Madison Indiana

Before leaving for California, Dad and I toured around Madison, Indiana to take in the sights and see some places prominent in Dad’s childhood.

The fountain in Madison, Indiana. It is normally off in the winter time.

The main drive through downtown Madison, Indiana.

This bank in downtown Madison, Indiana was robbed when my Dad was but a lad. Not sure it’s a bank now.

A bunch of crows decided to hold a conference atop one of the buildings in downtown Madison, Indiana.

A unit of barges is pushed upriver on the Ohio River shorefront of Madison, Indiana as my Dad watches in the morning light.

A view of the bridge that crosses the Ohio River from Madison, Indiana to Kentucky. It is Federal Highway 421. A really interesting drive.

An interesting structure, raised up because this is part of the area that floods regularly when the Ohio River is really full.

Some kind of flood monitoring station along the shore of the Ohio River in Madison, Indiana.

A view of the bridge over the Ohio River from Madison, Indiana into Kentucky from the eastern or upriver side. FYI, the river was high this day, but not in any kind of flood stage. I’ve seen it much higher and much lower.

A view of the bridge over the Ohio River from the nearby hills of Kentucky.

Dad looks out at the Ohio River and Madison, Indiana from the hills of Kentucky.

A picture perfect view of Madison, Indiana and the Ohio River while another set of barges is pushed upriver.

Crossing the bridge over the Ohio River from Kentucky, back to Madison, Indiana.

Dad points down to the area where he and his friends used to make a swimming hole in the creek. That creek is coming out of a tunnel from underneath the old Madison Railroad Incline Cut. at 5.89 percent, it was the steepest line-haul standard gauge railroad track in North America. It was last used in 1992.

What is significant here? Well it used to be a sand quarry and as a young boy, Dad and friends decided to dig a cave in it. Well the cave collapsed with Dad in it at the age of 7. A large rock was on top of him and it took hours to dig him out. He has a scar on his head to this day from his accident. That scar is the result of more than 30 stitches.

This is the Madison Incline. It was the steepest line-haul, standard gauge railroad track in North America. Opened in 1841, the incline has been in existence for nearly 180 years. At 5.89%, this incredible feat of engineering proved to be a challenge for its operators and was last used in 1992. Today, the incline has become a popular hiking trail and can be accessed from dawn until dusk.

A view looking down at the bottom of the Madison Railroad Incline.

One of the buildings of nearby Hanover College in nearby Hanover, Indiana. It is a beautiful campus.

A view in the early morning downriver of the Ohio River from the campus of Hanover College.

A view of the Ohio River from Hanover College. Below this point is where Dad used to horse around a bit in his younger days.

Hanging Rock Falls on Indiana State Road 7, not too far from the Eades Antique Shop (which is on route 7 too) in Madison, Indiana. People used to be able to park their car underneath the falls and wash them. Not any more. Too many rocks come down.

My car inside a covered bridge over a stream in nearby Scipio, Indiana.

This picturesque covered bridge, which you can still drive through, is over a stream in Scipio, Indiana. Up the road on state route 7 from Madison, Indiana. There is a modern bridge on the other side of the covered bridge now used by most traffic needing to cross the stream.

I end this post with this quote seen next to a grave marker in a cemetery on the Kentucky side of the Ohio River, where I took scenic pictures of Madison, Indiana. It seems somehow fitting for this journey with my Dad.

A terrific quote.

Click here to read about the Eades Thanksgiving Feast.

Well we made it to Madison, Indiana. Birthplace of yours truly, and of my father. This was our stopping point for this part of the trip. I was going to drop dad off to visit with his siblings while I went on to the IAAPA convention (theme parks) in Orlando. But I would be back by the end of the week.

Now when you get to Madison, before going anywhere else, you must stop at the most important place there to eat: Hinkle’s. The place was established the year Dad was born. Great sliders, shakes and much more. There is a sit-down service side to the diner – but those in the know, or who have been around awhile, know to sit on the side with the counter service.

Hinkle’s – a place to eat great sliders, hash browns, milk shakes and more. It’s a diner.

Next stop, the old homestead – or house, or at one time a saloon and a grocery store.

The old Eades house in Madison.

This is the house I remember where my grandfather and grandmother lived. My Dad and his siblings grew up in this place. It was, at various times, a saloon and grocery store and has been around since at least the mid-1800s as far as we know. The white portion was “the porch” but also served as a family room. The bedrooms were upstairs. The bottom portion of the blue section was where my grandpa originally sold antiques, but I remember it as an area he stored a bunch of antiques.

Though we entered the “house” from the porch, it actually had doors to the south, and that’s where the mail was delivered. Those doors are actually blocked off now. The “house” is in the process of being converted into two apartments – but the place needs a bit of work.

We got a chance to tour the place, thanks to a realtor friend as the place is for sale.

The old saloon and grocery store section.

Inside the old saloon and grocery store section of the first floor was still a mess as the contractors were not done yet.

The cellar of the old house.

We decided to visit the cellar of the old house. And it is a cellar, complete with dirt floor. Very dark and dank. I don’t think this will get fixed up. But it sure needs work.

Birthplace

Why is my Dad standing in front of this small house (with a new front porch)? Because this is the house he was born in, on the kitchen table he says. It is just a few doors down from the house I remember and played in many a time.

Eades Antique Shop

This held Eades Antique Shop for many, many years. My grandfather, his siblings, and some help from my Dad, built the place. Two stories plus a basement. After Grandpa died, it was was turned into a place to restore classic cars and also a photography studio. Finally, my cousin Carla bought it. On the second floor there are two bedrooms and a full bathroom. The first floor has a living space, and a floor to hold big get togethers, including a big Thanksgiving feast. The basement is cool too.

My dad and his siblings.

One of the big reasons to take Dad to Madison was to give him a chance to visit with his siblings. They are (left to right) Phil, Keith, Dad and Jackie. They had another brother, Leonard Junior, but he died before I was born. He was the oldest, Dad is number two, Phil is third, Jackie fourth and Keith the youngest.

More later on the visit to Madison in another installment. I went on to IAAPA from here.

Click here to read the story about going to my niece’s wedding.

Adventure in the Daddy Zone – Touring Madison, Indiana Dad’s hometown

An Adventure in the Daddy Zone – Return to Madison