Page 145 - Demo

143When Lynn and I published our first book of Indiana photography in 2003%u2014 Lingering Spirit%u2014or our second%u2014Guardians of the Soul%u2014in 2004, we didn%u2019t realize we were creating a series. But with this, our fifth book, it certainly seems to be turning out that way. Nor did we imagine we%u2019d cover so many miles%u2014or visit so many interesting places. In the process of completing our third book, 2nd Stories, we passed through every Indiana town south of U.S. 40%u2014the Old National Road. With book number four, After the Harvest, we drove through scores of towns in the northern half of the state as well. So, by the time we were ready to start on Silent Workplace, we decided that, when we were in particular area, following up on a lead, we%u2019d just check out any nearby towns we%u2019d never been to before.As a result, since starting work on Lingering Spirit, we%u2019ve driven over 65,000 miles, and we%u2019ve visited every single city and town in Indiana. To document this feat, we%u2019ve marked up an official 2004 Indiana State Highway Map, and crossed off every single town shown%u2014all 2,099 of them. There were metropolises, medium-sized cities, small burgs, and places where all that was left was a pair of stop signs. In a couple of instances, there weren%u2019t even any stop signs. In our humble opinion, if there%u2019s nothing left, the town should be expunged%u2014particularly when there are other communities, consisting of a store and a few houses, that aren%u2019t on the State highway map. Actually, more-detailed county maps show a number of such hamlets%u2014and we%u2019ve been to more than a few of them. But we%u2019re going to stick with the 2,099 figure as our official number.Some of the towns we visited had the same name. For example, there are three Mechanicsburgs, two Scipios, a pair of Bunker Hills, and two towns called Five Points. There are over a dozen communities known by two different names. One of the four Mt. Pleasants also goes by the name of Hazel, Laud also goes by Forest, and Borden and New Providence are the same place. There are four Salems (one of which also goes by Steele) and there%u2019s a Salem Center. Of the colors, Green is particularly popular%u2014there are 15 cities and towns containing a Green, ranging from Greenbriar, to Greenfield Mills, to Greens Fork to Greenwood. There are only five places with Brown in their name, but seven containing White. And each one of the 2,099 is unique.Now that we%u2019ve covered the entire state, we%u2019ve been asked if that%u2019s enough, are we finished exploring Indiana. To which we reply %u201cnot hardly!%u201d You see, as we%u2019ve driven around, we%u2019ve generally been looking for specific subjects, for a particular book. So, we%u2019ve driven right by some excellent photo-ops%u2014and not stopped. If we%u2019d have photographed everything of interest, we%u2019d never have had enough time to complete the current project. So, Lynn has been making notes about places we%u2019d like to return to some day, and there are many unexplored back roads that still beckon. In short, we%u2019ve got a lot more discovering to do%u2014and more photographs to take.2,099