Page 20 - Demo

18Merom Conference Center %u201cIs that for real?%u201d we said in unison, as the sight of a huge, brick, 19th-century building loomed above the trees ahead of us. John and I were driving south on State Road 63 toward the small town of Merom. It was late afternoon, and all day we had seen attractive, but typical, southern Indiana scenes%u2014rolling fields, patches of woods, and disappearing small towns%u2014but whatever was up ahead was totally unexpected. Without hesitation, John drove straight to the grounds of a 5-story marvel. At the entrance we read a sign explaining that this was the Merom Conference Center, which was part of the United Church of Christ. But it began as the Union Christian College in 1859%u2014just before the Civil War%u2014and had remained so until 1924. Today, it serves as a retreat, a summer camp, and a facility for gatherings and meetings.Near the huge main structure, we could see smaller, newer buildings scattered around. As we approached, a smiling woman told John that he could only shoot pictures from the road, as there was no one around with the authority to allow us onto the campus. It was understandable, as there were dozens of young campers wandering about.A few weeks later, arrangements were made, and we were back. We met Dale Dressler, the Director, and volunteer art teacher Fred Robberts, who would both accompany us into the main building%u2014College Hall. In communicating with Dale by email, John had learned that the attic might yield the best pictures, so that%u2019s where we were headed. As always, it was a pleasure to be with people so full of enthusiasm for a place they loved. We walked through the front doors and saw 1960s wall paneling everywhere. The years of remodeling had changed the building for both good and bad%u2014good being air-conditioning, a new elevator, a renovated auditorium. On the other hand, Fred and Dale both mourned the removal of a grand entrance stairway and the old woodwork. %u201cIf we only had 50 million dollars,%u201d Dale said wistfully. When the door of the elevator opened at the upper level, we entered a small well-lit room. To our right was a set of double doors, behind which was the attic. Just a few more steps, and we suddenly found ourselves in another world. It was a huge, empty, vaulted space of adz-hewn beams, darkened with age, and exposed handmade brick walls. Dominating the very center of the space, was a spiral staircase gracefully circling its way up to a rooftop cupola.This was a wooden masterpiece of 19th-century engineering and joinery, and we could really sense the craftsmen%u2019s pride. %u201cI believe it%u2019s the tallest free-standing spiral stairway in the state,%u201d Fred explained. As John began shooting, Dale asked %u201cDo you want to climb up to the cupola? The view is amazing.%u201d John%u2019s only phobia has to do with heights, which Dale thought a bit ironic, for someone doing a book called 2nd Stories. But it certainly looked inviting so, following Dale%u2019s lead, John started climbing. However, half way up, his rational mind couldn%u2019t conquer his increasing vertigo, and he turned and headed back down. For us, the inside view was amazing enough. %u2014LB