Cauli Le Chat

Cauli Le Chat
Cauli Le Chat, MPL Feline Roving Reporter

Saturday, August 30, 2014

T. Rex Joins Our Staff

Boss Lady has just hired T. Rex as the library's system network administrator.

 Click Images to Bigify


Actually, T. Rex is only my nickname for him--he's not an actual dinosaur--but he's king of the computersaurs, for sure, so T. Rex is a fitting moniker.

T. Rex will be in charge of all things computerized, networkized, and technologized at my Library.  He's on our staff web page, and everything.

Big welcome to T. Rex!  I'll pony up a can of tuna-in-oil from my stockpile as a welcoming present.  Okay, maybe just a picture of a can.  It's the thought that counts.



Your Roving Reporter On The Go,






Cauli Le Chat

P.S.  "Get It On," by T. Rex (the British band, not our new staffer), was a huge chart-topping hit single (1971) but was retitled "Bang a Gong (Get It On)" in the U.S. to avoid confusion with a similarly titled song by the band Chase.  "Get It On" appeared on T. Rex's album Electric Warrior (1971).

Saturday, August 23, 2014

A Humorous Paranormal Mystery

Too Many Ghosts, by Paul Gallico, is a novel filled with something for nearly every genre lover:  humor, mystery, suspense, the paranormal, and even a bit of romance.

MPL Book Trailer #206
Too Many Ghosts, by Paul Gallico

Gallico (1897-1976) is probably best known for writing the novel The Poseidon Adventure (1969), which became a big movie hit in 1972.  Gallico covered many different genres, though.  Too Many Ghosts demonstrates that the author was reasonably well read in the field of psychical research. His wit shines through a cast of peculiar characters who seem as strange as the spooky incidents they encounter.  It is a fun read.



Your Roving Reporter On The Go,






Cauli Le Chat 

Friday, August 22, 2014

Sparkle, May You Always Fare Well

I am so saddened that Sparkle the Designer Cat, world-famous feline blogger, book author, supermodel, and champion of feline causes, is terminally ill.

Click Photo to Visit Sparkle's Website

Sparkle has been an inspiration to all felines to share our vast kitty knowledge for the betterment of society.  What Sparkle has taught humans about cats could fill volumes.  We have two of Sparkle's superb books in our Evergreen Indiana online catalog, which are available to check-out for E.I. cardholders.  For non-cardholders, check your favorite online booksellers (e.g., Amazon.com) or nearby book stores.


Click Covers to See These Books in
Our Evergreen Indiana Online Catalog

For over a decade, Sparkle has brightened readers' days with her humorous, insightful commentary about all things feline.  Her sound advice has helped humans better understand and interact with us kitties, and vice versa.  Please continue to read Sparkle's past blog postings, books, articles, etc., as this will warm your hearts and keep Sparkle in our thoughts and prayers.

Although Sparkle has retired from blogging, she has selected someone to take over for her.

Meet Summer, Therapy Cat

Nobody could replace Sparkle, but we're confident that Summer has the chops to continue in Sparkle's pawsteps.

We will always love you, Sparkle.  Even though you don't believe in the Rainbow Bridge, my minions assure moi that you are bound for the Summerland, where all your friends (and mine) will rejoice in reunion (or new acquaintance).  (For those interested, here's another book on the subject.)

Goodbye, Sparkle.  May you always fare well.



Your Roving Reporter On The Go,

Cauli Le Chat



P.S.  In our promo trailers, "Flat" Cauli checks-out and checks-in Sparkle's books using our self-check machines.

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Nursery Rhyme Time Returns

Crafty Gal's video series, Nursery Rhyme Time, returned big-time yesterday, with 13 new rhymes for her early literacy patrons.  We uploaded these to the MPL YouTube Channel, which now has over 500 videos.

Nursery Rhyme Time With Miss Michelle @ MPL
(Click Image to Play)


Your Roving Reporter On The Go,

Cauli Le Chat

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Over Two Million Googleviews!

I logged into my Google account this evening to check some settings and discovered that my profile, which is a combination of my blog and the MPL YouTube Channel (they're linked, for some reason), has been viewed . . . drum roll, if you please, minions.

