Wednesday, October 2, 2019
Vevay, Indiana to Clifty Falls State Park
only 25.5 miles
We decided on a short day so we can be off the road and in the shade by afternoon. It is still so very hot.
The town of Madison, Indiana, is quite interesting. Its entire downtown is a historic district with a great many buildings on the National Historic Registry. The Madison Georgetown neighborhood has numerous Underground Railroad documented safehouses and home to free African Americans as early as 1830.
Members of the AME Church were known activists with the Underground Railroad.
We spent some time inside the Madison History Museum reading about the town. I don't know what was better - the historical displays or the air conditioning. In the 1940's the army took over a huge amount of land through eminent domain to use for the Jefferson proving grounds. Madison was perfectly located with the railroad and the Ohio River to transport the munitions for testing. It is also close to Charlestown, Indiana where the powder manufacturing plant was located. Residents living in the area were given just 30 - 120 days to vacate their land. There were about 250 families displaced at the time and almost all the elementary schools were closed because they were located within the space that became the proving grounds. It was a huge sacrifice for the war effort.
The Union Volunteer Fire company organized in 1830 to protect the citizens of Madison from fire. About 100 men, who were originally members of the Union Volunteer Company, organized the Fair Play Fire Company No. 1, which is now the oldest volunteer company in Indiana.
Check out the profile below. The last mile was straight uphill to the state park.
Vevay, Indiana to Clifty Falls State Park
only 25.5 miles
We decided on a short day so we can be off the road and in the shade by afternoon. It is still so very hot.
The town of Madison, Indiana, is quite interesting. Its entire downtown is a historic district with a great many buildings on the National Historic Registry. The Madison Georgetown neighborhood has numerous Underground Railroad documented safehouses and home to free African Americans as early as 1830.
Members of the AME Church were known activists with the Underground Railroad.
We spent some time inside the Madison History Museum reading about the town. I don't know what was better - the historical displays or the air conditioning. In the 1940's the army took over a huge amount of land through eminent domain to use for the Jefferson proving grounds. Madison was perfectly located with the railroad and the Ohio River to transport the munitions for testing. It is also close to Charlestown, Indiana where the powder manufacturing plant was located. Residents living in the area were given just 30 - 120 days to vacate their land. There were about 250 families displaced at the time and almost all the elementary schools were closed because they were located within the space that became the proving grounds. It was a huge sacrifice for the war effort.
downtown Madison
This is the glazed brick paving outside the original fire station
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Madison streetscape |
The Union Volunteer Fire company organized in 1830 to protect the citizens of Madison from fire. About 100 men, who were originally members of the Union Volunteer Company, organized the Fair Play Fire Company No. 1, which is now the oldest volunteer company in Indiana.
Check out the profile below. The last mile was straight uphill to the state park.
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