat Featuring:

Seasonal International Cuisine Also Catering & Prepped Meals

Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays 11:00-3:00 7 W. Washington • Morgantown, IN • 812-727-8051 52 Our Brown County • May/June 2025

Reservations by phone AT LEAST TWO HOUR NOTICE call or text (812) 272-0702 5889 S. Skinner Rd. Morgantown, IN www.GrandpaJeffsTrailRides.com • info@GrandpaJeffsTrailRides.com

ART Beyond Crayons Creativity beyond the classroom

Pick your Palette:

• Art Lessons for All Ages • Group Painting Parties • Birthday Paint Parties • Home Schooled Instruction

Judy D. Wells • owner, K–12 Licensed Educator • judydenisewells@gmail.com Flexible hours including weekends and evenings Morgantown, IN Moving–Call for details (317) 403-7147

Across from the entrance to the BROWN COUNTY MUSIC CENTER located inside

www.seasonslodge.com w.seasonslodge.c 812-988-2284

Hotel & Event Center

Wine Tastings Daily Award-Winning Wines Live Music Fri. & Sat. 6–9 pm Indoor & Patio Seating

S. Van Buren & Washington, Nashville IN

812.988.8500

countryheritagewinery.com

May/June 2025 • Our Brown County 53

roadside cleanup ~story and photos by Sara Clifford

F

or decades, some Brown County residents and visitors have used tucked-away ravines and winding roads as garbage dumps, and for about 10 years, volunteer groups have been working to clean them up.

On Easter weekend this year, before weather scuttled their plans, about two dozen CordrySweetwater Lakes residents planned to pile into pickups and trailers and roll north along Nineveh Road to the Dollar General, bagging up what others left behind. It’s an annual tradition, welcoming part-time residents back to the Lakes with a trash-free drive in.

Cigarette packs, empty miniature liquor bottles, food packaging and already-bagged trash are what they often find, said organizer Carrie Vavul. Clearly, some has been tossed from car windows; some may have fallen from uncovered garbage trucks. It’s mostly small stuff, Vavul said, with the occasional car part.

Elsewhere in the county, it’s a different story.

Volunteer group Keep Brown County Beautiful, with other volunteers from Cummins Inc. in Columbus, has conducted at least two major cleanups over the past seven years in ravines on Upper Oak Ridge Road and Green Road, where illegal landfills appeared

Cubmaster Derek Clifford and Cub Scouts from Pack 190 clean up Helmsburg Road just north of downtown Nashville.

and accumulated over decades. Brown County’s only legal landfill, on Dunaway Road northeast of Helmsburg, closed in 1994.

“You wouldn’t believe the stuff we picked up,” said KBCB President Cathy Paradise: carpets, hundreds of tires, furniture, multiple appliances, “anything trash-related, we found it.”

It’s not confined to ravines, either. Staff from the Brown County Solid Waste Management District are called several times a year to pick up roadside hazards in the form of couches, mattresses, TVs, and even hot tubs.

Keeping Brown County beautiful is a big job, made bigger when few people are willing or able to do it.

Volunteers from KBCB used to organize a road cleanup each spring in coordination with the national Great American Cleanup, but it didn’t

54 Our Brown County • May/June 2025

Volunteers from Cummins Inc. assist with cleaning up a large, illegal dump site in Brown County

happen this year. The local group, founded in 2016, has dwindled in numbers, and it has a shortage of able-bodied, dependable people to do the work.

The BCSWMD, a separate entity and a part of county government, has similar trouble with its Adopt a Road program. Out of Brown County’s 400 miles of road, only about 25 stretches are spoken for, said Director Phil Stephens. “A lot of the original adoptees are older now and are having to relinquish that responsibility,” he said.

Besides Cummins, which runs a formal community service program for its employees, the most cleanup help lately has come from Scout groups, the Rotary Club, and local veterans, Paradise said.

“We need more members,” said KBCB board member Mark Shields, a “spring chicken” of the group in his late 40s. “Almost all nonprofits are having the same issues, finding people that are interested and available to volunteer.”

