I have nothing but great things to say about the library and the staff. They were extremely…read morehelpful and courteous for anything I needed. I would highly recommend.

I wasn't sure what to expect of a small town library, but Monticello's definitely threw me for a…read moreloop. The building is new and modern, but from the height of it, I assumed there was a second floor. No, it's just a vaulted ceiling which I find a waste of space, especially for a library where I want every space filled and brimming with books. Inside, it's airy and sectioned well. There is a computer area with printers that cost per page to print. The wifi is free. The librarians are older women who are not comfortable or familar with computers because it took me over half an hour to get a library card. It's not enough to have an out-of-state drivers license and your week old, closing documents for your new house in Monticello to speed-up the process of getting a library card. The librarians are also not personable, have no sense of humor, and do not appreciate other's time constraints. I thought I was at the DMV. What is the point of leaving a review for an institution geared towards public service? The hope that someone reads it who can improve the public service.

If you need a divorce or to pay your property taxes, this is the right place. If your looking for…read morehistoric architecture, then you're in the wrong place. The Cass County Courthouse is the second courthouse to serve the County. Technically called The Cass County Government Center located at 200 Court Park, the Center is a large complex housing the courts, jail, other County departments and Purdue Extension office. The modern structure was designed by architect Richard Byers in 1979 and was completed in 1981 at the cost of $3,042,973. The building was renovated and updated in 2001. The building feels very institutional, but functional. There is no history of Cass County government in the building with the exception of pictures of Judges that served the county. I talked to several staff members and deputies to gain some insights about Cass County history, but was met by blank stares. So I trucked over to the Library and Historical Society to learn more. The first courthouse was designed by Joseph Willis and started by Abram Graffis, but finished by by Job Eldridge, Thomas Cummings and Isaac Clary in 1844. This structure, which stood on the same grounds as today's Center, was remodeled by John Medford and John Barnes in 1888, adding a new front with wings. The Victorian building served the County for an astounding 135 years. But the ancient walls and inadequate plumbing became an ultimate challenge for the modern legal world, so the new structure was built. The original bell from the 1844 building is displayed near the employee parking lot, which I could not enter. So bottom line, the current County Center is modern and functional but lacks County history or grand focal point of other Indiana courthouses.

The White County Courthouse was constructed by Robert Longardner in the mid 1970's. The building is…read moremodern and is the third courthouse for White County. The second Victorian Courthouse, built in1895, was tragically destroyed by a deadly tornado in 1974. Sadly, eight people lost their lives who were in the historic building at the time of the tornado. A plaque in today's building memorializes these individuals. The White County Building houses county offices and courtroom. There is free parking around the perimeter of the square.

A pair of bronze statues portraying the pioneering auto builders, the Apperson Brothers, can be…read morefound near the spot of their former factory at the south entrance to Kokomo Municipal Stadium. Added in 2018, artist DJ Bawden created the pieces to commemorate the pairs contribution to Kokomo's history and commerce. Just before the beginning of the 20th Century, the brothers had started their own shop and were approached by Elwood Haynes to build his first car back in 1894 which is considered to be the first working car in America! They went on to form the Haynes-Apperson Company which continued making cars until the brothers left to pursue making a more upscale and powerful type vehicle in 1902. They were known for producing a car called the Jackrabbit. In 1911, the brothers entered a car in the 1st Indy 500. The auto manufacturers continued in Kokomo until 1926. Review #2476

