Rambling Thoughts on Metamora Log Cabins

My wife and I just returned from an evening walk around our home town village of Metamora. It is so pleasant, with the corn coming up in the fields (finally, after a late start due to all the rain) and the low-in-the-sky sun casting wonderfully bright shadows (bright shadows ?!) over the quaint buildings.


We walked down Main Street through the heart of the historic district, down to the Firehouse and then around the back of the village down Mount Street past Al and Pat’s house (the big yellow house whose historic name is the Gordon Brother’s Double Residence), where we continued on into Duck Creek Crossing past the two beautiful log cabins owned by Bonnie.

The shop in the one cabin (Brook Hollow Creations, log cabin number one) will not be opened until Labor Day, and may not open again next year, another sign of the ongoing economic shrinkage of Metamora. The other (The Red Sleigh, log cabin number two) Bonnie opens every weekend. Walking past these two fascinating, well-kept cabins caused us to count how many log cabins there were in Duck Creek Crossing. While there were no log cabins in town originally, their presence since the early 1970's are sort of a Metamora icon to many tourists.  We came up with the number eleven twelve.

Besides Bonnie’s two cabins, the next one up is Pam and Ron Colvin’s (Wood Works Etc., where they make a lot of their wood furniture) (log cabin number three), followed by Dorothy Wagner’s cabin (Country Peddlers) (log cabin number four) with her great smelling candle selection.

Number five is right next to Country Peddler’s, and I think the people who were in that shop finally gave up on business in Metamora as they had been promising to do for years. A look through the window showed it to be empty.

Number six is at the end of the row, just before the public restrooms, and is known by many as Button’s & Bow’s, a great little place full of miniatures and hand-crafted padded photo albums and other cool stuff. The three ladies that run this shop are faithfully open several days a week.

Before we got to number six, we had already passed numbers seven and eight on the opposite side of the walkway. Both are owned by Jeannie, neither is a shop and both are for sale.

We continued walking up past the Cat & the Fiddle B&B and Food/Gift Shop now run by Catrina (of great local fame, currently the Catrina of the local Baggy Bottoms Boys music group) , and Don’s long-present Wood Shack (Don is thankfully still with us after beating cancer last year) into the Duck Creek Crossing gravel parking area. Turning east in the parking lot, you find yourself staring at log cabin number nine, Angie’s delightful Serendipity Frog.


And just on the other side of the parking lot is Bob O’Rourke’s log cabin (number ten) that doesn’t look like a log cabin from the outside because of the siding now installed, but once you step inside, it is unmistakably an 1811 log cabin moved into Duck Creek in the early 1970’s from Tanner’s Creek in Dearborn County. I know a bit of the history of this cabin because it was our first shop in town eight years ago. Bob’s got the place for sale, price recently dropped to about $80K, if you’re looking for a great little shop in town. Bob’s health hasn’t been the greatest lately- his doctor just made him quit his position on the local Sewer Board. His wife, Chi, had a pretty bad fall recently, so they are both hurting lately. These two have been a significant part of the village life over their close to thirty year business presence.

As we kept walking, we passed Marc and Rachel’s place, the Metamora Country Store, now sadly closed. The bottom half of the structure looks like a log cabin (the upper half has siding) so, right or wrong, we’re counting that as log cabin number eleven.

And I almost missed number twelve- The Leather Hatchery. Rose Marie would be upset with me if I forgot them. Her hubby Dale used to work with my Dad back when they were both Air Traffic Controllers. The Hartledges are still open for business with their leather products on weekends.

Bear with me for a minute: Log cabins closed with no business in them- numbers five, seven, eight, ten and eleven. Open, at least on weekends, numbers two, three, four, six, nine and twelve. Open late in the year and probably not next year- number one.

Almost half the log cabins have no businesses in them. That’s sad. It’s also typical of the non-log-cabin buildings in the village as a whole. That’s sad also. These log cabins represent so much of our nation’s history, just like so many of the other buildings in town.


