ODDASEE: July 2010

Oddasee Normals - not A-B-Normals,

Yes even in the wholesome world of Indianapolis, there are remarkable things to see beyond the mundane and common. As our extended missives make there way out through Internetapolis, we have come to believe that it is quite likely that there are Oddasee worthy sites within striking range of everyone that receives our words and pictures. A little research and you can all find similar adventures in your backyard. Take the time, don't hurry and just see what you find....

As an example, the museum we visited on Friday is only 3 miles from downtown but we wonder how many people actually visit The Indiana Medical History Museum; the guest sign-in book goes back many years with few entries. Our tour was a grand and wonderful step back in time. Truly one of the best museums on our journey and as you know by now, we are not easily impressed as our reference points are ever-expanding in quality and quantity. This place was so far beyond our expectations, that we were reminded once again to keep on keeping on and be open to surprises.

The Pathological Building that houses the museum was once the central scientific and medical research area for the Central State Asylum of Indiana. Sadly the vast institution has been completely torn down with only much later structures left on the grounds. There are supposedly some old tunnels that run underground from the areas where the past facilities once stood. Access to them seemed to require the cover of darkness/what No Trespassing signs? and more research. The old photos on the walls show an institution that was so enormous it held close to 3000 patients at one time. By all accounts, the sanitarium was beautiful and architecturally remarkable place; what a loss -- see attached first photo from some archive found via Google. Note: this shows but one of the many buildings.

This museum currently is quite unique not only for it's history but for the items that remained even after it's demise. It's almost as if the doors closed one day and all the contents remain as they were over a century ago. The hospital took it's first patient in 1848 with the doors closing for good in 1994 (Date sound familiar? Same year that the Trans Allegheny and many other similar state institutions were forced to close across the US). This particular part of the hospital was not used for close to 60 years. With advances in technology and treatment, the Pathological Building was replaced by more sophisticated and sterile environments. That fact makes it all the more remarkable to have so much intact.

There are original pieces of furniture (much built in) and equipment. In the attachments below, you will see an autopsy table, the autopsy and educational theater, a child's iron lung, large format cameras, cabinets filled with the actual drugs from the hospital and numerous tools of the trade. There are books, artwork and ephemera from the time. On one wall I saw three stereoptic viewers and shelves filled with 30-40 boxes containing stereo-cards of 3-d imagery of medical conditions and information (easy Carol and Elaine; breathe deeply, no you cannot have them). There's a library, research rooms, three labs and the "Anatomical Museum" room which contains many brain samples and other specimens. The place is interesting and gorgeous. The lighting was photo heaven as the place had been constructed with three skylights along with lots of natural light to compensate for the shortcomings of gas lighting and marginal electricity at the time of construction.

Photo Notes:

1. Archive photo of the main sanitarium

7. Autopsy tools

9. Autopsy table and "pillow"

11. Child's iron lung

12. One of the many paintings -- this one is about "Moral Treatment" that was just being instituted with the un-shackling of patients.

18. Photos of the men arrested for being grave-robbers -- all hired by doctors and

scientists for study. See the upper left gentleman, Rufus Cantrell - "The King of the

Ghouls"

25. Our guide Randy -- this guy was great. Intelligent, informed, interested and compensated

for our experiences with earlier Sing-song Marie and Eternal Jim.

26. Susan and her father Walt -- apparently that pose is genetic as the Palmers read the

display info.

27. Walt and Susan - note arms still folded.....hmmmm?

30. (labeled medical arty 04) other museum attendees. Reminds me of a Thomas Eakins

painting and remember, that was all natural lighting.... photo ops galore.

Well that sums up in brief one of our best museum experiences so far. What we saw was extraordinary in every way. The fact that all the artifacts were authentic and mostly specific to the actual hospital made it all the more compelling and interesting. A real privilege and as inspirational as informative. We loved it.

Love , pathogens and scary tools,

Dr. Rodney and Nurse Susan --- okay you PC whiners, Nurse Rod and Dr. Palmer

Oddaseemly,

While one might think that the Indianapolis area might have little to offer the Oddaseers, you would be wrong. We found some of our pre-determined sites and a few unexpected ones. We are here to hang with Susan's family but during these 4-5 days your visual adventure junkies will not be denied. So, this message covers parts of a couple of noteworthy sites and people. There will be another one devoted solely to a super-visual and history treasure find.

