littleindiana.com » small town overview

Dana, Indiana: Home of Ernie Taylor Pyle

Jessica Nunemaker — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 13:30:12 +0000

Dana, Indiana is smaller than small. It is so small it probably counts as one of those blink or you’ll miss it kind of towns — but no less interesting! little Indiana has repeatedly said that no matter how small a town is, it doesn’t mean that it isn’t worth your time.

Well, look we did and, believe it or not, the first thing you see when you enter the town is a big painted mural on the side of the building that says Ernie Pyle State Memorial with a big arrow pointing off to the right.

Yes, teeny tiny Dana, Indiana was the home of the beloved Ernie Taylor Pyle, a war correspondent killed overseas outside of Okinawa. If you haven’t read anything of his, you should — it’s superb.

His childhood home and plenty more are available to tour and would be a great spot for the war history buff. There’s two out buildings full of things!

Unfortunately we couldn’t get inside — the Ernie Pyle State Memorial has been closed. It sounds like there’s talk about the town of Dana taking possession (which I do so hope happens)! More about Mr. Pyle in a future post.

Walking around Dana didn’t take long, it was basically up one block and down another. Other than the Memorial, there is only one shop that we could see is still open in the downtown area (antiques) and a few blocks away there is a candy store.

Besides that, there was one mystery in Dana that we could not figure out: a big circle in the middle of town right in the center of the street with squares of numbers up to 100. Do you know what it is?

Luckily, someone stopped in town and we were able to ask if they knew what it was for. Would you believe that Dana, Indiana has a big cake walk and that they hold it right there in the center of the street? Small town living for sure!

I would imagine that even with such a sad downtown little Dana has a lot of community – it’s not every town that puts a cake walk right smack dab in the middle of things. The surrounding homes were in mostly good shape and I’d imagine that the Ernie Pyle State Memorial has to be a big draw for the area and probably helps keep a few of the remaining businesses surviving.

There were a few rather grand buildings – but far more empty lots of vacant buildings that I like to see. If anyone else has the back story of Dana, Indiana, I would love to hear it. You can see more of little Dana, Indiana on my Flickr photostream!

Dana, Indiana in Vermillion County

View Larger Map

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

View Larger Map

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

View Larger Map

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?

Downtown Mulberry, Indiana in Clinton County

Furthermore, it was believed to be the wealthiest town of it’s size in the entire United States!

Mulberry, Indiana in Clinton County

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. 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.

Downtown Mulberry, Indiana

Mulberry is a quiet Indiana town. On the corner of town in a really neat building sits Mulberry Package Liquors (the owner is a really nice guy).

Across the street is a resale shop that actually had a sign on the door with the owner’s number so you could call her if she weren’t around and you felt like browsing.

There was even a taxidermist! 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.

Mulberry, Indiana Food and Fun

I can’t forget what draws many people in to Mulberry from the surrounding area: Roberts’ South Fork Restaurant and Pub.

Judging from the steady flow of people in and out, they do make a special trip just for the restaurant! Roberts’ South Fork Restaurant and Pub is what brought us in, too, though more for the “restaurant” part of it than the “pub” part. Thanks for the tip from a little Indiana reader.

Downtown Mulberry, Indiana and great artchitectural details!

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!

Worthwhile Visit

Mulberry, Indiana may not be the bustling little place that it once was but it does have a fantastic restaurant, some neat buildings, and is surely worth a walk-through at the very least.

Hey, you might just fall in love and decide to move in!

See more Mulberry, Indiana images and other pictures in Indiana on my Flickr photostream.

Mulberry, Indiana in Clinton County

View Larger Map

little Indiana: Where to Stay, Play, and Eat in Small Towns in Indiana. Discovering Indiana’s best small towns! Now get little Indiana on your Kindle.

New! Offering affordable online advertising for your small Indiana business! little Indiana Businesses is the online presence that you’ve been looking for.

Delphi, Indiana: More than a Day Trip

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

Delphi, Indiana Downtown

Delphi, Indiana was amazing. They have history, history, and more history. History isn’t your thing?

