Coatesville-Clay Township Public Library is your standard small town, rural library in Indiana…read more While a 3-star review sounds a bit negative, it's honestly not. This library serves its community well, has friendly employees (though a bit guarded toward newcomers), and is perfectly fine in most ways. It's simply a smaller library with fewer bells and whistles. I got to know this library a bit during the time when I was dealing with my father's hospice and after his subsequent death. In Indiana, smaller libraries can often make us think of the historic Carnegie libraries. This isn't that. This is located in a smaller building. I believe the library has been around since 1911, though certainly not in this building. Coatesville is a town of 2,256 residents. The library has 21,385 volumes and an annual circulation of just over 8,000. They hold special events like most libraries (for example, story hours). The couple times I've been here, it's been super quiet but relaxed. The library offers free wifi, free notary service (by appointment), $1 per page faxing, $.10 per page copies, and there's a meeting room/kitchen available for event rental ($125 plus deposit). This isn't a destination library. It's truly a community library and it serves it's community well. In Indy, it seems like every library is getting upgrades and all prettied up. This is a smaller library that may not have all the razzle-dazzle, but it's a vital presence in the Coatesville community and it does that well.

Saturday morning with the square completely quiet gave me time to walk the perimeter and take in…read morethe full look of the Putnam County Courthouse in Greencastle. The building was completed in 1905 in an obvious Neo-Classical design. It is a four story Indiana limestone structure with a rusticated first level, Corinthian columns rising across the facade, a wide pediment with a clock and a central skyline dome. It was designed by John W. Gaddis of Vincennes, who also designed several other Indiana courthouses. Putnam County itself was created in 1821 and named for Israel Putnam, a hero of the French and Indian War and a general in the American Revolutionary War. Greencastle has been the county seat since 1823. The most striking object on the grounds is a German V-1 flying bomb displayed out front. It's a World War II "buzz bomb" mounted on a limestone V-shaped base and it was dedicated in 1948. It is believed to be the only publicly displayed V‑1 in the United States. And a personal tidbit - this is the fourth Putnam County Courthouse I have reviewed after Winfield WV, Palatka FL, Cookeville TN. [Review 1038 of 2026 - 242 in Indiana - 26217 overall]

The Courthouse in Greencastle was undergoing a power wash when I arrived. Streets around the Square…read morewere being replaced and sidewalks renewed. The Square is small with war memorials on the corners and thoughtfully landscaped. The Neoclassical structure was commissioned in 1903 and designed by notable architect, John W. Gaddis of Vincennes, Indiana. The limestone building was commissioned in 1905 at a final cost of $144,997.38, according to a plaque inside. Inside, the atrium floor is tiled. Marble staircases ascend up two flights with incredible alabaster carved bannisters. The building is immaculate and well preserved with plaques memorializing the Revolutionary War and Spinach American War fallen soldiers. There are several important murasl in the building. One of Lady Justice that hangs on the second floor outside the court rooms. A leaded glass dome overhead is the centerpiece of the atrium. The highlight of my visit was seeing the mostly original 1905 courtroom. A deputy made the visit possible, as court was not in session. The courtroom was filled with original oak chairs for jurors and iron/oak benches for spectators. A powerful mural of King Solomon passing judgement on a child claimed by two women was on a front wall. An antique harp stood in the corner ready for weddings. The courtroom has been maintained incredibly. I felt like I had taken a step back in time. Two deputies, a clerk and even a judge took time out of their day to speak with me about the courthouse. There was a strong sense of pride as they described various parts of the courthouse and recommended places to see. My heart is warmed when I meet people as friendly as I met in Greencastle. The Square outside is interesting with little shops. A vacant bank on the corner was the site of John Derringer's robberies. There is street parking around the Square. The Putnam County Courthouse is well worth a visit if you like architecture, history and Midwest hospitality.

I made the mistake of planning a visit to the Parke County Courthouse on the first day of the…read moreCovered Bridge Festival. There were crowds of people and tents were erected around the Square. But, there was an upside. The building was almost empty with no court and a clerk was there to let me into the courtroom. And the courtroom, THAT COURTROOM was magnificent with all original with late 1800's decor and furnishings. And it was immaculate as if it was cherished by the community. Original oak chairs, witness stand, judges bench and jury box stood as they have for over 140 years. The Second Empire/Mansard style courthouse was dedicated in 1881. The structure was designed by T. J. Tolan & Son, Fort Wayne, Indiana. The limestone building is ornate with columns, a balcony and clock tower. I entered through the basement which was filled with stacks of ancient surveyors books. The main level was dark with sparse lighting. Except for the courtroom, the interior is modest. Plaques honoring War heroes hung on the wall and a plaque indicated that the building was renovated 2001-2002. The standout features to me were the incredibly tall windows with original dark woodwork. There is a very old mural of President Lincoln at the top of the steps. The clerk that opened the courtroom was friendly and accommodating. I highly recommend a visit if you like architecture, history government or just being a Hoosier. Take a step back in time. There is parking around the Square. The original jail is now a bed and breakfast.

