Farrington’s  Grove IN THIS ISSUE: * Mission Statement * President's Letter * 2nd Annual FGHD Architectural Scavenger Hunt * Historical Society Happenings * Times, They Have Changed * Old Time Recipe * Talley House News * News in Brief  * Two Special Programs From Trees, Inc. * No Work-Release in American Legion Building  * FGHD Website is Moving * History of the Potter-Steele-Benson House * Garden Tour a Success  * 2001 Holiday Home Tour * 2001 Board Members * Membership Application * We Thank Our Members

Dear Neighbors and Friends,
It seems like just a few weeks ago that we were walking around the neighborhood on a warm June afternoon, taking in the beauty of nature on our inaugural Garden Tour.  Then the summer just got hotter and hotter!  Thanks to all who made the Garden Tour a success, especially Bill and Sedonya Osmon, Don Bonsall, James Chesebro, George and Amy Amies, James and Tina Bopp, and Dan and Kaylynn Sanders, all of whom graciously opened their yards and gardens to neighbors and other visitors.  Thanks also to the FGHD members who volunteered at each of the sites, and to Vera Rose, Tillie Kulinski, Betty Muncie, Jeanne Kauffman, and Hilda Holmes who came from Anthony Square to assist us.  Finally, thanks to Melony Sacopulos who organized the committee that ran the event.
Another round of thanks is due to the FGHD members and residents who volunteered to help Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana at the Talley House cleanup on June 12.  HLFI is continuing work on the property and plans to conduct another cleanup — this time for the basement — in the near future.  Several parties have expressed an interest in purchasing the home as a single family residence.
If the Garden Tour inspired you to do some planting, consider taking advantage of the programs offered by Trees, Inc.  This year, they are continuing their customary daffodil sale and their tree planting program.  Information on these is included inside this newsletter.  If you lost a tree during the May storm, they provide an economical way to replace it and contribute to the beauty of the neighborhood. 
Farrington’s Grove will continue its celebration of the 15th anniversary of the placement of the neighborhood on the National Register of Historic Places and the 25th anniversary of the founding of FGHD with our 2nd Annual Architectural Scavenger Hunt.  This will be one of many activities taking place during Family Learning Day at the Vigo County Public Library on September 22.  Last year’s Scavenger Hunt drew participants from as far away as Rockville and Indianapolis.  This year, let’s have a big turnout from the Grove as well!
Now that school is back in session, make sure to watch out for young people as you are driving through the neighborhood.  Take advantage of the cooler weather to walk around the neighborhood — or to plant those daffodil bulbs!  Invite some friends or relatives to visit and let them see why the Grove is a great place to live.  If you have any ideas to make it even better, please let me know.

Hope to see you while walking around the Grove.

Thanks for caring,
Mike Misovich

We welcome young people from the Grove and beyond to participate in FGHD’s 2nd Annual Architectural Scavenger Hunt, part of Family Learning Day at the Vigo County Public Library.  See if you can identify architectural landmarks on a short walking tour.  All participants will receive a prize — and one participant chosen at random will receive the grand prize of a free annual membership to the Terre Haute Children’s Museum.  Kids — make sure your family’s FGHD membership is up to date and your grand prize will come with a BONUS gift certificate to a local restaurant.

The current exhibit at the Vigo County Historical Museum is a lot of fun, just as you would expect when you go to a circus.  Called “The Circus is Coming,” the display touches on the history of the circus in Terre Haute while clowns and circus figures add to the color.
Terre Haute was a major circus performance center before the Civil War.  As early as 1833, the circus came to town.  It came by steamboat on the Wabash River, on the National Road, and later by railroad.  During the next 30 years, every prominent circus in America came to Terre Haute.  
The Historical Museum is excited to present a tribute to the circus in Terre Haute.  Stop by to see our presentation of the local history of the greatest shows on earth!
While enjoying a Coke or Coke float at Bleemel Days on Friday night, September 21st, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., you might like to take a favorite antique or collectable to the Historical Society’s Appraisal Faire.  Prominent local antique dealers will be on hand, and for a fee of $5.00 for one or $10.00 for three items, will tell you the value of your treasure.

