Day 36 - Saturday, June 16th - Indianapolis to Richmond, IN
Distance: 72.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 1712 ft. or 23.6 ft./mile
The past three days have seemed like an eternity. Finally I got to ride today and we went 73 miles east along US-40 (aka Main Street of America) to Richmond on a slight incline the whole way. With the heat and humidity returning it felt good to get out early and get this done. For me it was a good warm-up for tomorrow's 105 miles to Marysville, OH. US-40 once spanned the entire country going from my hometown of Atlantic City to San Francisco and was constructed in 1926 on top of several older highways including the National Road and the Victory Highway.
At mile 12 we passed through Cumberland, a town of about 5600. It was founded in 1830s when the Cumberland Road (aka the National Road) was extended to that point. This was the first major road built by the federal government. Built between 1811 and 1837, the 620 mile road connected the Potomac and Ohio Rivers.
Mile 22 brought us to Greenfield, the county seat of Hancock County and a city of nearly 22,000. Incorporated in 1876 when the population was 2000, Greenfield experienced it greatest single period of growth starting in 1887 when natural gas was discovered in the area and was a boom-town for 20 years with the founding of manufacturing plants and other industries.
Today’s SAG stop was at a Speedway Gas Station at mile 34 in Knightstown, a town of 2200 people that was laid out in 1827 and named after Johnathan Knight, an engineer on the National Road . The gym that served as the home court for the Hickory Huskers in the 1986 film Hoosiers is located in Knightstown. Today it is known as the Hoosier Gym and is used as a community center.
Mile 22 brought us to Greenfield, the county seat of Hancock County and a city of nearly 22,000. Incorporated in 1876 when the population was 2000, Greenfield experienced it greatest single period of growth starting in 1887 when natural gas was discovered in the area and was a boom-town for 20 years with the founding of manufacturing plants and other industries.
Today’s SAG stop was at a Speedway Gas Station at mile 34 in Knightstown, a town of 2200 people that was laid out in 1827 and named after Johnathan Knight, an engineer on the National Road . The gym that served as the home court for the Hickory Huskers in the 1986 film Hoosiers is located in Knightstown. Today it is known as the Hoosier Gym and is used as a community center.
I confess I didn't even think about pictures until we got close to the SAG. I was just enjoying being on the bike. Here are a few pics before the SAG and of Knighstown.
Mile 39 brought us to the little town of Dunreith. Originally laid out in 1865 it was called Coffin’s Station after its founder Emery Dunreith Coffin. In 1968 250 residents had to be evacuated for two days after two freight trains sideswiped and released flammable and poisonous liquids that resulted in a major fire and explosion that destroyed seven houses and a cannery and also resulted in the water being polluted with cyanide for several months. Today about 175 people call Dunreith home.
Straughn was next up at mile 47. A town of about 200 people it was founded in 1868 by Merriman Straughn, a pioneer settler.
At mile 51 we reached the first of four communities that start here and end at mile 56.
First up was Dublin, a town of about 750 people founded in 1830 and named after Dublin Ireland. Next up was Mt Auburn, an even smaller town of about 100 people followed by
Cambridge City, a town of nearly 1800 that was founded in 1836 and was named after Cambridge, England. Seems today that it a popular destination for antique seekers.
Finally we have Pershing, an unincorporated community that was originally named Germany, Indiana until anti-German sentiment in World War One caused it to be renamed.
Pennville was next at mile 57. A town of about 700 founded in 1836 as New Lisbon which changed to Camden in 1837 since there already was a New Lisbon in Indiana. Seems that there already was a Camden as well so Pennville came to be as there was a fair number of Quakers in the community and William Penn was greatly admired. With a strong Quaker presence it is not surprising that Pennville and the surrounding area has a strong history of the Underground Railroad. About 2 miles north of Pennville on IN-1, near Balbec stands a marker at the site of the home of Jimmy and Rachel Silliven, The marker memorializes the local legend that the real run-away slave, on whom the character of Eliza Harris of “Uncle Tom's Cabin” was based, stopped at the Silliven home.
Centerville came next at mile 63. It is a town of about 2500 that was founded in 1814 on land that was purchased from Miami Indians and was settled by Quakers from Carolina and Virginia. It was named for its location near the center of the county and was the original county seat before losing that distinction to Richmond.
At mile 66 we reached the western edge of Richmond and continued on US-40 through the center of town and to the eastern border where six miles later we stop for the night just a half mile short of the Ohio border.
Marysville is a city of over 22,000 and the county seat of Union County. Marysville was originally part of Northwest Territory, and then became part of the Virginia Military District within that territory, and eventually became part of the state of Ohio. The city’s longtime slogan is “Where the grass is greener”. Marysville was founded in 1819 by Samuel W. Cuthbertson who named the town after his daughter Mary. Today, Marysville is headquarters for the Scotts Miracle Gro Company, the worlds largest producer of horticultural products. Founded in Marysville in 1868 by Orlando Scott, the company has grown to have an $8 billion market.
Soybeans I think. There were plenty of fields of these in every direction.
Across from the SAG, A Classic Car Shop Called Class of 1957. You can see the cars through the windows
Mile 39 brought us to the little town of Dunreith. Originally laid out in 1865 it was called Coffin’s Station after its founder Emery Dunreith Coffin. In 1968 250 residents had to be evacuated for two days after two freight trains sideswiped and released flammable and poisonous liquids that resulted in a major fire and explosion that destroyed seven houses and a cannery and also resulted in the water being polluted with cyanide for several months. Today about 175 people call Dunreith home.
The Post Office in Dunreith
Lewisville is a town of about 360 people and was next up at mile 44. It was founded in 1829 by Lewis C Freeman who went on to be come the first postmaster in a post office that has operated since 1831. Some shots of Lewisville, but not the post office.
At mile 51 we reached the first of four communities that start here and end at mile 56.
First up was Dublin, a town of about 750 people founded in 1830 and named after Dublin Ireland. Next up was Mt Auburn, an even smaller town of about 100 people followed by
Cambridge City, a town of nearly 1800 that was founded in 1836 and was named after Cambridge, England. Seems today that it a popular destination for antique seekers.
Finally we have Pershing, an unincorporated community that was originally named Germany, Indiana until anti-German sentiment in World War One caused it to be renamed.
Pennville was next at mile 57. A town of about 700 founded in 1836 as New Lisbon which changed to Camden in 1837 since there already was a New Lisbon in Indiana. Seems that there already was a Camden as well so Pennville came to be as there was a fair number of Quakers in the community and William Penn was greatly admired. With a strong Quaker presence it is not surprising that Pennville and the surrounding area has a strong history of the Underground Railroad. About 2 miles north of Pennville on IN-1, near Balbec stands a marker at the site of the home of Jimmy and Rachel Silliven, The marker memorializes the local legend that the real run-away slave, on whom the character of Eliza Harris of “Uncle Tom's Cabin” was based, stopped at the Silliven home.
Centerville came next at mile 63. It is a town of about 2500 that was founded in 1814 on land that was purchased from Miami Indians and was settled by Quakers from Carolina and Virginia. It was named for its location near the center of the county and was the original county seat before losing that distinction to Richmond.
At mile 66 we reached the western edge of Richmond and continued on US-40 through the center of town and to the eastern border where six miles later we stop for the night just a half mile short of the Ohio border.
Sneak Peek At Tomorrow
105 miles to Marysville, OH heading northeast. We will cross into Ohio just three miles into the ride, our ninth state line and tenth state.
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