Pioneer Village

The Pioneer Village at Fowler Park is a place for locals and tourists alike to take an enjoyable step back in time. The village consists of 14 buildings plus a smokehouse, log barn and a working gristmill. The log cabins located here date back to the early and mid-1800's. They were taken from their original location and rebuilt in the park. Various times throughout the year, mainly in the summer, Pioneer Days are held in the village. These days consist of many workers and volunteers coming together to recreate the pioneers in the 1800s. During these days, the visitors will often see cookies being baked over an open hearth, log hewing, candle dipping, sheep sheering, and many more activities.

Besides the unique Pioneer Village, there are many other attractions at Fowler Park. The park is located on 400 acres of land in southern Vigo County. Also included at the park is a wilderness area, four lakes, a campground, picnic areas, playgrounds, and four miles of trails. So, as the warm weather and summer days come closer, the Pioneer Village and Fowler Park may be good destinations to go and check out!

Hometown Heroes Part 3: Mordecai "Three Finger" Brown

Mordecai Peter Centennial Brown was born in Nyesville, Indiana, on October 19, 1876. Brown lost part of his hand to a corn shredder at age 7. He only actually lost one finger, but two others were mangled. For him, he had such a great attitude that he turned this negative ordeal into a positive one that would give him a fantastic baseball career. Brown started off interested in pitching as many children do, but over time he gained control, and realized that his mangled hand gave him an unusual advantage. The way that he gripped the ball allowed an unusual amount of spin, which resulted in him throwing exception curve and fast balls. His unique way of pitching often made it hard for batters to connect solidly.

To start off his impressive career, Brown played for the Three-I League in Terre Haute, Indiana in 1901. In 1903, he began playing for the major leagues at age 26. Brown was most successful throughout the time that he played for the Chicago Cubs. At the age of 40, in 1916, Brown left the minor leagues, though, and returned to Terre Haute. Upon returning, baseball continued to play a big part in his life; he still pitched in the minor leagues. Also, between the years of 1920 to 1945, Brown ran a filling station that also acted as a gathering place for the people of Terre Haute. As Brown got older, he became ill with diabetes. He died from a stroke that resulted from this in 1948. At 72, Brown had a lot to be proud of in his life, and in 1999 (51 years after his death) he was named as a finalist to the Major League Baseball All-Century Game.

Hometown Heroes Part 2: Herald Cox

Herald Rea Cox was born and raised in Terre Haute, Indiana. He attended the Indiana State Normal School, and he graduated in 1928 with degrees in mathematics, physics, and chemistry. Cox then went on to obtain his doctorate degree from the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. He was mostly interested in bacteriology. In the 1930s, he joined the U.S. Public Health Service as the principal bacteriologist studying Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Cox studied rickettsia, the group of organisms that causes this disease. Cox discovered that these organisms could be grown in fertile egg membranes, which led to the development of the vaccines for these diseases.

Besides helping to discover the vaccines for these diseases, Cox was successful in helping to produce the vaccine for polio. In 1952, he was able to grow a strain of the polio virus in hen's eggs, which led to a successful oral vaccine in 1961. Although, he was a contributor, the official polio vaccine is credited to Jonas Salk. Also, the family Coxiellaceae and the genus Coxiella, which contain the organism that causes Q fever, are named after Cox. Cox also was a prominent figure in cancer research. So, we have Herald Cox to thank for many of the reasons we are able to have longer and healthier lives today. This is the reason Cox is considered one of Terre Haute's local legends today.

Hometown Heroes Part 1: Scatman Crothers

Benjamin Sherman Crothers was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, on May 23, 1910. He is known as a famous actor, musician, and dancer. He started his musical career at the age of 15, when he was a drummer for a speakeasy band in Terre Haute. He acquired the pseudonym "Scat Man" while auditioning for a radio station in Dayton, Ohio, in 1932. The name was given to him because of his unique version of scat singing, which consists of making the sounds of a musical instrument with only your voice. The name was later condensed to "Scatman" by Auther Godfrey.