How about tons of festivals year round, really great parks, trails, and the canal–the largest man-made canal in the US!

Delphi, Indiana

Ok, I admit I sound like an ad, but even hubs was really impressed with this small Indiana town.

I poked my head into so many little places: Antiques and otherwise, drooled over the baked goods at the Stone House Restaurant and Bakery, and toured the old Opera House.

Delphi had not one but TWO opera houses back in the day!

That’s not to forget an amazing public library and the chance to ride a 4 wheeled bike with hubs and the kiddos. Yes, there will be more to come on ALL the above –and then some!

Great Town, Great People

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 at the Wabash and Eerie Canal Interpretive Center (seriously, if you want to know Delphi history, he’s the guy to talk to!), well, this is a town that is very proud of what they have.

And rightly so! Delphi, Indiana has it going on.

Place to Play

That’s not even talking about all that the canal and interpretive center have to offer! Seriously, you can spend a few days in Delphi before you see and do it all!

Find more Delphi, Indiana images and other pictures in Indiana on my Flickr photostream.

A special thank you to the Indiana Blogger Rensselaer Adventures blog for the personal email giving me the heads up about Delphi, Indiana!

Delphi, Indiana in Carroll County

View Larger Map

little Indiana: Where to Stay, Play, and Eat in Small Towns in Indiana. Discovering Indiana’s best small towns! Now get little Indiana on your Kindle.

New! Offering affordable online advertising for your small Indiana business! little Indiana Businesses is the online presence that you’ve been looking for.

Wolcott, Indiana: Fading Beauty

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

Architecture in Wolcott, Indiana

Wolcott, Indiana 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.

Wolcott, Indiana

As you can see from my photos, Wolcott has (or once had) a really amazing downtown. I mean, look at all that detail and unusual touches! The downtown still possesses a few rather sharp buildings that I’d love to poke around in!

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, Indiana restaurant. Even so: Wolcott still has a few fun things to offer and shouldn’t be overlooked!

There was a “coming soon” sign at a building that foretold of pizza and soft drinks. That’s always a happy sight to see! There’s always room for pizza, right?

The business owner of Timeless Treasures was in process of relocating to a larger building across the street. It was such a cold, cold day so the move? Probably not so fun but wow does her shop look amazing! Stay tuned for more about that.

Wolcott House in Wolcott, Indiana

There was also the Wolcott Theater Cafe. I sure wish I had been able to get inside there! It’s on the list for next time! Looks like it must be THE local hangout.

The Wolcott House

As you can see, there was also this amazing Wolcott House on the way in to town. Yes, it really was that phenomenal. I would love to learn the history on this one!

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 images and other pictures in Indiana.

Wolcott, Indiana in White County

View Larger Map

little Indiana: Where to Stay, Play, and Eat in Small Towns in Indiana. Discovering Indiana’s best small towns! Now get little Indiana on your Kindle.

New! Offering affordable online advertising for your small Indiana business! little Indiana Businesses is the online presence that you’ve been looking for.

Nappanee, Indiana: Aged to Perfection

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

Nappanee, Indiana is an amazing small town. Charming and well-kept, it’s small town living at its best!

Downtown Nappanee, Indiana

Nappanee, Indiana Downtown

Arriving into town after dark, this small Indiana town was all aglow. I fell in love! Bricked streets, a brightly lit downtown, and many old, wonderful buildings…just fantastic.

We enjoyed walking around downtown and peeking in all the shop windows. All the stores were long since closed for the night. What a fun selection!

Small Town Trust

We met a very nice woman in town 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 saw so much!

There’s more to the Indiana Amish than horse and buggy. We toured an Amish General Store full of bulk foods, bakery items, and cheese, as well as Amish schools and homes.

We learned so much about the Amish in the area from someone who actually knows the families! It was a real eye-opener. I can’t wait to tell you all about it!

