The Mail-Journal, Volume 29, Number 40, Milford, Kosciusko County, 14 November 1990 — Page 7

Community comer

Spring Mill State Park

By MARY LEE WILLMAN Guest Feature Writer

The following article is first in a series about Spring Mill State Park and surrounding area in southern Indiana. In the mid-19605, this reporter and Hubby started to become rather well acquainted with the state parks in Indiana. We decided the only way to take affordable vacations with children was to go camping. We met many interesting people and discovered we live in a beautiful and interesting place. All of the parks are nice and have much to offer, but Spring Mill State Park, near Mitchell, is our favorite. The children are now grown and on their own, but ♦ Hubby and I still manage to spend a week at Spring Mill once every two or three years. Our camper has been retired and we stay in the Park Inn. Our favorite times of year to visit state parks are spring and fall. The woods are beautiful and the crowds small. Most park attractions are open from May through October. The week between the second and third weekends of October will usually find the fall foliage colors at their peak. We checked in at Spring Mill Inn on Oct. 14. It was the week of the park’s Fall Festival, and it was a beautiful sunny day. Our room was on the second floor with a great view of the woods and ravines. After dark, we drove up to the campground shelter where the naturalist was giving a program about astronomy. He had a telescope focused on Saturn and encouraged everyone to “take a look.” He did (jokingly) caution the children that if they touched the telescope controls they would “turn into toads.” He demonstrated how to locate the Big Dipper, Little Dipper, and the North Star, and how to use them to locate others constellations. He shared a lot of folklore and legends about the different stars, constellations and the Milky Way. On Monday morning, we went to the blacksmith’s shop in the reconstructed pioneer village to watch horseshoes being made. There were a lot of school children touring the village. As the blacksmith made a horseshoe, he told the children (with a big smile on his face) that a fire-breathing dragon named Nicholas lived in the forge. When the blacksmith pumped the bellows, it blew air into Nicholas’s ear. The dragon didn’t like having air blown into his ear, so he would blow fire up through the forge. His story brought a wave of giggles from the children and chuckles from the adults. We left the blacksmith’s shop and walked over to the stables where a white haired, bewhiskered gentleman, who must have been Santa Claus in disguise, was demonstrating the use of a primitive, hand-driven lathe and drill. He had Shakerstyle doll furniture on display that he had made using the old tools. From there, we went over to the village mill building where they grind cornmeal every hour on the hour. We had heard that the museum on the top two floors of the mill had been renovated and improved. We had heard correctly, and spent a lot of time browsing through the museum. There were seveal cases displaying furniture salesmen’s samples. Made of fine woods and complete in every detail, the beautiful, miniature furnishings presented craftsmanship seldom seen today. Other collections in the museum featured treenware, Indian artifacts, clothing, guns, knives, dishes, primitive farming tools, a complete doctor’s office, documents and photographs. Although the mill is built of stone and |he walls are three feet thick, the whole place began to groan and tremble when the miller started to grind corn. Not being as brave as Hubby, this reporter had a sudden urge to be on the first floor when the water wheel started to turn. I’m sure it was safe enough, but having survived several tornados, shaking, groaning buildings still cause me to be a bit nervous. The dining room at the inn serves corn sticks made from the meal ground at the mill, and it is very tasty. During the afternoon, we took a drive through Martin State Forest and the surrounding countryside. The fall colors were very pretty and the hills and ravines provided a scenic view of the area. We didn't get back to the park in time to go on the cemetery tour with the park historian. Later that evening when we heard other guests at the inn talking about the tour, we