Click Images to Bigify


Over two million viewings!  That calls (or, perhaps, cauls . . . for Cauli--get it?) for canned tuna-in-oil for everyone, as Crafty Gal would say.

I'm not exactly sure how my Google profile viewings compare with my blog viewings or our YouTube Channel video viewings, but, hey, 2.1 million is a truly big number.

Maybe I'll finally get my Legacy Lane paver.  Just saying, Boss Lady.




Your Roving Reporter On The Go,

Cauli Le Chat


P.S.  You, too, can have a Legacy Lane paver at my Library.  Our promo trailer explains how.

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Following Paul Hadley's Footsteps, Part Onze

Another Paul Hadley painting on display at my Library is "East Fork of White Lick [Creek]."

 Click Photos to Bigify


According to long-time Morgan County Historian Becky Hardin (1908-1995):
  • "Mrs. Claude (Mary) Stokesberry's family asked artist Paul Hadley to paint a picture for her birthday present.  At that time she was living in Hadley's former home on Lockerbie Street.  He called one day making an excuse that he wanted to see how they had remodeled the house.  The painting was designed to fit over the fireplace, and is wider than it is high.  Since Mrs. Stokesberry has moved to a retirement home her son John has the painting."  [Hardin, Becky, The Indiana State Flag: Its Designer (Biography of Paul Hadley with Anthology of his Paintings), p. 17 (1976). Click here to read a digital copy of this fine biography.]
John Stokesberry subsequently donated the painting to MPL.

The East Fork of White Lick Creek runs along what was once the eastern edge of Mooresville (when Hadley painted it) and then flows south until eventually merging with the White River near Centerton, Indiana (north of Martinsville, in Morgan County).  It is along the portion of the East Fork just past the intersection of state roads 67 and 144 that presents one likely location at which Hadley painted the Stokesberry gift.

Click the map images to bigify.

Map Excerpts Courtesy of Google Maps

Note the bend in the creek immediately north of Rooker Park.  That resembles the same perspective in Hadley's painting.  Here's an aerial view:

East Fork of White Lick Creek
Near Rooker Trace
(Early 19th Century Primitive Road)
Southeast of State Roads 67 & 144


I'm not sure if we can reach this point on the creek--it's private property--but I'll send my minions to check it out.  I'd better tag along, to make sure they don't get lost.


North end of Rooker Park
(Probable Hadley painting spot is in the woods at the far end) 

Getting close to the creek now--
Hadley may have been standing up ahead

Where I'd have been, if Hadley had painted moi into the picture

The trees are bigger and more plentiful, and the underbrush is overgrown, but the bend in the creek looks strikingly similar to Hadley's landscape.

Why is this location likely to have been where Hadley painted the creek scene?  It was within easy walking distance--Hadley never drove motor vehicles--and the area was heavily wooded near the creek, then as now. The land east of the creek was farmed in Hadley's day, but it is now residential subdivisions.  Admittedly, Hadley could have painted other bends in the East Fork, but many of these were not sufficiently wooded, even in his time.  Our candidate is as likely a location as any of the other possibilities.  Still, let's consider other options.

The East Fork of White Lick Creek also runs along the eastern edge of Pioneer Park in Mooresville, in a heavily wooded region.  Unfortunately, there aren't any sharp bends in the creek that resemble Hadley's painting.


 East Fork of White Lick Creek
along rear of Pioneer Park


However, if we move downstream toward Bridge Street, then we find an excellent bend that easily could have been Hadley's painting spot.


 East Fork of White Lick Creek
East of Samuel Moore Parkway (Old State Road 67)
and North of Bridge Street


Once again, we have the difficulty of reaching the creek bend on private property.  So these aerial views may be the best we can do.  My minions couldn't get close to the creek without traipsing through folks' backyards. Works fine for moi, but not a good idea for people.

Paul Hadley was often inspired by Hoosier landscapes and nature, and he captured them beautifully in watercolor.




Your Roving Reporter On The Go,

Cauli Le Chat

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Simon Moon Update

Recently I blogged about Paul Hadley's painting, "Simon Moon's Cabin." We couldn't reach the back side of his wife's tombstone to see if his information was there, so we returned to clear more underbrush and take a closer look.