One of the most magnificent county courthouses I've seen, this could easily be a Capitol building…read moreif it were in Indianapolis! Parke County was formed in 1821 from land cut from Vigo County. The county seat is Rockville. Replacing an earlier two-story brick courthouse that had been built in 1832 (that itself was a replacement for a log courthouse), a new courthouse was designed by architects T.J. Nolan and his son Brentwood. This design incorporates Beaux Arts features with Second Empire design elements. The first floor features segmental-arched windows and the second story is more conventional arches with dormer windows. The building is topped with a three-story clock tower that has a dome of stone and iron. The interior is flush with fabulous doorways and a marble staircase. The Tolans also designed the Kosciusko County Courthouse in Warsaw, Delaware County Courthouse in Muncie and Whitley County's in Columbia City. [Review 1294 of 2024 - 171 in Indiana - 22317 overall]

The town of Roachdale is a little quirky, but with a strong sense of history. The town hasn't…read morechanged much since the early 1900's. The hardware store is still original, but with new owners. There is a sidewalk with a painted red square which memorializes a murder of a local resident in 1891. He was murdered for having an affair with a married woman by her enraged husband. The local library, a Carnegie structure, has remained independent of the County's library system. The building is in mostly original 1913 condition. It is the library that brought me to the town. The people are friendly. I'm not sure I'd call it a destination town. But Roachdale would be a great place to film a movie.

I found information about Roachdale I had forgotten.I lived at Heritage Lake in Putnam county 1994…read moreto 2011.. My son went to Bainbridge Elementary school then North Putnam High School We had a neighbor who had a doctor's office in Roachdale In.His name was Doctor Ray Howell.He lived on the same street we lived on at Heritage Lake.I was in his doctor's office a few times.I he to tell something he was the Christian family Physician I ever met and his words are with me everyday.There was a store on the counter to a building next to it.we went into this building and he Baptist me.That was years ago I can't forget him I cry Everytime I think about that evening.He lived across the street first house.We lived on the left side of Revere CT.He touched me very much .I will never forget him and that everything.

Bakers Camp Covered Bridge is an easy visit with just a quick loop off US-36 in Putnam County. I…read morewalked and drove across the bridge built by J. J. Daniels in 1901. The single span Burr Arch Truss bridge is 128 feet long and strong enough for 8 tons of vehicles. The bridge is also known as the Hillis Bridge. A window in the bridge allows for a glimpse of the of Big Walnut Creek, which passes underneath. The bridge's also known as Hillis Bridge. There is a small pull-off on both sides of the bridge to allow cars to pass. The bridge is the southern most border of Big Walnut Creek Nature Preserve. The well traveled bridge is on the National List of Historic Places. This is the sixth bridge that I visited in Putnam County. I recommend a visit for all bridge and history lovers.

Another Joseph J. Daniels (c. 1826-1916) covered bridge, Baker's Camp Covered Bridge carries County…read moreRoad E 650 over Big Walnut Creek. The bridge was completed in 1901 and is a Burr Arch truss. The bridge is 128 feet long and has a 13 foot clearance with a 10 foot overhand at each end.. Which was helpful as I did drive the Sprinter van across today. It also goes by the name Hillis Bridge and is one of three in northern Putnam County. Its sister bridges are on the north side of State Road 36 - Rolling Stone Covered Bridge is about a 20-minute drive, and Pine Bluff Covered Bridge is about a half-hour north of Baker's Camp. [Review 1299 of 2024 - 176 in Indiana - 22322 overall]

This Single Span Burr Arch Truss bridge was constructed in 1920 by Joseph A. Britton and his son…read moreEugene. It carries County Road 130E across Little Raccoon Creek. Still in use, the bridge is best approached by turning south from the Rockville-Bridgeton road on CR 130E, which is paved on the northern end. Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, this is #14 on the Parke County Covered Bridge Map. Here you can walk under the bridge and examine the structure in detail, although it does take a bit of effort to get up and down the embankments to the stream bed.

