Blessed to have such a great local library! They are always trying to come up with great programs…read morefor all ages. Books clubs, craft nights, educational programs, and so much more! I've been loving using all the audiobooks and e-books from the various apps the library works with. There's even a language learning app similar to duo lingo and babbel! I can't wait to see what the remodel will bring to this already impressive library!

According to previous reviews, it sounds like there were some unpleasant experiences with customer…read moreservice. Today I experienced opposite of that. As a first-time visitor of this library, the librarian at the checkout desk was super friendly and helpful. She gave me a rundown of the library and let me know where the rooms were that I could use for studying. She greeted me before I greeted her, as well as the few of the other employees there. This library is huge, and beautiful. there is even a fireplace area where you can sit and read. And a teen area specifically for teens to study or check out books. as well as a children's area and several meeting rooms. The best feature for me was the semi-private, individual study rooms. These are first come first serve and can seat up to four people. I will be back again!

Saturday morning in Richmond meant that the Wayne County Courthouse was sitting quiet, locked up…read moreand completely free to wander, which honestly fits a building this massive. Wayne County was named for General Anthony Wayne, the Revolutionary War figure whose name shows up all over. This courthouse dates to 1893 and is a big, confident Richardsonian Romanesque structure with the heavy stone, rounded archest and muscular proportions that define the style. The architect was James. W. McLaughlin of Cincinnati, who designed a number of civic buildings in the region and clearly didn't hold back here. Even without going inside, the scale along projects that late 19th-century belief in county government as the literal anchor for the community. Walking the grounds undisturbed gives time to appreciate how the tower rises above downtown Richmond and how the stonework wraps the entire block in that fortress-like Romanesque presence. Parking was easy, the sidewalks were empty, and the whole place felt like a stage waiting for the weekday bustle. Funny enough, this is my *third* Wayne County Courthouse after Detroit Michigan and Goldsboro North Carolina. It's a niche accomplishment but an interesting one because across the three states, three different eras have three very different interpretations of what a courthouse should look like. [Review 990 of 2026 - 199 in Indiana - 26169 overall]

The Wayne County Courthouse located in Richmond, Indiana is a massive historic limestone structure…read morethat was first dedicated in 1893. The Richardsonian Romanesque building was designed by James McLaughlin, a Cincinnati architect. The building has an impressive "turret" and lots of architectural detail on the outside, including gables. Stain glass windows add color within the central atrium. Unfortunately, mobile phones or cameras are not allowed inside the courthouse. Therefore, I was unable to take photos of the beautiful dome and chandelier, original marble stairs with wrought iron railings or the somewhat remodeled courtrooms. A friendly clerk did open one of the courtrooms for my visit. Most of the space has been updated to provide greater comfort. The superior court did maintain the original fireplace, judge's bench front and oak trim. The courthouse houses two Superior Courts, one Circuit Court and smaller hearing rooms. The site is not the first county seat. Prior to 1870, the courthouse resided in Centerville, Indiana. Apparently, there was quite a battle between the citizens of Centerville and Richmond. A canon was even fired during the incident. When the courts moved to Richmond in the early 1870's, a temporary building was used until the current building was dedicated in 1893. There is free parking around the Courthouse.

Golay Community Center is a non-profit organization that was presented to Western Wayne county by…read morethe Charles Golay family in 1981. Golay, a known industrialist from Cambridge City, wanted to create a place where community members could gather and build on their physical, emotional, and spiritual lives. The actual community center is on the east end of Cambridge City practically on the town line. You can rent rooms at the Golay Center and the prices tend to be quite affordable. This includes meeting rooms, a kitchen space, and semi-private use of their pool. Each room can hold up to 50 people and the meeting room dividers can also be removed. Golay Center offers pickleball, open gym volleyball, flag food, "paint with Jes," cheerleading, and food truck days on Wednesdays and Fridays. They also have fitness classes, swim instruction, personal training, bingo, blood drives, and other community activities. Golay Center truly is a "community" center. They offer both annual memberships and day passes. While folks from Indianapolis might consider Golay Center a little quaint, it's a solid, nicely kept, and well run community center. Like most small towns, I've found that a "stranger" gets a bit of a second glance but that tends to go away pretty quickly. Memberships include use of the facility: pool, weight room (16 and over), cardio room (16 and over), gymnasium, free aerobics classes or discounted classes, and discounted rates on programs. When I was at nearby Earlham, this was always a nice resource (though Earlham also has some nice options). I've always liked the Cambridge City area and Golay Center is a mighty fine community center for a relatively small town.