Almost Famous

Nappanee actually has a few claims to fame for such a small town. For starters, as you may have figured out already, Nappanee has a large Old Order Amish population. It’s the biggest in Indiana, don’t'cha know.

It’s also the largest producer of RV’s (that’s Recreation Vehicles for all you city folk) and kitchen cabinets. little Indiana could so use one of those!

Location, Location, Location

With such great little shops in downtown Nappanee and the Amish businesses dotting the area it makes a great place to play. We can’t wait until we have the chance to return!

Find more Nappanee, Indiana images and other pictures in Indiana on my Flickr photostream.

Nappanee, Indiana in Elkhart County

View Larger Map

little Indiana: Where to Stay, Play, and Eat in Small Towns in Indiana. Discovering Indiana’s best small towns! Now get little Indiana on your Kindle.

New! Offering affordable online advertising for your small Indiana business! little Indiana Businesses is the online presence that you’ve been looking for.

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. Cute as a button and about as small, this little place is absolutely adorable.

Downtown Middlebury, Indiana

Middlebury, Indiana

We stayed at The Country Victorian Bed and Breakfast. Easy to find and right downtown, this was super convenient.

Unfortunately, I lost two rolls of film I had used on Middlebury (and even part of Nappanee and Monticello. Ugh.). Yes, I am still in mourning over the great shots that are most likely gone forever.

Downtown Middlebury Restaurants

While generally bumming around the town, we saw several options for dinner, including Middlebury’s well-known and super touristy Das Dutchmen.

Based on Lisa’s recommendation, innkeeper of a great Indiana bed and breakfast, The Country Victorian Inn,we went to the nearby Culinary Treasures.

We ate what is one of the best meals 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.

Indiana Antiques

There’s more than just food in Middlebury! This Indiana town 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!

They looked wonderful, too! These are great Indiana antique shops and not just flea market type places. You can bet that’s on the list for next time!

Things to Do in Middlebury, Indiana

Middlebury, Indiana: Windmill and Tulips

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.

Find other pictures in Indiana on my Flickr photostream.

Middlebury, Indiana in Elkhart County

View Larger Map

It’s SO rare that I will ever use someone’s photos here (definitely not something I hope to ever have to do again) but in this case? I can’t use my own! Images courtesy of Flickr, Mark Bajek.

little Indiana: Where to Stay, Play, and Eat in Small Towns in Indiana. Discovering Indiana’s best small towns! Now get little Indiana on your Kindle.

New! Offering affordable online advertising for your small Indiana business! little Indiana Businesses is the online presence that you’ve been looking for.

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 the small town of Plymouth, Indiana certainly fits the bill!

Plymouth Indiana, Downtown

With bright colors and the unexpected flourish, this is a particularly handsome downtown. Especially when you include the stately courthouse.

Downtown Plymouth, Indiana

Park the car and walk around not only the downtown, but a chunk of Michigan Street as well. This long main drag is lined with amazing home after amazing home.

Plymouth, Indiana has a rather large number of shops for a small Indiana town. There’s even a neat old-fashioned movie theater. Clothing, antiques, and one of a kinds interrupted by the occasional café, restaurant, pub, or office.

Playtime!

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.

Things to Do in Plymouth

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!).

The Blueberry Festival does happen to be the largest three day festival in the Midwest, with the biggest craft section I have seen so far.

There are also carnival games, kids rides, and a bunch of those nausea inducing, gravity defying rides for brave souls (yeah, NO). A marathon and hot air balloon events round things out the weekend.

Plymouth Indiana Downtown

Summer Fun

Aside from the Blueberry Festival, 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 and quality!

It’s a really nice looking town. I’m 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!

Find more Plymouth, Indiana images and other pictures in Indiana on my Flickr photostream.

Plymouth, Indiana in Marshall County

View Larger Map

little Indiana: Where to Stay, Play, and Eat in Small Towns in Indiana. Discovering Indiana’s best small towns! Now get little Indiana on your Kindle.

New! Offering affordable online advertising for your small Indiana business! little Indiana Businesses is the online presence that you’ve been looking for.