If you are a bit of an adventurer, then venture off the planned trails of Parke County (the red and…read moreblack trails come closest) to find this newer addition to the covered bridges. Built in 1920, this is another Burr arch-truss structure over the often crossed Little Raccoon Creek. The bridge covers a span of about 152 feet with an overall length of 169 feet which makes it a middle sized bridge for the state. The bridge has the standard red and white coloring with black lettering on the exterior. No windows are located inside this active bridge though there is venting along the top of the side walls. Because there is no parking here and the bridge is active, it is tough to get out and walk around the bridge without putting yourself and your vehicle at risk of oncoming traffic. Fortunately, if you are paying attention, there are long sight lines in both directions. The easiest way to get here is still going to require travel over unpaved/gravel roads. From Bridgeton Road, take CR 600S (2.5 miles from Bridgeton, nearly 8 miles from Rockville). Head west about 1.5 miles to CR 130E. Turn north and follow about 1000 feet to the bridge. You will have to drive to the next crossroad to turn around or you can continue north to CR 400S and head east back to Bridgeton Road. Review #1373

Crossing Indiana from east to West, it turns out that the Clay County Courthouse in Brazil was my…read morenext stop after visiting the Putnam County Courthouse earlier this morning. Both buildings share that imposing Classical Revival presence, but Clay County's courthouse leans even harder into the style with its limestone exterior, granite columns, marble wainscotting and a stained-glass rotunda skylight. Completed in 1914 and designed by architect John W. Gaddis, it feels like a sibling to Putnam County's courthouse with similar massing, similar era, and the same sense of civic permanence. On an overcast Saturday morning with the building closed, wandering the grounds without anyone around made it easy to appreciate the symmetry and stonework without distractions. The biggest surprise is the F-86 Sabre jet sitting right on the courthouse lawn. It's a Korean War-era aircraft restored in 2023 with help from Duke Energy and loaned to the city by Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. It's an unexpected but striking memorial, and it creates an interesting parallel to the V-1 "Buzz Bomb" displayed at the Putnam County Courthouse. One county honors World War II with a German flying bomb and the other honors the Korean War with an American fighter jet. Both displays feel a little surreal in a courthouse setting, but they add character and give each courthouse its own distinct identity. [Review 1044 of 2026 - 248 in Indiana - 26223 overall]

So here's the verdict on Clay County Courthouse. The three story limestone building is the fifth…read morecourthouse for the county and second in Brazil. This historic Classical Revival building was designed by John W. Gaddis (Vincennes, Indiana) and construction began in 1912 and completed in 1914. The massive limestone columns and center dome are prominent features of the building's exterior. On the grounds, sit an Air Force jet and a Civil War era cannon. The interior of the building is magnificently original. The stained glass of the center dome is gorgeous. The tiled floors, marble stairs and brass light fixtures scream Art Deco. The staff is friendly. A judge welcomed us into the courtroom to take photos. The Superior Court retains its original bench seating and ornate decor. A massive mural sits in an alcove behind the judge. Historical documents and photos are proudly displayed throughout this impressive structure. A display of posters about prominent Clay County historical figures surrounds the atrium. A box of fresh tomatoes left by a local farmer with a FREE sign, reminds me that we are in the heart of farm country. I'd have to say, the Clay County Courthouse is one of my favorite courthouses in Indiana because of the conscience attempt to retain and promote its proud history. There is free street parking around the building. Handicapped accessibility is available at the west entrance of the building. The Clay County Courthouse is worthy of a visit for history, architecture and government buffs.

Just passing through before I get to Indianapolis. Heading to Philly after we leave here. This town…read moreis small and service oriented. Walmart is the go to store, almost pizza is served and liquor and beer prices are just as expensive as gas in 2022! As you are traveling on Hwy 41 (the highway that drives through the entire city) you will notice that stop lights dominate the flow of traffic. It is a quiet town... most business close around 6pm. Almost fine dining closes shortly after sundown... this place reminds me of a place where you will get a good education, go to church and become a rock scientist! It seems like this place is where people come for school or retirement. We came here for a college graduation - now that this is over, and I am not in retirement yet... I guess it is time to go back to Atlanta GA

I love Terre Haute. The parks are wonderful and so well cared for. The school system is one to be…read moreproud of. Especially after having to move away and experience what it's like to NOT have Vigo County Schools, you really appreciate what a good school system really is. Ohio Blvd is my favorite city street and the historic neighborhoods are fun to drive through. Even the city cemetery, Highland Lawn, is a beautiful place to drive, bike or walk. The police department and Sheriff's department are both dedicated to keeping Terre Haute safe. I have lived on the southern coast for many years, but I am moving back home as soon as I retire where I can enjoy four seasons again. Autumn and Halloween are magical there, sledding down Deming Park hill in the winter is special too. What's not to love? You have to live away to know what you're missing.