What's New at the Lew

Cordelia Wallace Butler

2012-01-31T08:47:00.000-08:00

When Lew Wallace courted Susan Elston in the late 1840s and early 1850s, he was pursuing a daughter of one of the richest men in the State of Indiana. By all accounts, Susan adored Lew and was thrilled by his attention. Her very business-like father, however, was not so enamored. Lew had something of a reputation. He hadn’t embraced school, hadn’t been diligent about pursing a career that would provide a stable income, and loved to go off in pursuit of military excitement. Even the distinguished Calvin Fletcher weighed in on young Wallace commenting on Lew and his friends running around Indianapolis as rascals.

William Wallace

In the 1840s, Lew was not the only Wallace boy pursuing Hoosier heiresses. Lew’s older brother William caught the attention of Miss Cordelia Butler. Born in 1828, Cordelia (sometimes spelled Cordilia) was the oldest of Ovid and Cordelia Dyer Cole Butler’s six children. Her father, Ovid, moved to Shelbyville in 1817 and became an attorney. In 1836 he moved his family to Indianapolis where he opened his law practice with partners as prestigious as Calvin Fletcher. Butler was an accomplished orator who quickly gained a reputation for his business skill, for his politics and for his religious views. Butler was a vocal opponent of slavery and in 1849 he established a paper call Free Soil Banner in Indianapolis. Due to poor health and because of his financial successes, he also retired from his law practice about the same time. The Free Soil Banner continued until about 1854 and Lew Wallace, along with William B. Greer, is reported to have had some editorial input into the newspaper.

Although there were schools that had a founding based on Christian theology, there was no state university affiliated with the Disciples of Christ. In the 1840s, Butler and Fletcher became leading proponents for a Christian college in Indiana. In 1850, the State General Assembly authorized the formation of a school for the Christian Movement. The creation of this school became a driving force in Butler’s life and over the next five years he raised $75,000 for the school. In November of 1855 the North Western Christian University opened its doors. For the next sixteen years he served as the head of the Board of Directors and was then made Chancellor of the University. In 1877, the school received a new name, Butler University, in honor of his leadership.

As is common in research, women were much less recorded in historical documents than men. Available records detail much more about Cordelia’s husband and her father than they do about her. No images of Cordelia have come to light and all that we really know about her is that she was born on March 25, 1828 and during their marriage she had nine children. If the date of the birth of her first child is correct, she must have married William Wallace at or before the age of 17. The children of Cordelia and William were Esther (born 1845), Butler (born 1853), Zerelda (born 1854), Willie (born 1856), Lewis (born 1857), Ovid (born 1859), Anna (born 1859), Cordelia (born 1861), and William (born 1866). The birth of William on August 31, 1866 is particularly poignant because Cordelia died that same day at the age of 42.

Given the importance of her father, Cordelia Butler must have been considered one of the most eligible women in Indiana at the time of her courtship. With their limited means and their undoubted concerns about their eighteen year old son, Lew, David and Zerelda Wallace must have been pleased to see their oldest son happily wed to a woman of means with a strong Christian upbringing. As the daughter of Ovid Butler, the wife of successful attorney William Wallace, the daughter-in-law of Governor David Wallace, the sister-in-law to Lew and Susan Elston Wallace and with business associates like Calvin Fletcher and Benjamin Harrison, Cordelia travelled in powerful circles. She must have been a great contributor to the culture and society of Indianapolis during the pivotal years prior to and during the Civil War. While the relationships to the men she was surrounded by have assured that she is remembered to a degree, perhaps one day research will better define Cordelia Butler Wallace as a person in her own right rather just a reflection of those around her.

Tidbit extra: It is through the Butler family that the Wallaces can claim kinship with Booth Tarkington.

The General Lew Wallace Study & Museum celebrates and renews belief in the power of the individual spirit to affect American history and culture.

The Grand Army of the Republic and the Lew Wallace Veteran Battalion

2011-12-10T10:03:00.001-08:00

During observances of the 70^th anniversary of Pearl Harbor this week it was announced that at the end of this year, the national association known as the Pearl Harbor Survivors Group will disband. As this group of men and women who shared a unique war-time distinction fades away, it harkens back to another organization that once played an important role in American military history.

Shortly after the end of the Civil War a fraternal organization was created in Decatur, Illinois. It was called the Grand Army of the Republic, or G.A.R. for short, and was composed of men who had honorably served in the Union army. At its peak in the 1890s it boasted almost 500,000 members across the country and was both a political and, at times, a social force of much influence. Generally supportive of Republican candidates, it also pushed for veterans' pensions and for voting rights for African-Americans. Five members of the G.A.R. were elected president and it assured that Decoration Day (Memorial Day) became a national holiday. It was formally dissolved in 1956 when its last surviving member died. The G.A.R. held annual encampments every year from 1866 to 1949. The first encampment in 1866 and last encampment in 1949 were both held in Indianapolis. Although it struggled at times to maintain its stature, its organizational structure was emulated by the American Legion, formed after World War I, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, created after World War II. Even today, many consider the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW) a successor organization.

The G.A.R. was especially popular and powerful in the Midwest. In Crawfordsville, the locals created the Lew Wallace Veteran Battalion. The General himself was an important member of the battalion. Well over 100 men from Montgomery and surrounding counties joined the Lew Wallace Veteran Battalion. Boone County was particularly proud as they could count Ben Herr (not quite Ben-Hur) of the 72^nd Indiana Volunteers as a member. The only requirement for membership in the Lew Wallace Veteran Battalion was an honorable discharge from service and the promise to wear dark colored clothes when on parade—no straw hats or linen dusters (long travel coats) permitted!

In September of 1887, Crawfordsville hosted a local encampment. A large tent city was established on the fair grounds called

Camp Henry S. Lane

, with flags of all sorts waving in the breezes and military music playing. The camp was electrified which lessened the need for men to gather around camp fires. However, a large camp fire was built the first night and Wallace delivered the first speech. The great spectacle of the event was a mock battle. The local paper admitted that owing to the confined space available it was going to be difficult to present much of a battle—but that the Rebel fort, which had been built for the occasion, would fall. The paper also suggested that people should probably leave their teams of horses downtown lest they become frightened and create pandemonium in the crowd. In addition to Wallace, important speakers included Colonel R.P. DeHart of Lafayette, the Honorable Andrew Marshall of Fountain County, the Honorable Joseph C. Suit of Frankfort and Generals George McGinness and Benjamin Harrison of Indianapolis. Over 2,000 men participated in the grand parade.

In 1895, the national G.A.R. encampment was held in Louisville. Initially, the Big Four (Monon) Railroad was selected as the official route to the meeting. With a round trip fare of $3.05, the Big Four promised to match any competing railroad that offered a lesser fare. A special train was to be arranged with hundreds on board. The train was to be decorated with the stars and stripes and the thirty-piece Lafayette Military Band was to provide music en route. Unfortunately, members of the committee got their signals crossed and transportation to Louisville was not quite as smooth as originally intended.

The encampment itself drew over 100,000 men from all over the country. General Wallace drilled and instructed the men prior to departure and then led the members of the Lew Wallace Veteran Battalion in the grand parade. A committee made all lodging arrangements (meaning a cot in the encampment), meal arrangements for the men and banners. The banners were attached to six-foot long staffs of Tennessee red cedar. As stated by the committee members, these Tennessee cedars had protected the boys during the fierce battles they fought and would now support the aging veterans as they again demonstrated their support for the Union. Wallace and his battalion were special features of the encampment and Wallace was booked for at least three camp fire speeches (New Albany, Jeffersonville, and Louisville). The battalion was also invited to attend the ceremonies dedicating the Chickamauga National Park.

In 1899, Terre Haute hosted a G.A.R. encampment that the local papers called one of the most successful in years. The encampment easily doubled the population of the city and the Terre Haute Gazette issued a sixteen page special edition. General Wallace occupied a “conspicuous position on the front page. A small portrait of Governor Mount also appeared with many other celebrities of the civil war [sic].”

In 1909, Crawfordsville hosted a 30^th annual encampment of the G.A.R. By this time many of the Union soldiers, including General Wallace, had gone to their great reward but they were not forgotten in this event hosted from May 19^th through the 21^st. The homes of Montgomery County Civil War Generals Wallace, Canby, Morgan, Manson, and Hawkins were all featured as was the home of Confederate soldier Maurice Thompson. Wallace’s Study was specially featured with special note made of Wallace’s painting of the Lincoln conspirators and his sketches of Commander Wirz of Andersonville. Other points of interest for the visiting veterans were Wabash College, the Henry Lane Home, the Masonic Temple, the Elks Home and the Public (Carnegie) Library. Even the country club that had served as Wallace’s country home and Oak Hill Cemetery were featured on tours. In the grand parade more than 5,000 men and women marched through a red, white and blue bedecked downtown.

The 1909 encampment was not the last G.A.R. event for Crawfordsville as picnics and gatherings continued for years. Men and women such as Louis Bischof, Henry Talbot, J. McCormick, Arch Austin, George Myers, J. Sellars, William Daggart, S.L. Ensminger, H. Cowan, B. Cowan and others continued to proudly remember the service of Union veterans. The local G.A.R. was also instrumental in the erection of the war memorial on the Courthouse grounds. After the death of Henry Talbot in 1924, almost sixty years after the end of the Civil War, the slow fade of the G.A.R. accelerated. As leaders such as Lew Wallace passed on, this important organization that meant so much too so many became a thing of the past much loved but no longer viable. Because of the buildings and memorials the G.A.R. sponsored, the elections it affected, the organizations it influenced, and the issues it addressed, its impact on communities throughout the country continues to be significant 145 years after it was formed and almost sixty years after it ceased to exist.

It's Tea Time!

2011-12-03T09:41:00.000-08:00

Holiday Tea Raises Necessary Funds for Lew Wallace Study

The General Lew Wallace Study & Museum hosted their 5th Annual Holiday High Tea & Fashion Show in two of Crawfordsville's most beautiful historic homes on Friday, December 2, from 3-6 p.m. Over 130 guests took in the sights, sounds and delicious tastes of the Tea, which took place in both the Historic Elston Homestead (now the home of Pat and Chris White, Wabash College's President and First Lady) and the Dorothy Q Chapter House of the Crawfordsville Daughters of the American Revolution.

Guests toured the richly-appointed homes decorated for the holidays, enjoyed tea and coffee along with an enormous variety of sweets and savories, enjoyed a live interactive fashion show with models mingling through the crowd, shopped from a gorgeous display of hand-crafted holiday wreaths created by area artists and designers, and listened to wonderful holiday music performed live by the T-Tones vocal group from Wabash College.

The Holiday High Tea is the second-largest annual fundraiser of the year for the General Lew Wallace Study & Museum, a National Historic Landmark and 2008 winner of the National Medal for Museum Service, the highest honor this country gives to museums. Funds raised through the Holiday Tea go directly to the educational programming and collections care of the Museum.

Holiday High Tea Features Music, Food, Shopping and Fun

2011-11-20T12:06:00.001-08:00

This holiday season, revelers will get a rareopportunity to see two of Crawfordsville’s most prestigious historic homesdecked out in Christmas finery during the 5th Annual Holiday High Tea &Fashion Show, a fundraiser for the General Lew Wallace Study & Museum, onFriday, December 2 from 3:00-6:00 p.m.

This year’s event takes place at both theCrawfordsville chapter DAR House on Wabash Avenue and the old Elston Homestead on adjacent Pike Street, nowhome to Wabash College President Patrick White and his wife Chris. These privately-owned homes, two ofCrawfordsville’s most well-preserved architectural treasures decorated lavishlyfor the season, will feature live entertainment, an interactive fashion show, asale of original themed holiday wreaths, and live holiday music from theT-Tones, a men’s vocal ensemble from Wabash College.

“Our Holiday High Teahas become a valued community event celebrating the advent of the holidayseason in a beautiful historic setting,” said Helen Hudson, Chair of the Tea Committee. “The General Lew Wallace Study & Museum, theDaughters of the American Revolution, Wabash College, and Crawfordsville MainStreet merchants cooperate to create for us, and for our many out of townguests, a sparkling afternoon.”

High tea will be servedat the Elston Homestead, complete with coffee, sweets, and savory snacksprovided by the Tea Committee and Bon Appétit from Wabash College. Local models will show off fashions from localboutique heathcliff, and the venue will be decorated with seasonalfloral arrangements by Milligan’s Flowers & Gifts. Homestead Greetings & Gifts will showcasethe latest Vera Bradley designs, and door prizes from several local merchantswill be awarded throughout the afternoon, giving event-goers several chances towin accessories and decorations to brighten their own homes.

The Daughters of theAmerican Revolution will be offering tours to Tea guests of theirbeautifully-appointed Dorothy Q chapter house, decorated in a VictorianChristmas motif where a unique display of original themed holiday wreaths willbe available for sale. These wreathshave been created especially for the Tea by artists and designers fromthroughout the area, and each one will be a fabulous décor item or holiday giftidea.

The afternoon’sfestivities will not be limited to the tea, however. Guests are being invited to make a day oftheir Crawfordsville sojourn, taking advantage of discounts and specials onlyfor Tea guests throughout the downtown retail district, enjoying lunch atseveral terrific restaurants, and possibly even culminating their visit bypurchasing tickets to the Sugar Creek Players’ presentation of “Yes Virginia,There Is a Santa Claus”, which premieres at the Vanity Theater that night.

Reservations for the HolidayHigh Tea and Fashion Show are $25 per person and due by November 30. To reserve places for you and your guests,call the General Lew Wallace Study & Museum at 765-362-5769.

A Look Inside Our Collection: Randolph Rogers

2011-11-12T07:37:00.000-08:00

Throughout his life Lew Wallace had a deep interest in the creative arts. He created original works of art and he acquired works by others. One of the most recognizable works he acquired was a bronze bust of himself created by the famed American sculptor, Randolph Rogers. Wallace’s bust is signed by Randolph Rogers and dated 1862. It was cast by Jules Berchem of Chicago. Who actually commissioned the bust and how it came to Wallace is unknown. It is, none the less, one of the most important works of art in the collection.

Randolph Rogers was born in Waterloo, New York, July 6, 1825. Growing up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, he moved to New York City at about the age of 20. Various accounts have Rogers moving to New York to pursue a career as a magazine illustrator but ultimately finding work in a dry goods store (some say a department store). At any rate his employers discovered his aptitude for carving and promptly financed his trip to Florence, Italy in 1848 so that he could pursue formal training. In Florence, he studied at the Academy of Saint Marks with Lorenzo Bartolini. When Bartolini died in 1850, Rogers moved to Rome where he established his own studio. It appears he may have returned to New York for a brief period, but for most of the rest of his life he lived and worked in Rome.

Rogers quickly established a reputation as one of the outstanding and most prolific American neoclassical sculptors of his generation. In 1852, he had a sculpture entitled “Night” exhibited at the National Academy of Design in New York. Although this work has been lost, it was very well received. He followed this work with one entitled “Ruth Gleaning” in 1853. The enormous popularity of this statue led to his receiving the commission for the main entrance doors of the U.S. Capitol. The bronze doors stand seventeen feet tall and weigh an impressive 20,000 pounds. Called the Columbus doors, they represent scenes from the life of Columbus in bas relief. Throughout the 1850s, Rogers’ works were largely of mythical subjects in a neoclassical design or portrait busts. Perhaps his most popular sculpture was “Nydia, the Blind Flower Girl of Pompeii.” He sold almost 100 copies of this particular statue and it is considered by some to be the most popular American neoclassical sculpture ever created.