I joined because there are aerobic classes I am interested in. A couple of negatives for me:…read more 1. As a new comer to the facility, you would think someone would show you around. Desk personnel acted like I was already familiar with the facility. I had to ask quite a few questions. 2. Don't like entities that want you to use automated payments. While it isn't required, the monthly premium is quite less if you do so, 24.00 versus 60.00.

Union County took shape in 1821 when Indiana carved new jurisdictions out of the old frontier…read morecounties, and the name was chosen to honor the ideal of a national unity that was still fresh in public memory after the War of 1812. Liberty has served as the county seat from that beginning, selected for its central location and its role as an early crossroads town. The courthouse that anchors the square today is a late nineteenth-century brick and stone structure with a confident, almost monumental presence. It's the kind of civic building that small Midwestern counties favored as they grew into their administrative maturity. Its tower, arched openings, and sturdy massing give it a mix of Romanesque and classical influences, and even on a busy Saturday morning you can still appreciate the craftsmanship in the masonry and the symmetry of the design. The square was lively during my visit, full of vendors and shoppers at the farmers market, which added a nice sense of community energy to the courthouse grounds. It made wandering the perimeter feel less like an architectural tour and more like stepping into the town's rhythm. Also on the square sits the Templeton Cabin, a preserved log structure that offers a glimpse into the county's earliest settlement era and is absolutely worth a few minutes of exploration. Between the historic courthouse, the active market and the cabin, Liberty manages to blend its past and present in a way that makes the county seat feel both lived in and genuinely historic. [Review 999 of 2026 - 206 in Indiana - 26178 overall]

The Historic Longwood Covered Bridge is one of those quiet Connersville landmarks that rewards…read moreanyone who takes the time to wander out and see it, built in 1884 by Emmett L. Kennerdy of the well-known Kennedy family of Indiana bridge builders. It was later moved to this spot in 1984 after decades of service on Longwood Road, and standing here now, you can still feel the craftsmanship in the latticework and the way the timers catch the light, the setting is peaceful with just enough isolation to let you appreciate how much history is packed into a single span. Even though it's no longer in its original location, the move preserved something genuinely worth keeping, which makes it one of those places that feels both rooted and rescued at the same time. [Review 1002 of 2026 - 209 in Indiana - 26181 overall]

This marker is on the grounds of the Union County Courthouse and celebrates a local citizen who…read morewent on to great things. It reads, "Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside, 1824 - 1881, Born in Liberty, Indiana, Ambrose E. Burnside invented the breech-loading rifle in 1856. Commanded a brigade at First Bull Run and the Army of the Potomac at Fredericksburg. He was commander of the Army of Ohio when Morgan's Raiders were captured." It is marker number 81.1963.1 and it was erected in 1963 by the Indiana Civil War Centennial Commission. I have encountered Burnside a few times including a park and monument named for him in Providence Rhode Island (he served as governor of the state), and a marker in Kinston NC from the Civil War, Burnside was noted for his unusual beard, joining strips of hair in front of his ears to his mustache but with the chin clean-shaven; the word burnsides was coined to describe this style. The syllables were later reversed to "sideburns." [Review 998 of 2026 - 205 in Indiana - 26177 overall]

