Brown County State Park Manager Doug Baird.
Martin characters that brought Brown County ways to the country through the Indianapolis News as well as 300 other newspaper outlets. Though Hubbard died in 1930, the lodge in Brown County State Park was named the“ Abe Martin Lodge,” and the names of Abe’ s neighbors graced the visitors’ cabins.
By 1933 total park acreage was 3,821 acres, and a saddle barn was added to the park’ s offerings. Spanning Salt Creek at the north entrance, a covered bridge was added. Originally erected in Putnam County by Henry Wolfe just a hundred years before, the bridge was moved and then reconstructed by the State Highway Department.
Reclaiming the hillsides that were left barren by timbering and erosion, the Civilian Conservation Corps Battalion # 1557 began work in June 1934. The CCC planted many of the pine, walnut, spruce, and locust trees. Records show that the steepest areas were planted in about 1,000,000 Scotch, white and red pine, and 21,450 Norway spruce. North of Hohen Point was the camp that housed the personnel of the CCC in several small barracks and a large mess hall. This area was the site of an old village called Kelp that had already ceased to exist.
Property Manager of Brown County State Park since 1994, Doug Baird, has been with the park since 1978 when he came as the assistant property
manager. He started his career with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources in 1975 as a seasonal employee at Turkey Run State Park while a student at Purdue. When asked,“ What is the part of the Park that is special to you?” Baird relied,“ The lower shelter is special to me because my wife and I got married there. The covered bridge is special because of its age and its double-barreled uniqueness, and because where it was originally built was not far from where I grew up, and my dad could remember the bridge when he was a young boy. And wherever I find mushrooms becomes a special place to me, but I won’ t be more specific than that.”
Doug and his wife, Teresa, live at the park since houses are provided for the Property Managers and Assistants in Indiana State Parks. It’ s a wonderful place for their daughter, Natalie, and son, Ethan to grow up. Doug has seen a lot of growth in the trees and vegetation in the park over the years. The views from the park’ s scenic overlooks have changed as natural progression has gradually taken place. He notes the make-up of the park’ s natural environment has been altered, unfortunately, as invasive species of plants and animals have been introduced, much to the detriment of the native flora and fauna. Diversity in visitors themselves mirrors the changing demographics of the general population.
Over the years, Doug has seen major expansions, replacements, and renovations of facilities throughout the park. The Abe Martin Lodge has been expanded and renovated a number of times to include an indoor aquatic center, as well as more guest rooms and cabins. In the early 1980’ s, the campgrounds were upgraded and expanded. The Nature Center was enlarged in the mid-‘ 80s, and is currently receiving upgrades to the public restrooms. The original pool was replaced in
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Brown County’ State Park’ s Lower Shelter.
July / August 2016 • Our Brown County 17