Just prior to the Civil War, Rogers received a commission to complete the Washington monument that stands in downtown Richmond, Virginia. This monument had been left unfinished by Thomas Crawford, its original designer. This was a fortuitous commission for another reason because in 1857, during his time in Richmond, Rogers married. Around this time he was also completing a statue of John Adams in Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts and “Angel of the Resurrection” for the Samuel Colt monument in Hartford, Connecticut. Beyond these monumental works, Rogers was one of the most sought after sculptors by Americans who were completing their grand tours of Europe. It was customary for travelers who were preparing to depart Europe to sit for a portrait bust in one of the studios in Rome, and Rogers was one of the most popular artists.

By 1863, Rogers was beginning to receive commissions for busts and statues relating to the Civil War. In just a few years he became the preeminent sculptor for Civil War memorials and statues with notable commissions like the Soldiers Monument in Gettysburg, the Michigan Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument in Detroit (considered among the first large scale commemorations of the Civil War by a large city), an impressive statue called “The Sentinel” for Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati, a statue of Abraham Lincoln for Philadelphia and one of William H. Seward in Madison Square Park in New York. In keeping with the Civil War commissions he was receiving at this time, he created the bust of Major General Lew Wallace in his Civil War uniform.

In 1873, Rogers was chosen a professor of sculpture at the Academy of Saint Luke in Rome, the first American to be so honored. In 1882, he suffered a stroke and was never able to work as a sculptor again. In 1884, he was awarded the order of the Caviliere della Coronoa d’Italia, an honorary knighthood bestowed in recognition of service to the Italian Republic.

Randolph Rogers passed away in Rome on January 15, 1892. Among the museums in America that boast works by Rogers are the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Museum of Fine Art in Boston, the Detroit Institute of Art, the National Gallery of Art and the Smithsonian in Washington, the Brooklyn Museum/Luce Center for American Art, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and, closer to home, the Indianapolis Museum of Art which has it’s own version of Roger’s famous “Ruth Gleaning.” With the bust of General Wallace created by Randolph Rogers as part of our art collection, the Study is in good company.

Wintertime Blues, I Mean Blooms

2011-11-10T12:16:00.000-08:00

I am sitting at my desk, which I don't do very often, watching snow flurries out the window. Just 2 days ago, the weather was a balmy 68 degrees and I worked in the gardens. I am getting the gardens all prepped for the long winter with pulling up annuals,cutting back and mulching the perennials. I noticed some lingering color, even though we've had quite a few frosty mornings.

Myrtle, wild violets, Liberty snapdragons, Evolution salvia, Lady in Red salvia, Stella d'Oro daylilies, zinnias, Blue Hawaii ageratum, Harmony and Scarlet Sophia marigolds and chrysanthemums are just some of the flowers still blooming at the Museum. They may be covered in snow shortly or with Indiana's unpredictable weather, basking in warm temperatures again.

Bulbs are being planted and a layer of mulched leaves is being added to the gardens. It's wishful thinking that Spring will be here sooner, rather than later.

Museum Welcomes New Associate Director

2011-11-05T13:22:00.000-07:00

Erin Gobel joined the staff at the Lew Wallace Study as the Associate Director in October 2011. Erin received a BA in history from Hanover College in 2007. She earned an MA in Public History and a Graduate Certificate in Museum Studies from IUPUI in 2010. She wrote her thesis about the Free Kindergarten Society of Indianapolis. She interned and worked at the Indiana Historical Society, the Indiana Supreme Court, and the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site. She currently works part-time at the Rotary Jail Museum as the Curator. She also researches and writes National Register nominations as a consultant for Partners in Preservation. She is currently working on the nomination for Dwight and Jamie Watson’s home on East Wabash Avenue.

Erin and her husband, Kyle, recently bought a house in Crawfordsville. She enjoys baking and watching Purdue basketball and football. She also loves baby-sitting her two nephews.

“I’ve enjoyed my first few days working here and meeting everyone at the Study,” said Gobel. “I’m looking forward to learning more about the educational programs offered, particularly the Lew Wallace Youth Academy. I’m really excited about this new opportunity.”

Hard hats and helmets

2011-10-07T12:02:00.000-07:00

Fall- the time of cool, brisk mornings and quiet evenings. Time to slow down and look at nature and . . . . .don the hard hats, helmets and shoulder pads!

The beautiful colors of fall have arrived with the bright yellow hickory leaves, the orange-gold of the sassafras and the bright red leaves of the dogwood. A virtual artist's palette for a few weeks.

But be on the lookout for the dreaded head knockers! Walnut, hickory and oak trees are causing havoc all over the grounds of the Museum with the falling nuts. Crash, bam, kerplunk, thunk , splat are just a few sounds of the Museum. A visitor walking on the grounds may appear unsteady until you realize they are dodging the walnuts laying all over the ground.

Neighbors, preschoolers, school groups are visiting the grounds and collecting leaves and seeds for class projects. A great time to visit and see the beautiful trees and gardens- but bring your hard hat!

Interesting Finds in Lew's Reflecting Pool!

2011-09-10T13:21:00.000-07:00

The archaeologists from the University of Indianapolis have made a couple of interesting discoveries this afternoon during their excavation of Lew Wallace's reflecting pool. What do you think they could be?

These are two glass pieces being held together. A drinking glass from long ago, perhaps?

This is a small, perfectly round and completely intact piece of mica. What would that have been used for around the turn of the century?

The digging will continue in our "History Beneath Us" program on the grounds of the General Lew Wallace Study & Museum tomorrow from 1:00-5:00 p.m. Drop by and watch us make more exciting discoveries!

Celebrate National Archaeology Month at the Study

2011-09-10T10:22:00.000-07:00

The General Lew Wallace Study & Museum is celebrating National Archaeology Month with a continuation of its "History Beneath Us" archaeology dig this weekend in the backyard of General Lew Wallace's home and study.

A stately brick reflecting pond graced Wallace's grounds between approximately 1898-1903, after which the General filled in the pond because of concerns for the welfare of small children who might fall into the standing water when he wasn't around to help. Today and tomorrow, professional archaeologists and students from the University of Indianapolis are continuing to uncover the western perimeter of the pond to define the original outline of the structure and aid in interpreting the grounds to the public.

So far, the digging has revealed the remarkably-intact wall of the pond and determined its original depth. The archaeologists are combing through the original material used to fill the pond to see if artifacts can be found. On previous occasions, the archaeologists have found sections of pipe, pieces of pottery, iron nails and a metal pot inside the pond.

See archaeologists in action during this weekend's "History Beneath Us" program on the grounds of the General Lew Wallace Study & Museum in Crawfordsville, today and Sunday until 5:00 p.m. This program is free and open to the public; separate tours of the Museum cost $5 for adults and $1 for students.

A Look Back: The Tribe of Ben-Hur

2011-09-03T07:54:00.000-07:00

Of all of the many products, places, and institutions to carry the name Ben-Hur, perhaps none was more successful than the Tribe of Ben-Hur. Lew Wallace never belonged to this fraternal benefit organization, but he gave the enterprise his blessing in the early 1890s and was close friends with many of the founding members.

Headquartered in Crawfordsville for generations, the Ben-Hur Life Association was created by David W. Gerard in 1894. David Gerard had been born on a farm in Shelby County, Ohio in 1844. His family moved to Romney where his father, Abner, died when David was just five years old. His mother and brothers returned to Ohio where they struggled to make ends meet. By the age of 16, David was teaching school and by the age of 17 he was fighting in the Civil War. After serving for four years he returned to this area and taught school in Wingate (although it was called Pleasant Hill in his day). He met and married Elizabeth Krug and together they established their lives here.

Wallace and Gerard had already crossed paths at least twice by 1865. When David Gerard’s father died, Lew Wallace was a young attorney living in Covington. Wallace was called to help settle Abner Gerard’s meager estate. While Wallace remembered the family, at age five, David Gerard was too young to remember this initial meeting. Their lives crossed paths again during the Civil War.

Throughout the 1870s and 1880s as the economy prospered, Gerard kept thinking about establishing a fraternal insurance agency where the members would take care of their own. In 1893, Gerard and a small group of friends determined that in establishing such an agency, Wallace’s Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ, would provide not only name recognition, but also a rich background from which they could develop the secret rituals and elaborate hierarchy that fraternal groups in the late 19^th century were so fond of.

The group met with Wallace who readily gave his consent and assisted them in getting permission from Harper & Brothers to use the name of Ben-Hur and portions of the book. According to tradition Wallace even suggested the name Tribe of Ben-Hur as tribes were the organizational structure at the time of Christ. On January 9, 1894, papers were filed with the Secretary of State in Indianapolis. Early leaders in the Tribe included Gerard, Frank L. Snyder, S.E. Voris, Dr. J.F. Davidson, and John C. Snyder.

The first session of the Tribe, or grand conclave, as it was known locally was held on January 16, 1894. More organizational meetings followed and on Thursday, March 1, 1894 the community celebrated Ben Hur gala day. The town was filled to capacity with people from far and wide and by the end of the gala, 422 individuals had become charter members of the Simonides Court Number 1. The Tribe was unusual in its day as it allowed both men and women to join, and within in a few years had made provisions for children to be included in the benefits program.

Gerard was widely recognized as an organizational genius and within two years there were more than 5,000 members in the Tribe of Ben-Hur and “Courts” had been established in a dozen states from California to New York. The tribe was initially housed in an upstairs room of a downtown building called the Thomas Block, but the organization soon built their first Supreme building. Then 99 years ago in 1912/13, the Tribe built the ornate white terra cotta five-story building that has become a landmark on the corner of Main and Water Streets.

While The Tribe of Ben-Hur continued to be based in Crawfordsville, it grew far beyond the confines of Montgomery County and it prospered. During the Great Depression when other insurance agencies and fraternal organizations were failing, the management of the Tribe was such that it continued to grow, astutely purchasing the resources of failing groups. Many of the founding members stayed with the Tribe until their dying day. This was true of D.W. Gerard who served as the Supreme Chief until his passing on January 3, 1910.

Ultimately, changing times and economies did affect the Tribe of Ben Hur and in the 1980s after 90 years of service, the fundamental nature of the organization was changed as it became known as USA Life Insurance Company of Indiana. In 1988, the rituals, offices, obligations, and fraternal nature of this group inspired by Lew Wallace’s book quietly (and sadly for some in Crawfordsville) slipped into history.

Friendship with the Wallaces Shapes a Young Man's Life

2011-08-20T08:22:00.000-07:00

Helping with the care and maintenance of the grounds of the Lew Wallace property by incoming freshmen at Wabash College is not a recent phenomenon. These young men have been helping the museum for years and actually helped General and Mrs. Wallace in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

One of the young Wabash men who worked for the Wallaces was Harry Wann. In September 1904, Harry was a seventeen year old freshman at Wabash. His older brother had attended Wabash and had worked for General and Mrs. Wallace at different times. As Harry was in need of money to support his education, he walked over to the Wallace home and introduced himself requesting an opportunity to work for Mrs. Wallace.

Some weeks after his meeting with Mrs. Wallace, she sent him a note asking that he bring all the students he could find to help rake leaves. As Wann recorded, the grounds were spacious and it was a real challenge to keep them neat and free of leaves. After this initial effort, Mrs. Wallace quickly came to depend on Harry for help and he was frequently at the home doing odd jobs.

By the fall of 1904, General Wallace’s health was declining. He often sat outdoors between the house and the Study to enjoy the fresh fall air. Ever curious Wallace would question Harry about his college studies, his ambitions, and even his eating habits! Harry didn’t have enough money for breakfast so he tended to skip that meal—Wallace grew concerned as he told Harry that breakfast was a very important meal. Although he was weak in body, Wallace continued to be strong in mind and he hired Harry to work in the Study. Wallace was still doing research and writing but it was too tiring to move about the Study pulling the books he needed from the shelves. To keep up with his research, he had the young man pull the desired volumes from the book shelves and bring them to the center desk.

As the autumn of 1904 turned cooler, Harry was hired to fire the furnaces in both the Wallace home and the Study. He also performed this same service for Susan’s brother Isaac who lived just up the street and Colonel Thompson who also lived nearby. Each evening Harry would stoke the furnaces and then at 5:30 the next morning he would make the same round to prepare the furnaces for the day.

When Harry was working at the Wallace home, the General would share stories of his experiences as Minister to

Turkey

as well as other episodes from a crowded life. Wallace’s health declined during the winter of 1904 and early in 1905 he took to his bed. Several times he sent for Harry to come to his bedroom to take dictation which Harry would write out in long-hand for the General to sign. Harry would post the letters the next morning.

On January 25, 1905 the General called for Harry to take dictation. The General dictated one letter regarding a typewriter he intended to purchase and a second letter to a nursery which included a list of plants and seeds for the spring planting. Harry completed the letters and prepared to leave. As he reached the front door, Mrs. Wallace detained him and asked Harry to refrain from sending the letter with the plant list as there was doubt as to her husband’s ability to garden come the spring. Harry headed back to Wabash College and laid the letter aside. He continued to come each evening and early each morning to tend the furnace, but he never saw the General again. Wallace’s health declined rapidly and he died on February 15.

After the General’s passing, Mrs. Wallace closed the house and she moved to Indianapolis for a time. A few months later, Harry received a note from Mrs. Wallace requesting him to retrieve her door key from Miss Millen (who was staying at Colonel Thompson’s home). In the note, Mrs. Wallace asked Harry to go to the Wallace house, and get two things for her. From the lowest drawer of her desk in the small (east) room, downstairs she wanted a manuscript of a play based on the Prince of India and then on the mantel was a letter from a friend. She asked Harry to add some Ben-Hur postcards from a local store; bundle it all together and send the package to her in Indianapolis via American Express.

As Harry wrote: “Needless to say, I was proud as a peacock, as a boy of seventeen, to be privileged to enter alone the privacy of the Wallace home to obtain, wrap and send to Mrs. Wallace the original MS. of the play “Prince of India.”

Harry Wann graduated from Wabash in 1908, taught German at Wabash for one year and then, perhaps remembering Wallace’s stories of the Middle East, he moved to Constantinople where he taught for three years. Wann returned to Wabash briefly in 1911 before moving on to teach at the University of Michigan. He pursued his doctorate and in 1917 was appointed head of the Romance Language Department at Indiana State University. Like Wallace, Harry Wann loved to learn. He participated in Community Theater, enjoyed singing in local choirs, and became a student once again when he enrolled at the Herron Art School in Indianapolis to learn the art of sculpting. As a sculptor he received a number of commissions.

In his 80s, as Wann reflected on his life and recorded his memories he continued to treasure the few months he worked for General and Mrs. Wallace. After a lifetime of accomplishment one of his prized possessions was the letter that was dictated to him and signed by General Lew Wallace on January 25, 1904 but never mailed.