1. "The Museum of Miniature Houses" in nearby Carmel (say it more like the candy than the ever so sheeshy home of ex-Mayor Eastwood in California). Now at first glance this might seem to be nothing more than a "doll house" collection. Well that is partly correct but this was cream of the crop stuff. No mere kits from Hobby Lobby (Susan calls those craft and plastic crap emporiums, Holly Hobbies), these are the work of serious "miniaturists" (the proper terminology). There were the expected mini, Victorian homes, farm houses and appropriate little people but then there were the incredible structures filled with one-of-a-kind hand-made figurines in hand-made period clothing. There's a museum, theater stage, workshops, a street of shops as well as some dioramas focused on specific rooms. While few of the craftswomen/men make everything within one house or vignette, they have specialities. There is a lot of exchanging, buying and commissioning going on. Some of these creations are very valuable -- when asked about value, we were told the one in front of us was recently appraised at over $40,000. That's one pricey doll sitting on a sofa in a two story house of many rooms. The one recurring theme was the astounding and insanely tiny details found on virtually every item in every diminutive environment. The museum itself is very professional and honors their treasures well and they also present numerous changing exhibitions to rival many a fine art venue. Susan remembered her own dollhouse with fondness -- it provided hours and hours of imaginary fun; imagine continuing that childlike joy for a lifetime? The tiny petit point carpets and pieced quilts, the kittens with fur sleeping in a basket, and the tiny, tiny fruit in a woven basket just leave one in awe.

2. "Ernie Taylor" -- this artist's work was recommended by Susan's brother, Wayne. He told us where to find a field of metal creatures on a nearby farm. This site did not appear in any of our research; thusly, our expectations were low and, besides we were expected for dinner soon. So, it was likely to be a drive-by or a quick stop and, at most, a few quick snapshots. Well surprise surprise surprise.... this is a very large field. We parked the truck in a barely acceptable spot along the road (damn tourists!) and walked along the fence to peek and take some photos. What we saw was immediately whimsical and diverse. Our view was not great as the pieces were a bit far from the fence. Then it got better.....

Mr. Taylor came out and with a beaming and infectious smile beckoned Susan and I to, "Come on in and go through the gate." This humble but warm gentleman was more engaging than even his sculpture "garden." Shortly after, Mrs. Taylor appeared and it was like meeting the paradigm of all grandmother ideals; what a sweetheart. They guided us around the interior yard and then to the gate out to the field of sculptures and old farm equipment. We were instructed to take our time and take all the pictures we desired. When finished there, we were invited to see more in the barns.

The welded and painted creatures were very fun and there were even a few mobiles in the mix. His work is naive but with a very creative twist in every piece. Back in the yard and near the barns were some almost Rube Goldberg creations -- Some engineering mixed with a bit of Tim Burton and Dr. Seuss thrown in. The barns actually house a Farm Equipment museum. They have an incredible assortment of old tractors, tools and related curiosities. Check out the John Deere tricycle and lawnmower bike. The buildings are overflowing and we were just lucky enough to get the bonus tour. Wow and again wow!

All the art and farm stuff was great but the real privilege came in meeting these two unassuming, warm and friendly folks. Once again it was about the people not just the stuff. The smiles and genuine hospitality was so extraordinary that it was almost impossible to fully comprehend at the moment it was happening. The instant connection was uncommon but coming from two people most might mistakingly view as not unusual. Ernie's stories and pun-ridden jokes were fantastic. Dot was just as engaging and the pride with which she boasted about his art work was enough to bring tears to our eyes. The far too time spent with them were some of the most moving moments along our very incredible journey. After the group photos and the gift of this very cute chicken clucking toy made from a plastic cup, string and sponge, it was hugs all around. Ernie and Dottie were glad to see us come and sad to see us go; amazing.

I mean really, when was the last time any of you were blessed with meeting strangers that within less than an hour later were sharing hugs with people that seemed had almost become family. Now that, my friends, is gift that cannot be forgotten nor ignored. We are very lucky to have met and smiled with two very real folks..... these kinds of moments will forever alter how we look at the people from afar, acquaintances, loved ones or anyone we meet in the future. And, hopefully, will encourage me to remember to be so giving, genuine, and approachable (from Susan).

Love and baaa-buk-buk-buk... babuk buk (that's a sad phonetic attempt at our chicken gift clucks)

Rodney and Susan