were sorry to have missed it. It seems they learned a great deal about pioneer burial customs, symbols and epitaphs. To a history buff, information of that sort is of the utmost importance. That evening, the historian showed a film about three local people who have chosen to retain the lifestyle of their ancestors. We hope someday to meet those people, or others like them, and have a lengthy conversation. They are the sort of folks who share their strength and individualism with the community and help to make America strong. Spring Mill Park has several caves that can be explored at certain times of the year, if you are with a park guide. One of the first “Rescue 911” TV shows had a reenactment of a cave rescue at Spring Mill several years ago. Two men who were staying at the park campground decided to go exploring alone in one of the caves. They said later they had done it many times before. While they were in the cave, the water suddenly started to rise, and soon became a rushing torrent. After several hours, one man was caught in the current and washed out through the cave entrance. He was injured, but alive. The water was icy cold and the force of the current caused rescue teams to have great difficulty in reaching the second man. He spent a cold, wet and frightening two days and a night crouched on a narrow rock ledge deep in the cave. He was finally brought to safety, and there was some question as to how much longer he could have survived. There are warning signs posted all over the park telling people that the caves are very dangerous and should never be entered without a guide and the proper equipment. Southern Indiana is honeycombed with caves and underground springs and waterways. A sudden rain, many miles away, can cause a fast and furious rise in the water level. Dry caves will flood and caves with water flowing through them will quickly fill to the top. It is an underground system similar to the treacherous low spots that cause flash flooding in the Western United States. During the week, busloads of children were brought in to see the Pioneer Village. It is an excellent educational experience for them and a chance to become acquainted with their heritage and discover their roots. We watched a demonstration of candle dipping, and were told how to make tallow and beeswax candles. To get something as simple as a candlewick, the pioneers had to find a cotton plant and wash and card the fiber. Then the cotton was spun into thread and the thread braided to make the wick. Beeswax candles are the best because they don’t smoke, spatter or smell like tallow. Hubby and I exchanged glances. As far as we were concerned, it sounded like a lot of work. It was only a few steps over to the log cabin known as the “Granny White House.” The park historian was there showing how the pioneers dyed wool, cotton and silk to be made into cloth. It was a lengthy and complicated process. Color shades were unpredictable, and were quick to fade and wash out of the garments. Different colored dyes were made from nuts, berries, bark, roots, and a large variety of plants. & On Tuesday evening, Hubby went on a night hike with one of the park naturalists. It was called “Owl Prowl,” and they were going to look for night flying critters. Hubby said they saw glowworms, the larvae of lightening bugs. We had heard of glowworms, but neither one of us had ever seen any. Hubby said they really are worms that glow in the dark. I know now why he told me about the glowworms first thing. He was hoping I wouldn’t notice that he had brought back a brochure telling how to build a box to attract bats. He explained how many mosquitos a single bat can eat in one night, but I “made a face” anyhow. Four Caves There are four caves within the boundaries of Spring Mill State Park, located just outside Mitchell, that can be explored by the public, although a special permit is required. No cave should ever be entered without proper equipment, and careful safety rules should always be observed. The park caves were created over a period of thousands of years by slowly moving, slightly acidic water. Rain water picks up enough carbon dioxide from the soil and air to form a weak solution of carbonic acid. The acid

solution then seeps into the limestone bedrock and enters the water table. As the acid solution passes through cracks in the limestone, it dissolves and washes away minute portions of the rock. Over the years, the cracks become larger until they are finally big enough to be called caves. Drop by drop the water, which is saturated with dissolved minerals, continues to seep into the cave. Some of the minerals are deposited on the cave walls, floor and ceiling, and unique rock formations are formed. Such deposits should never be disturbed by man, because they take thousands and thousands of years to form. Stalactites are the long needlelike formations that hang down from the cave ceiling. Stalagmites are the stone columns that grow up from the cave floor as a result of the constantly dripping water. A solid column is the result of a stalactite and a stalagmite growing together from above and below. When more than just a drop of water is flowing, the resulting rock formation will resemble the folds of curtains or draperies. Flowstone formations are caused by a film of water washing over an existing surface. The delicate and unusual looking soda-straw formations are the result of dripping water that evaporates quickly. What is known today as Hamer Cave was found in 1814. A man named Samuel Jackson was looking for a site where he could build a mill. When he saw water rushing out of the cave entrance, he decided he had found the spot. Jackson built the first mill in what in now Spring Mill State Park. Over the years, the water from Hamer Cave has powered two grain mills and a sawmill, and continues to do so today. The openings to Bronson Cave and Twin Caves were created in ancient times when the caves’ roofs collapsed. Bronson Cave is named for a pioneer who lived in the area during the 1860 s. At one time, Twin Caves were part of the same tunnel-like cave formation. In May of 1986, Dr. Carl H. Eigenmann, a famous zoologist and professor at Indiana Univer-