The past couple of years has been pretty rough on Metamora. We think its mostly due to a lousy economy, but for whatever the reason, tourism is down, resulting in a number of businesses closed. And that makes it even more of a challenge for those of us still here to keep the history alive. But we’ll keep at it, regardless, because we love this place, the beauty and history of the canal and railroad era, and the gorgeous Whitewater Valley.  It's like a disease some of us have contracted- this places infects you to where you just love it so much.  A number of Metamorons have contracted it- there doesn't seem to be a cure.


p.s.- Lest my nostalgia make anyone think the place is dead, very much the opposite is true. Besides the people already mentioned by name in this post, there are also a number of others thriving in the diminished business environment.


In Duck Creek, there is also Tom and Monica at the Fudge Shop, Janice at Kaleidosaurus, Kathy at the restaurant, Joy with a lot of handmade things and that gorgeous Lenox porcelain at the Briarpatch, Mr. Ed’s Shop, and of course the jewel of Duck Creek, the Cranberry Junction Gift Shop run by Paul and Shari.


And then on down Main Street there’s still Chris and Myrna’s Unique Creations, antique shops run by Nancy, Dave, and George and Gail train and book shop, Anne’s two shops, Donna’s fudge shop, and others. Not to mention our own shop, the Smelly Gourmet. And Doris just opened Jackie B's where Jane & Friends used to be.  (It still up in the air if Tom will actually open a restaurant or juice bar where Jane's Road Less Travelled Cafe used to be- time will tell.)  Can’t name ‘em all.

The big move of the year award probably goes to Grannie and Connie for moving Grannie’s Ice Cream and Cookie Jar shop into the corner stone building at Columbia Street and Lover’s Lane building recently vacated by Judy (who retired after 30+ years and closed her shop, the Lace Place, to have time to take care of her father.) They’re moving a lot of ice cream and cookie jars these days.


So there’s still a lot going on in Metamora. The State Historic Site still anchors the village by running the Grist Mill and Canal Boat. So come out and check us out.

Small Towns Are Like A Little Baby

Metamora in some ways is like a little baby- it needs a lot of attention from caring people in order to flourish.

I suppose big towns and cities are the same way, but there are more people to go around and do the work in a large population center- and more money too. But our little village of Metamora only has a few hundred people in residence, and many of those just sleep in their quaint little historic homes, mostly on the north side of the canal.

The number of Metamora shopkeepers or business owners that are lucky enough to live in or near the town and care about keeping the history intact, and have the time or resources to actually work at it, is pretty small. Maybe 20 or 30 people. This number includes several local people who don't operate a business in the historic district, but are just as fascinated with the village, and willing to help out.

Those are the ones that make most of the plans and arrangements for the annual Metamora events throughout the year, try to keep the business directories up to date for our visitors (the tourists), get the advertising things made up, decorations put up and taken down, etc. And of course, work their own jobs or operate their own business at the same time.

So if some things aren't always perfect, you'll have to forgive us. We'll try harder next time. If we can just figure out how to re-arrange or stretch some more hours.

But I think we all do it because we think Metamora is one of the most fascinating places in the country. We certainly don't do it for money- there isn't much of that around.

Metamora is truly beautiful and unique. You can almost taste the history of a bygone era that was so important to forming our great nation. So our "little baby" is older than the civil war, but still needs a lot of care to see it flourish.

And that is why we give it our energy- we do it for love of history and the American small town.

Fourth Time's A Charm

See the article below to understand the headline here.

Old Towns and Modern Computers

I guess the 1850's vintage town of Metamora was never supposed to be modernized- it resists most forms of modernization.

Take internet access for example: There is no cable internet access, nor DSL or high-speed wireless. You CAN get Verizon broadband, but it works only when it feels like it, which is a lot of the time, but fails at the critical moment. As best I can figure, there must be a few of the old town ghosts that monitor people's computer usage and send out disruptive energy waves at just the right time...

Then, there is cell-phone service. None work unless you've got Verizon, so don't bother with your AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile- you get the picture.

Computers just don't seem to function well in the rarified Metamora air- I'm sure some geek could come up with a technical reason for this, but I just know it's true.  Probably why a lot of local people just don't bother with them- half our locals can't even spell "PC".  But then again, more modernization will just erase the term "PC" anyway as it gets replaced by "Smart Phone", another challenge for the old ghosts to take on.

Attitudes of some long-time residents are the same way- they resist modernization of such concepts as incorporation, new sewer systems, working WITH other local merchants and county officials instead of bellyaching ABOUT them.