Advance Taste Tix Now On Sale

2011-08-06T10:59:00.000-07:00

Advance tickets for the fifth-annual Taste of Montgomery County are now on sale in select Crawfordsville locations. Visitors can purchase Taste tickets at the Carriage House Interpretive Center of the General Lew Wallace Study and Museum, home of the Taste; the Montgomery County Visitors and Convention Bureau at the corner of Pike and Green streets; Kwik Kopy Printing at 123 East Main Street, Milligan’s Flowers & Gifts at 115 East Main, and Hovey Cottage on the campus of Wabash College. Advance tickets are $4 for adults and $2 for students. The Taste is an annual fundraiser for the Lew Wallace Study Preservation Society, the organization that maintains General Lew Wallace’s original artifacts and keeps his legacy alive.

The benefits of purchasing advance tickets are twofold. Advance tickets are $1 cheaper—adult tickets at the gate on the day of the Taste will be $5 and student tickets will be $3. Advance ticket holders will also be able to get into the gate faster on the day of the Taste, as they won’t have to wait in line to purchase tickets. This could be a real advantage when crowds gather for the live musical acts scheduled to play at this year’s Taste. Crawfordsville’s own Kenn & Keller will play from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.; Indianapolis’ Cool City Swing Band will bring the swing from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., and this year’s headliners, Healing Sixes will take the stage from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. for an exhilarating finale.

The Taste of Montgomery County will be held at the General Lew Wallace Study and Museum on Saturday, August 27, from 12:00 to 10:00 p.m. The restaurants and caterers showcasing their foods at this year’s Taste include The Iron Gate, The Juniper Spoon, Two Guys Cooking, The Big Dipper, Bon Appétit, Miller's Quality Meats & Catering, Arthur's Café, Norvell's BBQ & Catering, Applebee's, China Inn, Mighty Dogs/Athens Nutrition and Smoothies, Buffalo Wild Wings, Hawg Wild BBQ, Waynetown Bar & Grill, Coal Creek Cellars Winery, 1832 Brew and Creekside Lodge.

For more information about the Taste, visit our website at www.tasteofmontgomerycounty.com.

A Look Back at GLWSM's Civil War Week 2011

2011-07-16T13:23:00.000-07:00

From July 7-13, 2011, the General Lew Wallace Study and Museum hosted some terrific events to commemorate the sesquicentennial of the American Civil War.

On July 7, Jeannie Regan-Dinius, Director of Special Initiatives, Division for Historic Preservation and Archaeology, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, spoke to a packed Carriage House about the history of the Underground Railroad in Indiana. The audience response was such that the Museum is making plans to bring Regan-Dinius back for a second engagement!

On July 8, Joan Flinspach, CEO of Presenting the Past and former President of The Lincoln Museum in Fort Wayne, illuminated the life and accomplishments of acclaimed Civil War photographer Mathew Brady for guests inside the Study. The fascinating question-and-answer section afterward lasted almost until the sun went down!

The 7th Annual Lew Wallace Youth Academy completed its week of new experiences on July 9 with a visit to the Civil War Encampment, which was held on the Museum grounds on the weekend of July 9-10. Academy students learned about Civil War-era surgery, embalming, armaments, and much more.

Throughout the weekend, visitors from throughout the Midwest met with living history interpreters from the Mid-States Living History Association to learn about the trials and triumphs of camp life during the tumultuous years of the Civil War. Guests got to see a working telegraph, infantry drills and sharpshooter demonstrations, ladies' teas, camp music and seminars on saving history with the Curator of Social History at the Indiana State Museum, among many other things.

On July 13, guests were treated to an inside look into the private life of controversial First Lady Mary Lincoln during the lecture "Mary’s Legacy According to Her Son Robert Lincoln" by Donna McCreary, an award-winning living history presenter, educator and historian.

Civil War Week 2011 was an enormous success, and the General Lew Wallace Study and Museum staff would like to thank all of our partners for helping make it happen!

Civil War Surgery at the 2011 Lew Wallace Youth Academy

2011-07-09T14:17:00.001-07:00

CIVIL WAR WEEK FEATURES LIVE ENCAMPMENT, LECTURES

2011-07-02T14:35:00.000-07:00

CRAWFORDSVILLE, IN, July 2, 2011— The General Lew Wallace Study & Museum is commemorating the sesquicentennial of the American Civil War with a lecture series and live encampment that will dynamically illustrate the hardships and triumphs of that era.

Three free, in-depth lectures on some of the Civil War’s most compelling subjects will be held at the Museum beginning this week. On Thursday, July 7 at 7:00 p.m., the Museum will be hosting Jeannie R. Regan-Dinius from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources as she discusses the Underground Railroad in Indiana, including its history in Montgomery County. The following evening, July 8 at 7:00 p.m., Joan Flinspach of Presenting the Past will talk about famed Civil War Photographer Matthew Brady. On Wednesday, July 13 at 7:00 p.m., living history presenter Donna McCreary will illustrate the life of one of the nation’s most controversial First Ladies in “Mary’s Legacy According to Her Son Robert Lincoln.” These lectures are free but space is limited; call the Museum at 765-362-5769 or email study@ben-hur.com to reserve a seat.

The scent of campfires and the sounds of Stephen Foster songs will fill the air once again at the General Lew Wallace Study and Museum for its annual Civil War Encampment weekend, July 9 and 10. The Museum’s partnership with the Mid States Living History Association, Inc. allows visitors a rare chance to dig deeper into the experience of life as one of General Wallace’s rank-and-file soldiers.

Mid States, an Indianapolis-based group comprised of living history interpreters from throughout the Midwest, will present several activities on the Museum grounds over the course of the weekend that offer a greater insight into life as a Civil War soldier or civilian. In addition to live demonstrations of camp cooking, construction, medical care, music, telegraphy and artillery training, visitors will have the chance to interact with both General Lew Wallace and the Governor of Indiana during that critical time, Oliver Morton.

“Our Encampment weekends are always popular,” said Associate Director Amanda Wesselmann. “It’s an immersive experience that lets visitors really appreciate what General Wallace and his soldiers had to endure during the Civil War, much more so than they could just by reading a book or sitting in history class.”

The live activities include “School of the Piece,” an instructional training exercise for cannoneers that demonstrates the degree of textbook and practical training required to function on the field of battle. Visitors will also be invited to participate in infantry training drills using toy “Woodfield” (wooden) rifles. Demonstrations in Civil War-era medical care, camp construction and cooking will also be held throughout the weekend. New this year will be a sharp-shooter display and a ladies’ tea.

Visitors are invited to experience the live drama of the Civil War on Saturday, July 9 from 1:00 – 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, July 10 from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. at the General Lew Wallace Study and Museum in Crawfordsville. For further information, contact the Museum at 765-362-5769 or email study@ben-hur.com.

The Conspirators

2011-06-23T09:51:00.000-07:00

Perhaps Lew Wallace's best-known painting (not that he was famous for art), The Conspirators made the journey from storage to the Study

Movers from Red Ball Moving carry in the custom-made box containing The Conspirators.

Museum staff and volunteers lift the oil painting atop the bookcases in the Study.

Museum Director Larry Paarlberg and Collections Manager Amanda McGuire examine the placement before descending their ladders. The current location not only shows off the painting but also what some of Wallace's artwork would have looked like next to the original colors of the Study interior.

Back Home in Indiana

2011-06-22T13:02:00.000-07:00

Lew Wallace's Artifacts are finally back in the Study! Museum staff and volunteers will now spend days unpacking artwork and arranging furniture to reflect Wallace's use of the building.

The furniture, including the grandfather clock, are not in place, but at least they are in the building!

Movers from Red Ball Moving Company, generous supporters of the Museum, prepare to move Il Pensiero (The Thinker) to its pedestal.

Museum Director Larry Paarlberg adjusts the "Girl with Goats" majolica vase in its corner. The colors in the ceramics blend well with the newly restored wall in the southeast corner of the Study!

Associate Director Amanda Wesselmann and Grounds Manager Deb King unveil "The Turkish Princess," a gift to Wallace from Sultan Abdul Hamid II. She is now back in her familiar place above the bookcases.

Uncovering the Past

2011-06-10T13:44:00.000-07:00

It's always thrilling to scrape away the covering of years and unveil more of what General Wallace's surroundings looked like when he lived among them. The past weeks have offered exciting glimpses into both the interior and exterior of the General's study, through the tireless work of some true professionals.

Brian Fick and Mary Yeager of Acanthus Arts in Indianapolis have been hard at work conserving the beautiful decorative paint in places inside the study, and it's been amazing to watch the original colors begin to blossom. The anteroom just inside the front door is swathed in deep jewel tones, and the dome now has a wide stripe of original paint uncovered down to the bookcases. Visitors can now see not only the musical motif in the southeast corner of the dome, but the stylish method by which the paint fades from a deep green to a light silvery tone at the dome.

The colors of the plaster frieze just under the dome are being replicated according to the paint analysis done by Matthew Mosca of Washington D.C. in March. It's easy to see how brilliant General Wallace's dome would've looked when all of the electric lights were on!

Outside, archaeologists from Weintraut & Associates in Zionsville are working with students from the University of Indianapolis to uncover General Wallace's backyard reflecting pool. Over weeks of painstaking work, they have found the brick perimeter topped by capstones lying just inches below the surface of the lawn.

Keep an eye on this blog for further developments as we continue to work in restoring General Wallace's "pleasure house for his soul" to its original splendor!

Paint Restoration Continues

2011-06-03T12:57:00.000-07:00

Exciting work continues here at the Study as our conservators, Brian Fick and Mary Yeager from Acanthus Arts in Indianapolis, uncover and restore more incredible decorative paint inside the historic building's dome.

Brian is spending his day 30 feet in the air, uncovering layer by layer of paint to get to the original design, described by Ella Kostanzer in 1900 as the "implements of war." So far, he's uncovered a beautiful musical motif in the corner, featuring a drum flanked by skin-covered mallets, with a fife and sheets of music behind, accented with laurel leaves. We believe there might be musical scenes in each of the corners, with more military-themed decoration along the sides of the dome. Here's a progression of the work so far:

We'll continue to update as the restoration progresses. Many thanks to the Montgomery County Community Foundation for providing the funds for this fascinating project!

Ella Was Right

2011-06-01T13:32:00.000-07:00

Ella Kostanzer visited the General's Study around 1900, and described, among other things, a scene on the domed ceiling that contained "implements of war". Because she is the only one to recount this detail, staff and visitors alike have long hoped she was right but didn't want to rely on her testimony too heavily. Today, a pair of paint conservators arrived on the scene to attempt to expose some of that original design.

Sure enough, there appear to be shields and laurel leaves in a design that incorporates not only the shades of green found in the paint analysis, but also rust colors and silvery grays as well. This is part of a 3-foot-wide path the conservators plan to expose from the skylight to the tops of the bookcases. What a wonderful discovery!

LEW WALLACE ACADEMY ANNOUNCES OPEN ENROLLMENT

2011-05-28T08:02:00.000-07:00

2010 Youth Academy students learn what it was like to
undergo surgery on the Civil War battlefield.

Crawfordsville, Indiana, May 25, 2011—Amanda Wesselmann, Associate Director of the General Lew Wallace Study and Museum and Coordinator of the Lew Wallace Youth Academy, announced today that enrollment into the weeklong day camp, held this year from July 5-9, is now open to the public. In 2008, the General Lew Wallace Study and Museum won the National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the highest honor this country gives to museums, largely because of the impact the Academy made on the Montgomery County community.

The Academy, which is in its seventh year after six tremendously successful seasons, has already enrolled exceptional middle school-aged students from schools and home school organizations from throughout Montgomery County, and only a few positions remain. The Academy promotes in its students the qualities of leadership, character and lifelong learning that General Lew Wallace embodied throughout his life. This year, Academy students will investigate new disciplines related to the Wallace legacy: in the day dedicated to “The Food That Lew Knew”, participants will meet a local sheep farmer and her livestock, and discuss the processing of food from farm to table, complete with sampling the types of cuisine Lew Wallace tasted. They will also prepare wool for felting and spinning, and create their own project to take home.

“We chose our wide variety of subjects not to have one specialty for everyone, but to illustrate that each student can excel in many things,” said Wesselmann. “Our diverse faculty has designed hands-on group activities that will build on students’ interests, and pique new ones.”

2010 Youth Academy students excel in African drumming.

Applicants for the Academy must be entering 6^th through 8^th grade or equivalent and able to attend the entire camp from July 5-9, 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Parents are responsible for arranging transportation to and from the Academy. The cost to the family is only $25 per child. Scholarship opportunities are available for families experiencing financial hardship; contact the Museum to make arrangements.

This program is made possible through our generous sponsors, including Tipmont REMC, Union Township Board of Trustees, Sugar Creek Kiwanis, Character Counts, American Legion Byron Cox Post 72, Clements Plumbing, INFBPW/Crawfordsville, Montgomery County Retired Teachers Association, Psi Iota Xi - Gamma Xi Chapter, Teachers Credit Union, Brian Keim, and Roberta Berry.

For registration forms, contact Amanda Wesselmann at 765-362-5769 or awesselmann@ben-hur.com, or stop by the Carriage House Interpretive Center at the General Lew Wallace Study and Museum, 200 Wallace Ave., Crawfordsville. Registration forms and $25 fee are due by June 30.

Overheard at International Museum Day 4

2011-05-19T12:57:00.000-07:00

This is from a Crawfordsville native:

"The Study was very much a part of my youth as my family lived just a few blocks away on Wabash Avenue, I went to school at Wilson from kindergarten through the middle of fourth grade, my Scout Troop met in the Carriage House during some of my early years, and when I was still living in Crawfordsville and preparing to walk in the Indianapolis Mini-Marathon in 2004 and 2005 walking around the blocks near the Study was a regular part of my early-morning training route. So I have fond memories of time spent in the Study and on the grounds during my youth and part of my adult life."

Overheard at International Museum Day 3

2011-05-18T13:41:00.000-07:00

From a previous volunteer:

"I remember that spot up there looked a little shaky back then. There was damage from the leaks, and the plaster around the skylight would flake off."

Thankfully, the Study Restoration Project seems to have fixed that issue!

Overheard at International Museum Day 2

2011-05-18T11:13:00.000-07:00

Overheard from a young visitor:

"I remember the bright orange carpet. And that there used to be a lot more stuff in here."

Hang on, Josie. Just a few more weeks and then we plan to move artifacts back into the Study! (The carpet's gone for good, though.)

Overheard at International Museum Day

2011-05-18T10:10:00.001-07:00

Today the Museum is participating in International Museum Day with free admission. The theme is Museums and REmembrance, and our visitors are talking up a storm about what they remember from their previous visits! This was overheard from a former teacher during a tour:

"Didn't there used to be a picture of a lady whose eyes followed you? I remember that. All the kids remembered that from their field trips." [The Turkish Princess by C.F. Mueller, hanging in the center of the photo]

The bloom report

2011-05-14T07:54:00.001-07:00

The grounds of the Museum are bursting with plant life and color. Wildflower walks provided visitors with the rust-colored blooms of prairie trillium, pale blue blooms of wild hyacinth, along with bright yellow ragwort. The magnolia trees bloomed for just a short period of time, not liking the 30 degree rise in temperatures. The cool spring exploded with 4 days of mid 80's and the magnolia blossoms suffered. The abundant spring rain also provided a surprise to the wildflower walks. Morel mushrooms, or sponge mushrooms were found growing in a nest of hickory, beech and sassafras leaves. The largest measured just under 6"! It is only the second time in recorded history that morels have been found on the Museum grounds.

