littleindiana.com » small town overview

Medaryville, Indiana: Mega Potato Fans a.k.a My Kind of People

Jessica Nunemaker — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:18:40 +0000

Medaryville, Indiana in Pulaski County – you are such a cute little place. The Nunemaker Family Circus rolled into town and, I admit, it was really spur of the moment, as in “grab a toy for the car and let’s just GO” spur of the moment!

So, needless to say, we didn’t have any plans. There were no special places written down to go visit but – we decided to be rebels (as hard as that is with kids) and took off!

Medaryville, Indiana – you surprised us! What a great shop we zoomed past on the way to town (and had to turn around to browse and even buy from). More on that wonderful surprise, later!

Hubs took the kids to the nice little park just a block away from the downtown area while I gallivanted around town, camera in hand. I did happen upon a friendly local lady who kindly gave me a little Medaryville history lowdown on the old town jail (and later fire station) as well as a few other neat buildings in town. I always find the history of a place fascinating, don’t you?

It is a tiny little town but Medaryville, Indiana residents do have a big festival that they have only recently resurrected: The Potato Festival! Yes, it appears that Medaryville residents are as big a fan of potatoes as I am. Or, maybe that’s just a Midwest thing. We Hoosiers do enjoy our carbs!

I’ve got more to post about this tiny little place – including a bit of unusual architecture for such a small town. Seriously, the downtown-located library has a very grand exterior entrance. So, just consider this a nice preview of quiet Medaryville, Indiana!

Medaryville, Indiana in Pulaski County

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Wonderful Whiting, Indiana

Jessica Nunemaker — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:20:12 +0000

After passing ugly steel mill after ugly steel mill and dealing with traffic – we were seriously starting to wonder if Whiting, Indiana was going to turn into one big disappointment.

It probably didn’t help that we got a bit lost and had to stop at the Marina and ask for directions (Yahoo, that wasn’t nice!). But, the guy at the Marina was so incredibly helpful and gave awesome directions (thank you Marina guy!) we didn’t wander too long.

Waltzing into Whiting, Indiana can only be compared to the moment in The Wizard of Oz when Dorothy steps out of her dusty sepia-colored world and into the unexpected awesomeness that is Munchkinland. While Whiting didn’t have ruby slippers or a yellow brick road, it was certainly surprising!

The image on the right was our first little glimpse of Whiting. Is that an inviting sight or what? I could hardly wait to get out of the car and start exploring! Just seeing an old theater like that that wasn’t only in good shape but was actually still in business was a definite mood boost!

Yes, Whiting, Indiana is completely unlike the surrounding area – it’s so clean and tidy. There is no sign of the city here, only hanging flower baskets lining the sidewalks, shoppers loping along, and town banners hanging from street lamps.

There’s more diversity (which was really nice to see) but, close to big city or not, the people are like people from any small town: friendly! We were approached by three very different Whiting residents asking if we were new to the area and if we had been to The Pierogi Festival. Whiting residents love their Pierogi!

The Pierogi Festival, a nod at the town heritage (Slovak and Polish), is a pretty big deal around these parts – it’s absolutely huge! If you’ve ever had homemade Pierogi, you would understand why.

While we missed the festival (I blame our kids) hubs and I did spend a very full day exploring this little town all by ourselves. Surrounded by city or not, Whiting is a little town with lots of charm and plenty of fun things to do. Really, I can’t wait to tell you all about it!

Walking around Whiting is like walking in any small town – people smile or say “hi,” homes are tidy and well-kept, and, most importantly, you just feel safe. Mere blocks away from Whiting you hit East Chicago which is about the exact opposite of little Whiting, Indiana (it’s dirty, sprawling, and just plain ugly). How this small town has managed to hold on to its small town vibe I don’t know.

I’ve got plenty to post about Whiting, Indiana, so consider subscribing by email or RSS Feed (yes, it’s free) to stay on top of it! Who knew that a small town could retain its personality even when engulfed by the big, bad city. Hooray for Whiting, Indiana – what a lovely small town treasure you are!

Whiting, Indiana in Lake County

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Mulberry, Indiana: Once the Wealthiest Town in the Country!

Jessica Nunemaker — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:24:36 +0000

Mulberry, Indiana is such a tiny little place now but would you believe that once upon a time it was the the second largest town in Clinton county? Furthermore, it was believed to be the wealthiest town of it’s size in the entire United States!

Of course, that was back in 1938, and I’m guessing that the slow-down and eventual end of passenger trains passing through might of had something to do with the current smaller state of Mulberry, Indiana.

I would love to travel back in time to Mulberry’s heyday – with the train and later bus station, I bet it was just a bustling little place! Even now there are a lot of really nice architectural details on some of the downtown buildings.