Sr GUYS CELEBRATE 40TH ANNIVERSARY — Mr. and Mrs. Max Guy, Atwood, will be celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary with an open house on Sunday, Nov. 25, at the Leesburg Community Building, School Street in Leesburg. The reception will last from 2-4 p.m. and will be hosted by the couple’s children and their spouses. Max Guy and the former Doris Baker were united in marriage on November 23, 1950, by Rev. T.M. Greenhoe at the First Presbyterian Church in Niles, Mich. Mr. Guy is retired from Bendix Corporation of South Bend, and Mrs. Guy is retired from Zimmers, Warsaw. They are the parents of Nancy Collins, Leesburg; James R. Guy, Wilmot; and Leah M. Guy, deceased. The Guys have four grandchildren. Friends and family are invited to the open house. The couple requests no gifts.

MILFORD KIWANIS PANCAKE & SAUSAGE BREAKFAST Saturday, November 17,1990 6:00 To 10:00 A.M. MILFORD COMMUNITY BUILDING Matts: $3.00 Children (0-12) $2.00 PROCEEDS TO YOUTH SERVICES

sity, discovered some strangelooking fish in a pool in the Twin Caves. He described them as looking like “ghostly whiteskinned catfish that swim on their backs.” The fish were also blind. The fish are small, and seldom reach even inches in length. They hunt fpr food by using highly developed ridges around their heads that can detect movement in the water. The fish are not white, but a delicate pink color. Their skin is so transparent that the blood vessels show through, causing the pink tint. Dr. Eigenmann concluded that the fish cannot hear and have no sense of taste. Although their ability to find food is highly developed, they do on occasion eat their own young. Dr. Eigenmann named his discovery “amblyopsis,” which means “dim-eyed.” An experimental research station was built at the mouth of the cave. The remains of the culture basins Dr. Eigenmann built in the gorge leading to Twin Caves can be seen today He also built a shack in the gorge that was used as a home and laboratory, where he spent many years studying the odd-looking little fish. Samuel Jackson Jr., the man who first discovered the stream flowing out of Hamer Cave, was a young naval officer and a Canadian. He fought with the United States in the War of 1812, and served under Admiral Perry at Lake Erie. He became, acquainted with the beauty\ of southern Indiana while serving as a guide for General William Henry Harrison. Jackson built a 15-feet-square wooden grist mill in a deep valley surrounded by protective hills and stone outcroppings. Settlers from miles around were quick to bring their grain to be ground. Claiming “Squatters’ Rights,” it wasn’t until 1816 that Jackson received legal title to the land from President James Madison. Only five months after receiving title to the land, the Jacksons suddenly packed up and moved (with no explanation) to Columbia County, Pa. In March of 1817, Jackson deeded his property and buildings to

Cuthbert and Thomas Bullitt, Louisville, Ky. The Bullitt brothers owned a lot of property, and were promoters of frontier communities. They were known as “The Merchants of Louisville.” The Bullitt brothers had also invested in the new towns of Paoli and Terre Haute. Thomas Bullitt was married to Diane Moore Gwanthmey, a favorite niece of General George Rogers Clark. The brothers owned farmland that covered most of what is now the present day city of Louisville, Ky. They lived in mansions that looked out over the Ohio River. The Bullitts replaced Jackson’s small mill with a three-story stone mill building, 60 feet long and 43 feet wide. The walls are three feet thick and the building is 50 feet high. It took 25,000 cubic feet of stone to complete the structure. A building of such impressive size was required to support the massive wooden overshot water wheel used to turn the heavy grinding stones. Water was carried from the cave entrance to the mill by a flume which was four feet wide and two feet high, made of tulip poplar. The flume was supported by tall limestone pillars. Entire trees were required for some of the massive timers used inside the mill building. The original grindstones, made of flint, were imported from France and are on display inside the building. Doors and casements are made of black walnut, and floors are ash. Most of the other wood used in the mill is tulip poplar. All of the gears and wheels used to turn the millstones are made of handhewn wood, and are truly a test of the craftsmen’s skill. Two log houses were built facing each other, with a long lawn in between, a short distance from the mill. Both houses were considered mansions by frontier standards. The smaller house was occupied by the miller, Uriah Glover and his family. The larger home was used by members of the Bullitt family when they visited Spring Mill Village. A community started to grow up around the mill. There were family cabins, a blacksmith, shoemaker, general store, post office, apothecary, tavern, distillery, carpenter, mill office, weaver and hat maker. The village has been restored and is now a working community, complete with craftsmen in period costumes. This reporter and Hubby visited the apothecary shop to hear the park historian (who was playing the part of Dr. Lemon) explain medical treatment and medicine from the 1800 s. A person would have to be made of very sturdy stuff to survive the prescribed cures. There really was a man named Dr. Jacob Lemon who practiced medicine at Spring Mill Village around 1830. He was a self-taught doctor who made his own pills and tonics. Even so, village residents considered themselves fortunate to have someone around who had even a limited knowledge of how to treat the sick or injured. A water powered sawmill was added to the village around 1824. It was a wondrous affair that was mounted in a wooden frame driven in an up and down motion by a small undershot wheel. No matter how crude, the sawmill provided some relief from the back-breaking work required in building a new community in the wilderness in the early 1800 s. Blood typing Methods of determining blood types back in the '4os and ’sos were often incorrect as the RH factor was concerned. There was an error rate of 10 percent or more. Persons concerned about that should consider a new blood-type test.