One thing I really like about exploring towns in central Indiana is when I discover a memorial to…read morethe history of the area, especially when it was something that I somewhat recall or have a connection with. Back on April 3, 1974, the Midwest was hit with a "Super Outbreak" that generated 148 confirmed tornadoes over a two day period across 13 states. 5000 were injured and 315 deaths were confirmed. Monticello was the target of an F4 tornado that swept in from the southwest, killing eight people. There was an estimated $100 million in damages, including the court house. The tornado struck the town at 5:17 p.m. It is considered (locally) as when "time stood still". In 2010, a new park was created a block west of where the new court house stands. The bricked plaza features several special items. A sculpture shaped like a tornado supports a clock that is stopped at 5:17. There are some pieces from the court house that were saved and put in this park. The original water fountain and several of the lamp posts were saved and used in this plaza. (Note: The keystone from the original court house sits a block to the west on the corner of Constitution Plaza by the new court house.) This plaza creates a quiet space in the downtown area that succinctly tells the story of what happened by use of plaques that are located around the plaza. I admire that the town pays tribute to its challenges and has continued forward rebuilding as a community. Review #2794

Small town library, small town feel. It is great that this area has this local resource. There…read moreis a museum of local history upstairs along with all your current favorites. Be nice to the lady's working, and they will be nice to you. Did I mention they have a free movie rental program? Just remember to return them promptly. (many of the movies and books have been donated by local residents, so be kind!)

This 150 year old, red covered bridge was moved to Highland Park in 1957 by the Historical Society…read more The bridge was originally located in Vermont, Indiana and is the last bridge with Smith type #3 trusses in the State. (Robert Smith was a famous covered bridge designer from Ohio. His unique designs used less wood.) The bridge, which was built in 1875, has a sorted and interesting story of survival that is described on the City of Kokomo's website. I walked across the one-lane bridge on a hot day this week. (The bridge is only open to pedestrian traffic.) The bridge is cool inside, shaded by large sycamore trees. Modern party lights hang inside the bridge to provide light. The bridge spans a creek that runs through the park. The bridge provided a beautiful backdrop for photos. There is close free parking near the bridge. Vermont Covered Bridge is a must visit for covered bridge buffs.

19 hikers from the Indianapolis Hiking Group decided to hike in and around Peru (the birthplace of…read morethe late, great Cole Porter) today to commemorate Cole Porter's birthday which was on June 9th. There were plenty of celebrations around town and we hiked around 9 miles on streets, wooded areas, and along the Wabash River. We started our hike at the cemetery where Cole Porter is buried. The good folks at the Museum in town educated us on the life of Cole Porter and recommended several places for us to eat. There was a classic car show going on and it is obvious that the town is very proud of their history. Cole Porter was an American composer and songwriter. Born to a wealthy family in Indiana, he defied the wishes of his domineering grandfather and took up music as a profession. Classically trained, he was drawn towards musical theatre. After a slow start, he began to achieve success in the 1920s, and by the 1930s he was one of the major songwriters for the Broadway musical stage. Unlike most successful Broadway composers, Porter wrote both the lyrics and the music for his songs. After a serious horseback riding accident in 1937, Porter was left disabled and in constant pain, but he continued to work. His shows of the early 1940s did not contain the lasting hits of his best work of the 1920s and 30s, but in 1947 he made a triumphant comeback with his most successful musical, Kiss Me, Kate. Porter's other musicals include Fifty Million Frenchmen, DuBarry Was a Lady, Anything Goes and Can-Can, and his numerous hit songs include "Night and Day", "I Get a Kick out of You", "Well, Did You Evah!" and "I've Got You Under My Skin". He also composed scores for films from the 1930s to the 1950s. He was noted for his sophisticated, suggestive lyrics, clever rhymes and complex forms. Although Cole Porter was homosexual, he married a wealthy Divorcee, Linda Lee Thomas and the marriage was one of convenience for both of them; for Linda, continued social status and a partner who was the antithesis of her abusive first husband, and for Cole a respectible heterosexual front in an era where homosexuality was not publically acknowledged. Cole Porter is interred in Mount Hope Cemetery in Peru, between his wife and father, even though Porter was not close to his father. Cole was his mother's maiden name and as she was a very domineering woman, her son was buried in her family plot, rather than the Porters. A very cute and quaint town to visit. Only 70 miles North of Indianapolis.