Morrison-Reeves Library is the public library in Richmond, Indiana. Founded in 1864 thanks to…read moreinitial funding provided by Robert Morrison, the library opened with an initial 6,000 books at a location now known as the corner of 6th and A streets. In 1893, the library was bequeathed another $30,000 by the widow of Mark Reeves. Reeves had actually worked for Morrisson when he was younger and shared a similar passion for the library. The library stayed in that building until the late 60's when it became apparent that the much loved building simply was no longer conducive to contemporary library needs and upkeep was becoming more than the library could handle. They would move into a new 52,800 square-foot building thanks to the efforts of librarian Mrs. Harriet Bard and currently remain in this building. The former building, sadly, had since been demolished. However, they did save many architectural aspects of the building along with furnishings. Morrison-Reeves Library is now pretty much what you expect from a library. I visited it occasionally while in seminary in Richmond and had the chance to return recently to visit a friend's art exhibition. Elements of the library respecting its history include the Harriet Bard Meeting Room, the Bimbo Memorial Fountain, the historic courtyard, The Bimbo Memorial Fountain is actually a dog fountain donated by a family in memory of their dog Bimbo. It allows passing dogs to get a drink of water. It's actually very cool. There are other decorative pieces incorporated throughout the library. The library is strong in access with several accessible parking spots, an automated front door, and ramps in places where they are needed. People over the age of 5 are eligible for a library card. The library is open six days a week - closed on Sundays. They have meeting spaces that can be reserved, public workstations, free wifi, and you can check-out up to 30 items. You can send faxes at $1 per page; make copies at $.10 per page black-and-white, $.25 per page for color. They offer quite a few digital services and community events (including art exhibits pretty regularly). The collection is up to around 85,000 books now. While I'm not sure I'd consider Morrison-Reeves Library a destination library, for those in the Wayne County area it's an absolutely essential library and some of the art exhibits are definitely worth the 60-90 minute drive to Richmond, Indiana. Richmond is a cool little town with quite a bit you can take in and it's easily worth a day trip.

It's big, that's for sure! They've got a large children's section, which is great. It's got tons of…read morebooks, computers with kid programs, audio books and even a play area. And they do have a lot of programs for kids. Downstairs is the media section; movies, music and audio books to borrow as well as computer/internet usage and classes for computers, etc. They're also set up for those who prefer ebooks. And they've got an awesome book sale every year. I mean come on - fill a bag for a couple bucks. I'm in. We like the library, especially for the youngin. The only problem we've noticed is that if you're not part of the weekly "library crowd" you're a bit shunned. We've done the weekly reading time for kids, but because we don't make it every week, our daughter is basically left out and alone at craft time. I get the the other kids and families know each other already, but the library staff member running the class makes little effort to involve the new kid. Pretty sad to watch. That being said, we still frequent the library for books, ebooks and movies and as long as we aren't in a kids class the staff is always friendly, helpful and they're great at getting our daughter excited about reading.

Entering the Henry County Courthouse is like taking a step back in time. The structure, built…read morebetween 1866 and 1869, was designed by Indianapolis architect Isaac Hodgson. The previous courthouse was destroyed by fire in 1865. The structure is Second Empire, Italianate, Renaissance Revival. All the entrances remain open with a rear door that is assessable. I walked in the front door to find a massive iron staircase that leads up to the only courtroom. The courtroom maintains the original bench galley and much of the original woodwork and judges bench. The windows are large. The ceiling has been covered with a drop ceiling at one point. County offices occupy the first and second floors with original doors, signage and furniture. Some desks have been updated and the building is very functional. The main hall is filled with war honor rolls of local residents who lost their lives during war. There is a hand painted, modern mural by Holly Hines on the main level that depicts local scenes and historic figures. The staff is friendly. The courthouse sits on a small square. A Civil War memorial sits near the front entrance of the Courthouse. Another marker commemorates the first log structure which was built in 1824 and served through 1835. The Courthouse has a captivating small town beauty and is worth a visit. There is limited parking around the square.