But then again, I guess the lack of modernization is part of the charm of living here. Sure reminds of me of living in Andy Griffith's Mayberry RFD. Which really IS charming, knowing that this form of community still exists as a part of living history.

Now trying for the FOURTH time to publish this blog article from my computer throught the Verizon broadband thing.....

Innaugural Towpath 10K Dash

Many of the handful of visitors that come through Metamora during the winter ask when the "season" begins in Metamora. While there is no official "season", the best answer to the question for this year 2011 is probaby the innaugural Towpath 10K (10,000 meter) Dash that will take runners through the town (past scenes like the old canal boat pictured below) and down the Whitewater Canal Hiking/Biking Trail. More than 500 runners are expected Saturday morning, May 21, 2011, to participate in this new event sponsored by the Whitewater Canal State Historic Site.

Starting around 8 a.m., the events will include a breakfast at the Metamora Firehouse for everyone who comes (free will offering) and live music by Metamora's own Catrina and the Baggy Bottom Boys leading up to the awards presentation at the gazebo in the park.

The Grist Mill reopens for the year on April 1st, and the canal boat begins running again on May 1st, so both will be open that Saturday for all. Full of scenic images and rich in transportation history, our village welcomes back the hundreds of thousands of annual visitors that breathe life into the pleasant springtime scenery.

Christmas Walk 2010

The third weekend of the 28th Annual Christmas Walk is nearly done. Visitors enjoyed the late evenings of lights and holiday music, food and shopping despite a little cold and drizzly rain. We apologize for not posting more often. Will try to do better next year.

Cute Drop-off

This little feller and one or two of his siblings was simply dropped off in the village of Metamora a couple of days ago. He's cute as a button, scared, probably hungry, and one of several dozen dogs a year just let out of someone's car, apparently in the hopes that someone will take them in. Why do people DO that? We love dogs, but there are only so many we can absorb. If you are looking for a puppy, call us very soon at 513-314-5693 for info on where to pick this little guy up. Otherwise his fate will unfortunately likely be the Franklin County dog catcher :(

Christmas Walk

The town merchants are getting ready for the second weekend of Christmas Walk. The first weekend was huge, with the town full of visitors out to see all the lights, the lanterns along the canal, and start preparing for Christmas. The Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony event was a big success two weeks ago, with the biggest crowd ever- over three hundred people came to enjoy the sing-along Christmas carols with the Baggy Bottom Boys Band, and enjoy the choral music of the Roamin' Catholic Choir.

Idyllic Metamora

The town of Metamora today embodies the natural beauty of the Whitewater Valley while retaining many wonderful elements of a significant period of US history. The water-powered Grist Mill, the horse-drawn canal boat, and the only working wooden aqueduct in the nation, all restored and operated by the State of Indiana as a state historic site, continue to be a wonderful draw for tourists from all over the United States. Their park, with the beautiful gazebo, provides an often used idyllic backdrop for weddings, music, private picnics, and many other events throughout the year.

Many of the remaining buildings in town constitute an amazing collection of most forms of architecture that were popular in this country in the nineteenth century. Such a variety of different architectural styles all located within a few minute’s walk of each other is rare in this country, and continues to provide great enjoyment to visitors to Metamora as they relax and wander the town, many reading the bronze plates on the buildings to learn some of the history of the building.

The shops that grew up around the historic site continue to change. Despite Metamora’s general appearance of time stopped in the mid-1800’s, the local shops have not been exempted from the ravages of a lousy economy. Many of the shopkeepers have to work weekday jobs to pay their electric and grocery bills, and thus cannot be open five or six days a week.

While there are many shops that carry some made-in-China products, visitors can see the great home-made furniture and other products in Don Buchanan’s and the Colvin’s shops. Then there is the hand sewn dishtowels next to handmade fudge in Tom and Monica’s full service restaurant, Joy Hayes’s beautifully detailed hand painted crafts, and the gorgeous hand-painted glass next to the hand-made flower arrangements in Bill and Jay’s shop. Authentic documented Native American products can be purchased at Cranberry Junction, and fine leather products are found in two shops. All of that, along with a gourmet coffee bar and another full service restaurant, and other made-in-USA items, is located within the Duck Creek Crossing shopping area of Metamora.

