Andi in the classroom at the Brown County High School. photo by Bob Gustin
BARTELS continued from 27“ This is the job I’ ve always wanted. I had always envisioned myself eventually teaching art in Brown County and helping out with the businesses,” she said.
Andi admits life can be stressful, but says she’ s excited about the changes.
“ If you don’ t take chances, you don’ t get anywhere.
“ I plan to live here the rest of my life, raise my kids, and be involved in the community.
“ Family comes first. Everything Lance and I do revolves around the kids. We like spending time with them, riding dirt bikes, going to sporting events, or just hanging out with them.”
But the Nashville House is also family, in a way.
“ Growing up, the Nashville House was always the center. It was
home for me and my sisters, and we spent lots of time there.” The structure was built in 1867, was purchased by Andy’ s father, Jack, in 1927, burned in 1943, and was rebuilt a few years later.
“ The whole town of Nashville has an emotional attachment for me,” she said.
“ It makes me sad I didn’ t get more time with my parents as an adult. I could use some of that Andy Rogers advice right now.” Andi is optimistic the new Brown County Music Center will bring more visitors to Nashville, but hopes the town retains its character, while adapting to the 21st Century. She doesn’ t want to see it become a glitzy tourist attraction, but also doesn’ t want it to take on a historical reenactment air.
“ It needs to be a dynamic place where things change, but still has the same feel,” she said.
Somehow, it seems, she got that fatherly advice for which she yearns. Here’ s what Andy Rogers said in an Our Brown County article in 2002:
“ People say,‘ Well, we can’ t change.’ But we can change and still retain some of the flavor of Brown County. We need people to live here. I’ m in the tourist business but we don’ t want to turn this town over to the tourists. You can go to Gatlinburg if you want to see what happens to a town that turns it all over to business. It’ s not a town anymore— it’ s a shopping center. We need people here. This town needs to be alive.”
Andi agrees. •
28 Our Brown County • March / April 2020