Throughout Crother's life, he had an extensive amount of work in music, television, and film. He played the drums and piano for many bands. He played with the jazz singer Slim Gaillard and also with The Ramparts. Besides playing with various bands, Crothers also released many solo albums. He was also in many television series like Dragnet, Charlie's Angels, and to name a few. He was most popular for his voice overs though in television shows like Magnum P.I. to name a few. He was most famous for voice overs, though, in television shows like Transformers and Harlem Globetrotters. He also appeared in many films such as Meet Me at the Fair, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and The Shining.

For all of Scatman Crothers success in his professional life, he was also happy in his personal life. He married Helen Sullivan in 1937, and they had their one and only daughter, Donna, in 1949. Crothers had a long and productive life until it was taken on November 22, 1986, from pneumonia brought on by lung cancer. He was at the ripe age of 76, and he is buried in the Hollywood Hill Cemetery next to his wife. Crothers is another great example of a Terre Haute man who felt his dreams were too big to be pursued in this place, but the town seems to making strides in embracing its past. While out on a walk, I discovered the hometown heroes banner shown above, and also the star shown below. It seems Terre Haute is starting its own Hall of Fame by displaying its most successful "heroes" on Wabash Avenue.

Paul Dresser

Johann Paul Dreiser was born on April 22, 1859, at 318 South Second Street in Terre Haute. He was the fourth child in a family of thirteen children that included the famous author Theodore Dreiser. The Dreiser family was a German Catholic family, and Paul's father had hopes of him becoming a priest. Paul tried and failed to please his father by attending St. Meinrad's seminary. In the end, though, music was Paul's calling. He left Terre Haute at the age of 16 to pursue a music career, and at this time he also changed his name to Paul Dresser (stage name). Dresser was satisfied for a while traveling throughout the Midwest to play in medicine and minstrel shows. After a while, he decided to settle in New York City to compose.

While in New York City, Dresser was doing exactly what he loved. He was writing and publishing music. He even became a principal owner of the publishing house Howley, Haviland, and Dresser. Through this publishing company, he composed many songs including the Indiana state song "On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away." During the 1890s, Dresser was one of the most popular composers of the time. Sometimes, though, too much success can lead to quick failure, which is what happened to Dresser when he became to free with his money. By 1904, he was having financial difficulties, and he failed to adapt to the changing musical styles. Soon, Dresser became ill and died at his sister's house on January 30, 1906, at the age of 47. For such a short life, he had many accomplishments that are still celebrated today, especially in Terre Haute, Indiana. Dresser's boyhood home can now be found in Fairbanks Bank Park on Dresser Avenue with his beloved Wabash River as its backdrop.

Fairbanks Park

Fairbanks Park has the beautiful Wabash River as its backdrop. Most of the land for the park was donated to Terre Haute in 1916 in memory of Henry Fairbanks by his two sons, Crawford and Edward. Henry Fairbanks was very influential to the city of Terre Haute, and he was serving as its mayor at the time of his death in 1978.

When you enter the park on Dresser Drive, Paul Dresser's home sits on the right. Dresser was the famous composer of "On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away," which is our current state song. His home was moved to Fairbanks Park in 1963, and it is maintained by the Vigo County Historical Society.

Upon driving in further, a large archway can be also be seen on the right. Currently, there is a garden area under the archway. Before it became a garden, it was a huge oval shaped swimming pool (198 feet long and 128 feet wide) surrounded by a seven foot sandy beach in 1924. Once the swimming pool was taken out, Thomas Dubois, an Indiana State University graphic design student, designed a fountain in the area.

At the back of the park, the Chauncey Rose Memorial stands out in great contrast to the other structures. In 1887, it was the front of Terre Haute's first building that acted as a post office and federal building. It was moved to the park in 1936.

Other structures located at the park is the amphitheater, which is next to the Chauncey Rose Memorial. This is where concerts can be held. There is also the Blumberg Shelter and a gazebo that were donated to the park for the Annual Fairbanks Park Arts and Musical Festival.