Other shops in Metamora today include hand-made gemstone jewelry (made while you watch on weekends) and bath and body products in the same store that wows tourists with the unique handmade wood clocks with old computer parts. There is a collection of more than 2100 cookie jars, mostly made in the USA, with a bazillion flavors of ice cream products that draws people back to town time and again. One can watch a copper-smith at work fabricating beautiful unique products. Between at least seven antique shops, (Antiques and Uncle Junques, Meeting House, Antiques and More, Martindale Hotel, Salt Creek, Banes House, and Words and Images) there is probably at least one example of every gadget ever manufactured in the last century. Gail has a huge assortment of books to suit every taste, including many vintage books. And then there’s Donna making her baked goods and fudge as tourists try free samples of the fresh –made delicious products.

In my travels up and down the east coast of the US and in Italy while I was in the service, it was my experience that many local people never realize what wonderful sightseeing treasures are hidden just outside their back door. I have no reason to believe it is much different with the residents of Franklin County with respect to the historic village of Metamora. But there are tens of thousands of our tourist visitors who keep coming back year after year who know the truth as I write it here.

In my shop, we have many times heard from older visitors to town that the atmosphere in and around Metamora today reminds them of the way Nashville, Indiana and Branson, Missouri were 25-35 years ago. That observation usually comes with a plea to keep Metamora just the way it is, avoiding the slick commercialism that has taken over those other places. This echoes the desires of many residents in Metamora.

While largely sleeping in the winter (even though there are several shops open year-round), Metamora awakens in spring and blossoms throughout the year into a colorful, vibrant, peaceful village enjoyed by many visitors from afar. While the details in the town change, the character and beauty that is the essence of Metamora remains timeless.

This Weekend Only: Old Tyme Streets!

We have had the streets modified for a short period of time to try and envision what the town would have looked like in the 1850's with dirt roads. Upon completion, the roads will be restored to near new, but several inches lower than the sidewalk and slanted to carry away rainwater. This photo taken Friday morning (Aug 22). Work should be completed by next Friday. Come on out this weekend and enjoy the view!

Repair Work on Main Street in Metamora

The county will be repairing Main Street in Metamora on the south side of the canal from about Aug 17 through Aug 28. All work should be complete by August 28. The first week it is anticipated they will do the work on the east side of Columbia Street, and the second week on the west side of Columbia. Traffic will obviously be impacted during the work, but sidewalk access will always be available to all shops.

This road work should dramatically help the problems of drainage forcing our town visitors to walk down the middle of the street and threats from icing of pooled water, plus stopping much of the storm water entering building basements because the streets are too high.

Please be patient- it will be an inconvenience, but only for a short time.

Thank you.

FREE outdoor Movie in Metamora

Plan to visit Metamora, Indiana on Aug 15 for a FREE outdoor Movie featuring "Race to Witch Mountain". Movie will be at 9 p.m. in front of the Historic Banes House. Bring your lawn chair or blanket and enjoy a free movie with family and friends. Pop, hotdogs and of course popcorn will be available at a small fee.

Metamora offers free events throughout the year. For more information visit http://www.metamoraindiana.com

FREE Concert by the "Tillers"

The "Tillers" are coming to Metamora August 15 from 1 to 4 at the Gristmill. Opening for the Tillers will be Metamora's own "Baggy Bottom Boys". Come enjoy this free family friendly concert. It doesn't cost anything to visit Metamora and you can enjoy a day to totally relax and let the stresses of the real world behind.

Visit Metamora Indiana for FREE FUN

You're looking for something family fun to do but don't have much money to spend. Metamora, Indiana is your answer. You won't find another place like this and it is FREE to visit. There are many free events and activities scheduled throughout the year. This is the perfect family friendly town to enjoy history, shopping and just relaxing and enjoying the beauty. Visit http://www.metamoraindiana.com to see what upcoming activities are planned.