Vavul is thankful to have had adequate help for the Lakes-area cleanup every year, with more welcome to join. “We would feed you!” she added. However, as a real estate agent, she’s also aware that her community is continually changing. “I sold the houses of probably four or five people that participate in it, and then our average age is probably over 60, so that may be something that I could foresee becoming an issue,” she said. “But we do have a really good community with people who like to get out and just make it a better community.”

Besides increasing manpower, KBCB believes that changing mindsets is key to making a lasting difference, which also takes time.

Stephens still remembers scenes from governmentsponsored, anti-littering commercials that aired decades ago. “There needs to be more examples set at the upper government levels,” he said.

Shields acknowledges that since the landfill closed, trash disposal, especially for large items, has become more difficult.

Paradise would like to see people start showing a little more care for the good of their own community as well as the food chain, the oceans, and the environment at large. “We’re trying to do something about the trash around, but people need to do something, too. We can’t do it by Continued on 56

May/June 2025 • Our Brown County 55

Brown County

History Center Displays and Exhibits

Pioneer Village Museum

Bringing Brown County’s Past to Life

North of the courthouse • Donations welcome Looking for event space? or more info 812-988-2899

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

CLEANUP continued from 55 ourselves,” she said. “If you pick up the trash in your own yard, there’d be a lot less trash to deal with.”

HOW TO HELP Adopt a county road for cleanup. Call the Brown County Solid Waste Management District at 812-9880140 for more information. The BCSWMD provides trash bags, safety vests, and garbage grabbers, and asks adoptees to clean up four times per year.

Come to a meeting of the Keep Brown County Beautiful board. Members meet at 10 a.m. on second Wednesdays at the Brown County Parks and Recreation Department office at Deer Run Park in Nashville.

If you can’t attend a meeting, call KBCB President Cathy Paradise at 812-327-9617 to learn about other opportunities to support the cause or to offer your group’s volunteer services.

Make a donation toward KBCB’s work. Mail it to the parks department office at 902 Deer Run Lane, Suite B, Nashville, IN 47448.

If you are a Cordry-Sweetwater Lakes resident, look for information about the annual spring cleanup of Nineveh Road on the neighborhood Facebook page or call Carrie Vavul at 317-294-9421.

Dispose of your own trash, electronics, recyclables, and appliances properly—NOT on a roadside or in a ravine.

Go to browncountyrecycles.org or follow the Brown County Recycling Center on Facebook to learn about rules for recyclables and special disposal events. 

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56 Our Brown County • May/June 2025

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May/June 2025 • Our Brown County 57

Field Notes

~by Jim Eagleman

Y

Lessons from fungi

ears ago, I struggled through a class in agriculture economics. Supply and demand I understood, but not trading, global reliance, and stock markets. When a botany professor on a walk explained how fungus grows and told us to imagine it as a market economy, “one that was 400 million years old, and so universal that it operates in almost every ecosystem in the world,” his analogy got me thinking.

He said unlike human economics requiring understanding and reasoning to help make decisions, “traders in this market beg, borrow, steal, and cheat all without thought.”

I wanted to know more about this biology, and it took some study. And funny thing: a lesson in one discipline can help you understand another.

I learned that the intertwining plant roots of all kinds of trees, shrubs, and wildflowers, are colonized by the fungus mycorrhizae. Fungus forms these underground, vast, and complex networks. They are tiny filaments, thinner than a strand of cotton, and are connected to multiple plants simultaneously.

A tiny underground subway system was another comparison I was to visualize, where each plant root is a station, and resources are loaded and unloaded.

A mushroom poking up through the leaf litter, sometimes colorful and exotic-looking, is not the actual plant, but the fruiting body. As nutrients

58 Our Brown County • May/June 2025

are absorbed and the fungus grows, sometimes just within minutes, spores develop that can produce more mushrooms. I thought of spores as specialized seeds—tiny, encapsulated, and wind-swept, capable of withstanding droughts, freezing, and time. They grow when conditions are right.

I read of an archaeologic dig at the pyramids where workers excavated gravel from deep within the tunnels.