On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away

The song "On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away" was written by the 19th century composer, Paul Dresser. Paul Dresser was born and raised in Terre Haute, Indiana, and while he was away he missed his hometown and the beautiful river that flows through it. This song is the famous composer reminiscing about Terre Haute while away on a trip. Dresser wrote the song in 1897, and by 1900 millions of copies had been sold. The song became so special to not only Terre Haute, but the whole state of Indiana. It became the state song on March 14, 1913, when adopted by the Indiana General Assembly. The song is known as the first official symbol of Indiana, with the state flag not being founded until four years later.

The chorus of the song is as follows:
Oh, the moonlight's fair tonight along the Wabash,
From the fields comes the breath of new mown hay.
Through the sycamores the candle lights are gleaming,
On the banks of the Wabash, far away.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98WVVxYsb4s&feature=related

U.S. Penitentiary

The U.S. Penitentiary in Terre Haute was built in 1940 when President Franklin Roosevelt approved its location in 1938. One of the main reasons the penitentiary is located in Terre Haute is because the Chamber of Commerce raised $50,000 to buy the land for it to be built. The building of the penitentiary was important for Terre Haute citizens, because it would help the economy by supplying jobs. It is located at the intersection of State Road 63 and Springhill Drive on the south side of town. The prison holds only adult males. It is also the only federal prison to hold a death row. It was chosen to have a death row, because of its central location. One of the more famous prisoners to be put to death by lethal injection was Timothy McVeigh. Timothy McVeigh was responsible for the Oklahoma City bombing.

Furthermore, the U.S. Penitentiary was one of the first federal prisons to emphasize rehabilitation of offenders. Psychological and psychiatric treatments are provided, and prisoners are treated more humanely. They are referred to by names, not numbers. Also, education programs are provided to the inmates. The inmates are also given jobs through places like UNICOR, so they are not just sitting around all day.

The U.S. Penitentiary still stands in Terre Haute after 72 years. It is a formidable structure, that should scare anyone who even drives past it. I know I kind of get the chills when I drive past it, knowing that there are some very dangerous people inside. It is kind of ironic that one of Terre Haute's ugliest buildings is one that remains standing after all of this time. Who knows why people would want a federal prison with some of the country's most dangerous criminals in their backyard, but who knows why people in Terre Haute want a lot of things like the destruction of its greatest treasures. But, the point is, it is here if anyone is into looking at prisons for a tourist attraction!

Condit House

The Condit House is currently located on Indiana State University's campus, and houses the current President Bradley and his wife. The house has been on campus since 1962, and it's the oldest building. Before the house became property of the university, it was the private residence of the Reverend Blackford Condit family since 1862. The Condit family purchased the home from Lucien Houriet, a local jeweler in Terre Haute at the time, who had the house built in 1860. The house is a great example of the rich history of Terre Haute, and the beauty that used to surround the town. It is actually five years older than the university, or more accurately, the Teacher's College that opened in 1865. Although, there are not many building left from the earlier years of the university, places like the Condit House make it easier to imagine what Indiana State would look like today if its past had not been erased.

The Hippodrome

The Hippodrome is America's oldest standing vaudeville theater. It was built in 1915 at the corner of 8th & Ohio Street, and was designed by the famous theater architect John Eberson in the German Renaissance-Revival style. It was designed to seat a large audience of 1,000 people. It officially opened on February 15, 1915, to a large crowd that included the governor of Indiana. The theater was constructed so that performers did not need the assistance of microphones or speakers to amplify their voices. Instead, the sounds reverberated off the stage and echoed throughout the entire theater.

The Hippodrome Theater was unique compared to the other vaudeville theaters in Terre Haute at the time. The other theaters started to show actual movies, but the Hippodrome only ever showed live performances. Over the years many famous performers (magicians, musicians, television stars, etc.) came to the theater. These performances would take place twice a day, one at 2:30 PM and the other at 8:15 PM. In the late 1920s vaudeville was starting to die, and the Hippodrome in Terre Haute closed down in 1929. From 1931-1948, the building was used as the Community Theater of Terre Haute. Since 1955, the building is known as the Scottish Rite Temple. It still stands today, and it would be easy to imagine the grandeur of it as the Hippodrome Theater. Like many other things in Terre Haute, though, it has died and may never be restored to its past splendor.

