~ by Julia Pearson
The July 9,1934 morning edition of The Indianapolis Star featured a double column story about the First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, who was passing through the Midwest on her way to Chicago.
Above the fold and in the exact center of the paper’ s front page, the headline read:“ Eleanor Roosevelt visits Brown County, Leaves Indianapolis Off Her Itinerary.”
After spending the night of July 7 at the inn at Clifty Falls State Park, Mrs. Roosevelt asked staff there for the best way to get to Chicago. She was advised that the shortest route went directly through Indianapolis. As expected, word got out, and hundreds of people lined the road south and north of Indianapolis hoping to catch a glimpse of Mrs. Roosevelt, and reporters monitored the road for a scoop.
Accompanied by Hyde Park friends Marion Dickerman and Nancy Cook, Mrs. Roosevelt chose to go through Brown County instead that Monday morning. Fern Seitz Williams was the receptionist that day at the Brown County Art Gallery, which was then located in the Wilkes building across from the Masonic Building on West Main Street. A cream-colored roadster parked in front and the Roosevelt party walked through the door unannounced.
Frank Hohenber’ s photo of Eleanor Roosevelt. courtesy, The Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.
After confirming that the Gallery would accept her personal check, Mrs. Roosevelt purchased two paintings and an etching. The watercolors were by Chicago artist and member of the gallery, James Topping. The etching, entitled“ Simon’ s Barn,” was by Simon Erickson, also of Chicago. All the while, on-lookers started congregating near the entrance.
From his studio near the Gallery, photographer Frank Hohenberger noticed the gathering foot traffic. Grabbing his camera, he captured a picture of Mrs. Roosevelt as she was leaving. He sent a copy to her at the White House address and received a note of thanks on White House stationery.
40 Our Brown County • Jan./ Feb. 2025