Simon Moon's Burial Stone
on the back side of his wife's monument
(click photo to bigify)

Just as I thought.

Read my full blog post about the painting and Simon Moon by clicking here.


Your Roving Reporter On The Go,

Cauli Le Chat

Following Paul Hadley's Footsteps, Part Dix

Another Paul Hadley painting on display at my Library is "Portrait of Young Man."

Click Photos to Bigify


This watercolor was donated to MPL by long-time Morgan County historian Becky Hardin (1908-1995).  In her biography of Paul Hadley, Hardin identified the subject of the painting as "A. M. Sayler," a law student:

  • "[Paul Hadley's] portrait of a young law student, A. M. Sayler, won sweepstakes at the Indiana State Fair.  It was judged 'for excellence in technique in medium used.'  (It is difficult to paint portraits with water color.)"  [Hardin, Becky, The Indiana State Flag: Its Designer (Biography of Paul Hadley with Anthology of his Paintings), p. 22 (1976). Click here to read a digital copy of this fine biography.]

Try as we might, we have been unable to locate A. M. Sayler in the historical record.  Hadley probably painted the portrait between 1920-1940, so, given his appearance in the painting, A. M. Sayler was probably born no earlier than 1890 and no later than 1920.  No matches were found in the Indiana Roll of Attorneys or alumni records for Indiana University's law schools.

We found several persons named A. M. Sayler (under various first names--mostly Arthur) in the Social Security Death Index (SSDI), U.S. Censuses, and other information available through Ancestry Library Edition and Heritage Quest Online (see links on the MPL website), but they were unlikely candidates, because of age (born too soon or too late), education (e.g., 8th grade or less), occupation (not lawyers, although, admittedly, A. M. Sayler might not have been practicing law when the 1920-1940 censuses were taken), or other discrepant details.

We did, however, discover an attorney named Sayler who would have been the correct age and location, although his middle name doesn't begin with M.

Arthur Daily Sayler (1894-1955)
Attorney at Law

Arthur D. Sayler was born and lived much of his life in Huntington, Indiana, taking over his father's law practice there when his father passed in 1920.  In 1917 he received his bachelor of laws (Ll.B.) degree (equivalent to a modern American doctor of jurisprudence [J.D.] degree) from the Indiana University Law School in Indianapolis.  That would have placed him in the vicinity of Paul Hadley, who operated a studio on the fifth floor of the Union Trust Building, East Market Street, Indianapolis (1921-1939) and worked at Herron Art Institute during the late 1920's to mid-1930's.

There is, of course, only one supreme obstacle to this theory.  Well, two obstacles, really:

  • Hardin identified Hadley's portrait subject as "A. M. Sayler." This could have been an error, but knowing how thoroughly Hardin researched history, I doubt it.
  • The photo of Arthur D. Sayler does not much resemble the painting of A. M. Sayler.  That one's a deal-breaker, I'm afraid.

Frankly, we're stumped.  We haven't come close to exhausting historical and genealogical information, but we have invested enough time to know when it's time to move along.

Wherever you may be, A. M. Sayler, we raise our paws in salute to you. Hadley's portrait is fantastic.  He really captured the essential A. M.  Too bad we didn't get to know you better.

In our next Hadley adventure, we'll journey along the East Fork of White Lick Creek to find another landscape Paul Hadley captured in watercolor.




Your Roving Reporter On The Go,

Cauli Le Chat

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Following Paul Hadley's Footsteps, Part Neuf

Another Paul Hadley painting on display at my Library is "Room at Roselon," donated to MPL by Helen and Claire Cook.

 
Click photos to bigify


According to Becky Hardin (1908-1995), long-time Morgan County Historian:

  • "This painting of the living room at Roselon [was] owned by Mr. and Mrs. Claire Cook.  She [Helen Cook] thinks it is one of the best he [Paul Hadley] ever did.  The deep dark wood of the recessed window, and the melodeon have unusual depth.  The ladder back chair and portrait of Lincoln are an interesting bit of Americana, and the rug was typical of pioneer days."
[Excerpted from Hardin, Becky, The Indiana State Flag: Its Designer (Biography of Paul Hadley with Anthology of his Paintings), p. 22 (1976).  Click here to find links to read a digital copy of this fine biography.]