The iris are in bloom, colors ranging from a deep midnight purple to a light lavendar/yellow throat. Purple alliums are intermixed with the iris in the Study front garden. Deutzia, with its globe-like white blooms compliment the pale lavendar iris and pink peonies. Nestled in a garden with a birdbath, visitors sit on a garden bench and watch the antics of the house wrens, cardinals and blue jays.

Making It Up as He Goes Along

2011-05-07T09:00:00.000-07:00

Lew Wallace created many things during his lifetime, from art to inventions to his Study. Many consider writing to be his greatest achievement, especially since he described in his autobiography that he hated school and frequently skipped class. Well, perhaps he should have applied himself to a few more vocabulary lessons...

When the first few chapters of Ben-Hur were published as a separate volume titled The First Christmas, Wallace wrote the preface describing his writing process. A lack of knowledge of the historical circumstances surrounding the birth of Christ compelled Wallace "to study everything of pertinency; after which, possibly, I would be possessed of opinions of real value." Unfortunately for the world-renowned author, "pertinency" isn't actually a word; he should have used "pertinence".

We could overlook that near-miss, but Wallace just plain made up a word elsewhwere in the preface. He described walking to his brother's house from a train station: "The street-cars were at my service, but I preferred to walk, for I was in a confusion of mind not unlike dazement." Dazement? Apparently he was so confused that he couldn't come up with a word that already existed!

I guess famous authors not only get to build their own studies, they also get to invent words.

Ben-Hur 1925: The Most Expensive Silent Film Ever Made

2011-04-30T12:39:00.000-07:00

At almost four million dollars, the 1925 version of Lew Wallace’s Ben-Hur is widely considered the most expensive silent movie ever made. Expenses for the movie began in 1919 with the initial negotiations with Henry Wallace and with Abraham Erlanger, producer of the successful stage play. Erlanger eventually concluded a deal with MGM for generous profit participation and total control over the production. Cost escalation accelerated in 1923 when filming of the movie began in Italy. There were accidents, changes in directors, corporate mergers, and changes in cast, including the hiring of Ramon Navarro as Ben-Hur replacing George Walsh. Walsh had been hired to play the title role and went to Italy, but he felt he was being treated shabbily and went home in a huff.

As the MGM publicity machine continued its promotion emphasizing the quality of the production, actors wearing heavy costumes who jumped overboard to escape burning ships during the sea battle had to be rescued from drowning and horses were being maimed and killed with alarming regularity because of the punishing demands placed on them. Even the building of the elaborate sets by Italian craftsmen was delayed by Italy’s new leader, Benito Mussolini. In a bold move, Irving Thalberg, MGM’s head of production, closed the Italian operation and moved the entire effort to Hollywood to contain costs. This was an early instance where the “business side” of show business significantly curtailed the “show side.” Because of the cost overruns in Italy, for decades after Ben-Hur, most movies were mounted on Hollywood’s back lots so that the business men could keep an eye on the productions and their bottom lines.

Filming ran from October 1923 through August 1925—almost two full years. This lengthy filming and final editing of the movie also added to the expenses. For instance, 42 cameras were used and over 200,000 feet of film was shot for the chariot race—in the final cut of the movie only 750 feet of the filmed race was used. Also, sections of the movie boasted an early 2 tone version of Technicolor using red and green filters. While not the first movie to boast color sequences, it was an early use of this technology raising its production value and audience interest.

The enormous chariot race arena was constructed at what is now the intersection of La Cienega and San Vicente Boulevards in Los Angeles. The chariot race sequence was filmed in one day and MGM made the most of it. They made the day of filming a holiday for the studio which gave the day a circus like feel. With the exception of the leading men, Ramon Navarro and Francis X. Bushman, the other titled characters from the movie are today largely unknown. However, because of the holiday, established stars such as John and Lionel Barrymore, Joan Crawford, Marion Davies, Douglas Fairbanks, John Gilbert, Dorothy and Lillian Gish, Harold Lloyd, and even America’s sweetheart—Mary Pickford made special appearances in the crowd scenes. While they weren’t matinee idols, Samuel Goldwyn and Sid Grauman (of the Chinese Theater) also showed up on screen rooting for Ben-Hur.

Although the movie made over nine million dollars in its original run, it was not considered to have made any money for the studio because of the production and promotion costs and because of the deal struck by Mr. Erlanger. In subsequent releases it continued to make money for the studio, but more importantly, it cemented MGM’s reputation as the quality studio in Hollywood. This reputation helped Thalberg and his associates leverage other successful projects and for the next three decades allowed MGM to attract more stars than there were in the heavens.

Note: The color sequences were removed from the 1925 film and replaced with black and white footage when it was re-released. These color sequences were thought lost forever when they were found in the 1980s in a Czech film archive. The restoration of the 1925 film by Turner Broadcasting includes these color sequences.

Found: Letter to Bumpa

2011-04-28T08:25:00.000-07:00

During a visit today from Nicholson Elementary second-graders, we showed a few artifacts relating to Lew Wallace's occupation as an author. One object was a notebook Wallace used to jot notes, keep accounts, and draft correspondence. Below we have included images and transcriptions as we read them (General Wallace's handwriting is not always easy to make out, and the spelling is at times inaccurate).

Wallace drafted this telegram to Mr. Howland in Indianapolis. As far as we can make out from Lew's hasty handwriting, it reads, "Capt W Wallace Presidio. S. F. Will be at meeting of GAR San Francisco. Have your acounts ready then. L.W." Notes on other pages refer to plantings and itemized accounts for labor and materials. Some, like the bottom page pictured in the photo, include dimensions for spaces ("7 ft + 9"" is pictured here) - perhaps Lew was planning gardens around his home and Study?

The General was not the only Lew Wallace to write in this notebook. June 14, 1903, a younger writer got a hold of notebook and pen and jotted "Lewis Wallace," and "General Wallace," "Lewis Wallace grand son of general Lew Wallace." Interestingly, the elder Wallace wrote consistently in pencil in this notebook, while the grandson Lew Wallace Jr. tried his hand at pen and ink.

A few years earlier, dated June 3, 1899, a child (we assume Lew Wallace Jr., who was born in 1892) began a letter to his grandfather: "Dear Bumpa We went out rideing yesterday an..." Our guess is that Bumpa, or Grandpa, interrupted the little writer and we will never know what happened during the riding excursion!

Lew Wallace and the "Doctor"

2011-04-23T08:14:00.000-07:00

Josiah K. Lilly, Sr. was a generation younger than Lew Wallace but the two men shared a great friendship. Josiah’s father was Eli Lilly a colonel in the Civil War and founder of the pharmaceutical company. Josiah received his college diploma in pharmacy in 1882 and in the fall of that year he married a second cousin named Lilly Ridgely (making her Lilly Lilly). Josiah had a keen interest in the mixing of medicines, but as the Lilly enterprise grew he was shifted into managerial positions and elected to the Board of Directors.

Around the turn of the century, Josiah and Lew Wallace went on a duck hunting trip. One morning, Lew woke up with a severe stomachache. Josiah jumped into action; digging up some Hydrastis canadensis roots (more commonly known as Goldenseal) he had seen near the duck blind. Josiah ground the roots in whiskey, tasted the brew and finding it suitable he named it Yaller Root Bitters. The drink was then given to the ailing General. According to Lilly, the results were highly satisfactory and he stated: “I do not believe the General was more enthusiastic over his capture of Fort Donaldson in the Civil War.” In his memoirs, Lilly failed to note just how large a medicinal dose Wallace took prior to his enthusiastic response. After taking the cure, Wallace always referred to Josiah as “Doctor.”

According to Wikipedia, Goldenseal is often used as a multi-purpose remedy, and is thought to possess many different medicinal properties. In addition to being used as a topical antimicrobial, it can be taken internally as a digestion aid, and may remove canker sores when gargled. Goldenseal is often used to boost the medicinal effects of other herbs it is blended or formulated with. Wikipedia does not address the medicinal boost offered by mixing Hydrastis Canadensis with whiskey and a couple of duck hunters.

Information for this Tidbit from: All in a Century: The First 100 Years of Eli Lilly and Company, by E.J. Kahn, Jr.

Beauty and the Beast

2011-04-20T08:32:00.000-07:00

Ahhh, the joys of Spring.

Green grass, flowering trees, blooming tulips, daffodils and dreaded storms! Overnight the entire Montgomery County area was hit by a series of fast moving storms. The first wave brought straight line winds, hail and moderate rain. The second wave, in the early morning hours, brought torrential downpours with high winds.

The Museum buildings sustained no damage, but the grounds weren't so fortunate. A mature basswood tree was uprooted and toppled, beech trees were decimated, and any weak branch has fallen. The 3.5 acres, normally a dog walker's paradise, is now an obstacle course.

On the bright side, a wonderful fragrance and beautiful blooms can be found in the Study's front garden. The viburnum, with its cluster of blooms, survived the wind, hail and rain. The fragrance can be enjoyed all over the grounds.

Just another typical Spring in Indiana!

The General...and the Boss

2011-04-16T09:05:00.000-07:00

As a couple, Lew and Susan had a long and loving relationship. Married over 50 years they had both a public and a private partnership that worked very well. In public, Lew was clearly the leading partner as might be expected in a Victorian marriage. In private, Major General Lew Wallace was not able to pull rank. In letters and references, it is clear that Lew valued Susan’s advice, counsel and thoughtful considerations in a manner that was atypical in 19^th century marriages. Susan’s adept handling of her husband was demonstrated early in their marriage.

Lew and Susan married in 1852. It seems Lew entered the marriage anticipating a large family. It also seems that Susan, who had several brothers and sisters, did not necessarily share that vision. Susan wanted to have only one child. While he may have attempted a face saving compromise it’s clear from a letter that Lew wrote to his brother William that Susan made decisions for herself.

Excerpt from a letter from Lew Wallace to his brother, William.

“And first, Bill, the baby hasn’t come yet, though we’re both in nightly expectation. We’ve had great trouble over it, indeed, our only difficulty. I insisted that there should be two: she insisted on one. The strife waxed higher, and was warmly waged night after night, until the result we at length grew tremulous about. Finally, the angel of peace on dark night, about the hour of Tristam’s birth, (which you’ll recollect no critic has ever yet precisely ascertained), flew to our relief. He suggested a mode of settlement. I immediately proposed it, and we compromised. I consented to one, in consideration of a solemn promise on her part that that one should be a boy.”

After Susan had graciously consented to have a baby boy, Lew discusses a number of possible names for this boy in another letter to William. After listing and dismissing several names, Lew ultimately informed his brother that the one perfect name for a boy was... Lew. Again, Susan apparently had other ideas as Henry Lane Wallace, the one and only child of Lew and Susan Elston Wallace, was born on February 17, 1853 and named for Susan’s brother-in-law. Even with all of his military training, when it came to big decisions for the family, Major General Lew was not able to out maneuver Civilian Sue.

Maurice Thompson: North vs. South Hunting With Lew Wallace

2011-04-14T09:33:00.000-07:00

In the late 19th century, Crawfordsville became known as the Athens of Indiana because of the impressive number of successful authors who claimed Crawfordsville home. At the same time it was also known as the archery capital of the United States. Maurice Thompson was a celebrated leader in both of these seemingly unrelated worlds.

Thompson was born in Indiana but grew up in Georgia. Like Lew Wallace, Maurice learned best in the out of doors; not in the classroom. Like Lew, Maurice served in the Civil War; although in the Confederate army. Like Lew, Maurice tried many careers with varying degrees of success; working as a railroad man, civil engineer, surveyor, naturalist, geologist, soldier, lawyer, politician, novelist, poet, and sportsman. And finally, like Lew, Maurice had strong creative talents. With all of his careers and interests, Maurice Thompson is best remembered as a novelist and sportsman.

For reasons unknown Maurice Thompson moved to Crawfordsville in 1868, quickly followed by his brother, Will. Maurice soon met and married Alice Lee of Crawfordsville and his brother married Alice’s sister. Beginning in the 1870s, a number of Maurice’s essays, articles and publications began receiving broad public acclaim. He is most widely remembered for two works, Alice of Old Vincennes, which was published in 1900, shortly before his death in 1901 and The Witchery of Archery, published in 1878.

An avid outdoorsman Thompson, together with his brother Will, developed a passion for bow hunting and archery. In the 1870s and 1880s, four Crawfordsville men made up the top archery team in the country with Maurice and Will Thompson as two of the men (the others were Henry Talbot and Paul Hughes). The Thompson brothers were also individual champions. The men bow hunted game in the countryside, had contests with archers from surrounding states and even challenged Lew Wallace.

One of the more memorable events in Crawfordsville’s sporting history happened when Thompson and two of his Confederate friends who were visiting Crawfordsville challenged Lew Wallace and two of his Union friends to a competition. Thompson’s team used bows while Wallace and his team used rifles. In this North versus South, bows versus rifles shooting match—the Southern bows won! By all accounts the six marksmen enjoyed the event as “a day’s excellent sport.”

With the Thompson brothers’ national reputations and Maurice’s writing on the sport, Crawfordsville enjoyed the undisputed title as archery capital of the country. The national archery association was formed in Crawfordsville and the first meeting of the association was held here in 1879. As the national craze for bow hunting caught on two local women, Mrs. Alice Klein and Mrs. William Lee, gained fame as they won state and regional contests.

With the significant parallels in their lives, Wallace and Thompson shared a long and strong friendship. They were even neighbors as the impressive Thompson home, Sherwood Place, was within sight of the Wallace Home. Called “The Father of Archery,” Thompson is credited with popularizing sport in the late 19th century and in 1939, the National Archery Association named their highest honor for outstanding members of the archery community the Maurice Thompson Award.

So What Did You Find?

2011-04-13T08:47:00.000-07:00

So what did we find this weekend during this spring's History Beneath Us excavation? Probably the most dramatic find was the metal vessel - bowl, pot, chamber pot, pitcher, whatever. The crew removed it from the ground and have taken it back to the lab at the University of Indianapolis for analysis and some conservation to stop the metal corrosion. We located the builders' trench, which is the ditch the builders dug to stand in while they laid the brick wall of the reflecting pool. When they were finished, they filled it with a dark soil (the the right in the photograph above), which contrasts with the lighter brown clay soil mottled with worm holes (the the left). This trench, Feature 3, didn't get excavated this time, but it will be the focus of future projects. Because it dates to the building of the reflecting pool, the fill and any artifacts in it date to Lew Wallace's time. We also found a pipe! In Unit 3, we knew workers in previous decades had dug through to install a drainage ditch and pipe. We thought the pipe was in the northern half of the unit (the right side of the photo above), but clearly we were wrong! This modern pipe is still in use and is within 10-15 cm (4-6 inches) of the bottom of the pool. In an effort not to disturb it too much and to get a larger picture of the bottom of the pool, we shifted efforts to the north half of the unit where we found... ...another part of the wall! This was one surprise of the weekend: this low part of the wall is largely intact, it follows the curve of the wall uncovered in another unit, and perhaps most surprising is that the chunk of the wall higher in the next unit appears to be in its original place, or in situ. The low part of the wall doesn't seem to be damaged to the extent that one might expect if it were blasted through while installing the drainage. One theory is that Lew Wallace purposely designed it low for a gate or spillway from the pool - quite possible since Wallace had several such structures at his summer home, Water Babble. We also surveyed the grounds to get a topographical map . The crew surveyed the western half of the grounds, and will map the rest of the property later. Several young visitors found plenty at the Archaeologist Training area! The "artifacts" included nails, a doorknob, pieces of tea cups, and an axe head. What we didn't find (yet) was Old John. The search for the horse's grave is off to a good start, but the crew didn't get down far enough in the short time. More to dig next time! The next excavation is planned for the last week of May, when UIndy students and faculty will hold a field school here on the Museum grounds. The public will be invited to observe and talk with the archaeologists, but the actual digging will be reserved for the students. The next public History Beneath Us program is slated for September 2011. Depending on what the find in May, we may be able to find other things related to the Wallaces' life, like a cistern, privy, or kitchen midden. We hope you can join us!