Tillers coming to Metamora

August 15, Come and hear the Tillers in Metamora at 1:00 at the Grist Mill. The Tillers came into being while busking for nickels, dimes and burritos in the gaslight Clifton district of Cincinnati. In August 2007, Westside comrades Mike Oberst and Sean Geil united their fondness for thumping out old-timey folk and street-style blues. With Oberst on banjo, Geil on guitar, and soon finding a bassist in Jason Soudrette, the trio plunged into the Cincinnati pub scene, serving a concoction of old-time traditionals, labor standards, and some less typical songs of the people's perspective. The band is both traditional and progressive. They resurrect songs of America's past, touching on themes both historical and timeless. The dusty songs of dead generations take new life and energy before spry young audiences. Clawhammer banjo, accoustic guitar, and wooden upright bass meet high mountain harmonies that belt and croon, lament and rejoice. Stories of work and struggle are revived and rekindled. Country blues classics meet new, less known ballads while we all stomp and sing along. Opening for the Tillers will be Metamora's own "Baggy Bottom Boys" which will take the stage at 12 noon.

Metamora Indiana 4th of July

Metamora, Indiana 4th of July Celebration

Next week is the 4th of July and Metamora, Indiana goes all out for Independence Day. Come spend the day in Metamora and enjoy all the great features of this 1838 town as well as a hometown parade (you can even be in it), a ducky durby, a Firemens Festival and Indiana's 3rd largest Fireworks Show! There will be many games and eats for everyone to enjoy.

Spend Independence day in an old fashioned town.

Metamora Indiana Strawberry Days

Metamora, Indiana is an 1838 Historic Canal Town that attract thousands of visitors every year. People enjoy visiting Metamora because there is no other town simular to this amazing old world town.




On June 6th and 7th the town held its annual Strawberry Festival/1838 Days. For 23 years, Metamora has welcomed the summer with their famous Strawberry Day Festival. Visitors enjoyed strawberry shortcake loaded with ice cream and whipped cream.

The weather was perfect - a beautiful sunny weekend that was not too hot. Visitors could hear old time music around town by one of Metamora's favorite musicians "Pappa Joe".

Music was also onboard the Canal Boat and riders enjoyed the songs by John Kogge while they were pulled by horses down the canal.

Of cource you can't have a Strawberry Festival without a pie eating contest.

Metamora's next event will be held on June 20th. This is a special day for Red Hatters.

You can find more information about Metamora, Indiana by visiting the website: http://www.metamoraindiana.com/

Three new chimneys

Workman completely rebuilt the three chimneys on the
Banes House on the finest day of the year so far, April 15. If it's 'Beware the ides of March', it's 'Hurray the ides of April" at least this year.
The original brick crumbled so bad when it was removed that it was useless for anything except the land fill.

Ben Franklin back in Metamora

Ben Franklin, the third, made her less than distinguished appearance last week from a long winter's nap inside a lock. She came up scratched, dirty, and not quite ready for prime time play. Still, there's no surer sign summer these days in Metamora.

Lower The Street Project

Last June a letter was sent to the Franklin County Commissioners describing the problems and requesting repairs on Metamora's Main Street on the south side of the Canal. The road has had so many additions of paving through the years with apparently none of the old paving underneath being removed, that the level of the roadway is at, or in some cases, higher than the sidewalks.

This presents issues with storm water when it rains, with rain water threatening the foundations of many of the historic buildings along the street. In addition, the puddling and pooling of the water presents safety issues to the visiting public who try to walk around the pools. This is particularly dangerous in the winter when the water freezes- there is often no way to walk around the ice ponds formed as a result of the rain because they are so large.

The fix seems to be removing ten or more inches of old paving, then repaving with a new layer, bringing the level of the street down a net six inches or so. And while regrading, careful attention must be paid to dealing with the storm-water runoff.

At a recent County Commissioner's Meeting they indicated the project has been studied, but there are still some unresolved concerns about the appearance of the final street vis-a-vis the overall historic appearance of the town, and about potential safety issues with the access to sidewalks and storefronts from the newly-lowered street.

We'll keep our ear to the ground to keep up with status.

Riding along the canal

Spring brings a chance for horseback riding along the Whitewater Canal into Metamora.

First train 2009

The first train of the year pulled into Metamora almost on the stroke of spring. This was an all caboose train filled with recent railroad tech graduates. The next Saturday another train brought in a load of folks from Connersville Station.

Where else but Metamora?

Jim's pig roams over the streets of Metamora on a bright winter day. Could it be that he is trying for the coveted Freshest Sausage in Town award?

Solutions from the Green Economy

-an editorial from Green America-

Everyone now understands that the economy is broken.