The dirt and stones were carried out daily and dumped outside the pyramid, then covered with a tarp. The work continued for weeks, and one day mushrooms grew on the debris pile. Enough heat, wind or moisture, or combinations, had accumulated, causing spores to grow a new mushroom. They were identified as the same mushrooms that grew locally from spores that were estimated to be 4,500 years old.

He said deals made by plants and fungal partners can be similar to those made by stock market traders.

These partners are not exchanging stocks and bonds, they’re exchanging essential resources. For the fungus, that’s sugars and fats. The fungus gets all its carbon from the plant—a lot of carbon from a lot of plants.

How much carbon? It’s estimated that each year, roughly five billion tons of carbon from plants go into this underground network. Roots need phosphorus and nitrogen, and get it from exchanging carbon to gain access to all the nutrients collected by the fungal network. This exchange we were to think of as the actual stock exchange of the trade market.

The botany professor must have assumed we knew something about economics. He said we’d soon understand it better. Then he handed out shovels and told us to meet outside. We walked to a forested area off campus and for the next hour we dug a long, deep hole next to trees. This soil profile— cut flat, with clean sides deep into the hillside— was our first glimpse at the underground world of mycelium.

Long, delicate, white threads, called hyphae, clung to the undersides of rotten bark as shovels dug into dirt. Some threads were destroyed by our digging, but enough remained to see their point of attachment. Thick tree roots intertwined with longer ones, thin ones moved up to the surface where tiny feeder roots and the threads touched the bottom of leaves and twigs. Like the subway network, exchange of nutrients, water, and microbes of an infinite amount took place here. An underground world was revealed, and we picked it apart, finding along with the mycelium, buried nuts, earthworm tunnels and discarded insect shells. The lesson from fungi that day was that a lowly, non-chlorophyllic plant, barely visible and appearing sterile, made an impact.

If we think of nature as a series of separate systems, loosely connected except maybe by the same weather, it’s an injustice. From early on, there’s an important lesson in life we observe, then are taught; things work with other things.

Interdependencies and relationships exist. And it’s a truism in nature, maybe mystifying at first, but tested by science, retested, then analyzed over time. Those who examine further might stumble upon more connections, other associations not yet known.

“The first law of intelligent tinkering is to save all the parts,” said biologist and author, Aldo Leopold. The essential parts, some subtle, some more noticeable, all work together. When a part goes missing, at some point we notice things aren’t working as well. That missing part may be vital.

The task fungus plays, often overlooked and seemingly insignificant, aids in decomposition, recycling nutrients, and plant communications. It certainly ranks right up there in importance with the green world around us and is a vital part in all ecosystems.

Happy mushrooming this spring.  To inquire about this or other articles, contact the author at: jpeagleman@gmail.com

Brown County Model Trains Trains: Electric Electric, Wooden Wooden, and Christmas

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Stoneware pottery handmade in Brown County, Indiana

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COMMON GROUNDS COFFEE BAR It’s like a coffee shop in a living room (with things to amuse you)

Hot, Cold & Frozen Drinks • Selection of Teas Froothies (our fruit smoothies) Famous for Cheesy Eggs & Toast • Pastries • Quiche 66 N. Van Buren, Nashville (Molly’s Lane behind the red door) Opens 8:00 am M-Sat; 9:00 am Sun (Closed Wed) 812-988-6449

May/June 2025 • Our Brown County 59

Rest & Relax

At the Sue Borgelt Medical Center, 100 Maple Leaf Blvd., care is close to home.

Primary and internal medicine care is more convenient than ever at the new Sue Borgelt Medical Center. Family, Cardiology, Orthopedic and Urology services are all available at our 100 Maple Leaf Blvd. location.

Primary care by appointment: Monday – Friday, 7 am – 4 pm, call 812.988.2231 for a Primary care appointment After-hours injury and illness care: We offer a limited number of same-day appointments Monday - Friday, 4 - 6 pm. Please call to check availability!