Talk Us Through It

2011-04-10T13:39:00.001-07:00

Check out the Museum's YouTube channel for exclusive interviews with the crew of History Beneath Us!

The Wall Continues

2011-04-10T11:59:00.000-07:00

Unit 3 still has not yielded the bottom of the reflecting pool, but the crew did find another part of the brick wall. The most recently uncovered portion is much lower than the other sections, which raises the question of why. Did workers decades ago cut through it to install a drainage ditch and pipe? Was it always that low so that Lew Wallace could have a spillway to let water out of the reflecting pool? Hmmm...

It's a bowl! It's a pitcher! It's a chamber pot!

2011-04-10T11:12:00.001-07:00

The metal object in Unit 4 seems to be a vessel of some kind. It looks like it has a handle, and it's not very deep (note the small silver spot where they've uncovered the bottom). We're currently gathering guesses about what it is.

Are you there, John?

2011-04-09T13:57:00.000-07:00

The crew and public started excavating what may be Old John's grave. The late start due to morning rain held up progress a little, but the crew still opened two units and in the screens found glass and nails. This is one of the most active areas for members of the public to participate - who wouldn't want to help dig up the horse? History Beneath Us continues on the Museum grounds Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and we will also celebrate Lew's Birthday with additional activities and free admission from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Come join the fun!

History Beneath Us UPDATE

2011-04-09T11:59:00.000-07:00

Two University of Indianapolis Archaeology students discover something made of metal buried in the old reflecting pool at the General Lew Wallace Study and Museum grounds. The work continues as we speak and will be ongoing all day on Sunday, April 10 from 10 AM until 5 PM. The public is invited to participate and there is a dig going on for the kids as well! Got a question for the volunteers and staff at the General Lew Wallace Study and Museum? Call 765-362-5769! Stop by and visit us at 200 Wallace Avenue in Crawfordsville, IN 47933.

History Beneath Us Saturday, April 9, 2011

2011-04-09T10:19:00.000-07:00

University of Indianapolis students are beginning to uncover objects on the grounds of the General Lew Wallace Study & Museum. While the work is in its earliest stages, you never know what is just a few inches or feet beneath the top soil! We appreciate our University of Indianapolis students and hope that the general public seizes the opportunity to join them this weekend as we explore the History Beneath Us! Thanks to the Archaeological Program at the University of Indianapolis and to the fine students working in the rain and now the sunshine this weekend!

Sharpen Your Shovel

2011-04-08T08:52:00.001-07:00

The crew from University of Indianapolis is here preparing for this weekend's History Beneath Us public archaeology program! One group of UIndy students are removing the backfill from the initial excavation of the reflecting pool so that they can begin digging where they left off in September. Dr. Christopher Moore, who is leading the student crew, hopes to uncover more of the brick wall, the builders' trench from when the masons laid that wall, and the bottom of the pool.

Another group of students are marking off the 2x2 meter unit over the "horse anomaly" - the geologic disturbance that may be the grave of Lew Wallace's horse, Old John. They will break ground in this area later today to have everything ready for public participation Saturday and Sunday.

Join us from 10am-5pm Saturday and Sunday to help trowel and screen for artifacts. Families can dig in the Archaeologist Training area, where kids are sure to find "artifacts," and Sunday afternoon we will also celebrate Lew's Birthday with activities, refreshments, and free tours of the Study.

Getting There

2011-04-07T12:00:00.001-07:00

The end of the Study Restoration Project seems to be in sight! After months of weather delays, workers are installing the last of the copper. To make sure that the roof doesn't leak, all the areas of the roof have to be cut and fastened exactly, from the curved corners to the long skinny battens.

This photo was taken from the tower, looking down on the dome and lawn.

Beautiful!!!

2011-04-02T11:40:00.000-07:00

Saturday saw ice on the windshields, but that didn't keep volunteers from cleaning up the 3.5 acres of the General Lew Wallace Study and Museum. Over 30 people descended on the Museum to rake, mulch, pick up branches and do general garden work.

Two trailers were filled with leaves and branches and taken to the local compost site for mulching. Volunteers worked hard, then took advantage of the sunshine for some drinks, donuts and a tour of the Study. Pansies and lobelia were planted just in time for the activities on the next two weekends.

Even after working for 2.5 hours, volunteers were still smiling and having fun. After 3 hours, the grounds and gardens are beautiful and ready for the influx of visitors.

Go Butler!!!

Spring Clean

2011-03-30T08:25:00.001-07:00

Spring is here, although snow flurries are in the air, and the flowers are starting to emerge.

Daffodils, squill, myrtle and hyacinths are blooming now. The crocus are done for the year and the spring beauty plants are breaking through the ground. Soon violets, trillium and tulips will be blooming. April 2nd is the annual Park Day where an army of volunteers will gather and cleanup the grounds. The leaves will be raked from the gardens, mulch will be spread and the grounds will be prepared for the various activities and programs. Come to visit and join in the fun of Park Day!

Scaffolding Returns

2011-03-22T06:50:00.000-07:00

The construction crew has replaced the bucket lift they used in the fall with old-fashioned scaffolding. It looks like these final phases of the exterior Study Restoration Project will resemble when Lew Wallace first built it. I can just imagine him standing on the grounds, overseeing the final days of construction of the "pleasure-house of his soul".

Think Green

2011-03-17T06:57:00.000-07:00

Top of the morning!

St. Patrick's day find the Museum lawn starting to green up and the siberian squill blooming.

Daffodils are budding and the tulips are sprouting. After a long, ice and snow filled winter, spring cannot come soon enough.

Saturday, April 2nd, is the annual Park Day. In conjunction with Civil War Preservation Trust, Park Day is an opportunity for volunteers to help museum, battlefields, memorials with a variety of jobs. The Museum ground will be cleaned of copious amounts of tree debris, gardens will be raked of their protective layer of leaves, mulch will be spread, perennials and shrubs will be pruned. An army of volunteers will be needed to clean up the 3.5 acres.

Park Day will be held from 9 to 12:30 on Saturday, April 2nd. Bring your rakes and work gloves and join in the fun! Refreshments will be provided to those who participate.

Agents of Deterioration

2011-03-15T08:18:00.001-07:00

The 2011 exhibit, Agents of Deterioration, officially opened with a members' sneak preview Friday night.

Guests looked carefully to find one of the featured artifacts in an historic photograph of the Study building as Lew Wallace used it.

Members enjoyed a variety of sweet and savory treats, from sugar cookies to bacon-wrapped dates, as they took in the exhibit.

The wall clings detailing the different agents of deterioration were a focal point of the exhibit. Each graphic consists of a close-up of something on exhibit, making a scavenger hunt that intrigued guests...

...including our youngest visitor!

Come take a close look at the exhibit, open now through December 11.

Daffodils!

2011-03-02T12:14:00.000-08:00

Anyone on the grounds at the same time as the Grounds Manager will hear an enthusiastic lesson in plant identification as the first sprouts of the season poke above the soil.

Right now they look pretty short and, to the untrained eye (like mine), unrecognizable....

...but soon they'll be beautiful blooming daffodils! We'll also have tulips as spring approaches, and that's just the beginning.

Winter Gardens

2011-02-24T12:04:00.001-08:00

The study gardens have been very active this winter. Since the first of December, the icicle gardens have flourished. Every other week, it seems, a winter weather advisory has been issued. The snow and ice have taken over the grounds. An ice storm left 5.5 inches of ice, to be later covered with 6 inches of snow. A drift between the buildings, after snow removal, left ice 7 inches deep, and had to be chipped away layer by layer. Just late week, the ice and snow melted over most of the grounds, leaving piles in the parking areas.

Many varieties of icicles have grown this winter. The padlock freezing icicles, short and fragile, made life difficult getting into the museum. The eaves icicles have taken over the Carriage House, seeming to grow by the hour.

The gigantic furnace vent icicle grew in huge proportions! The constant dripping from the vent created a stalagmite near the basement entrance. Standing approximately 4 feet tall and 5 inches diameter, the icicle grew and grew. Finally last week, the weather turned 50 for 2 days and all the icicles melted.

Another storm is predicted to bring rain, sleet and snow. It great to see that the crocus and daffodils are starting to emerge from the frozen ground. Mother nature at her best!

The Art of Lew Wallace: Over the Deadline

2011-02-19T12:26:00.000-08:00

1865 was a year of events and activity for Lew Wallace. Early in the year he was sent to

Mexico

to prevent Mexican support of the dying Confederacy. While in

Mexico

he learned of the end of the Civil War and the death of Abraham Lincoln. Upon his return to Washington, D.C. he served on the tribunal that tried the Lincoln conspirators and he was the presiding judge of the tribunal that tried Commander Henry Wirz for war crimes. Wirz was in charge of the infamous Civil War prison camp in Andersonville, Georgia. After a two month trial, Wirz was found guilty on eleven of thirteen counts of murder and sentenced to death. On November 10, 1865, Wirz was hanged on the site that is now occupied by United States Supreme Court.

During the trial of the Lincoln conspirators Lew Wallace made small pencil sketches to pass the time. During the Wirz trial he also spent time sketching. As the trial unfolded one story in particular haunted the general. He heard stories of the deadline—a line within the stockade which the prisoners were forbidden to cross. Just beyond the deadline was a small stream. In gripping testimony the court heard about a prisoner of war stretching his emaciated arm toward the stream, his hand holding a tin cup. When his hand crossed the deadline, he was shot and killed by one of the Confederate prison guards.

Wallace sketched a vivid image of this unnamed man in tattered pants lying in the mud with his outstretched hand over the stream. This sketch survives, but the whereabouts of a painting based on the sketch is not known. The finished painting was exhibited in Chicago in 1867, in Boston in 1873 and in Indianapolis in 1878. The painting was generally praised for its boldness of conception, technical skill and somberness—although the Boston Advertiser did find it too “horribly realistic.”

Sometime after its exhibition in Indianapolis, the painting disappeared. Whether Wallace retained ownership of the painting and gave it to a friend, whether it was damaged and discarded by family, or perhaps was given to an association or museum and resides deep in a vault somewhere has been lost to history. While the fate of the painting and the name of the subject are both shrouded in mystery, we are fortunate that the sketch survives to convey both the extent of the General’s talent and the personal side of the trauma of the Civil War still so fresh in 1865.

Has It Weathered Well?

2011-02-16T10:10:00.000-08:00

The theme for the year is Agents of Deterioration, and believe it or not the Study roof has already begun to deteriorate! Not in the sense of leaking like a sieve the way it used to, but the shiny new copper has already begun to look not quite so new.

In November, the copper on the east side just shone on a bright sunny day.

After a winter of snow, rain, and sleet, this same side doesn't look quite so shiny three months later!

Interestingly,historic photos from Lew Wallace's time (this one is courtesy of the Crawfordsville District Public Library) seem to show the Study roof as bright and reflective. So, if you want to see the Study as Lew Wallace originally intended, you might want to plan a trip here soon! We offer guided tours of the exterior while construction finishes, and the grounds are open and free until 5:00 p.m. every day.

An Industrial Floor for an Industrious Man

2011-02-11T12:36:00.001-08:00

If you've visited the Study any time after 1976, you've seen the carpet covering the floor of the main room.

Brightly colored and made to withstand a lot of foot traffic, the carpet made the room warmer and quieter but did not present an authentic appearance.

In historic photos, we can see the concrete floor that Lew Wallace installed in the Study. During colder months, he put down area rugs, and during warmer months he rolled up the rugs and stashed them along the walls. We concluded from this that Wallace did not intend for the floor to be covered completely and so...

...we took out the carpet! As part of the Study Restoration Project, local flooring experts removed the carpet and the sub-floor that it was glued to and revealed Wallace's original concrete floor. Fortunately, that additional flooring made little impact on the concrete, and the Study interior now looks much more like it did when Wallace enjoyed the building. It looks a little "unfinished" or "industrial" to some of us, but it's a step closer to being restored to the appearance Lew Wallace wanted for his Study.

If These Walls Could Talk...

2011-02-03T11:01:00.001-08:00

...they would tell us what color they were originally! A grant from the Montgomery County Community Foundation has funded a paint analysis of the Study interior, and specialist Matthew Mosca flew in from Washington, DC, to peel back the layers of paint and tell us what the General's Study looked like when he used the building.

The walls in the inglenook by the fireplace were a dark shade of blue-green - very similar to the current color of the lower parts of the walls.

The walls above the bookcases were a shade of green, as was the plaster frieze molded into the shape of flowers.

The walls in the vestibule were a display of rich jewel tones and gold in a variety of patterns.

The part of the building that may interest the most people, the dome, is proving to be the most difficult. The top layers of paint were not coming off easily, and more analysis needs to be done to ascertain what colors lie underneath. If it's half as interesting as the rest of the building, we are in for a big surprise!

The big question is what do we do with all this information? As the final analysis results show the different shades of different parts of the building, we will see the scope of what it would take to restore the General's Study to its original appearance. Even if it's only one part of the building at a time, we would like for visitors to see the Study as Lew Wallace did!

This Sunday: Holiday Open House & Volunteer Reception

2010-12-08T10:50:00.000-08:00

The General Lew Wallace Study and Museum is hosting a free Holiday Open House and Volunteer Reception on their last operating day of 2010, Sunday, December 12 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

The Open House takes place inside the Carriage House Interpretive Center, which is beautifully outfitted in yuletide décor, including a Christmas tree decorated in Victorian fashion. Festive activities and toasty treats will be on hand, as well as a fun holiday craft project for the kids.

The Museum will also be welcoming back its volunteers for a holiday party during the Open House. “We couldn’t achieve a fraction of what we do without the work of our wonderful volunteers,” said Kara Edie, Visitor Services & Marketing Director at the General

Lew Wallace Study and Museum. “We’re inviting all of our volunteers to the Open House as a relaxing get-together before the bustle of the holidays.”

The Open House will also be the final opportunity for visitors to see the Museum’s 2010 exhibit, Sanctuary: Preserving the Legacy of Lew Wallace, which includes some of General Wallace’s personal artifacts that were removed from his Study just before the renovation on the 112-year-old building began earlier this year.

The Museum will be closed through January and reopen for tours on Wednesday, February 2, 2010.

Admission to the Museum during the Holiday Open House is free. Call 765-362-5769 or email study@ben-hur.com for further information.

The Heroism of William Noble Wallace (1895-1918)

2010-11-13T12:09:00.000-08:00

This bit of Wallace family history is in honor of Veterans Day. Lew and Susan Wallace had one son, Henry. Henry and his wife, Margaret Noble Wallace, had two sons. Their eldest was named Lew Jr. and their second son was named William Noble. Both grandsons would have made their grandfather proud with their service during World War I. If Lew Wallace was a hero in the Civil War, his grandson William should also be remembered for his valiant service.