“In the good old summer time.”  The lyrics of a song and a remembered phrase.  I remember long hot summer nights; much like the ones we have been experiencing this summer of 2001.  We spent hot summer evenings sitting on the porch in old rockers or with our bottoms attached upon the cooler cement of the stairs.  Mom would make homemade lemonade or a pitcher of iced tea.  Tall, cold glasses of the refreshing beverage over ice was always welcomed, sipped slowly along with conversation of the day.  On Sundays homemade ice cream would be a special treat.   Occasionally a friend or neighbor would stop as they passed by on an evening walk.  A drink or bowl of ice cream would be offered and was usually accepted.  Neighborhood news and gossip would be shared.  Hand fans given out free by local businesses were hung on a peg on the porch, taken down and used if the humidity started to get the best of you.  You had to step off the porch onto the sidewalk to see the stars in the sky.  As kids it was always a race to see who could spot the big and little dippers first.  Then we would again retire back to the porch, playing a game of jacks or teasing one another until bedtime was announced.  Taking a cool bath, putting on cotton tee shirts and underwear we would plop down on cool comfortable white sheets.  We didn’t even have electric fans, but we slept through the night comfortably.
Today it’s too hot out on the porch.  The temperatures today are no different than yesteryear, so why does it feel hotter?   One word… Air-conditioning!  We are all super spoiled.  The kids complain that it’s so hot they can’t breathe and that it’s too hot to play outside!  The porch is no longer necessary, and what a shame that is.  Here in Farrington’s Grove most of us are blessed with wonderful big porches and they go unused.  Even I find myself getting cranky if I am out in the heat of the evening, too long.  We have been reconditioned to the newer climate of air-conditioning.  The heat index, dehydration, sun exposure, and stroke are warranted fears.  How did we combat all these things and survive pre-air-conditioned days??  I remember days in the 100-degree plus range without the heat index and we survived. We drank a lot of liquids (lemonade, ice tea, etc), we wore hats (straw hats, usually), we knew when it was too hot to mow the lawn and neighbors didn’t criticize if the grass was a little long and the yard wasn’t perfect.  I think we took the time to be smarter about the heat.  Is this transfer shock from air-conditioning to the heat of the outdoors, and back and forth through our day good for us? I doubt it.  
Times, they have changed!  The kids now spend their long hot evenings in the air-conditioned family room watching MTV, playing games on Play Station, or e-mailing friends on the computer.  Ice-cold soda is the companion beverage, not that they need it!  My husband and I read or watch cable television in another room, drinking sodas, not that we need it.  Today, we do not spend leisurely evenings having those long family talks.  Neighbors do not stroll by and stop to visit.  I know no news of the neighborhood and hear no gossip.  Oh, for those good old summer days!  And, boy do I miss those tall glasses of homemade lemonade!!

Historic Landmarks Foundation’s Western Regional Office has been heading the rehabilitation effort of the Talley House since purchasing the house last fall.  On Saturday, June 9, HLFI hosted a cleanup day which attracted about 25 volunteers including a number of FGHD members and residents.  The cleanup crews were so successful that the original work plan was extended to include removing all wall partitions from the attic area.  So much debris was removed that an additional dumpster, donated by Jamax Corporation,  was needed to haul it away.
The cleanout effort was featured in an article “Talley House receives some loving care,” in the Tuesday, June 12 Tribune-Star.  The article received prime placement at the top of the Local & Bistate section, and included lengthy quotations from FGHD president Mike Misovich and vice-president Melony Sacopulos.
Although the house has not been formally placed on the market, HLFI has received a number of inquiries on purchasing the property for a single-family residence.  One of the inquiries came from a current California resident interested in relocating to Terre Haute who found information on the Talley House in back issues of newsletters on the FGHD website!  For further information on the Talley House, please contact Tommy Kleckner at the Western Regional Office of HLFI at 232-4534.
Currently, HLFI is completing work on the back fence and removing the fraternity sign from the front of the house.  In the near future, they intend to replace windows and doors on the back side of the house, to refurbish the heating system, to make minor repairs to stonework, and to improve landscaping.  They also plan to follow up the success of the June cleanup day with a basement cleanup at some time in the future.  Stay tuned for details!

GRASSROOTS PRESERVATION ROUNDUP:Downtown Terre Haute, Inc. will be hosting a Grassroots Preservation Roundup on Saturday, September 15, from 10:00-4:00.  This event is sponsored annually by the Indiana DNR — Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology.  It is an “IDEA EXCHANGE” for individuals and organizations from around the state.  
During the afternoon, participants will have the opportunity to take a tour of cultural, historical, and preservation highlights of Terre Haute, including the Farrington’s Grove neighborhood.
Contact Lindsey Mintz or Malia Savarino at the Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology by September 10 to make a reservation, 317-232-1646.
STAINED GLASS SUNDAY AFTERNOON:  Friends of Historic Allen Chapel are sponsoring Stained Glass Sunday Afternoon on Sunday, October 7, from 1:30-4:00.  The event begins with a presentation on The Art of Stained Glass at Allen Chapel AME Church, 218 Crawford Street, and continues at seven additional downtown houses of worship.  For more information, call Char Minnette at 460-0835.
GRAFFITI CLEANUP:  An outbreak of vandalism in the Terre Haute area has affected some parts of Farrington’s Grove.  If you would like assistance in removing graffiti from private property, such as a garage, wall, or foundation, please contact Mike Misovich at 478-2314 or any board member.  If enough residents are interested, FGHD will organize a graffiti cleanup.  Please note that you will have to give us permission to clean up private property.  LET’S FIX THE PROBLEM!

