German Catholicism

The Saint Benedict Parish is located at the corner of 9th street and Ohio. The church was build in 1865 and was originally a catholic church for people of german origin. Today, the building still stands and is accompanied by three other buildings. There is the Parish Office across the street from the church. Then, to the right of the church there stands the house in which the priest lives. Next to the priest house is the German Catholic School. Every weekday from 11 to 12, the school has a soup kitchen for anyone who is hungry and doesn't have the financial assistance to alleviate the problem. I knocked on the door of the Parish Office and informed a woman who was working there that I was interested in the church. Then I requested permission to enter the church. I had assumed that I would be given a brief tour by a church official. Instead, the woman handing my a set of keys and reminded me to lock up when I was done. So, I unlocked one of the three main doors and entered the lobby of the church. On the right side of the lobby, stood a statue. It was a beautiful representation of Mary holding Jesus' wounded body as he lay dying. Then, I went into the main area of the church. A long line of wooden pews to the right and left of me travelled forward toward a pulpit. Above the pulpit, hung a crucifix. At the right and left sides of the room stood confessional booths. The ceiling contained beautiful paintings and gave an incredible spatial relationship to the floor below. At the tops of the walls were several stained-glass windows containing pictures. The light from outside gave live to the colorful windows and even though the inside of the building was dark, one could obtain a small feeling of peace looking up toward such an amazing work of art. The St. Benedict Parish is an incredibly representation of the types of cathedrals that one would find in Europe. I am so glad that Terre Haute has not managed to uphold tradition and demolish this wonderful part of it's history.

Twelve Stories of History

Located at 19 South Sixth Street, stands what was once the tallest building between Indianapolis and St. Louis. The Sycamore Building was constructed in 1921 by the Hoggson Brothers of New York City. The building started off as a bank named Citizens Trust Company. The construction of the building cost $500,000 and features 12 floors. While driving on Wabash Avenue, I have past this building several times with the intention of stopping and taking a look. Now, I am very grateful that I did. Upon walking in the front entrance on the Sycamore Building, I made my way toward the front office. Inside, I spotted a rather large, circular vault. One of the women working in the office informed me about the Sycamore Building and its roots as a bank. She told me that it is the only building in Terre Haute that possesses a round vault. Then, I visited the basement, where I was informed about another vault down there that is now used as a storage closet. After the brief tour, I requested entrance to the top floor. The building is now used to office many lawyers, so a phone call was required before I made my ascent to the top floor. After being granted permission, I made my way to the up to the 12th floor. Although this floor was a law office, I was allowed to experience the view from the waiting room window. One window faced west while the other window faced south. Looking out, I got a much better sense of the history of Terre Haute. Through both windows, one can see many buildings and steeples. Homes and stores, stretched out until the influence of Terre Haute gives way to a vast treeline and finally breaks into the horizon.

Hotel Deming

Terre Haute's Tribune-Star named the Deming Hotel a historical treasure in a 2007 article. Roznowski mentions this local landmark many times in his book. Named after Demas Deming, the hotel now occupies the space that that was once the site of a church. According to the Tribune, The Terre Haute Coal and Lime company provided 4,450 cubic yards of gravel and sand. They also provided cement for the concrete that makes up much of the hotel and the surrounding sidewalk. The hotel opened officially on Oct. 20, 1914. The hotel was eventually bought by the university and used as a men's dormitory. Later, the hotel was sold again and in the 1970's, it was utilized as apartments for the elderly and the handicapped. This building has stood the tests of time and has a unique story to go along with it. It is certainly one aspect of Terre Haute that should be kept intact, so that future generations may have a better understanding of historical relevance.

Haunted History

A couple years ago, I was reading through a book about all the supposed haunted places in Indiana. One story that stayed with me was the story of a dog named Stiffy Green. According to some records, Stiffy Green was the constant companion of an elderly man by the name of John Heinl. They would walk the streets of Terre Haute and were well liked by the community. In 1920, John Heinl passed away. John was emtombed in a mausoleum at Terre Haute's Highland Cemetary. According to legend, Stiffy Green was taken care of by some of John's friends after he died. It wasn't long until the dog traveled back to the cemetary to sit outside the mausoleum and guard his master. Within a few months of John's death, his beloved dog came to greet him in eternity. Not wanting to simply dispose of the dog, the new owners decided to have him stuffed and placed next to his beloved companion in the mausoleum. It wasn't long before caretakers and visitors of the cemetary reported hearing barking coming from around the tomb. Some people even reported seeing an elderly figure walking the cemetary with a canine companion late at night. Eventually, the body of Stiffy Green was removed from the mausoleum due to the endless amount of late-night teenage visitors trying to catch a glimpse of the ghostly dog. Whether you believe the stories or not, the legend of Stiffy Green continues to appear in many books detailing the haunted sites of Indiana.