Eugene V. Debs

Eugene V. Debs was born on November 5, 1855, in Terre Haute, Indiana. He attended public schools in Terre Haute until the age of 14 when he started working as a firemen on the railroads. When Debs was not working, he was attending night classes at a local business college. After working as a firemen for four years, he went to work for the wholesale grocery store of Hulman & Cox as a billing clerk. In 1875, Debs joined the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen. He continued to work for Hulman & Cox throughout the day, and used the money from that job to help the union at night. This position in the Brotherhood would be the start of his colorful political career.

In 1879, Debs was elected to his first of two terms as the City Clerk of Terre Haute as a Democrat. Next, in 1884, he was elected as the state representative to the Indiana General Assembly as a Democrat. A year later, he married Kate Metzel. He stayed with and loved her until the day he died, but they had no children together to carry on his legacy. Together, they built a home at 451 N 8th Street in Terre Haute. The home still stands today and is a National Historic Landmark, as well as the Debs Museum.

Furthermore, in 1893 Debs organized the first industrial union in the United States, the American Railway Union. In July 1894, Debs and the American Railway Union were involved in the Pullman Boycott and Strike. This boycott consisted of about 250,000 workers refusing to run railways that had Pullman carts, because George Pullman refused to help change the low wages and long hours of the union workers. As a result of the strike, Debs and other American Railway Union leaders were jailed until November 1895.

Debs had many Socialist political ideals. Among these ideals were women having the right to vote, strict child labor laws, protecting workers rights to join unions, and workplace safety. Throughout his career, he would run for President five times (1900, 1904, 1908, 1912, and 1920). One of his most famous campaigns was in 1908 when he rode on the Red Special train. The train traveled all around the country, and he campaigned to crowds about his ideas of a better society. Although, Debs did not win any of his first four elections, he was a memorable candidate, and his ideas were said to be ahead of his time.

Moreover, Debs continued to deliver speeches. In 1918, in Canton, Ohio, Debs was giving an antiwar (WWI) speech. He was later arrested and convicted in Ohio under the espionage law. He was sentenced to ten years in prison. It was during this time that he made one of his most daring moves, he ran for President on the Socialist ticket in 1920 while he was in prison. He conducted his entire campaign from inside of the prison. In the end, he was defeated by Republican Warren Harding, but he managed to still receive around one million votes. Once Harding took office, he released Debs from prison, allowing him to return to Terre Haute.

Once Debs returned to Terre Haute, he spent the remainder of his life in poor health. He still managed to deliver speeches from time to time, and he never gave up on his dreams for a better America. In the end, though, Debs died on October 20, 1926. It is kind of interesting that his life was ending at about the same time that Tom Roznowski predicts Debs' hometown of Terre Haute is starting to die.

Country Stars Coming to Terre Haute

On Saturday, April 10, country is coming to town. Terre Haute and Indiana State University are doing their part to contribute to raising money for Haiti. The concert that will take place is the biggest concert that has taken place in Terre Haute in years. The headliner is country star Jason Aldean with his opening act, Luke Bryan. I know a lot of people are excited about the upcoming concert. It is things like this that could really start to put Terre Haute back on the map, and make people excited to come here. Everyone should come check out the show! It should be amazing, and it's for a good cause!

Ku Klux Klan

Although there were many good people in Terre Haute, who were willing to stand up for slaves and risk their own lives by participating in the Underground Railroad, there was also great evil. There were two chapters of the Ku Klux Klan in Terre Haute, Terre Haute Klan #7 and Otter Klan #91. These chapters met at the Klan Home in Klan Park that was located at 1501 N 13th Street, which was located only three blocks from the Lincoln School (all black school). Every member of the Klan had to pay $10 to join and an additional $6.50 for the white hood and robe. The Klan was not only a secret organization, but it also had tremendous influence in the community, especially in politics. A known Klan member in Terre Haute was an assistant pastor of the First United Brethren Church, Orval W. Baylor. It was not uncommon for men of the church to be members of the Ku Klux Klan at this time. The Klan was known to march up and down Wabash Avenue on Saturday nights. Supposedly, they would announce their marches and policies by posting flyers on lamp poles to warn others.