Mulberry is a bit quiet. On the corner of town in a really neat building sits Mulberry Package Liquors (the owner is a really nice guy), a resale shop (that actually had a sign on the door with the owner’s number so you could call him/her if they weren’t around and you felt like browsing!) at which there was the cutest polka dot dress ever in the window and I was really tempted to call…

Anyway, there was even a taxidermy! I know I sound rather excited about that but it’s been awhile since I’ve seen one and it was just a little unexpected. Really, I’m just glad to see any thriving businesses in a small town – especially in today’s economy!

I can’t forget what draws many people in to Mulberry from the surrounding area – Roberts’ South Fork Restaurant and Pub. And, yes, judging from the steady flow of people in and out, they do make a special trip just for the restaurant!

Yes, Roberts’ South Fork Restaurant and Pub is what brought us in, too, though more for the “restaurant” part of it than the “pub” part. I have a posting on Facebook to thank for guiding me here to this little place! I had asked, “Where’s your favorite place to eat in little Indiana?” and some nice little Indiana “liker” answered, “South Fork in Mulberry.” You’ll just have to wait to hear about our experiences and recommendations about that one!

For you American Idol lovers, Amanda Overmyer from Season 7, was an American Idol finalist who also happens to be from Mulberry, Indiana. I’d love to interview her for little Indiana!

Mulberry, Indiana may not be the bustling little place that it once was but it does have a restaurant (review shortly), some neat buildings, and is surely worth a walk-through at the very least. They had a really neat Post Office as you can see from the image to the immediate left. Hey, you might just fall in love and decide to move in! As always, there’s more to see on my Flickr Page!

Mulberry, Indiana; Clinton County

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Delphi, Indiana: More than a Day Trip

Jessica Nunemaker — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 14:38:14 +0000

Delphi, Indiana was amazing. They have history, history, and more history. Okay, so history isn’t your thing? How about tons of festivals year round, really great parks, trails and the canals (the largest man-made canals in the US)! Delphi set the scene for the canals that would later bankrupt the state of Indiana (oops). Ok, I admit I sound like an ad – but even hubs was really impressed with this little place. Like, we could see ourselves living there, impressed!

I poked my head into so many little places: antiques and otherwise, drooled over the baked goods at Stone House, toured the old Opera House (Delphi had not one but TWO opera houses back in the day!), an amazing public library, and rode a 4 wheeled bike with hubs and the kiddos. Yes – there will be more to come on ALL the above – and then some!

Delphi people are my kind of people: talkative, informative, and friendly. Tack on two bonus points for that! From the shop owners to the antique dealers to the ladies volunteering at the Opera House Gallery of Contemporary Art to Mark (another volunteer) at the Wabash and Eerie Canal Interpretive Center (seriously, if you want to know Delphi history, he’s the guy to talk to!), I have a mess of business cards and slips of paper to make sense of – and people to email. You know who you are: consider yourself warned!

My interest is definitely centered on the history of Delphi – and when that happens…looks out! little Indiana will be taking a different turn: interviews. I mean, maybe it’s just me, but it is next to impossible for me to do much more than listen when I’ve got my camera in my hand. The questions always come later, I think, “why didn’t I ask ____?” but by then it’s always too late. Not anymore!

I’ve got emails. I’ve also got a few hundred photos to cull through, organize, and watermark so – if you pop on over to my Flickr account, you won’t find the new stuff just yet. Since I have surpassed the cap placed on a free account – you won’t be able to see more than the 200 most recent shots. At least, not until I cough up the $20 bucks or so to get a pro account.

A special thank you to the Rensselaer Adventures blog for the personal email giving me the heads up about Delphi, Indiana! Go read it, too – there’s a lot of wonderful Rensselaer, Indiana goodness in there (and you know how much I love Rensselaer!).

Delphi, Indiana; Carroll County

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Wolcott, Indiana: Fading Beauty

Jessica Nunemaker — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:31:16 +0000

Wolcott is very small. According to the Wiki, Wolcott had a town population of under 1000 at the 2000 census. So, when I say it is very small, you know I am in no way exaggerating. The trouble is, this small town looks like it is dying a very slow and painful death.

You can see from my photos that Wolcott has (or once had) a really amazing downtown. I mean, look at all that detail and unusual touches! But for whatever reason…those days seem far in the past.

Most buildings needed paint and basic repair at the minimum. Many downtown buildings and businesses were for sale or boarded up. We didn’t see very many people around the downtown (true it was super cold but it was also a Saturday) for very good reason – there’s almost nothing there.