Nicknamed “Tee,” William Noble was born in 1895 and attended Indianapolis Public Schools. A handsome and dynamic young man, he had a stronger scholastic aptitude than his famous grandfather as he ultimately graduated from The Hill School, an exclusive preparatory school in Pennsylvania. He then enrolled in and graduated from Yale where he was a member Hill School Club at Yale; the University Club, the university wrestling team; the Sword & Gun Club, Delta Kappa Epsilon and the Elihu Club.

A young man with spirit and drive he left Yale without graduating in 1916 to enlist in the American Field Ambulance Service with the French Army. He did this even though the United States had not yet entered the war. Serving as an ambulance driver for six months his unit received 3 citations, including the French Croix-de-Guerre with palm and the Fourragere for Souville-Tavanne. In December of 1916, he returned to Yale and finished his senior year, graduating in June of 1917. In July, he reenlisted and was commissioned as a 2^nd

lieutenant in the Marine Corps. He completed his training and in February of 1918 he sailed to France. In two different training classes, he graduated at the top of his class, again demonstrating a classroom aptitude foreign to his grandfather.

In June 1918, his command moved to Chateau Thierry and in the attack at Belleau Woods he led his platoon over the top of a hill in fighting as fierce as any Lew witnessed in the Civil War. Just a few weeks later in July, Tee took his platoon forward and was hit by piece of high explosive about noon while leading his men in the attack on Vierzy - the preliminary advance on Soissons. His regiment was cited by the French for this action and his company was awarded Croix-de-Guerre with Palm. Tee was evacuated to Base Hospital No. 43 where he recovered.

By September, he had been promoted to 1^st Lieutenant but, communications at the front being what they were, he never knew it! In Memorial Sketches in Yale in the World War, it says he actually received this rank July 1 and the next day had been made a provisional Captain. In October, he rejoined his command for the Meuse-Argonne offensive and was appointed Battalion Scout Officer. His company was withdrawn for replacement, but he was retained because of his sketching ability (perhaps an artistic trait inherited from Lew) he volunteered to map enemy positions on the front line with one other comrade. His mission was accomplished with great skill and daring, and as he was returning across open country to HQ on Blanc Mont ridge in the early dawn, he was struck by a shell and instantly killed. His partner survived. That night, with the aid of the regimental chaplain, he was buried by his men and a brother officer at the side of the road between Somme-Py and St.-Etienne. World War I ended just weeks later.

For his service, Tee was posthumously given the American Field Service Medal with letter from the French Ministry of War; a trophy was awarded in his memory by his friends at a track meet held by the Second Division Post, American Legion, in New York City; he received the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism; and he was given the Navy Cross. After the War, Henry travelled to France and reclaimed his son’s body. William Noble Wallace is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery with the rest of his family.

A fellow officer said: In his last battle his company had lost 132 men in twenty minutes and was ordered to retire for replacement. But Lt. Wallace, “owing to his indifference to high explosive shell fire and skill in sketching, was ordered to remain and sketch the ground in advance. He had accomplished this special mission and was returning to deliver his map when struck by a shell. No nobler life has been laid on the altar of Liberty.”

Cherry on Top

2010-11-12T07:35:00.000-08:00

Restoration efforts are coming along nicely here at the Study! The striking copper finial that sits on top of the Study cupola has been chemically cleaned, polished and restored to its place of honor overlooking the Museum grounds. It was unclear at first whether the original finial, which had the same green patina as the original copper roof, would be in salvageable shape, but as one can see from these photos, it's made a beautiful return to what will soon be a beautiful, shiny roof.

Meanwhile, workers have removed the copper roof from the mechanical room on the north side of the building and have begun to repair the damaged wood slats and battens underneath. This roof was in a slightly worse shape than the roof over the main room, so even though it's a smaller job, repair work may take a bit longer in this location. Thankfully, we have been blessed--still--with great weather! Keep your fingers crossed that our luck holds!

Hammer Away

2010-11-04T12:49:00.000-07:00

On a windy November day, bundled-up workers hammer the joints where the copper sheets meet the battens on the dome roof. After hammering the copper together, they will solder the joints to make them watertight. It's a very time-consuming process! Meanwhile, more workers are lying down on the job to seal the windows in the cupola in anticipation of the inclement weather we are supposed to get over the next couple of days.

Click on the post title for a video of workers hammering the copper.

Through the Roof

2010-11-03T08:16:00.000-07:00

As a regular part of the Study Restoration Project, the architect and some grantors inspect the progress on the construction. This week's inspection includes the resetting of the glass panels in the cupola. The panels on the west side (by the tower) have been removed, cleaned, reset, and resealed to make them waterproof. They expect to be done with the south side (front of the building) today. One worker is knee deep in the dome preparing the steel framework for the glass panels to go back in.

Click on the title of this post to see a video.

No Longer Slippery When Wet

2010-10-29T08:15:00.001-07:00

The front and back porches are getting a new traffic coating to help them shed water - preventing it from leaking into the basement of the Study - and seal and unify all the small cracks in the stone.

The gray sticky stuff was the first layer to go down, and then workers mixed in sand which gives it a pebbly appearance. There is another top layer that should make it look more like the Indiana limestone that make up the porches.

Grab Your Shades

2010-10-27T07:54:00.001-07:00

The first panel of new copper is on the roof! Workers are braving the wind to install the new roof on the east side of the building. As predicted, it's bright and shiny, so if you can make it out to see the progress, make sure you bring your sunglasses!

To see a video of the workers placing the copper, click the title to this post!

Southern Exposure

2010-10-22T10:17:00.000-07:00

Workers removed the copper from the south side of the Study earlier this week. That leaves two sides without copper and two sides still covered. You can see the wooden decking and battens, just like what they found on the east side, before they installed the weatherproof barrier. From their investigation inside the dome, the workers report additional interior steel supports for the wood and copper that make up the roof.

They covered the wooden structure with the rain and snow shield until they get the new copper on (ETA for new copper: next week!). Today they worked near the cupola to remove sealant and other material from around the windows and the joints between the cupola and roof. Even though they're complying with safety regulations, I am glad they still steady themselves on stable parts of the building while they're up there!

Click on the post title for a video of the final stages of removing the south side copper.

Could It Be?

2010-10-15T12:09:00.000-07:00

It’s been a week of tantalizing research leads. One of the more interesting leads walked in the door on Thursday morning. Mr. Johns from Tennessee came for a visit at the Museum and told us that during the Civil War, General Wallace was in Lavergne, Tennessee near Murphfreesboro when he was slightly injured. Mr. Johns’ great grandmother, Mary Neal King, doctored him in their home. It probably wasn’t a serious wound, but the care he received must have touched his heart. Shortly after Wallace was bandaged and left the area, Union troops came through and burned the King home to the ground, dismantled the barns, destroyed the crops and took the livestock. The family left Lavergne and moved to nearby Smyrna where they purchased the home in which Mr. Johns was born.

And now, as they say, for the rest of the story. I remembered a poem that Wallace wrote that may corroborate the Johns family story. No names are mentioned, but the parallel is intriguing.

LINES ADDRESSED TO THE LADY WHO BANDAGED
MY CUT FINGER – AN AFTERTHOUGHT

By Lew Wallace

‘ Twas a little thing, a simple kindness,
Yet I cannot pass it by;
The blood drop from the wound you answered
With a tear-drop in your eye.

O lady dear! “Twas worth a world of thanks –
Not the thanks which wait on words,
The blund’ring syllables that too often
Fly amiss like blinded birds.

No; but those best told in ling’ring kisses;
And so I would have spoken,
But that another’s wedding seal upon
Your lips remains unbroken.

Ah! The pang of the lazy after-thought,
Laggard of the next day’s calm!
What if I had snatched your hand, and left
A kiss in the pearl-red palm;

Then clasped the fingers close the while the kiss,
Warm as fire and pure as dew,
Thrilled your heart and all its restful heaven?
Say if he had cared – would you?

Lew Wallace

(Published by Harper’s Monthly, January 1888)

Closing the Gap

2010-10-13T14:24:00.000-07:00

The front steps of the Study got reset today after their "vacation" on the lawn. Construction workers relaid support underneath the steps - instead of the piles of loose bricks - and then moved the steps back in place. Years ago, a previous crew apparently patched a sizable gap between the brick building and the steps, so this time, in an effort to make the work more stable and less prone to water damage, the crew poured cement to make a better fit.

Workers also repaired the crack in the bottom step and poured new cement in front of the steps. They still have to seal smaller gaps between the steps themselves as well as the attachments to the building, but they look sturdier already!

Wabash Men Help Museum

2010-10-09T08:52:00.001-07:00

wabashvolunteers 011, originally uploaded by WallaceStudy.

Athlete volunteers from Wabash College move picnic tables on the grounds of the General Lew Wallace Study & Museum as part of their Wabash Day community assistance activities.

Wabash Men Help Museum

2010-10-09T08:50:00.001-07:00

wabashvolunteers 014, originally uploaded by WallaceStudy.

Athlete volunteers from Wabash College help scrape paint from the 1875 Carriage House on the grounds of the General Lew Wallace Study & Museum as part of their Wabash Day community assistance activities.

Like a New Penny

2010-10-09T06:11:00.001-07:00

Earlier this week, the construction workers put up a sample piece of the new copper that will become the dome. They wanted to make sure they had the measurements correct and that the copper would fit properly over the curvature and battens before they cut enough for the whole building (or even a whole side). It's not the green patina like the weathered gutters below - this is a glimpse of what the roof looked like when General Wallace first built the Study, and what it will look like when the Study Restoration Project is finished in the spring!

Because this was only a sample, they took the copper back to the shop and re-covered the wooden dome structure with the black weatherproof sheeting.

The Town that Lew Knew

2010-10-08T14:22:00.000-07:00

Walk in the footsteps of a literary giant with The Town that Lew Knew, a free architecture walking tour of Crawfordsville. We'll see buildings in the neighborhood and business district that were here when Wallace walked the leaf-lined avenues.

The tour starts at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, October 9, at the Carriage House Interpretive Center, and ends there with light refreshments.

Hope to see you there!

Paint Analysis: Expect the Unexpected

2010-10-07T13:09:00.000-07:00

Ratio Architects from Indianapolis began the paint analysis by revealing what is underneath the current paint layer. This prelminary test uncovered small pieces of the walls in different places in the Study: the entryway, under the benches by the fireplace, along the flowered frieze, and more.

Surprise! In the entryway of the Study, there's a geometric pattern, like blocks of color. Looking carefully at the photo, going right from the wooden door frame, the test revealed a teal rectangle outlined with black, surrounded by a taupe brown, and finally a thin red line forming another rectangle. The red and black lines seem to continue toward the corner through the splotches of bare plaster.

We thought there might be some decorative painting in the Study, but the last place we expected to find it was the entryway. As Museum Director Larry Paarlberg says, "It's very Victorian. A lot of people at that time were blocking colors on walls, although this is an unusual pattern." Even though it fit with the times, why put such attention in such a small part of the building?

To add to the mystery, the architect did not get all the way up to the dome to see if any decorative painting - such as a military scene or a gradient of color - is there. The current scaffold is not high enough, so he will have to return when a higher scaffold is in place.

In the meantime, we're left to wonder: what kind of pattern did Lew have in the entryway, and how can we best interpret it when we can take tours inside the Study again? And if he painted the entryway decoratively, what may he have done to the more dramatic dome or flowered frieze?

Good News and Bad News

2010-10-02T08:52:00.000-07:00

The bad news about the Study Restoration Project is that two days after they removed an entire side of the roof, it poured rain for hours! We haven't had rain in weeks - maybe the best way to make sure it's wet out is to start major construction.

The good news is that the plastic seal they put over the exposed area is holding water, so though it is raining outside, it's not raining INSIDE as it has been for years. No buckets out today, hooray!

Workers have also removed the damaged plaster from an area of the domed ceiling that has absorbed moisture over the years. With the loose plaster gone, now we can see that there is more than one color of paint there. What color was the ceiling? Was it different colors at different times, a gradient of color, or - as one historic account suggests - a scene celebrating the military that Lew Wallace loved so much? Next week Ratio Architects will take over 70 samples as part of a paint analysis project that dovetails with the Study Restoration, and we hope to get some answers!

The Roof Comes Off!

2010-09-30T11:37:00.000-07:00

It's the moment we've all been waiting for: workers removed an entire side of the Study roof!

Workers went up more than 30 feet in a lift truck to cut the copper roof into manageable pieces.

Then they pried the pieces from the underlayment...

and put them in the basket of the lift truck to bring down.

Now the east side of the building looks a bit bare. Something that surprised some of the Museum staff was that the structure underneath the copper is wooden, including the battens or ridges. We thought there would be metal under the copper. The photo here shows that the wood is blackened from being in the heat for 112 years!

Click on the title of the blog post to see a video of a piece of the roof coming off.

Lew's Crew Volunteer Call Out

2010-09-27T12:14:00.000-07:00

We're looking to add volunteers to Lew's Crew!

Following in Lew's footsteps (as Adjutant General he recruited 13 companies of soldiers for the Civil War in 10 days), we're calling everyone interested.

Our biggest need is for tour guides, so if you are a people person willing to be an ambassador for Crawfordsville, we'd love to see you at the Carriage House, Wednesday, Sept. 29 at 5:30 p.m.!

Moving the Steps

2010-09-24T07:26:00.001-07:00

To reset the front steps of the Study, workers removed caulking and sealant from around the cracks and gaps (we posted pictures last week), and then looped a harness around each step to remove them with the lift truck.

Pulling the stop step away from the building.

Completely removed!

One down, two to go.

They removed all the steps in a similar fashion. The bottom step has a large crack in it, so they moved that one is two pieces. Here they're stacked in reverse, with the cracked bottom step on top.

You can see why the steps need to be reset! The settling through the years, combined with previous work, have resulted in a hodge-podge pile of material under the steps. If you look closely, you can see the combination of bright red vitrified brick, concrete, and browner, local Poston brick making up the fill under the steps.

Click on the blog post title to see a video of the top step coming off!

The Exciting Conclusion

2010-09-21T08:16:00.001-07:00

Some of the artifacts found in the screens include pieces of bottles (round pieces in the middle), fragments of plates (bottom left corner), nails (upper right corner), and a squirrel vertebrae (top).

Anne Moore of Weintraut and Associates excavates a feature. An archaeological feature is like an artifact, but it is part of the site and cannot be removed without destroying it. This small trench was filled with gravel, a very different fill from the surrounding soil.

In another unit, students carve out the dirt around remnants of bricks from the reflecting pool wall. In more recent years, drainage pipes ran through this area, so these pieces may have broken apart while installing those pipes.

The final shot of the wall. This section is clearly made of bricks, which prompts the question: where are the stones that rimmed the edges of the pool? Someone suggested that the worker hired to fill in the pool agreed to do so in exchange for the stonework. Hmmm...

At the end of the excavation, archaeologists backfill the site with the dirt they removed. While it seems funny to cover up everything they just dug out, backfilling helps to protect what they found and fills in the holes so visitors to the grounds don't get hurt.