Furthermore, another Vigo County chapter Ku Klux Klan member was James A. Colescott. Colescott was a veterinarian who lived at 1032 N 4th Street. He also had his veterinary business at this address. He was a member of the local Klan chapter for about four years before he became the Imperial Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan of America in 1939.

Underground Railroad in Terre Haute

Terre Haute was one of the many stops of the Underground Railroad that slaves made on their way to freedom in the North. It was estimated in the Saturday Spector that each year between 1830 and 1850 about 2,000 slaves came through the Wabash Valley on their way to other Northern states or Canada. Once the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 was passed, many slaves had to go as far as Canada because the act allowed slaves to be hunted down and taken back to their masters in Northern states. The Wabash Valley route was actually considered so dangerous that if the slaves made it to Terre Haute, they were said to be 9/10 free.

Today, there are five known stops of the Underground Railroad in Terre Haute. The first stop was the home of Nell Fillbook Steele. The two story home was located two miles south of where US 41 is today, coming from Evansville. The home was set against a hill with a short stairway that led to the secret rooms where the slaves were hid. The home was destroyed in 1939 by a fire. The second stop was the Allen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church which was located at the corner of what is now 1st and Crawford Street. The church had a tunnel underneath it that led to the Wabash River. The church was built in 1839 and was the only church for black in Terre Haute at the time. The church burnt down in 1913 when it was struck by lightning, but some of the pews were salvaged and placed in the current Allen Chapel on the corner of 3rd and Crawford Street.

The next stop was said to be the Preston House located at Poplar and 13 1/2 Street. It was built in 1832 by George Dewees. The house supposedly had tunnels leading from the basement. There is a legend that the house was haunted, because of a cave in inside of the tunnels that killed a group of slaves. As other sites of the Underground Railroad the Preston House is also no longer in existence.The next stop was the Anderson home on Haythore Avenue on the east side of Terre Haute. It has been said that Anderson would transport fugitives in a two horse wagon to Markle Mill. It has never been proven that Markle Mill was part of the Underground Railroad, but most places were secret so we may never know. It is a logical place to have as the last stop, because it is on the way to Parke County where the slaves would be taken next.

Markle Mill

The Markle Mill was located at the intersection of Mill Dam Road and Rosedale Road on the north side of Terre Haute. It was built in 1817 by Major Abraham Markle. When Markle came to Terre Haute, he was part of the Terre Haute Land Company. The Terre Haute Land Company bought eleven tracts of land in what is now present day Terre Haute. They are responsible not only for building the first shops, stores, and houses, but also for Vigo County and making Terre Haute the county seat. After owning the first land in the area, Markle went to work at creating the first industry for the farmers to convert their crops into marketable products. The mill was built as a gristmill, sawmill, and distillery. The original structure was thirty-six square feet and three stories high. The wood for the mill came from trees cut in the woods behind the mill. The dam was made of large wooden timbers anchored in stone. A small paddle wheel, provided the power to run the gristmill and sawmill. Markle decided to have it placed on Otter Creek, where the water flowed enough to make it possible to run the mill year round. The mill was an economic success because of its proximity to a large population in Terre Haute and to the Wabash River. In 1826, Abraham Markle fell to his death.

Furthermore, after Abraham's death his son Frederick Markle took over the mill until his death in 1866. In the time that Frederick ran the mill, he built the Markle House directly across from the mill location. After Frederick's death, his two sons ran the mill until 1888 when they sold the it to H.S. Creal. The Markle Mill ran successfully for 121 years, before it burnt down in 1938. It is known as the area's first industry. All that remains of it today are the crumbled arches that still stand in Otter Creek. This is a good representation of Terre Haute, all that remains are its crumbled beginnings. There is no doubt in my mind that if this mill had not burned down, it would have already been torn down today.

