Carol Johnson, Southern Indiana Business Report
BEDFORD – In July 1994, the first exhibit of its kind on the history of Lawrence County limestone opened to the public.
The Land of Limestone, inside what was then Oakland City University, included tools, archival photos of quarries, the men who worked in them and many of the famous buildings around the United States built with Indiana limestone.
A few years ago, the exhibit had to be removed. The photographs had deteriorated from moisture in the building, which was no longer owned by OCU and listed for sale.
The city of Bedford, which owned the building, took steps to reproduce and archive the photos for a new, future exhibit.
This Friday and Saturday, during the Limestone Heritage Festival, a new installation of the Land of Limestone will be open for tours inside the StoneGate Arts & Education Center in downtown Bedford.
The exhibit has been re-created and re-imagined. The new exhibit tells the story of the county’s limestone industry in a way that is contemporary and immersive. It contains dozens of photos from the original exhibit incorporated in wall murals.
Johnny’s Signs owner Bob Fiddler, along with Brad Abel and Billy Brown, worked with the city on this new exhibit.
“It’s been a really rewarding project,” said Fiddler during a walk-through of the exhibit Tuesday. “It’s one that I felt personally invested in.”
Johnny’s Signs installed the original Land of Limestone, which was designed by Lydia Finkelstein of Bloomington. Fiddler said to have that connection to the original exhibit and the new one made the job even more special. He said the Johnny’s Signs creative team of Abel and Brown spent many hours working on the design, which incorporates multiple graphic elements.
Fiddler consulted with Cindy Elliott and Jenny Morgan, daughters of Dave and Judy Elliott, who founded Elliott Stone Co. in 1957 on the historic details.
“Bobby, Brad and Billy did a fantastic job,” Cindy said. “That was not an easy job because there was so much information and they condensed it down in a way that people can understand it.
“It wouldn’t be easy to take all that information from the old Land of Limestone and condense it, but they did it in a way that is easy to understand and visually pleasing.”
The exhibit occupies the first floor of StoneGate. A mural of limestone blocks immediately draws the visitor’s attention. The history of limestone is separated into categories like Gardens of Stone, Tools of the Trade and Cutters and Carvers.
Historical information is integrated into the murals. Also included is a list of buildings and landmarks made of limestone.
ROI Quality of Place grant
The city of Bedford received a $100,000 quality of place matching grant from Regional Opportunity Initiatives to re-create the exhibit and also refurbish the city’s Welcome to Bedford sign and derrick. That project is expected to begin in the coming months.
“Amazing” is how Bedford Mayor Sam Craig described the new exhibit.
“This is important for our city, county and our history to be able to display the history of limestone,” he said. “Johnny’s Signs did a fantastic job.”
Having the exhibit downtown will make it more accessible to the public. Its location beside the Lawrence County Museum is another plus for visitors who want to learn more about local history.
Marla Jones, Lawrence County historian, said the new exhibit being next door to the museum gives visitors the chance to celebrate local achievements in limestone.
“The Land of Limestone is important because it connects us to specific times, places and events that were significant milestones in our Indiana limestone heritage. It provides a sense of place, community pride and connection between our past and our present.”
“I’m so glad Mayor Sam Craig decided to bring that exhibit back because that is our history,” added Elliott.
The exhibit is about 85% complete. Fiddler said he has a few more pieces to add. Once the final details are added, Craig said there will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“The beauty of this exhibit is it showcases two of our most valuable local resources, our people, and our limestone. It provides the opportunity to celebrate our rich limestone heritage as we prepare for the future,” Jones said.
If you go
StoneGate is located at 931 15th St. During the festival, the exhibit will be open June 23 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and June 24 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.