Bacon & Eggs

The following story was written by Max Sloan, local resident of Metamora.  If you'd like to write a post for this blog, please do and email it to MetamoraIndiana@gmail.com.

I very rarely eat breakfast, but for some strange reason late this morning the thought of bacon and eggs at Ruth Ann's Country Diner sounded irresistible. So, putting on my shoes, my green baseball cap with 'Metamora' embroidered on it, and my billfold, I headed out the door. As I rounded the corner of Bridge Street, I noticed a car slowly driving up the street behind me. I stopped and turned toward the car thinking that it might be one of my friends. The car stopped but I didn't recognize it or the driver.

I started over to the car as I could see the driver rolling down his window, a scene I have encountered several times with people wanting directions or information about the village or the many events that are scheduled here. As I knelt down next to the car door my gaze fell upon the frail, elderly, smiling face of a gentleman who had seen many more sunrises than I have. Then, I guess drawing an inference from my hat, he asked 'Are you you the main man here?' I replied, keeping a chuckle to myself, 'No, I'm not but is there anything I can help you with?' By then I had noticed an equally frail, elderly, and smiling lady sitting in the other seat. He then asked, 'How is the town doing?' 'It is doing pretty good' I told him. Then he said something that was to make my day ; 'Today is my wife's birthday and she was born here.' My mind was immediately flooded with thoughts of the knowledge she must posses about the history of Metemora as I hoped that I could persuade them tarry long enough to have a cup of coffee and share a conversation with me. They accepted my invitation and we walked on to Ruth Ann's.


After selecting a table, ordering coffee and a cinnamon roll each (that the lady had spied as we walked past the display case), introductions were exchanged, and the questions soon would start flowing. As I looked at them a vision of Grant Woods 'American Gothic' popped into my mind, and with another chuckle that I keep to my self, I thought these two could be the parents of one of those two people in his painting. That is how adorable this couple is.


Their names are Louise and Ellis Myers. She is 91 and he is 95, and they have been married for 70 years. Even though Ellis has all of my admiration for being a lifelong independent farmer (and their farm is still in the family, being operated by their son), it is Louise that captured most of my attention.


Louise was born on May 21, 1921 to the couple Beecher and Winifred Matthews. Her father, Beecher, was also born in Metamora. She grew up in the last house at the East end of the South side of the canal. The house is no longer there. She attended Metamora Elementary School (in a class of 8), graduated from Brookville High School, and left Metamora shortly afterwards.


Throughout our conversation I could sense that she was struggling to bring forth the memories that I was eager to share with her. It is heart-rending that age can rob us of precious memories that we wold love to share with others.


One of the memories that Louise shared with me was clearer in her memory probably because of it's intensity. It had to do with the day the grist mill caught on fire. She clearly remembered that the whole town turned out. She was 14 at the time and clearly remembered helping to carry 25 pound bags of flour from the burning mill across the street to the Banes house. The fire department got the fire put out without the loss of the mill. When questioned about the method of shipping the flour, she replied that most of it was sold locally with very little be shipped elsewhere.


As we parted company, her and her husband were planning on coming back for another visit during the Strawberry Days festival on June 2nd and 3rd. I certainly hope they can. I am looking forward to another visit with them. It is strange the way some things work out. If I had left my home one minute earlier or one later, I would have missed out on this wonderful experience.


By the way, I never did get my bacon and eggs today.