I actually went and visited the historical site at Otter Creek. It really is breathtaking. When I got out of the car, I could hear the rumble of the waterfall before I could see it. The area is beautiful and full of so much history, even the house that Frederick Markle built still stands across from the creek. It's easy to imagine the booming activity that used to take place there. Now, all you see are cars speeding by, and they probably have no clue what used to be there or that it marked the beginning of the city they live in today.

The College Experience

This weekend, I attended a banquet on campus. There were a few guest speakers who talked about the great and unique programs that Indiana State University has to offer. These speakers could only see the good things that this university holds, and they seemed extremely impressed. As I sat there, I wondered if they could be on this campus every day if they would still think it was so amazing. Since I am a senior, this led me to consider the things that have really made my college experience wonderful. Many things came to mind such as my friends, family, sweet freedom, parties/social gatherings, being able to learn from professors who have had many experiences in their lives to share, etc. So what is it that everyone comes to college for? For me, it was all about getting a good education in order for me to get a job to support myself for the future. In the end, though, college has become so much more to me. I have, of course, learned so much that I hope will lead me to the brightest future possible, but along the way I have grown into a strong, intelligent, and independent person. Also, I've gained friends that I consider an extension of my family. I've experienced so much more in this one place than I will probably ever have the chance to in the rest of my life. I think everyone should take moments to reflect on the things that have really made your college experience worthwhile, and remember why this place (in my case ISU) is really so special, and why it should be treated as such with respect and pride.

Disintegration of Terre Haute

Today, in my capstone course for criminology, my professor separated us into groups to talk about social disintegration in different parts of Indiana and the country. My group just happened to get Terre Haute as our area of interest. It was sad to me, because the first thing we all said was everything has or is disintegrating in Terre Haute. It was hard to pinpoint one thing, but we did end up talking about how popular the town was back in the 20's to 40's. We discussed that many things could have caused Terre Haute's downfall. Some of the things that may have been responsible for the disintegration was Interstate 70, bad leadership (the mayor and university administration), and corruption. The big question really is why and how could a city on its way to the top suddenly be sunk?

Just as the city is going under, so is its biggest university. Although, the latest edition of the Indiana Statesman claims that enrollment is rising, the university has to claim prison enrollment to reach the student population of 10, 500. My criminology professor pointed out that the article is a joke, because when he attended school here, the student enrollment was 15,000 and rising. So, what happened? For the answer, I am going to go to the Broken Window theory by James Q. Wilson. The concept behind the Broken Window theory is that if there is one broken window that does not get repaired, soon another broken window will happen, etc. This is basically saying that when people do not have enough pride in an object or place and allow for it to start to waste away with no repair, it will continue to get worse and worse. This is precisely what has happened in Terre Haute, Indiana, as things started to disintegrate, not enough people cared enough to do anything about it, so it has continued at an uncontrollable speed. Now, most people want to leave this place, at least all of the smart people as my criminology professor put it. In my class, the professor asked everyone who wanted to get the hell out of dodge to raise their hands, and the majority of the class did raise their hands. This is the problem here. In order for Terre Haute to be great again, great people are going to need a reason to stay, but until then we'll all continue to run away from the rundown place Terre Haute has become.

Legend or Reality?

A legend by definition is a story about supernatural beings or events. Every place in the world, no matter how big or small, has some type of legend that the locals love to convey to outsiders. Legends lend a place a cloud of mystery that anyone who encounters it wants to unveil. In Terre Haute, Indiana, it is no different.

On a visit to campus of Indiana State last year, one of my friends inquired about the legend at Cromwell Hall. I had never heard of it, so I was immediately intrigued. The legend says that a man jumped from room 1221 (12th floor) facing 4th Street. Under the window of room 1221, a white cross is carved in the stone. The story goes that the university has tried to get rid of the white cross, but every time it reappears. Since the time of the suicide, residents of Cromwell Hall have reported hearing footsteps and noises in the hallways.

So, is it true? No one may ever know, but it sure does make for an interesting story. Every time I get the chance, I feel proud to be able to tell someone the legend of Cromwell Hall.