You already saw my post about Why I Do What I Do based on a sign I found taped to the window of a Wolcott restaurant. But, there is hope.

There was a “coming soon” sign at a building that foretold of pizza and soft drinks. The business owner of Timeless Treasures was in process of relocating to a larger building across the street – and wow does her shop look amazing! Stay tuned for more about that.

As you can see, there was also this amazing Wolcott House on the way in to town. Yes, it really was that amazing. Guess you’ll have to come back to find out more about that one, too!

Of course, I have way more photos of Wolcott than I can fit here so be sure to check out my Flickr page for more Wolcott goodness. Because, struggling small town or not, Wolcott had plenty of goodness.

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Wolcott, Indiana; White County

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Nappanee, Indiana: Aged to Perfection

Jessica Nunemaker — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:30:53 +0000

Nappanee, Indiana is an amazing small town. Hey, Time Magazine even extolled the virtues of Nappanee back in the December 1997 issue with the article: A Small Town Sampler. This little place is well known for some big things: it’s large Old Order Amish population (the largest in Indiana), the largest producer of RV’s (that’s Recreation Vehicles for all you city folk), and kitchen cabinets.

Arriving into town after dark, little Nappanee was all aglow. I fell in love! Who wouldn’t? Bricked streets, a brightly lit downtown, and many old, wonderful buildings…just lovely.

We enjoyed walking around downtown and peeking in all the shop windows – all the stores were long since closed for the night – and I really couldn’t wait to get into some of them! Pick up a brochure called Historic Architecture Walk of Nappanee: it’ll clue you in to some of the ogle-worthy homes in the area.

We had a rather unimpressive dinner (our server kept forgetting about us and my steak was completely drenched, and I mean drenched, in gravy). It was a disappointing beginning, but something good did come out of it: we met a very nice woman who volunteered to take us around Nappanee in the morning and give us an up close and personal tour of the Old Order Amish area.

Only in a small town would someone offer to cart around a couple of strangers and not think twice about it. How amazing is that!

The next morning she picked us up from The Victorian Guest House. We toured an Amish General Store, saw Amish schools, cemeteries, homes, and a TON of Amish buggies! We learned so much about the Amish in the area. It was a real eye-opener (stay tuned!).

This little place just had a wonderful feel to it. The residents were friendly, the streets were clean and welcoming, but, unfortunately, this little place is also hurting very badly. According to the Indiana Workforce Development Report for various months, Nappanee, part of Elkhart County, consistently ranks in the top as one of the hardest hit counties by the current recession, taking the #1 spot for unemployment. Not good.

Amish or English, Nappanee needs your business! With such great little shops in downtown Nappanee and the Amish businesses dotting the area it makes a great place to play on the weekend.

Been to Nappanee? Is there a particular time of year or event that just shouldn’t be missed?

Nappanee, Indiana; Elkhart County

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Get into Something Good: Middlebury, Indiana

Jessica Nunemaker — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:30:58 +0000

Experience the good old days…today. With a slogan like that, you get that idea that Middlebury, Indiana has it together – and Middlebury definitely didn’t disappoint! Cute as a button and about as small, this little place is absolutely adorable.

We stayed at The Country Victorian Bed and Breakfast. Not only was it easy to find, which is a huge plus for me, it wasn’t very far away from the main part of town, another gold star for The Country Victorian B & B – who wants to have to drive everywhere?

Unfortunately, I lost two rolls of film I had used on Middlebury (and even part of Nappanee and Monticello. Ugh.) so, yes, I am still in mourning over the great shots that are most likely gone forever. *sigh* Thank goodness for The Country Victorian Inn) recommendation…we went to the nearby Culinary Treasures and ended up eating probably the best meal we have ever had in a small town so far (beating many pricey big city meals as well) -– no kidding! I sincerely wish we had had room for dessert!

Besides places to eat, Middlebury had a bunch of antique shops some of which were even open on Sunday! Hooray! Of course, we completely ran out of time (it was a very leisurely breakfast and we did have to get back and pick up the kid from grandpa and grandma’s house) so we didn’t get to actually go inside anywhere! *sob* They looked wonderful, too! Like actual antique shops and not just junk collectors. So guess what is on the list for next time? The dining room does need a nice, old sideboard (no matter what the hubby says).

Be sure to check out Krider "World’s Fair" Garden that mimics the design used in the 1933/1934 Chicago World’s Fair. The Giant Toadstools, waterfalls, and tidy pathways create a great spot to just relax!

Bottom line? We both really enjoyed Middlebury. There is so much to do in the area as a whole that I think it would be very hard to get bored (we’ve heard there are more than 75 antique, specialty, and crafty shops all found within a 10 minute drive!). It’s a shopper’s paradise – and you don’t even have to fight any traffic. How sweet is that!