Orthopedics: Wednesdays, 8 am – 4:30 pm, call 812.333.BONE (2663) for an Orthopedics appointment Cardiology: call 812.676.4144 for a Cardiology appointment Urology: Mondays, 8 am – 4:30 pm, call 812.676.4300 for a Urology appointment

Marin Garcia, MD

Family Medicine

Nina Kuhlman, NP Chelsea Budd, NP Keli Ferguson, PA-C

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For more information, call 812.988.2231 or visit iuhealth.org/nashville

100 Maple Leaf Blvd., Nashville, IN ©2025 IUHealth 1/25

5163 N State Rd 135 Morgantown (Bean Blossom)

38 Franklin St. E. | Nashville, IN | drinkatthecreek.com | Open Every Day

BONE APPETIT BAKERY 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 $15 purchase and this ad.

DOGS WELCOME! (812) 988-0305

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

www.barkingood.com

baked goods • home cooking • candy primitive • holiday decor 118 e. washington st. • nashviLLe, in • (812) 720-3056

Old McDurbin •Customized Anklets • Bracelets Gold & Necklaces Gifts 50% • Watches OFFLRY E JEW

Sterling Silver Rings 1000’s of Pendants

Blue building in Antique Alley S. Jefferson St. • Nashville, IN

Music Park & campground

billmonroemusicpark.com • 812.988.6422 May/June 2025 • Our Brown County 61

exhibition & sale june 7 through july 12, 2025 ~by Julia Pearson

T

he 47th Annual Exhibition and Sale of Indiana Heritage Arts, Inc. will take place June 7 through July 12, 2025 at the Brown County Art Gallery in Nashville. The IHA is a nonprofit first organized by a group of Brown County artists who painted in the tradition of the Brown County Art Colony which flourished in the early 1900s.

Fueled by determination to continue the fine arts tradition of these Impressionists, the first show was two weeks long

and took place in a bowling alley north of Nashville on State Route 135, where the Quaff On! Brewing Company is now located.

The annual exhibition moved to various venues in its early days.

An agreement with the Brown County Art Gallery was eventually reached to provide a home for the annual show and sale, as well as a year-round exhibit space.

And when the gallery expanded in 2015, a gift from George and Peggy Rapp allowed for a permanent exhibition space in the new addition.

62 Our Brown County • May/June 2025

Today, the Indiana Heritage Arts Show is one of the largest juried competitions of fine arts in the Midwest, with prize money of $30,000 and sales of artwork for $90,000.

Selections for the show are judged on-site at the Brown County Art Gallery (not submitted electronically) by an independent judge.

The judge for this year’s show is Lori Putnam, who is known in more than 30 different countries where she has painted, taught, and exhibited.

Artists eligible for submitting pieces must be at least 18 years old and a current or former resident of Indiana.

Artists Rita Spalding and C.W. Mundy at the T.C. Steele Historic Site. photo courtesy Lyn Letsinger-Miller.

Each artist can submit up to three pieces. Artwork can be done in oils, acrylics, alkyd, watercolor, casein and egg tempera, pastels, drawing, printmaking, and mixed media, and must reflect the legacy of the Brown County Art Colony. If not executed on canvas, pieces must be under glass or plexiglass. Artwork must be framed and available for sale.

Of the 300-400 pieces submitted, 100 are juried into the show. Judging will take place on May 19. The awards reception takes place on June 6. The exhibition and sale opens to the public on the following day.

Since 2006, selected artwork from the show is purchased by the IHA to build the Permanent Collection, which is hung at the Brown County Art Gallery next to the works of the early Brown County Art Colony. Sponsored primarily by the Indiana Heritage Arts, the Brown County Art Gallery, as well as the T. C. Steele State Historical Site,

support is also provided by the Brown County Community Foundation.

Beginning three years ago, the IHA partnered with the T.C. Steele Historic Site to put on the event “Painting Selma’s Garden” at the site. This year, on June 14, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and free of charge on this day in observance of Juneteenth, visitors can watch the artists at work.

Throughout the day, paintings can be purchased, with part of the proceeds benefiting the IHA and the T.C. Steele site.

Lyn Letsinger-Miller, IHA board member and author of the book The Artists of Brown County, describes the paint out: “Painting Selma’s Garden is a beautiful event in a glorious location. I often think how pleased Selma and Theodore would be to see all the artists painting in this sanctuary for art and beauty that they created.”

