Small Town, Midwestern Charm!

On my first night in North Manchester, we finished dinner early enough to get me back to my room at the B&B in time for me to grab my camera and my ipod ((The iphone was in the red-zone and charging in my room)) and headed out the door to explore my surroundings.

The days in Indiana are still sunny, warm and beautiful with the remnants of summer gardens and all their colorful flowers still present in well tended gardens as I walked.

I love small towns….and different areas of the country do have such a different flavor. Here the stately turn of the 20th century homes catch my imagination and beg me to let my mind wander to an earlier time ---some may say a simpler time, but I am a girl of modern conveniences. I love my washing machine, my vacuum cleaner, my dish washer and the water heater that gives me endless hot showers. I love the icemaker in the door of my fridge and my central air and heat ---but something about these homes calls to me.

I love looking at HOUSES! All kinds of houses.

This post is about what I passed on my walk.

I love large trees dwarfing houses and spreading their shady limbs across streets, decades old. Doesn’t this front porch with its gingerbread beckon you to come sit a while?

The turn of the 20th century was a time for huge brick structures with tall windows and interesting roof lines. I love the porch railings on this behemoth. I’m guessing “someone” important to this town lived here at some time. Imagine the fashions of the day. What would the “lady of the house” be wearing if she descended those steps on a mid-September evening?

Another large brick structure – thinking of the days before A/C – when walls were tall and ceilings high in an effort to get the heat to rise as far up as possible! I loved the smattering of late summer flowers still blooming happily in the front garden. Note to self --- if this were my house, it would need some shutters to soften the look just a bit!

This one is barely visible with the trees growing tall and close. Red brick with white trim is so appealing! Yes – the previous house definitely could benefit from some shutters! Who used to come out on that top veranda to catch a bit of cool summer evening breeze?

Holy. Mother. of. BRICK!

I think I just found the quilt retreat house of my dreams! This place is just BEAUTIFUL! What is the story ---I’ll have to ask! I want to know who lived here, what they did, what life was like….this is like…..oh, I have no words!

Another Angle --- yeah – this house is so cool it deserves two pictures! The chimneys alone are majestic!

This little house was a complete gem, and it is a historical landmark.

Thomas R Marshall was born here.

Not that I know who Thomas R Marshall is. Or was. Or --- well I do NOW --- but how many of us can name the vice presidents going way back? I have a hard enough time with the presidents themselves.

More than you wanted to know! ((But interesting!))

I love how it said they amended the constitution only to find it unconstitutional…LOL!

Some things ((POLITICS!)) Never change!

He refused to assume the presidency after Woodrow Wilson’s stroke….believing THAT would also be “UNCONSTITUTIONAL!”

((Boy, am I learning LOTS this trip!))

This little pretty place boasts a bakery and a coffee shop!

The sign says that one day a week you can get fresh baked pizza from 5pm-8pm. I’d so go here!

I also visited the war memorial ----

It’s a beautiful place with names of those who have served and given their lives for our freedoms. Names of officers and solidiers from this town who served and died during WWI, WWII---

Another WWII, and Korea

Vietnam

Next to WWI is a column for Lebanon, Grenada, Desert Storm, Afghanistan & Iraq.

The heavy burden I feel for the lives these men (and women) have given bring a quiet feeling of reverence to this place. My happy giddiness stops. I didn’t notice it until I was editing this photo that you can see my reflection taking a picture. I am here taking this picture of the names of these fallen soldiers -----reading names I am unfamiliar with, yet I feel like I know them. They were from here. They knew this place. They’d seen these houses, they’d likely walked these historic streets. They probably knew who Thomas Riley Marshall was. Bless them, every one. I am grateful. Freedom isn’t free. They paid my debt.

This is the heart of small town America. It’s heroes come from ordinary every day places, like North Manchester, Indiana.