Helen Cook was herself an artist--many of her paintings are on display at the Library, as you can see from two videos (see postscript to this blog post)--and she taught art in the Mooresville elementary schools for many years.

Roselon sounds like one of those huge estates where rich people live.  Well, the folks who lived there were well-to-do.  If you've lived around my hometown for as long as I have, you'd know about the Wheeler family.  We found this newspaper article from The Indianapolis Sunday Star, December 6, 1931, on the Internet (click images to bigify):


Check out the right side of that picture (above) and compare it to Hadley's painting.  Same room!

Here's the rest of the article, which we divided into three images so you could see the print (read the left column all the way down, then return to the top for the right column):

Exterior of Roselon (round inset photo)




Roselon was the country home of Alonzo L. Wheeler (1853-1939) and Rose Swain Wheeler (1869-1955).  Clearly, Roselon was named after Mrs. Wheeler.  A. L. Wheeler, as he was invariably known, owned Banner Mills on East High Street in Mooresville.

Banner Mills (built in 1868) (photo circa 1870's)

 Banner Mills (remodeled) (photo circa 1890's)

Advertisement for Banner Mills
(Mooresville Times, January 28, 1910)

The house that became Roselon was constructed in 1829-1830 by James Lindley and a mason, Samuel Harriman (or Harrison).  The Wheelers bought the property in 1900. The land was originally purchased by Elias Hadley, who received the federal land patent on March 10, 1827.  Hadley sold the land two years later (1829) to Lindley, who fired the brick for the house from a nearby clay pit.

 Elias Hadley land patent (3/10/1827)
Section 34 of Township 14 North, Range 1 East
(2nd PM Meridian), Morgan County, Indiana




[Maps from Boyd, Gregory A.  Family Maps of Morgan County, Indiana
(deluxe ed., 2010).  Norman, OK: Arphax Publishing Co.]

Where's that on a modern map?  Minions, make it so.



Modern maps courtesy of the Morgan County
Economic Development Corporation

Time for my minions, "Flat" Cauli, and moi to make another road trip to see what the place looks like today.

Unfortunately, we were unable to find anywhere to safely pull off Keller Hill Road at the exact spot where Elias Hadley's/James Lindley's/the Wheeler's land was situated.  The closest we could come was Jessup Way, about a quarter mile east of the property.  Still, as the 1931 Indianapolis Sunday Star article stated, "Since no public road leads to it [Roselon], there is peace and quiet for the many nature lovers who visit it as guests of the family and there are many birds, which make it their home place."  Not wanting to trespass across anyone's land, we stayed in the car and sent Scowl-Face to take photos of the nearby hills, which resemble those crossing what was once the Roselon estate.

Wooded hills north of Keller Hill Road
across from Jessup Way


Yep.  Pretty much.

Paul Hadley was a good friend of the Wheelers, particularly Clifton Wheeler (1883-1953), Alonzo & Rose's son, with whom Hadley worked at the Herron Art Institute in Indianapolis during the 1920's and early 1930's. Hadley considered Clifton Wheeler to be the best artist in Indiana.  Several of Wheeler's paintings are displayed at the Library, as our videos (in the postscript, at the bottom of this blog post) show.

The Wheeler family also owed a "town home" on the southwest corner of the intersection of South Indiana and High Streets near downtown Mooresville, which was a few blocks from Banner Mills.


A. L. Wheeler house at 7 West High Street in Mooresville
(constructed circa 1895; renovated circa 1915)
(2009 photo)

Clifton Wheeler painted landscapes to decorate some of the walls of the family's High Street home.  These may still be seen there today.

A. L. and Rose Wheeler also built and owned another home at 330 Lockerbie Street (at the west end of South Street) on the western edge of Mooresville.  Here's a holiday photo they took, which, unfortunately, was undated, but was probably taken during the 1920s.

 

Let's reprise Hadley's Roselon painting, so you don't have to scroll up so far.


Roselon was a beautiful home, and Paul Hadley wonderfully captured the living room's essence, warmth, and charm.


Your Roving Reporter On The Go,

Cauli Le Chat



P.S.  The two promo trailers (above) show various paintings on display at MPL, including those of Clifton Wheeler, Paul Hadley, and Helen Cook.