Carol Johnson, Southern Indiana Business Report
BEDFORD – A visual re-telling of Lawrence County’s limestone history was unveiled Friday at Bedford’s StoneGate Arts & Education Center.
Bedford Mayor Sam Craig called it “an honor and privilege” to cut the ribbon on a project that could have easily been relegated to the back burner of city priorities.
Craig recalled seeing the condition of the original Land of Limestone exhibit prior to it being removed from the walls of what was originally the headquarters of Indiana Limestone Co. The building would later be owned by Oakland City University before eventually being owned and then sold by the city of Bedford.
“It was deteriorating fast,” said Craig, who, at the time, worked at Bedford City Hall.
Digital copies were made of the vast collection of photos; tools and artifacts were removed and stored while plans were made for a new Land of Limestone Museum.
The city received a $100,000 matching grant from Regional Opportunities Initiative as part of its Ready Communities program, which awards grants to enhance quality of place and quality of life in the Indiana Uplands region. The grant funds were from the state’s Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative.
A creative team from Johnny’s Signs worked on the exhibit, combing through the 200 photos for a modern, layered depiction of 100 years of limestone history. Bob Fiddler, Brad Abel and Billy Brown worked on the exhibit, which covers the walls of the first floor of StoneGate. From the early days of quarry operations to famous landmarks constructed of limestone and the talented carvers who created works of art that adorn these buildings, the Land of Limestone Museum spans decades of industry progress and the enduring legacy of limestone. Inspirational quotes were also incorporated in the design.
A partially finished Land of Limestone opened to the public in June for the Limestone Heritage Festival. Last week celebrated the completion of the museum. The final panels highlight the innovations and industry contributions by Dave Elliott, founder of Elliott Stone Co. Elliott pioneered the underground technology at the company’s Eureka operation.
Craig noted the efforts of many people who were involved with the museum, starting with Lydia Finkelstein, who was commissioned to create the original Land of Limestone, Johnny’s Signs, the Elliott family who worked with the Johnny’s Signs team and county historian Marla Jones, who was involved in the project when she worked for the city.
“The Land of Limestone museum provides a sense of community and place. It celebrates our collective limestone heritage, offering a great way to get to know the history of the Indiana ‘Stone Belt’ and how it helped build America,” Jones said.
“If we hadn’t all stepped up to the plate, the Land of Limestone Museum wouldn’t be here today,” Craig said. “So many people worked so hard on this project. Everyone who comes here and sees it says, ‘Wow!’”
The grant the city received is also funding the restoration of the Welcome to Bedford sign and derrick on State Road 37.