Selma designed and cultivated the beautiful landscapes around the Steele home, known as the House of the Singing Winds. The gardens include heritage varieties of roses, peonies, and botanical descendants of daffodil and iris bulbs planted by Selma. The historic buildings contain original furnishings, collections, and paintings.

The Selma N. Steele Nature Preserve offers five trails on 92 acres with a variety of trees, shrubs, wildflowers, and wildlife to view. You might want to bring sketchbooks or cameras to capture the beauty of a hike in the woods.

A reception featuring wine, food, and tours of the Steele home, studio and gardens culminates this special event from 5:30 to 8 p.m., with a cost of $45 per person.

There will be a panel discussion at the visitors center regarding a three-year artistic project by two of Indiana’s top artists, C.W. Mundy and Rita Spalding called “House of the Singing Winds, En Homage.”

Continued on 64

May/June 2025 • Our Brown County 63

IHA SHOW continued from 63 Mundy and Spalding have been painting on the grounds and in the house for a special exhibit that opens this fall at the Brown County Art Gallery. This will be kicking off the centennial of Steele’s passing and the establishment of the Brown County Art Gallery.

The Indiana Heritage Arts Exhibition and Sale provides the inspiration to paint, sketch, photograph, daydream, or pause to write. Author and theologian, Thomas Merton, shared: “Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.” 

Women’s boutique, kids and teen clothing, men’s clothing, and household items Selling gently used items to benefit Brown County.

Accepting clothing and household item donations.

Look for the sign

s

Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays 10:00 to 5:00

Like us on Facebook at Brown County Community Closet, New

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

Lolli’s House New location in Artists Colony Shops

• HOME DECOR • LOCAL HONEY • Honey Milk Soaps • Goat Milk Soaps • Freshies • Shirts • • Exclusive Nashville/Brown County Items •

125 S. Van Buren St. • Nashville

Mother/Daughter Owned lollishousecreations@gmail.com

Bring the Woodlands into your home

Hearty, Delicious, & Nutritious Food The North End Shops 165 N. Van Buren St. • Nashville, IN 64 Our Brown County • May/June 2025

87 East Main Street Nashville, Indiana 812-988-6080

Helmsburg GENERAL STORE

NASHVILLE EXPRESS !

All aboard

Kids 5 & Under Ride FREE

Owners: Sharon & Leonard Richey

Pizza & Wings, Groceries, Ice Large Selection Domestic/Craft Beer & Wine Tobacco Products Camping Supplies, Live Bait & Tackle Hunting & Fishing Licenses Check Station, Firewood State Road 45 and Helmsburg Road Intersection • (812) 929-7797

25 minute narrated historical and informational scenic tour also service to Brown County Inn and Quality Inn

812-988-6690 Board at Fearrin’s Ice Cream Depot 812-344-9967 Corner of Van Buren & Franklin Streets Follow us on Facebook Available for field trips, business functions, private tours

THE FIREPLACE CENTER

Complete line of: • Wood Stoves and Inserts • Gas Stoves and Inserts • Fireplaces Your first step to Energy INDEPENDENT LIVING 812-336-2053 1-800-344-3967

11 flavors of BEEF 3 flavors of TURKEY 3 flavors of BEEF BRISKET 4 flavors of BEEF STICKS 2 flavors of PORK 2 flavors of BACON Also: Elk, Boar, Buffalo, Venison, Gator, Rabbit, Salmon, Kangaroo, Turtle, Ostrich, Trout, Camel, Python, Ahi Jerky Seasonings & Dips • Peanuts

125 S. Van Buren St. Artists Colony Shops 1210 W. 2nd St. Bloomington BloomingtonFireplaces.com

Brownie’s

Nashville, IN • (812) 988-1592

houseofjerkybrownco.com

NEW LOCATION

Featuring some of your old favorites and some tasty new ones Dine In or Carry Out

Scrapbooking & Rubber Stamps Heritage Mall 41 S. Van Buren St. • Nashville 812-988-7009