Once again, TREES Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to Terre Haute beautification, is encouraging the planting of daffodil bulbs throughout the city as part of its award-winning Daffodil Project.  They are offering daffodil bulbs, at-cost, by special invitation only, to certain organizations, individuals, and businesses.

Residents of Farrington’s Grove Historical District are eligible for this program.  To purchase bulbs, please fill out the form above and send it, along with your payment made out to TREES, Inc., to Patty Snider, 65 E. Brookside Dr., Terre Haute, IN 47802.  Note that the deadline for ordering is August 31, with late orders filled on a first-come, first-served basis, so don’t delay, send your order before it is too late for them to accept it.  Bulbs are being ordered through The Tulip Co., and will be available for planting in October and November.  A TREES representative will call you when your order is in and tell you where it can be picked up. Each year since 1994, the TREES organization has planted 100 trees in an effort to rebuild the tree canopies in the neighborhoods of Terre Haute.  The replacement of missing street trees in the Farrington’s Grove area would be of tremendous benefit to the neighborhood.  TREES plants large superior quality hardwood trees which are balled and burlapped and nursery grown.  Planting day for 2002 is March 23rd and the deadline for applications is March 1, 2002.  However, since only a limited number of trees are available, people are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.  Qualified applicants will be chosen on a first-come, first-served basis.  If you qualify, TREES will plant a hardwood tree worth $275 in your tree row.  You pay only a $25 “adoption fee.”  Qualifications include city residency, home ownership, and a planting area free of underground and overhead utilities.   Additional information is available from the Purdue Cooperative Extension Service.  Please call 462-3371 to place your name on the mailing list to receive an application.

On August 13, representatives from Vigo County Superior Court and Vigo County Adult Probation were invited to attend the monthly FGHD Board meeting.  They discussed plans for purchasing the former American Legion Building, 417 South Fifth Street, to be used as the site of a work release detention facility.  Following this discussion, FGHD directors approved a resolution opposing purchase of the building for this use.
The board believed this proposal would directly conflict with our mission of limiting incompatible uses and preventing increased population density.  We also believed that our neighborhood currently contains more than its share of special use facilities, that the proximity of the facility to Crawford Elementary School could pose risks to school children, and that the facility would detrimentally affect nearby property values.
We have been informed that Vigo County will NOT purchase the building for this use.  FGHD appreciates their sensitivity to neighborhood concerns.  We support their goal of community based rehabilitation in an appropriate environment; however, we have and will continue to oppose any efforts to introduce incompatible property uses in the Farrington’s Grove neighborhood.

The FGHD website, ranked #1 by AltaVista and Google search engines, is moving to a new location at 

www.farringtonsgrove.com

FGHD has contracted with High Ground Digital to manage the site.  Look for major enhancements in the coming weeks and months, beginning with a virtual walking tour of Farrington’s Grove!  Don’t forget to update your bookmarks or favorites list with the new address.  And remember, the website is a great way to find updated information on the latest neighborhood events between newsletters.  If you have comments or ideas for the website, please contact Mike Misovich at 478-2314 or George Amies at 232-6697.
 

History of the Potter-Steele-Benson House By Richard Antonak

Editor’s note: Richard and Chris Antonak are the current residents of 824 South Fifth Street.  In this third installment of the history of their home, Richard describes passage of ownership from the Steele family through a series of owners to the Bensons.]

On a warm Father’s Day afternoon, FGHD sponsored our first-ever neighborhood Garden Tour including five gardens on South Sixth and South Center Streets.  The free event drew over one hundred visitors from the Grove and beyond.  

The Osmon garden was born just three years ago, and resides behind two side by side century-old homes.  This expansive garden contains approximately 175 varieties of plants, many of which are old varieties.  The Osmons strive to cultivate as many perennials as possible, and fill in with colorful annuals.  Vegetables thrive in containers, while a water element masks some of the hustle and bustle of the near-downtown location.

This aromatic cottage garden incorporates native plants such as Trillium and Jack-in-the-Pulpit.  A rocky garden path winds to a secluded bench, from which one can appreciate the view across the lily pond to the sunny deck.  The stepping stones represent the creekbed from which they were quarried (and are best appreciated barefoot).  Trickling fountains contribute to the sense of peaceful tranquility.