While many name the mortgage and credit-default-swap crises as culprits, they are only the most recent indicators of an economy with fatal design flaws. Our economy has long been based on what economist Herman Daly calls “uneconomic growth” where increases in the GDP come at an expense in resources and well-being that is worth more than the goods and services provided. When GNP growth exacerbates social and environmental problems—from sweatshop labor to manufacturing toxic chemicals—every dollar of GNP growth reduces well-being for people and the planet, and we’re all worse off.

Our fatally flawed economy creates economic injustice, poverty, and environmental crises. It doesn’t have to be that way. We can create a green economy: one that serves people and the planet and offers antidotes to the current breakdown.
Here are six green-economy solutions to today’s economic mess.

1. Green Energy—Green Jobs
A crucial starting place to rejuvenate our economy is to focus on energy. It’s time to call in the superheroes of the green energy revolution—energy efficiency, solar and wind power, and plug-in hybrids—and put their synergies to work with rapid, large-scale deployment. This is a powerful way to jumpstart the economy, spur job creation (with jobs that can’t be outsourced), declare energy independence, and claim victory over the climate crisis.

2. Clean Energy Victory Bonds
How are we going to pay for this green energy revolution? We at Green America propose Clean Energy Victory Bonds. Modeled after victory bonds in World War II, Americans would buy these bonds from the federal government to invest in large-scale deployment of green energy projects, with particular emphasis in low-income communities hardest hit by the broken economy. These would be long-term bonds, paying an annual interest rate, based in part on the energy and energy savings that the bonds generate. During WWII, 85 million Americans bought over $185 billion in bonds—that would be almost $2 trillion in today’s dollars.

3. Reduce, Reuse, Rethink
Living lightly on the Earth, saving resources and money, and sharing (jobs, property, ideas, and opportunities) are crucial principles for restructuring our economy. This economic breakdown is, in part, due to living beyond our means—as a nation and as individuals. With the enormous national and consumer debt weighing us down, we won’t be able to spend our way out of this economic problem. Ultimately, we need an economy that’s not dependent on unsustainable growth and consumerism. So it’s time to rethink our over-consumptive lifestyles, and turn to the principles of elegant simplicity, such as planting gardens, conserving energy, and working cooperatively with our neighbors to share resources and build resilient communities.

4. Go Green and Local
When we do buy, it is essential that those purchases benefit the green and local economy—so that every dollar helps solve social and environmental problems, not create them. Our spending choices matter. We can support our local communities by moving dollars away from conventional agribusiness and big-box stores and toward supporting local workers, businesses, and organic farmers.

5. Community Investing
All over the country, community investing banks, credit unions, and loan funds that serve hard-hit communities are strong, while the biggest banks required bailouts. The basic principles of community investing keep such institutions strong: Lenders and borrowers know each other. Lenders invest in the success of their borrowers—with training and technical assistance along with loans. And the people who provide the capital to the lenders expect reasonable, not speculative, returns. If all banks followed these principles, the economy wouldn’t be in the mess it’s in today.

6. Shareowner Activism
When you own stock, you have the right and responsibility to advise management to clean up its act. Had GM listened to shareholders warning that relying on SUVs would be its downfall, it would have invested in greener technologies, and would not have needed a bailout. Had CitiGroup listened to its shareowners, it would have avoided the faulty mortgage practices that brought it to its knees. Engaged shareholders are key to reforming conventional companies for the transition to this new economy – the green economy that we are building together.

It’s time to move from greed to green.

--Alisa Gravitz

Canoefest meets Wednesday

An organizational meeting for the 2009 Canoefest will be Wednesday, January 21, at Ye Olde Shack. The meeting starts at 6pm, but come at 5:30 and order some dinner. This year, Canoefest meetings will be held in various local restaurants to help support Brookville and Franklin County’s economy.

Canoefest will be on Friday June 26 and Saturday June 27, with the races occurring on Saturday June 27. After such great success in 2008, we are looking to keep that momentum going in 2009, and hope to get many new volunteers for this year’s events. Canoefest is Indiana’s largest canoe race, with 205 boats entered in 2008.

If you have never volunteered for Canoefest before, this is a great meeting to get started. If you have volunteered before, bring a friend to the meeting. New people, and new ideas for events are very welcome, to keep making Canoefest a great event.

Please call Jim Suhre, 765-647-4116, or email jsuhre@fcnbank.com for more information.