5730 N State Rd 135 • Bean Blossom • 812-720-3743 Daily Specials • Breakfast till 2:00 7 am to 8 pm • closed Thursdays Owners Paul and Tania Lattimore

wishful.thinking@att.net www.wishfulthinking-in.com Owner: Marlene Miller

May/June 2025 • Our Brown County 65

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 Ever-Growing Selection of Gluten-Free Products

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK TO GET THE WEEKLY AD Brown County IGA

text NA SHV

to

9900

ILLE

0

30 Hawthorne Dr. • Nashville • East SR 46 at light • 812-988-4546

66 Our Brown County • May/June 2025

Brown County Getaways HOTEL NASHVILLE

BRICK LODGE

NORTH HOUSE

Suites, Studios, Restaurant & Bar Hot Tubs, Indoor Pool, Whirlpool Weddings & Receptions, Special Getaway Packages

Accommodates 8 Guests, 2 Bedrooms & 2 Baths Game Room w/Pool Table, Cable TV, DVD Player Full Equipped Kitchen, Central Heat & Air Gas Fireplace, Outdoor Hot Tub, Gas Grill

Accommodates 8 Guests, 3 Bedrooms & 2 1/2 Baths Cable TV, DVD Player, Fully Equipped Kitchen Central Heat & Air, Electric Fireplace Secluded Hot Tub, Gas Grill

245 N. Jefferson St. | 812-988-8400 |800-848-6274 www.hotelnashville.com

1878 N. State Rd. 135 | 812-988-6429 www.bricklodge.com

194 N. Van Buren St. | 812-988-6429 www.northhousegetaway.com

May/June 2025 • Our Brown County 67

INFO PAGES

• Individual Income and Business Taxes • Business Set Up • Business Financial Statements • Payroll Preparation and Payroll Taxes

Locally owned since 2010 138 S. Jefferson St. Suite C • P.O. Box 953 Nashville, IN 47448

ACCOUNTING / TAX PREP

ACCOUNTING & PAYROLL

68 Our Brown County • May/June 2025

Plum Creek Antiques Open-Air Market Bean Blossom • Fruit Jars • Garden Art • Furniture • Iron Things, • Lots of Junk and more 5 minutes north of Nashville (intersection of SR 135 & SR 45) (812) 988-6268

AUTO - TIRE, REPAIR, TOW

& ASSOCIATES INC. Tax Preparation, Tax Planning, Bookkeeping, and Payroll

(812) 988-2865

bruce1040@sbcglobal.net 64 W. Gould St. • P.O. Box 565 • Nashville, IN

Brown County Tire TIRE &

AUTO Repair

24 hr. Wrecker Service

812-988-8473

27 Salt Creek Rd (Intersection SR 46) Nashville

BROWN

COUNTY

K9

Alice Waltermire AKC Evaluator

group and private training 760-992-6043

awaltermire@yahoo.com www.browncountyK9.com Facebook: BCK9 AKC Fit Dog Club meets twice weekly

From new construction to home repairs, CES provides the assurance and peace of mind you deserve for every job.

ELECTRICAL

BAGGED TRASH DROP OFF

ANTIQUES

812-318-1356 • www.bonafidebites.com

DOG TRAINING

CHEF-CATERING

(812) 988-4031 • www.precisebooksandpayroll.com

ZIEG LeDOUX

$2 Bag • Salt Creek Plaza • Nashville Mon.–Sat. 7:30 am–7:00 pm, Sun 10:00 am–4:00 pm

New Construction Electrical Home Repairs & Emergency Electrical Whole House Generator Installation

(812) 929-5540 • cespowerpros.com Serving Monroe, Brown, and Bartholomew counties.

INFO PAGES

GUTTERING

GUTTERING Free Estimates

Gutter Cleaning and Leaf Cover Available

Matt Hunter 812-344-4167

HEALTH

HEALTH & LIVING

Quality Workmanship since 1992 Fully Insured

GUTTERING-HOME IMPROVEMENT

Indiana Seamless

May/June 2025 • Our Brown County 69 Continued on 70

New Pavement Pavement Repairs Seal Coating & Striping Excavating & Drainage Hauling • Grading Driveways, Roadways, Parking Lots, Commercial Properties, Sport Courts, Etc.

