I do not need a note on my roadmap to remind me that taking US 421 to State Road 43 is one of the better ways to travel between the central and north central portions of Indiana. I have driven it many times, and on occasion, I have been a little road weary when making that drive, but going through Monon always cheers me up. Monon, an old railroad town, is close to the northern end of Lake Shafer.
It is the railroad aspect of the town that cheers me up; particularly a site just two miles north of town, the Monon Connection Museum and the Whistle Stop Restaurant. The owner, a railroad buff, has accumulated several railroad cars and equipment. Even at night, it is an impressive site. I have not dined at the Whistle Stop, but I am told that patrons eat off the china that was used in the fine dining cars of yesteryear.
Recently I was at a meeting in the Monon Town Hall, a picturesque municipal building in its own right. I was chatting with Michele Robinson, the town's clerk-treasurer, about the museum and restaurant. After giving me some of the history, she reminded me that the facility was not in town limits, and the town had some fine eating establishments inside corporate borders. One of the best is Monon Family Restaurant, but she recommended that I really need to visit the town bakery, O'Rear's Pastry by Maria. It is a recommendation that I intend to follow the next time through town.
- Tom Bredeweg
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Friday, May 16, 2008
Duneland Perch
Recently I had the pleasure of spending some time with the town officials of Chesterton, a town located in Porter County and near Lake Michigan. Chesterton is adjacent to the town of Porter; in fact, the towns are separated mainly by railroad tracks. Both towns have distinct central business areas that seem to be doing well.
There are numerous examples across Indiana of adjacent municipalities, or course, ranging from suburbs with major urban centers, to land-locked urban areas such as the northern portion of Lake County. There are fewer examples of similar-size municipalities that have more or less developed together, side-by-side.
There was an attempt many years ago to merge the towns, but the referendum was soundly defeated. If it had succeeded the town was to be called Westchester, which is the name of the township in the area. The towns cooperate in a variety of ways, but seem generally comfortable with the separate town governments. Cooperation typically extends to include Burns Harbor which is right up the road. There might be a merger some day, but no one seems in a rush.
Many of the cooperative ventures have used the term, Duneland, rather than Westchester. The famous sand dunes of Lake Michigan are just a stone's throw away. No discussion about the Duneland area is complete without mentioning a local delicacy. It may not compete with breaded tenderloins for popularity with Hoosiers, but one has not lived until they have had a plate of boned and buttered perch accompanied by a cold adult beverage. If you are ever in the area, get off the Interstate, have some perch, and visit the twin towns of Porter and Chesterton.
There are numerous examples across Indiana of adjacent municipalities, or course, ranging from suburbs with major urban centers, to land-locked urban areas such as the northern portion of Lake County. There are fewer examples of similar-size municipalities that have more or less developed together, side-by-side.
There was an attempt many years ago to merge the towns, but the referendum was soundly defeated. If it had succeeded the town was to be called Westchester, which is the name of the township in the area. The towns cooperate in a variety of ways, but seem generally comfortable with the separate town governments. Cooperation typically extends to include Burns Harbor which is right up the road. There might be a merger some day, but no one seems in a rush.
Many of the cooperative ventures have used the term, Duneland, rather than Westchester. The famous sand dunes of Lake Michigan are just a stone's throw away. No discussion about the Duneland area is complete without mentioning a local delicacy. It may not compete with breaded tenderloins for popularity with Hoosiers, but one has not lived until they have had a plate of boned and buttered perch accompanied by a cold adult beverage. If you are ever in the area, get off the Interstate, have some perch, and visit the twin towns of Porter and Chesterton.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Circle Inside a Square
Long ago, when I was starting my career with IACT, I went to a Mayors Roundtable meeting hosted by the city of Angola. The city's mayor at that time was Roman Beer, a great guy with a wonderful sense of humor. He told the crowd that day that the city had only one stoplight, and if they could just get a second one, he would feel his public service career complete.
I was back in Angola a few days ago, and Mayor Beer's dream had come true. There were several stoplights. Deb Twitchell, the clerk-treasurer, told me that there are at least seven, maybe eight. And it's good that that the new stoplights are slowing folks down, giving them time to look around at the city streets. There are some streets with large beautiful homes. There are others with more modest homes. To my eye they had something in common. They were all neat and well kept. I looked, but couldn't find, a single junk car.
While tree-lined streets are common in Indiana, Angola is truly home to an urban forest. The county courthouse, just across the square from city hall, is a brick building that reminds one of a New England town hall. The most remarkable feature of the downtown is the Soldiers Monument, which is in the middle of the square. It memorializes the 1,278 citizens of Angola that served their country in the Civil War. Their names are engraved on the monument.
About that square: it really is a circle inside a square. The traffic pattern is what we call a "roundabout" these days. Angola's own is nothing new. The circle was put in place when the monument was erected in 1917. That is seven years before the town of Carmel, now a city known for roundabouts, placed one of the first automatic stop-and-go traffic signals in the at the intersection of Main Street and Range Line Road.
- Tom Bredeweg
I was back in Angola a few days ago, and Mayor Beer's dream had come true. There were several stoplights. Deb Twitchell, the clerk-treasurer, told me that there are at least seven, maybe eight. And it's good that that the new stoplights are slowing folks down, giving them time to look around at the city streets. There are some streets with large beautiful homes. There are others with more modest homes. To my eye they had something in common. They were all neat and well kept. I looked, but couldn't find, a single junk car.
While tree-lined streets are common in Indiana, Angola is truly home to an urban forest. The county courthouse, just across the square from city hall, is a brick building that reminds one of a New England town hall. The most remarkable feature of the downtown is the Soldiers Monument, which is in the middle of the square. It memorializes the 1,278 citizens of Angola that served their country in the Civil War. Their names are engraved on the monument.
About that square: it really is a circle inside a square. The traffic pattern is what we call a "roundabout" these days. Angola's own is nothing new. The circle was put in place when the monument was erected in 1917. That is seven years before the town of Carmel, now a city known for roundabouts, placed one of the first automatic stop-and-go traffic signals in the at the intersection of Main Street and Range Line Road.
- Tom Bredeweg
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