contents
16 The Hammer and the Hatchet
~ by Paige Langenderfer
20 Hunter’ s Electronics
~ by Chrissy Alspaugh
24 Brown County Antique Mall
~ by Karen E. Farley
30-31 Photos ~ by Matt Hughes
32 Our Covered Bridges
~ by Julia Pearson
35 Old Bottles ~ by Paul Sackmann
36-37 Calendar of Events
38 Observations
~ by Jim Eagleman
40 Susy O’ Donnell’ s Pottery
~ by Cindy Steele
44 Wood Stoves
~ by Mark Blackwell
50 Maple Syrup Festival
~ by Paige Langenderfer
52 The Old Coal Furnace
~ by Jeff Tryon
56-57 Services Directory
58 Warm Up From Within
Cover Photo: Bean Blossom Bridge ~ by Cindy Steele contributors
Mark Blackwell makes his home in an area of Brown County where“ the roadway is rough and the slopes are seamed with ravines and present a meatless, barren, backbone effect.” He was born in the last century and still spends considerable time there. He plays music with the“ Lost Shoe String Band” when he can get away with it, writes for Our Brown County, and only works when he has to.
Jeff Tryon is a former news editor of The Brown County Democrat, a former region reporter for The Republic, and a former bureau chief for The Huntsville Times. Born and raised in Brown County, he currently lives with his wife, Sue, in a log cabin on the edge of Brown County State Park. He is a Baptist minister.
Jim Eagleman recently retired from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources after 40 years as a naturalist at Brown County State Park. He hopes to finish his memoirs soon. He and his wife Kay have three sons, all graduates of Brown County High School. Kay and Jim enjoy all outdoor activities, especially kayaking.
Julia Pearson wrote for a secular Franciscan magazine for ten years and served as its human interest editor. She and her husband Bruce have made Lake Woebegone Country their new homebase for life’ s continuing adventures. Julie, Bruce, and four-footed Suki are adjusting well. Julia enjoys traveling and visiting museums of all types and sizes, with her children and grandchildren.
Joe Lee is an illustrator and writer. He is the author of The History of Clowns for Beginners and Dante for Beginners and illustrator of six other titles, including the forthcoming Dada and Surealism for Beginners in the ongoing“ for Beginners” series. He is an awardwinning editorial cartoonist for the Bloomington Herald Times, a graduate of Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Clown College, and a veteran circus performer. Joe lives with his wife Bess, son Brandon, George the cat, and his dogs, Jack and Max.
Chrissy Alspaugh is a freelance writer and owner of Christina Alspaugh Photography. She lives in Bartholomew County with her husband, Matt and two children. She can be reached at < christina _ alspaugh @ yahoo. com >. View her work at < ChristinaAlspaughPhotography. com > or on Facebook.
Paige Langenderfer is a freelance writer and communications consultant. She writes for numerous Indiana publications, and is a featured columnist in The Republic. She earned her Bachelor’ s degree in journalism from Indiana University and her Master’ s degree in public relations management from IUPUI. Paige lives in Columbus with her husband and daughter. She can be contacted at < langenderferpaige @ gmail. com >.
Karen E. Farley is mother of three, stepmom of four, grandmother of twelve and great grandmother of one. Karen’ s passion for writing began in her twenties writing poems to her daughters. Married for 25 years, she contributes to several local, national, and international magazines.
Matt Hughes is a retired UPS driver who resides in the hills of Brown County with his wife Christy and sons Clint and Clay. Matt was raised in nearby Columbus and has been working in Brown County since 1989. He moved here in 1994. He enjoys hiking, mountain biking, and kayaking and has been an avid photographer most of his life.