down slopes, and plowed on the contour. The stage was set for erosion on hills of poor soil. An unproductive, then destitute life followed for those who stayed.
Yet young sprouts and shrubs soon covered many abandoned acres, a resilient and recovering capacity of lands left on their own. Nearly all of Brown County State Park, Indiana’ s largest, remained in this early brush stage, a perfect place to begin restoring and eventually releasing native birds and animals. Private lands willingly sold to the state. Game farms were established as part of the early Indiana Department of Conservation’ s attempt to replenish wildlife that had over time been extirpated.
In the early 1920s, game birds of grouse, quail, and Hungarian partridge were reared in pens on what is now the large playing field by the park’ s fire tower. Sportsmen’ s dollars and early experiments with this new type of restoration helped return diminished species, but over time habitat improvement proved to be the key to healthy populations, not simply the release of the animals.
A group of painters descended into Nashville to paint a“ peaceful valley,” and another chapter of our county history began— an art colony with a wooded hills backdrop.
Remaining park timber in the mid-1930s was next utilized by company # 1557 of the Indiana Civilian Conservation Corps. Young men out of work, learning on site, used oak for beams and hickory flooring, along with native sandstone for park structures like the upper and lower shelters, saddle barn, and portions of the Abe Martin Lodge.
Local craftsmen taught the young CCC men skills they could use in construction, plumbing, carpentry, and electricals. Lessons learned for later life took place in park barracks and tents. Many went on to rejuvenate a recovering nation.
I have no way of knowing if any of those young men furthered their experiences with
wood and forests. They certainly had plenty of opportunity to learn by living in a forest surrounded by nature and rising at dawn. Maybe they were too busy to appreciate it.
An“ army-life” existence is how one CCC recruit put it.“ But I loved the rugged lifestyle,” he said,“ The disciplined routine and the construction trades I learned helped me get a job”.
My love of wood, forest studies, and cultural use has been life-long. When I received a basswood whistle from my grandpa he made from a twig dragged out from firewood kindling, I was transfixed. Since that early experience, wood’ s many uses such as building material, tools, furniture, and art have intrigued me.
I can’ t admire the wood I use fully unless I know a bit about where it came from. It connects me to the resource and to the land. •
Questions or comments regarding Field Notes articles, contact the author at: jpeagleman @ gmail. com
Beautifully landscaped on 59 acres
91 Campsites each with a fire pit, picnic table, and gravel lot
Staff on-site Full water / sewer hookups 20, 30 and 50 AMP Access to all campground amenities
Minutes from downtown Nashville • Easy access from I65
5515 State Road 46 East • Nashville, Indiana 812-568-1209 • info @ awayadayrvcampground. com
Nov./ Dec. 2024 • Our Brown County 61