So, over the course of the weekend we found one wall of the reflecting pool, more evidence for a location for Old John's grave, and some surprising artifacts. We had a good turnout of community members coming to help. We also raised more questions than answers, and never did find the bottom of the pool. As sometimes happens, we were just getting to "the good stuff" when it was time to leave. Based on this first program, we are excited for another edition of History Beneath Us, and started making plans before the archaeologists left on Sunday! Stay tuned for more details.

How Low Can You Go?

2010-09-19T12:36:00.001-07:00

The archaeologists devoted one unit to finding the bottom of the reflecting pool. A probe indicated that the bottom of the pool is about 55 cm below the bottom of the unit when this picture was taken. That's going to take a lot of digging! Because this is not an artifact-rich area, and they wanted to get through the soil quickly, they dug with shovels rather than trowels.

Every 10 cm is a new level. To know how deep they are, the students must measure from a level line. They measure at least two corners and in the center of the unit to get an accurate reading for the entire unit.

John's Grave?

2010-09-19T12:21:00.000-07:00

Where is the grave of Old John? Local lore has it that Lew Wallace buried his favorite horse, named John, somewhere on the grounds. Last fall, surveyer Jim Swift brought out ground-penetrating radar (GPR) to investigate the southwestern corner of the grounds, where many people remember there being a marker to John decades ago. The GPR found an anomaly under the surface, meaning that there is an area that is not the same as the soil around it. Could it be a horse's grave? An outbuilding for the house on the other side of the brick wall? Just some funny dirt?

Dr. Chris Moore of University of Indianapolis brought out a bucket auger to drill into the ground and extract layers of soil to see what this anomaly is made of.

Moore sifted through the dirt in each layer, noting its composition and whether or not it contained any artifacts. A student recorded his observations so we have a record of the layers of soil.

Pay dirt! 85 cm below the surface, we hit a cultural layer containing tile (orange-colored piece), charcoal and coal (larger black pieces). Such materials were commonly used as backfill years ago when someone dug up an area and then filled it back in. The question is, why was someone digging here? Could it be John's grave?

Who's up for another History Beneath Us program focusing on this area?

The Top of the Wall

2010-09-18T14:08:00.000-07:00

Anne Moore from Weintraut & Associates cut through tree roots that have grown across the top of the reflecting pool wall.

At the end of the first day, the top of the reflecting pool wall was clean and clearly defined.

Volunteers screened each bucket of dirt for artifacts. They pulled out coal fragments, plastic, remnants of past Easter egg hunts, and many small pieces of brick.

Several surprising artifacts came to light during the day, such as this plate fragment. Could it be from Lew's kitchen in the basement of the Study?

Found!!!!

2010-09-18T12:34:00.000-07:00

The top of a wall has been found during the excavation of the reflecting pond! The archeology students and their helpers have unearthed a portion of the wall, amazingly just 3-4" below ground level. The next step in the process will be to continue digging, unearthing more of the wall and hopefully find the 'floor' or bottom of the pond. It may reveal the answer to some questions: Was the reflecting pond walls torn down or was it filled in with dirt and debris?

The dig may point us in the right direction for an answer.

The dig continues through Sunday, open 10-5. Will more discoveries be made?

History Beneath Us - Beginning

2010-09-18T09:15:00.001-07:00

A student helps map elevations with surveying equipment. Knowing how deep they are digging is critical to archaeologists' work, so preparations require taking initial elevations of the ground. As they dig, the crew will measure everything in centimeters.

Another part of preparations is marking bags for artifacts. All the dirt is screened and any artifacts put into the bag that corresponds to the layer of earth it was taken from. This helps archaeologists know what objects were found near the surface and what was deeper.

Chris Moore of the University of Indianapolis shows two students how to scrape away layers of dirt with trowels.

One of the crew uncovers a drainage tile in one of the units. Though not part of the reflecting pool, this is an artifact that tells the history of this part of the grounds.

Skylight - Here and Gone

2010-09-17T13:52:00.000-07:00

Lew Wallace installed a stained glass window in the center of the skylight in his Study. Just below the stained glass sat scrolled ironwork.

This week workers removed the stained glass for cleaning and repairs, leaving the ironwork in place. They also removed a couple of the panels of frosted plexiglass that now compose the skylight. Wallace originally had clear glass, and so the peeks through the empty spaces through the windows in the cupola show a partial view of what he must have enjoyed daily.

The Study Restoration Project Has Begun!

2010-09-16T07:44:00.000-07:00

Work on the Study Restoration Project began this week with construction workers setting up scaffolds and starting repairs. Workers are assessing and preparing to remove the copper roof in sections. They plan to work on the building one side at a time, so visitors to the site can get unobstructed photos of the photogenic Study. This is the first time in 112 years that full-scale construction has taken place on the building, though, so pictures with scaffolding are quite unique!

In addition to beginning roof repairs, workers also began resetting the front steps into the Study.

The Study's interior will be inaccessible to visitors during the Restoration Project as workers repair the skylight and plaster damaged by water leaking into the building. The safety of the General's Study is a priority, and we took measures to protect the interior features that we couldn't remove with the rest of the artifacts.

The Museum will remain open to visitors and share Lew Wallace's legacy through this year's exhibit, Sanctuary: Preserving the Legacy of Lew Wallace, featuring artifacts and photos of the General, and also through guided tours of the Study exterior. We hope you can stop by and see history happen!

“HISTORY BENEATH US” PROGRAM EXPLORES WALLACE’S REFLECTING POND

2010-09-08T10:36:00.000-07:00

As work was completed on General Lew Wallace’s personal study building in 1898, the General sought to add some water features adjacent to the now-iconic building. He had a fish-stocked moat ring the eastern half of the study, and to the north, he placed a stone-rimmed reflecting pool by which visitors could sit and appreciate the natural beauty of Wallace’s land in Crawfordsville’s Elston Grove.

Wallace filled in the reflecting pond and moat around 1902 due to safety and stability concerns, and these features have remained largely unknown to visitors in the decades since. The latest program sponsored by the General Lew Wallace Study and Museum aims to change that. During the weekend of September 18-19, the Museum will host Crawfordsville native Anne Moore and professional archaeologists from Weintraut & Associates in Zionsville and the University of Indianapolis in “History Beneath Us”, a planned excavation of the General’s reflecting pool where the public is invited to watch and take part.

“We want to uncover the reflecting pool to determine the location and structure of the feature and better interpret it during tours of the site,” said Amanda Wesselmann, Associate Director of the Museum. “We contacted Anne Moore, and she helped recruit colleagues to ensure that the process is handled correctly and professionally.” Weintraut & Associates and the University of Indianapolis will provide professional archaeologists to oversee the excavation, as well as student workers and excavation equipment.

This is a pilot archaeology program for the Museum, which may host further excavations of other areas of interest on the General’s grounds in the future. “Local lore has always held that Lew Wallace buried Old John, his Civil War horse, in the southeastern corner of the grounds,” said Wesselmann. “That is an area that we would definitely like to investigate.”

During the program, excavators will scrape down layers of earth with trowels to uncover the reflecting pool, sift dirt through screens to find small artifacts, and map the site with a variety of equipment. Visitors to the grounds will be able to observe the archaeologists at work, examine the findings as they are uncovered, and participate in parts of the process.

Excavation for the “History Beneath Us” program is free and open to the public from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 18 and Sunday, September 19. For more information on this and other programs at the General Lew Wallace Study and Museum, call 765-362-5769 or email study@ben-hur.com.

Taste Countdown - 7 days!

2010-08-21T07:34:00.000-07:00

Only one week left until the 2010 Taste of Montgomery County! We're putting on the finishing touches to make sure everything goes smoothly, and it will almost certianly be the best Taste yet. In addition to the great music line-up of Not Too Bad Bluegrass Band, Green Room Rockers, and Midnight Special, the food also promises to deliver something for everyone.

Some returning favorites include The Juniper Spoon, Joey's Main Street Cafe, The Iron Gate, China Inn, The Big Dipper, A Country A-Fair, Bon Apetit, Two Guys Cooking, Miller's Quality Meats and Catering, Arthur's Cafe, Norvell's BBQ & Catering, Moody Meats, Applebee's and Buffalo Wild Wings. Menu items include midwestern favorites such as barbecue sandwiches and ice cream, and also branch into more exotic territory with Mediterranean orzo salad, low country boil, and sushi.

Newcomers to this year's Taste include Hawg Wild BBQ, Athens Nutrition and Smoothies, Ross Mobile Foods and Catering, Chapel Books, Patch of Blue Denim Cafe, and Las Cazuelas Mexican Restaurant. Sun King Brewing Company will debut with three different kinds of their freshly-made beer. Iced coffee, smoothies, roasted pork, and authentic enchiladas round out the menu options.

Is your mouth watering yet? Advance tickets are still available at the General Lew Wallace Study & Museum, Milligan's Flowers and Gifts, Kwik Kopy, the Montgomery County Visitors Bureau, and Homestead Gifts for $1 cheaper than gate prices - that's $4 for adults and $2 for students!

Have a great time supporting the Museum at the Taste on August 28!

Fly-in Visitors

2010-08-17T08:50:00.000-07:00

The 3.5 acres of blooming trees and flowers have been host to a multitude of fly-in visitors. Birds and beetles (japanese) visited the grounds early this spring, with the cicadas, hummingbirds and butterflies soon following. The easter swallowtail, black swallowtail and the viceroy butterflies have been feasting on the lantana, salvia and butterfly bushes.

The swallowtails are the most popular with the visitors, many amazed at the bright blue on the black swallowtail. The yellow swallowtail flit from bloom to bloom, rarely holding still for a photo opportunity.

While picking green beans, i noticed two green/black striped caterpillars. Hoping to have monarch caterpillars, I researched and foundthat they are black swallowtail caterpillars. They are green with black stripes, approximately two inches long. We will keep an eye on them in the next few days and see what transpires.

Farewell, Kasey!

2010-08-14T11:36:00.000-07:00

Today is the last day for summer intern Kasey Greer, who will be a sophomore at Indiana University Bloomington. A history major, she applied for the Rhetorical Analyst internship analyzing Lew Wallace's writings to get a sense of the man behind the actions. Since May, she has worked over 30 hours each week, which has given her opportunity to sample the many facets of working at a small museums. Kasey has been a creative and outstanding addition to the Museum. Here are some of her reflections about her experience:

"When I applied for this internship in early spring, I never would have imagined the variety of knowledge and skills that go into running a museum. Now, thanks to the staff and volunteers at the Museum, I have experienced a lot of them firsthand.

"My main project for the summer was to answer a few of the long-pondered questions about Lew Wallace to better our interpretation for guests. The two questions I decided to focus on are Lew's view of 'the woman question,' which visitors ask frequently because of his independent wife susan, and his opinions on slavery since he was a Union general.

"I first researched both, then drafted the more academic versions with all the appropriate citations. Next, I pared them down to add to the volunteers' manual. though some parts of the project, like reading all of Lew's 1003-page autobiography, were tedious at times, for the msot part I had a lot of fun discovering all I could about Lew's thought processes and opinions. I am particularly interested in questions of gender and the way it influenced culture and society at different historical time periods, so getting one man's take on the subject of women's roles particularly fascinated me.

"While my main project took up a large portion of my internship time, working 32-36 hours each week gave me plenty of time to learn more about other aspects of the Museum as well. I have given tours almost daily since the beginning of my internship, and I helped make signs and lay out the Museum newsletter. In June I had the opportunity to help move the paintings out of the Study in preparation for the roof restoration. That peek into collections work really fascinated me, and I plan to look more into that field because of my experiences. In July I assisted with the Lew Wallace Youth Academy. The kids were a lot of fun to work with, and getting to see them retire the Indiana flag using the ceremony I wrote really capped off the experience.

"Now I'm looking to the future. This fall I will be a sophomore at Indiana University Bloomington. I am majoring in history and minoring in sociology and anthropology. I took this internship hoping to gain some experience to decide if I want to stay in academia or expand the public's knowledge of history through museum work. While I have not totally made up my mind, this experience has certainly opened my eyes to the museum world."

The Earl of Squirrels

2010-07-31T08:21:00.000-07:00

When something of interest landed on Lew Wallace’s radar, he just couldn’t leave well enough alone. Late in life he purchased acreage outside of town and created his country home Water Babble where he began improving the property; partly with the idea of creating a fish hatchery. This wasn’t his only foray into animal husbandry. Our visitors often comment on the large size and reddish color of the squirrels here. There is a reason the squirrels on the Study grounds look a little different than their downtown neighbors. As reported in The Crawfordsville Journal on July 15, 1901:

“After four years of trial General Wallace has located a splendid colony of fox squirrels in the big forest trees about his residence. The pretty little animals and their young can be seen at all hours frisking about the lawn and they are jealously guarded from dogs and the air gun boy.”

Perhaps General Wallace felt that the large size and reddish color of the squirrels better complimented the artistic effect of the Study. Whatever the reason, after 110 years, the descendants of the General’s efforts at selective breeding are still frisking about on the lawn.

Plants Telling Time

2010-07-29T11:44:00.000-07:00

We look to the groundhog to tell us if spring will come soon, but can plants tell us if there will be an early fall? Grounds Manager Deb King has made some keen observations about the plant life on the grounds, and all signs seem to point to cold weather coming a few weeks early this year. The ligularia, one of the most asked-about plants on the grounds, has sprouted its black-eyed susan-type bloom – and in some cases gone to seed already – about three weeks ahead of their usual time in mid to late August. The pawpaw trees are also loaded down with their “Indiana banana” fruit that will likely drop by the end of August. Deb commented that, “They did that last year, dropped their fruit before the Taste, and we had an early winter.” The final clue is the walnut trees, which have started bombing the lawn in front of the Carriage House with walnuts weeks ahead of the normal schedule. Perhaps an early start to fall will bring relief from the heat and humidity we’ve been dealing with. Or, perhaps all the rain has prompted an unusual reaction in some stressed-out plants. We’ll find out in a few months!

Lew & The Elston Homestead

2010-07-24T08:42:00.000-07:00

Lew Wallace was a man who loved to satisfy his curiosity by research. He also had great curiousity as a boy, and satisfied his need for knowledge in brave and exciting ways. In his autobiography, Lew comments on the fine and wondrous home of Major Elston. “His [Elston’s] dwelling-house, in the midst of a primeval woods, was the best in the county, and it was furnished to correspond, and the fame thereof went abroad.” People far and wide commented on the Elston’s home and furnishings and at one point Lew heard that the Elston’s had a sofa in the hall. Given his rather modest background, Lew had never heard of a sofa and had no idea what it was—but he intended to find out. Even though he was a youngster, Lew realized that he was not a part of the Elston’s social circle and would not be invited into their home. As many a young boy in such a dilemma might do, Lew simply invited himself into the Elston home unannounced—being careful to assure that no one else was home either.

He faced a similar situation when he heard that the Elston’s had recently purchased a piano. He had no idea what a piano was but he was able to find out from friends that it was a musical machine. Again, he crept into the Elston home uninvited and saw the mysterious machine without being discovered. This led the curious boy to his next question—just how did the machine make its music?? More research was necessary. He waited many days until the Elston’s hosted a party one evening in the double parlors. After dark, Lew crept “Indian-like” through the Elston grove and up to the windows glittering with candlelight. Lew watched and waited in the dark. In a little while a young lady went to the machine, opened it, and miracle of miracles, she began playing “One little, two little, three little Indians. . .” His research had paid off.