"Oh boy l A discount on my car insurance Thanks, honey •' / Speoal discounts far safe drivers 46 and over are available from your Auto-Owners agent fawww) U» "W C» M ■ Milford Insurance Center

ENGAGEMENT ANNOUNCED — Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Holderread, Milford, announce the engagement of their daughter, Victoria Leigh, to Brian Eugene Haines, son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Haines, Warsaw. The bride-elect is a 1987 graduate of Wawasee High School and a 1990 graduate of Ivy Tech, Fort Wayne. She is employed by Brock Manufacturing, Milford. The prospective groom is a 1989 graduate of Warsaw Community High School. He is employed by Chore-Time Equipment, Milford. The couple is a planning a May 18, 1991, wedding at the Milford Christian Church. Christmas Bell Walk The Syracuse-Wawasee Garden Club will once again be helding a Christmas Bell Walk. This year's event will be held on Sunday, Dec. 9, from 1 to 4 p.m. with five homes in the SyracuseWawasee area to be included in the tour. Tickets for the Christmas Bell Walk may be purchased from garden club members and at homes on the tour. Married recently Jean Lemmon, North Webster, has announced' the marriage of her daughter, Kathryn Ann, to Bret Anderson of Bloomington. The wedding took place at the Imperial Palace Hotel in Las Vegas, Nev., on November 5. The bride is a graduate of Wawasee High School and Indiana University, and is a freelance writer. The groom graduated from high school in Bloomington, and has attended Indiana University. He is in the music business. The couple will reside in Bloomington at 702 W. 13th Street. Dorothy Haney hosts meeting Sixteen members of the Columbian Reading Circle met Monday evening, Nov. 12, in the Milford home of Dorothy Haney. During the business meeting, Linda Greene, chairwoman of the annual Christmas party, invited the group to the Milford United Methodist Church at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 3. A book honoring, and in memory of, the late Edith I. Baumgartner is to be placed in the Milford Public Library. The remainder of the evening was spent discussing the New York Times' bestseller, “The Bridesmaids.” From “Hollywood queen” to “princess bride,” this book is a fascinating memoir of Grace Kelly, her intimate friends and their world of privilege and wealth. The book is written'by one of Princess Grace’s bridesmaids, Judith Balaban Quine, the-, daughter of a former president of Paramount Pictures. First rules The first formal rules for baseball required that the winning team score no fewer than 21 runs.