The Bonsall/Chesebro garden began at this 1905 home ten years ago from a once-lovely garden that was overgrown and unattended.  The roses, lilacs, and holly bushes in the back yard are survivors of this earlier garden.  The gardens at the curb feature columbines, irises, and poppies for spring blooms; carpet roses, daylilies, and hostas for summer blooms; and chrysanthemums for fall blooms.  The miniature roses, peonies, and dianthus in the back garden are parent plants of those featured in the front.  The stone debris which accents the white brick edging was a buried treasure recovered from under the back porch.

The original Bopp garden began 14 years ago when the Bopps moved into this lovely 1904 home.  Due to construction, however, the garden was redeveloped only two years ago.  The larger, cement fish pond is original to the house, and the smaller is its contemporary counterpart.  Tall grasses will fill in as the garden matures.  Season-long color is the long-term goal of this mainly perennial garden.

In front of the Sanders’ house, an old, curiously-shaped linden tree shadows a shady rock garden of hostas edged by lily turf.  A tall wooden fence hides the magnificent gardens, including five plots which are the oldest established planting of perennials and ground covers in the area.  Behind the fence, annuals, perennials, herbs, and even vegetables are carefully manicured and tenderly groomed.  From the ferns and Asiatic lilies in the shade of the gingko tree, to the climbing roses at the iron gate, there is an array of color and scent to enjoy in this garden.

Thank you to all who volunteered for the Garden Tour.  Thank you also to all residents of the Grove whose gardening efforts make our neighborhood attractive.  One of my favorites is the front yard at 1221 South Fourth Street, where a variety of perennials and other plants provide a colorful display for all who pass by.  Make up your own garden tour some evening by walking around the Grove!

The 2001 FGHD Holiday Home Tour is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, December 9.  Please mark your calendar as we restore this neighborhood tradition.  
This event showcases the beauty and architecture of our neighborhood and draws visitors from the entire Terre Haute community and beyond.  Several residents have already expressed interest in placing their homes on the tour.  If you are interested in doing so or have questions, please contact Chris Antonak at 235-5333 or Mike Misovich at 478-2314 by September 9.  
Whether your home is large or small, restored or “in progress,” painted, unpainted, original, remodeled — does not matter.  What matters is that you are willing to contribute to the enjoyment of people who share your interest and enjoyment of old houses, classic architecture, and the holiday season.  Information and advance tickets will be available from several area businesses, or visit the FGHD website for information.  Current patron, corporate, and benefactor members will receive complimentary tickets.

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Thank you to all our members whose financial support supports our mission to guide and promote the preservation and restoration of the Farrington’s Grove Historical District.  If your name does not appear below, please join by mail or at the Scavenger Hunt on September 22nd.  NEW MEMBERS FREE FOR REMAINDER OF 2001!  (See inside back page.) 
 

Amies, George & Amy *Antonak, Richard & Chris Arnold, Stephen & Rebecca Azar, George & Cathy/  Saratoga Restaurant Baker, Steven & Sharon Barratt, William & Leslie Bates, Bernard & Roberta Behnke, Kris & James Bommarito, Frank & Irene Bradfield, Rod & Jacquelyn Brake, Sandra Bridges, Martha Brown, Scotia & Charles Burkett, Thomas & Anne Carrell, Mike & Jacquelyn Carroll, Mary Ann Chelton, Cynthia & Brad Curry, Mary-Margaret Dunlap, J. Michael   & Williams, Jayne Engelland, Leslie Froeb, Vivian

Gedrick, John & Emily Grissom, Willie Mae Hannum, Ned & Mary Harbour, Ed & Linda Hawkins, Timothy & Margaret Hews, Diana Ingersoll, Christopher & Mary Ingram, Joan Isgrigg, Brian & Jennifer Ketner, Craig Kleiner, Elaine Lee, Anne Lewis, David Lewis, Plexanne & Jordan Lowe, Granville & Luetta Lugar, Joe & Robyn Manson, Joseph & Carolyn McCauley, Dorothy McEntire, Nancy McNeal, Harriet Meyer, Ramon & Betty Miller, George & Mary Kate Misovich, John Misovich, Michael & Aimee

Mullican, Jim & Judy Muttersbaugh, Michael & Connie/  Farrington B & B Nation, Todd Osmon, William & Sedonya Perkins, David Robertson, Mabel Robson, John & Elizabeth Rogers, Virginia *Sacopulos, Peter & Melony Sanders, Daniel & Kaylynn Shaffer, Patricia Simmons, Brenda Simmons, Doris Slaby, Jack & Carol *Wagner, Crawford,   Gambill & Trout Walsh, James & Vicki Walter, Lillian Weixlmann, Joseph & Sharon Wilson, Barbara Wilson, Donald Wools, Donna *Benefactor