Throughout his life, Lew remained a person with an extraordinary curiousity about the world around him. He was also a man of action who didn’t always wait for an invitation before proceeding. In reading his autobiography, it’s easy to see how the curious boy became the military leader we remember and the creator of characters from worlds beyond Crawfordsville.

"More than $3 worth"

2010-07-22T11:10:00.000-07:00

Last week a group of visitors enjoyed their tour and commented at the end, "We got more than our $3 worth. Thank you so much! You know so much about the building and the history." The additional money dropped in the donation box was nice, too, but satisfied visitors was the real reward.

Just a few more weeks until the Study Restoration Project begins, and then there will REALLY be something to see!

Serving Others

2010-07-17T09:17:00.001-07:00

The final day of the Lew Wallace Youth Academy was filled with the sounds and sights of war! Students spent the morning with Mid-States Living History Association, Inc. at stations portraying a period telegraph, medical care, embalmer, cooking, and finally an interview with the General himself. The day ended with a family filled graduation ceremony where we retired an Indiana flag.

Students trained with the signal corps to send messages across camp.

New this year was a visit to the embalmer.

Several students prepare to assist the surgeon in "amputating" their classmate's leg. They seem VERY pleased to be helping with this task...

Drilling with reproduction "Woodfield" rifles was another highlight of the day.

General Wallace sought information from the students based on what they had learned throughout the camp.

During the graduation ceremony, the students retired a flag by cutting it into strips (so it is no longer a flag) and then placing the strips on a soldier's bayonet to be laid in the fire. They were composed and respectful through the entire ceremony.

After graduation we celebrated the students' accomplishments with a display of their work, cookies and punch. Congratulations, 2010 Academy graduates!

Solving Problems

2010-07-14T08:47:00.000-07:00

The fourth day of the Lew Wallace Youth Academy focused on Solving Problems - inventing, altering landscapes, and designing buildings.

Intern Kasey Greer (Indiana Univerisity Class of 2013) gave a behind-the-scenes tour of the Study basement (shown here under the back porch). This was a special treat because the basement is not open to the public.

Volunteer Sharon Kenny led a scavenger hunt with students locating features in the Study's interior. Just how DO you get into the tower?

Dr. James Norton, a scholar of Wallace's inventions, discusses the fishing poles of the 19th century and the improvements that Lew Wallace tried to make with his design.

Surveyor Jim Swift worked with small groups of students to find Lew Wallace's reflecting pool from historic photos of the grounds. Each group consistently found the same place! Plans are in the works to excavate the remains of the reflecting pool in the fall.

Architect Judith Kleine led students in assembling a 3D model of the Study building.

The students' personal studies ranged from sprawling estates to tall towers.

Just as in real life, some buildings could not be built without teamwork! Several students commented that designing a stable structure and taping it together were big challenges - but that also made it fun.

Sharing Stories

2010-07-08T13:14:00.001-07:00

The Museum is known as the Home of Ben-Hur, and the grounds once again served as a writing studio. Dr. Helen Hudson led the Academy students through several different activities: outlining a biography of a fictional character named Robin Snow (whose gender and life details each small group determined for themselves), writing an autobiographical anecdote, and interviewing a fellow Academy participant who might someday hit the campaign trail.

Pencils kept moving as students used both their imaginations and memories to write biographies and autobiographies.

Students paired up to interview each other as if they were running for president. Based on some of their professed goals - helping the poor, keeping libraries open, solving environmental problems - we have a few politicians and activists in the group!

The day started and ended with active games that emphasized clear communication. The students clamored to repeat the game "Never Have I Ever", a combination of musical chairs and personal triva.

Creating Art

2010-07-07T14:13:00.000-07:00

Following in the tradition of Lew Wallace, Academy students spent the morning painting en plein air. Have you ever noticed that trees are not a solid shade of green or brown? Using acrylic paint, artist Karen Patton instructed the kids on color values and ways to add details that make their artwork more realistic.

Several students worked in groups, sharing ideas and occasionally paint. Getting the right color when mixing the paint proved a challenge for some!

All the budding artists sketched out their paintings before putting brush to canvas.

At the end of the day, Karen Patton held up each student's painting for all to provide their feedback . The kids supported one another's artistic endeavors with compliments and suggestions.

Exploring Other Cultures

2010-07-06T13:04:00.001-07:00

The 2010 Lew Wallace Youth Academy had a successful first day of Exploring Other Cultures. Dr. James Makubuya and Sr. Stella Sabina lead activities in speaking Luganda and Swahili, as well as dancing, singing, and playing instruments traditional to the African country of Uganda.

The first day of the Academy ends with a performance of singing and playing instruments.

Students concentrate on learning the bow harp, a new addtion to this year's Academy.

Sr. Stella Sabina demonstrates some fancy footwork from her native Uganda.

Dr. Makubuya from Wabash College instructs students on how to play traditional Ugandan drums. Even students in percussion sections of the school band learned a few things!

Former Messala Recalls Ben-Hur Stage Play

2010-07-03T08:19:00.000-07:00

In his autobiography (My Life East and West), William S. Hart (Messala) related some of his memories of the stage production of Ben-Hur. Hart remembered that at one of the final rehearsals prior to the opening of the show, Charles Frohman, a renowned actor at the turn of the century known as the “Napoleon of Drama” announced to Klaw and Erlanger, the producers of the Broadway version of Ben-Hur. “Boys, I’m afraid you’re up against it—the American public will never stand for Christ and a horse race in the same show.” (Frohman was killed years later in the sinking of the Lusitania.)

Hart gained fame in Hollywood after his stage career faded playing in Westerns. His ability with horses in the movies was no act. He was a gifted horseman and raced Messala’s team on stage over 400 times. He said he always felt bad that his four horses (Tom, Jerry, Rosie and Topsy) raced Ben-Hur’s team of four bays every night and lost. His horses tried with all their might every night to win. No matter how hard they tried, the result was always the same—just at the moment it looked like they would win, Hur’s treadmill would speed up and the bays would draw away—winning the race.

Hart described the night that the race was reaching its climax. The eight horses racing for all they were worth. Hart’s (Messala’s) horses raced faster and faster, stretching until their bellies were almost on the treadmill—and then Hart realized that his team was going to win. He crawled out on the chariot tongue; put his hands on their backs imploring them, urging them to slow so Ben-Hur could win but “. . . They ran like creatures possessed—their veins stood out like ropes—they were out in front—they were gaining! They strained every muscle to the breaking point, then they lunged ahead in a deathlike dash! And—they won! They Won!” After 400 tries, his team finally out-raced the treadmill.

Hart was always proud that after the first performance, he was sent for and Lew Wallace singled him out telling Hart: “Young man, I want to thank you for giving me the Messala that I drew in my book.”

William S. Hart was one of the most successful early film stars. Hart passed away in 1946 and left his estate to the people of Los Angeles because the community had treated him so well. His Spanish Revival mansion with its outstanding collection of western art, Hollywood memorabilia, and Native American artifacts and its surrounding 260 acres are now part of the Natural History of Museum of Los Angeles.

Travel Back in Time with General Lew Wallace

2010-06-27T11:35:00.001-07:00

CRAWFORDSVILLE, IN, June 19, 2010— The Civil War is a major part of American history that all students have read about. But how often do they truly get to experience the sights and sounds of that tumultuous time?

The scent of campfires and the sounds of Stephen Foster songs will fill the air once again at the General Lew Wallace Study and Museum for its annual Civil War Encampment weekend, July 10 and 11. The Museum’s partnership with the Mid States Living History Association, Inc. allows visitors a rare chance to dig deeper into the experience of life as one of General Wallace’s rank-and-file soldiers.

Mid States, an Indianapolis-based group comprised of living history interpreters from throughout the Midwest, will present several activities on the Museum grounds over the course of the weekend that offer a greater insight into life as a Civil War soldier or civilian. In addition to live demonstrations of camp cooking, construction, medical care, music, telegraphy and artillery training, visitors will have the chance to interact with General Wallace himself, listening in as he reflects on the controversial battle of Shiloh and his innovative defense of Cincinnati.

“Our Encampment weekends are always popular,” said Acting Director Amanda Wesselmann. “It’s an immersive experience that lets visitors really appreciate what General Wallace and his soldiers had to endure during the Civil War, much more so than they could just by reading a book or sitting in history class.”

The live activities include “School of the Piece,” an instructional training exercise for cannoneers that demonstrates the degree of textbook and practical training required to function on the field of battle. Visitors will also be invited to participate in infantry training drills using toy “Woodfield” (wooden) rifles. Demonstrations in Civil War-era medical care, camp construction and cooking will also be held throughout the weekend.

On the evening of July 10, guests can experience the Civil War re-enactors preparing dinner and readying their tents for nightfall on the lush Museum grounds during their twilight tours of the encampment. “It’s a unique view of the Museum—and of Civil War life—that very few visitors get to see,” said Wesselmann.

Visitors are invited to experience the live drama of the Civil War during extended hours on Saturday, July 10 from 2:00 – 9:00 p.m. and during regular hours on Sunday, July 11 from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. at the General Lew Wallace Study and Museum in Crawfordsville. For further information, contact the Museum at 765-362-5769 or email study@ben-hur.com.

Lew Wallace Youth Academy Now Accepting Applications

2010-06-26T08:10:00.000-07:00

Change is afoot at the General Lew Wallace Study and Museum. As restoration work begins on Lew Wallace's Study building this summer, the students of this year's Lew Wallace Youth Academy will be learning why such drastic changes must take place.

The week-long Youth Academy, July 6-10, is accepting applications for students entering grades 6, 7 and 8 who have an interest in investigative learning, exploring new cultures and new ideas and making friends. Interested families can contact the Museum at 362-5769 or e-mail: study@ben-hur.com for more information.

Amanda Wesselmann, associate director of the museum, announced today that several changes are being made to the curriculum and faculty of the Youth Academy, which helped the General Lew Wallace Study and Museum win the 2008 National Medal for Museum Service. One new facet of the Academy will be the investigation into the Study Restoration Project, a construction plan over three years in the making that will begin this summer.

Mary Jane Teeters-Eichacker, Curator of Social History at the Indiana State Museum, will speak to Academy students about the importance of preserving historic artifacts and sites. Preservation is the primary motivation for the upcoming restoration of the Study, considering the building was designed by General Wallace himself and normally houses irreplaceable original memorabilia from the General's life. The leaky copper roof of the Study put those artifacts in danger each time it rained.

Other changes to this year's Academy include a Sharing Stories day when the students will write biographies and autobiographies of themselves, something General Wallace did in his Study; and a Creating Art day when students will paint with watercolors outdoors under the direction of Karen Patton, president of the Art League of Montgomery County and frequent exhibitor at the Downtown Crawfordsville Fall Art Show.

"I want to foster the students' artistic interest," said Patton, "So they can see that art is far more than just accuracy."

The Lew Wallace Youth Academy will culminate in the students interacting with the Civil War re-enactors of the Mid States Living History Association, who will be encamped on the Museum grounds during the weekend of July 10-11. In addition to discovering how soldiers encountered daily life during the tumultuous days of the Civil War, Academy students will participate in a flag retirement ceremony, the first of its kind in Academy history. The students will help to "retire" the Indiana state flag that currently flies over the Museum grounds according to protocol, and initiating the new Indiana flag that will wave proudly over the property for years to come.

"We have never had a flag retirement ceremony here at the Museum before," said Wesselmann. "This year's Academy students will learn what goes into retiring a flag in the proper manner, and why the occasion deserves reverence and dignity."

A few student spots are still open in this year's Youth Academy, held July 6-10 on the grounds of the General Lew Wallace Study and Museum from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Students and their families are invited to an elaborate graduation ceremony on Saturday, July 10, attended by the Civil War interpreters of the Mid States Living History Association. Pre-registration for the Academy is required, and fees per family are only $25, although scholarships for families with financial need are available. Registrations for this once-in-a-lifetime experience are due July 4; please call the Museum at 362-5769 or e-mail: study@ben-hur.com to take part.

Summer storm

2010-06-23T08:33:00.000-07:00

Summer has arrived with all the fireworks of the fourth of July. On June 21st and 22nd a severe storm hit the city of Crawfordsville, with lightning, straight line winds and torrential rain. Over 3" of rain fell overnight, filling the former moat and reflecting pond of the Study. Runoff streams ran throughout the museum's grounds. We were fortunate that the buildings did not sustain any damage.

The parking lot was filled with large and small limbs. The museum's grounds were littered with debris from a variety of trees. A large Kentucky coffee tree limb fell, breaking off a nearby tulip limb. One of the sassafras lost a large limb and several tulip trees lost their tops. This scenario played out all over the area.

The sound of chainsaws has permeated the air for the last 2 days. The museum cleanup has begun and the debris will be taken to the local compost site. Hopefully, the grounds cleanup will be finsihed just in time for the award winning Lew Wallace Academy and Civil War Encampment. July 6th through July 11th the museum grounds will be swarming with children and Civil War Reenactors.

What's in a Name?

2010-06-12T08:35:00.000-07:00

In honor of the Strawberry Festival on the grounds of Lane Place in Crawfordsville this weekend, we thought it would be appropriate to consider one of our many ties to the Lanes. This excerpt was brought to our attention by one of our summer interns, Kasey Greer. Lew had strong opinions and might have been an authoritative military leader, but he didn’t always get his way on the home front.

“In early 1853, Lew and Susan Wallace were in Covington, Indiana, eagerly anticipating the birth of their first child. In a letter from Lew to his brother, William, he explained what the child should not be named. Lew parodied the names of his father and brothers when he wrote:

“I think I had better right here quietly observe, that the fellow’s name shant be David, that’s too plebian – nor William, that’s very pretty for a child, but unfit for a man, nor Edward, that’s too pretty for either man or baby. I have determined that the most aristocratic and democratic, the most semantic and unpedantic the most noble, manly, appropriate and significant of all that ‘best becomes a man’ is – ‘Lew.”

“However, Lew failed to convince Susan of the name ‘that best becomes a man.’ For on February 17, 1853, Susan gave birth to a son and he was named after his uncle, Henry Lane. Another factor figuring into naming the boy is that it was a common nineteenth century practice to name a child after a military commander and Lew Wallace had served under Henry Lane during the Mexican War.”

Lighty, Chandler S. “Henry Lane Wallace Part I.” Montgomery Magazine, (Crawfordsville, IN) Oct. 2, 2001.

The artwork has left the building

2010-06-04T13:11:00.000-07:00

The last of Lew's artwork has left the Study building! Staff and a few experienced volunteers packed up paintings by Wallace himself as well as sculptures and paintings that he owned.

Collections Manager Amanda McGuire explains to summer Intern Kasey Greer (Indiana University) how to wrap and pack a plaster cast of Princess Irene, a character from Wallace's novel The Prince of India.

Amanda and Kasey hand Wallace's best known painting, The Conspirators, to Wabash College Archivist Beth Swift and Museum Director Larry Paarlberg.

Ethafoam, bubble wrap, and sturdy boxes are the tools of the trade for packing interns - er, scuplture. Kasey lines the bottom of this box with ethafoam to cushion a statue of Ben-Hur as a galley slave.

Many thanks to Superior Moving and Storage for helping move these historic artifacts!