Reeve Hall

During my short lunch break today, I decided to take a walk around campus. I work at the Admissions office on campus, which allows me to give campus tours regularly. So, as I was walking around, I thought there couldn't possibly be something I hadn't seen before. To my surprise, though, I stumbled upon the old entrance of Reeve Hall. As soon as I saw it, I was struck by the beauty of it surrounded by absolute emptiness. While I stood there, I immediately wondered what the women's dormitory looked like in it's glory days and the history behind it.

Upon further research, I found that the idea of the women's dormitory was proposed first in 1904 by President Parsons. The actual dormitory was not finished until November 16, 1924. The opening of it was welcomed by a huge parade. At the time, Reeve Hall consisted of two wings with the entrance door placed between them. Over the entrance, gnomes were placed representing students of music, physical education, chemistry, and home economics. Up until 1959, the women's dormitory was the only living quarters on campus for women. In 1971, the dormitory was closed because of rising costs. It then became used for classrooms and offices until it was torn down in 1998.

It is shocking to me that such a beautiful building would be torn down. I find it ironic that in the span of only 74 years, people went from celebrating the opening of the dormitory to seeing it as a financial burden. In my opinion, if the university were to keep the charming structures from its history, enrollment could increase. Students want to walk around a place that is proud of its history, not one that ignores its existence.

http://reeves-hall.hlitchford.imageloop.com/en/index.htm

Crows are Creepy

While walking around Indiana State's campus this last week, I couldn't help but notice the unusual amount of crow's and their droppings. And we wonder why no one wants to come to school here?

According to the local newspaper, it is estimated that around 32,000 crows are roosting in Terre Haute this winter. A biology professor at the university hypothesizes that they chose Terre Haute because of the warmth and lights.

So, it seems over the next few months of winter, the residents and students should not only watch their step, but keep a look out in the skies, you never know what may be dropping for a nice little surprise.

The Terminal: From Rail Station to Modern Bar

There are buildings or places in every town that have a rich history. The function of these buildings has more than likely changed throughout the years, and most citizens are not even aware of this. The town of Terre Haute, Indiana, is just one these places still possessing some structures holding a rich history that is waiting to be discovered by its citizens.

The Terminal, the building above, is an architectural beauty of Terre Haute that is greatly appreciated by the citizens, but the true history behind it is relatively unknown. At the time The Terminal Arcade was built, it was constructed as an interurban railway station that connected Terre Haute to Indianapolis. Once automobiles became widely used, it was closed in 1940. In the time period of 1949-1972, the building was used as a local bus station for the residents. Currently, it is known as The Terminal Sports and Spirits Bar. It has become one of the most popular bars in town for the regular towns people and the many college students.

History is such an essential component in every community. Every person should strive to understand their surroundings in order to appreciate their environment, whether they are there for a short period or for life. Throughout this semester, my goal is to make myself aware of the past of Terre Haute, Indiana, through researching and exploring the different places and events that have influenced what this town has become today.

Let Me Introduce Myself

Hey all! My name is Heather Litchford, and this is currently my first year at Indiana State University. Previously, I attended Indiana University-Bloomington. I transferred to Indiana State to complete my criminology degree. Although, this is only my first year living in Terre Haute, I have lived only a half an hour from here my entire life. Where I'm from, there is absolutely nothing to do, so my friends and I would travel to Terre Haute to do anything entertaining (this is the sad truth). In high school, there was no other college in Indiana I was willing to attend besides IU. Indiana State University was never known as that to me when I was applying to colleges, it was commonly referred to as "I Screwed Up."

After spending three years at IU, I realized that it was not all that it was said to be. Eventually, I chose to transfer to Indiana State because it has a great criminology program and because of the excellent professor to student ratio. Since coming here, I have realized that ISU has all of the potential to be an excellent college, but the location and lack of motivation are causing its demise. Lately, I have heard in a few of my courses about the way Terre Haute was back in its golden days, but if you were to come here now you would see nothing but a rundown, stinky town. So, throughout this semester I am looking forward to discovering the colorful past that has shaped Terre Haute into what it has become today, a lost treasure.