LANDSCAPING

PAVING

Owner/Operator Jason L. Hardin

4413 State Road 46 East Nashville, IN (Gnaw Bone) Next to House of Thunder

INSURANCE

TATTOO

(812) 988-4054

We Can Do It All!

Complete Landscaping/ Design Services

812-988-6203 • jlhardinpaving.com

TIM RUPP • More than 25 years experience

• Mulching - Seeding NEED HELP? • Weeding - Pruning • Tree / Shrub Planting • Fences - Walkways • Retaining Walls • Mowing / Trimming (812) 988-7232 • Flower / Herb Beds

• Medicare Supplement • Medicare Advantage • Prescription Drug Plans • Dental/Vision/Hearing

146 E. Main St., Suite 5 Nashville, IN 47448 (By Appointment)

Call/Text: (812)720-3846 www.mcginleyinsurance.com christy@mcginleyinsurance.com

Serving Indiana, Tennessee, South Carolina, & Florida

Continued from 69

INFO PAGES

70 Our Brown County • May/June 2025

Searching for an investment property or your forever home?

REAL ESTATE

REAL ESTATE

Your Brown County Experts

Broker/Owner 812-720-1177 sterling.minor@remax.net

Alexandra Bottorff-Fettig

Licensed Real Estate Broker • Sycamore Real Estate Group 812.325.3229 alexandrafettigrealty@gmail.com

Trina Unger

Sterling Minor 10 Artist Drive P.O. Box 1609 Nashville, IN 47448

Broker/Owner-Property Mgr. 812-988-4485 trina.unger@remax.net

812-988-4485 • www.2LiveInBrownCounty.com

Tune in to your community!

ART

RADIO

One-of-a-kind Designs

Listen at 103.7 FM or stream at wfiu.org

Available at Spears Gallery in Nashville, IN South Van Buren Street next to the Nashville House 812-988-1286

RECORDING - STREAMING

RADIO

91.3 FM South Central Indiana • 98.1 FM downtown Bloomington 100.7 FM Nashville • 106.3 FM Ellettsville Also stream wfhb.org • 812-323-1200

Home of The Stream each Friday night on Facebook and YouTube

Full service content creation and live streaming studio

RainwaterRecordingCompany.com RainwaterRecordingCompany@gmail.com

All Types of SIGNS by CHRIS A. SHUSTER

BROWN COUNTY YMCA FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT FOR HEALTHY LIVING FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

BUY 1 GUEST PASS, GET 1 FREE 1 per person, expires 12/31/25

Swimming Pool Fitness Center Gymnasium Exercise Classes

Personal Training Swim Lessons Day Camp Climbing Wall

812-988-9622 • www.browncountyymca.org

SIGN MAKER

WELLNESS

Open 5:30 am Mon.–Fri., Sat. 7:00 am

• HOMES • BANNERS • BILLBOARDS • STORE FRONTS

BOATS • TRUCKS • MURALS • LOGO DESIGN •

SIGNS THAT DELIVER: Digital Print & Vinyl to Hand Lettered, Carved & Gilded

812-822-2933 • RamblinDogDesign@gmail.com

SPICE THINGS UP AT NASHVILLE SPICE COMPANY

Hand-mixed spice blends and seasonings, plus a wide variety of gourmet food items, including: Cheese • BBQ Sauces • Mustards • Dips • Hot Sauce Salts & Sugars • Syrups • Pasta Scan to Shop! nashvillespicecompany.com In Coachlight Square • 227 S. Van Buren St. • Nashville, IN 47448 • 812.200.1069

So much more than fudge!

Ice Cream • Gelato • Lemon Shake-Ups Old Fashioned Fudge • Gourmet Popcorn • Bourbon Gifts and More!

NashvilleFudgeKitchen.com

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175 S. Van Buren St. Nashville, IN 47448 812.988.0709

SPRING HOURS: SUN - THUR 10:00 - 6:00 FRI - SAT 10:00 - 7:00

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