What should be on my “must-see, must-do” list for next time? Any suggestions? I’d love to hear them!

Middlebury, Indiana; Elkhart County

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Small Towns: What to Know BEFORE You Go!

Jessica Nunemaker — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:30:22 +0000

Why only nine tips? Well, I guess I am what some would call a rebel. Everyone else does top ten lists, from Jay Leno to the blogger next door. So, here’s my top nine tips on things to keep in mind when visiting a small town!

1. Animals Happen. Country roads have slower speed limits for a reason. Indiana is one of the top ten states for deer and car collisions. Keep your eyes peeled for animal critters in and near the road like squirrels, deer, and the random coyote or fox.

2. Breathe. Road rage will not make Farmer John in his shiny new tractor toodle along any faster. It won’t move that little family of geese either. It cannot fix potholes, repair flat tires, or pave a road. Simmer down and go with the laid back country flow. Really, what’s your hurry?

3. Cash and Carry. Small towns are notorious for cash only shops, as are restaurants, and even the occasional gas station! Always bring enough cash “just in case.” A good word of advice? If a diner is cash-only, get ready for the best home cooked meal of your life!

4. Call Ahead! If you have your heart set on visiting a particular antique shop or awesome attraction: call ahead! Small town shops and restaurants are notorious for closing early, taking off on vacation, and just generally having bizarre hours that don‘t always make a whole lot of sense…to outsiders that is.

5. Don’t Fence Me In. Small town does not mean small minded. Don’t assume I am a country yokel without a serious thought in my head. Just because we chose small town life doesn’t mean that we don’t travel the world or have our own investment portfolio. You’d be surprised.

6. Bring The Breadcrumbs. Grab a GPS or a current map, something that can tell you how to get around without getting lost. Locals may know these streets like the back of their hands but they also assume that you do too, and with alleyways or unusual layouts…it gets complicated.

7. Timing Is Everything. Check out the town’s big events and try to hit a couple. There is a lot more to a small town than meets the eye. The area Chamber of Commerce or Welcome Center is always a good first stop. Otherwise, watch for signs advertising the current goings-on.

8. Shop Mom and Pop! C’mon, what is the point of visiting a small town if you are going to go to the same tired big box shops of the big city? Think little. Let’s keep small towns the cute and quaint places they are and support the little guy!

9. Country Kitsch. Plastic or concrete, get ready for statues of deer, squirrels, pigs, ducks, angels, gnomes, even Jesus, in many, many a yard. Hey, I once saw a giant 3 foot horse! I don’t get it either, but there you go. Consider yourself warned.

Plymouth, Indiana: Picture Perfect

Jessica Nunemaker — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:30:41 +0000

By now, it’s probably pretty obvious that I love Victorian era homes and shops (and if it isn’t, just wait a couple of weeks!). I love the bright colors and unexpected flourishes…and I especially adore historic downtowns, particularly when they include a courthouse! Enter: Plymouth, Indiana.

A long main drag, Michigan Street, is lined with amazing home after amazing home, surrounding an awesomely preserved downtown. Park the car and walk around not only the downtown, but a chunk of Michigan Street as well. Really great homes here!

Plymouth, Indiana has a rather large number of shops in its downtown section and a neat old-fashioned movie theater. Clothing, antiques, and one of a kinds interrupted by the occasional café, restaurant, pub, or office.

Once the shopping is out of the way, reward the kiddies with a trip to Centennial Park. There are a mess of paved running/biking/roller blading trails and a huge wooden playground that can’t be beat. It has lots of creative nooks, crannies, and bridges for kids to climb up and crawl through — there’s even a jail! I love it! I mean, the kid loves it! I just suffer through.

Anyway, Plymouth, Indiana is also home to the world-famous Blueberry Festival (ok, maybe not world famous, but you would think so to hear my husband talk about it!).

Well, The Blueberry Festival just so happens to be the largest three day festival in the Midwest, with the biggest craft section I have ever, ever seen! There are also carnival games, a marathon, hot air balloon launches, kids rides, and a bunch of those nausea inducing, gravity defying rides for brave souls (yeah, NO).

Otherwise, the summer brings a nice farmers’ market on River and East Garro. Choose from locally grown and mostly inexpensive farm fresh produce as well as a smattering of other locally made wares and crafts. You never know what you are going to find. Tip: do a walk-through first THEN buy after you have a chance to compare prices!

It’s a really nice looking town and I am hoping to get back there one of these days and stay in one of the super cute bed and breakfasts. When I do…you’ll be the first to know!

Plymouth, Indiana; Marshall County

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