Wed., November 14,1990 — THE MAIL-JOURNAL

Charm, Chatter club to begin meeting earlier

Charm and Chatter Club members met November 5 at the home of Vergie Jernigan. Devotions were given by Ruby Badskey. She gave a reading about Thanksgiving. Colleen Bryant presided during the business session. Corrinne Staples was assistant hostess. An amendment to the club constitution to change the meeting time from 7 p.m. to 1 p.m., on the first Monday of each month, was approved. Lunetta Metcalf led group singing of “Over the River and Through the Wood.” Joyce Phaneuf gave the lesson, “Water Quality.” She stressed that anyone living in Kosciusko County should have the quality of their drinking water tested every two years. Mrs. Staples discussed health and safety, and gardening. Mrs. Phaneuf also reported on resource management. It was announced that a Christmas dinner party will be held December 3 at the home of Mrs. Bryant. Those attending are asked to bring a salad or dessert. A program will be presented by Marian Steedman. Mrs. Jernigan and Mrs. Staples served refreshments of lemon cream dessert and cookies. Dot Baumle received the door prize. Friends of the Library to join state organizations Pat Betts was welcomed as a new member during the November 7 meeting of North Webster-Tippecanoe Friends of the Library held at the library.

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DEAR DIANE I have a rather strange problem that I hope you can help me with. I’m 17 years old, and I have been dating a guy also 17 for three years. We have been neighbors and friends for most of our lives. At the age of 14, we began getting involved as boyfriend and girlfriend. We never had sex at that age, just the normal things teenagers do, movies, a kiss goodnight, etc. Now, things have gotten much more serious in the past year, and we both truly love one another, and plan someday to wed. Our problem is that our parents are both divorced, and Hr jfl Bk DECEMBER WEDDING — Alice Olivia Knopp and Ronald Lee Fulk have announced their plans to be wed on Saturday, Dec. 1. The wedding will take place at the United Methodist Church in Geneva, 111. The bride-elect is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas C. Knopp, East John Street, Syracuse." She is a graduate of Geneva High School, and is presently employed as collections supervisor by Chemlawn, West Chicago, 111. The groom-elect is the son of Mrs. Doris Fulk, Mason, 111. He is a graduate of West Chicago High School, and the owner of RBS Construction Company, St. Charles, 111. The couple will reside near the Fox River in St. Charles.

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Marty Crawford, vice president, presided. Imogene Palmer read minutes of the October meeting. Betty Hinton gave the treasurer’s report. Betty Clark reported on the North Webster Community Christmas Bazaar, which was held November 3. It was announced that North Webster-Tippecanoe Township Friends of the Library have voted to secure membership in the Indiana Library Association and the Indiana Friends of the Library. Helen Linebach, librarian, Mrs. Clark, and Mrs. Crawford reported on sessions they attended at the Indiana Library Association meeting held in October at South Bend. Several members of the FOL recently helped pack 2,077 books and two boxes of toiletries at the North Webster American Legion for shipment to service men and women serving in the Persian Gulf area. This is the second collection of books to be packed and sent to the Persian Gulf. Items still needed by U.S. troops in the Middle East are automotive and sports magazines, corssword puzzle books, paperback and hard-cover books, and non-aerosol toiletries. Items may be dropped off at the library or the North Webster American Legion, or call 834-2175 for pickup. The next FOL meeting is scheduled for December 5 at 9 a.m. Any interested person is welcome to attend.

have also become involved in a relationship together. They have just told us that they plan to marry and that will make my boyfriend and me stepbrother and stepsister. Our parents said we must stop seeing one another after all this time, as we’ll soon be related. My boyfriend and I are in no way going to stop seeing one another, or stop loving each other. We didn’t want to marry quite this young, but our parents are leaving us no choice. Once they’re married, we’re related, so we must get married before ' this happens. We plan on eloping. We’ve searched for other aei». r .r< tions, but nothing seems to work. IN LOVE DEAR IN LOVE: Your parents are way off base. Yes, technically you will be stepbrother and stepsister. However, you are not related by blood, so there are no obstacles in the way of a relationship between you two. Since you are already 17 and have already been seeing each other, you should be allowed to continue to do so. I suggest you show this letter to your parents and let them know what I’ve said. This is not “The Brady Bunch,’’ where the children were very young and the two families merged as one. Besides, that was television, and this is real life. To be honest, it sounds to me as if your parents are somehow fantasizing about a family life that just can’t be at this point in all your lives. Another concern your parents may have is that you two will be living in the same house. The proximity alone is a temptation. You will have to agree (and stick to it) that you won’t visit each others' rooms, and if for any reason you must, the door will always be open. Conduct yourselves responsibly, and you should be treated accordingly. Few eggs hatch Os every million codfish eggs laid, about five hatch.

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