Sand Eating Cult
When staff was brainstorming ideas for “Tea and Talk” programs for 2018, someone suggested that we do one on the weird and wonderful in Muncie. I gladly took the suggestion as I had recently found a newspaper story about the Muncie sand eating cult. How are you going to find a story weirder than the one about people who ate sand?
Meet our Horticulture Team
Minnetrista has some of the most beautiful grounds in East Central Indiana. We take immense pride in the work that is done and seek to hire the best team around. Meet our Horticulture Team! Led by their fearless leader James Edwards, the Horticulture Team is comprised of Lindsey Cox, Parker Gagliano, Amelia Rule, James LeCount, and longtime volunteer, Brian Beale.
Muncie Transient Camp
In May 1934, it was announced that a camp for transients would be established on 35 acres north of the Indiana Steel & Wire factory site. The camp was a Depression era project through FERA (Federal Emergency Relief Administration) to relieve the burden of local agencies trying to deal with transient and homeless men. It was expected that the cost of housing men at the camp would be less than paying relief money to individuals.
Delicious Minnetrista Cider
For years Minnetrista has been known for our full apple orchard and our in-house, pressed apple cider. We happily continue that tradition.
Stop by the Minnetrista Orchard Shop and purchase the perfect size for you, your family, and friends! We love having the cider range from a full gallon all the way down to a single serving size. It allows you to have delicious cider anytime.
Garden Imagery
Visiting or looking at photographs of other people’s gardens not only gives us insight into their thoughts, ideas, and lifestyles but it can also be a source of inspiration for how we organize our own spaces. Gardens can be a sign of wealth, a means of putting food on the table, or just beautiful spaces in which to relax. These elements are all reflected in the garden photos that are part of the Minnetrista Heritage Collection.
Oh no! All of the glass is gone!
If you’re wondering why the Catalyst Sculpture looks a little odd, it may have something to do with the removal of all the glass! We thought it would take at least a week to remove the glass, but GRT Glass Design in Indianapolis was able to remove all of the glass in a single day.
Two Pilots Discuss Ball Jars
While looking for a particular photograph of Edmund F. Ball recently, I came across one of him with Chuck Yeager. Yes, that Chuck Yeager, the man who, among many other accomplishments, was the first person to fly faster than sound. It’s a great photo of two men who shared a love of airplanes and, apparently, Ball jars (more about that later).
Explorer Bags: Gateways to Adventure!
The next time you want to enjoy the weather but are at a loss of what to do, check out an explorer bag from Minnetrista. Inside these bags are interactive objects, tools, and hands-on activities to help you discover something new during your visit.
Snatched!
Do you collect anything? Personally, I’m always on the hunt for pristine vinyl records while my spouse keeps an eye out for unusual knickknacks with an historic flair. The hunt for these objects is a lot of fun and once our treasurers are brought home we are able to enjoy them whenever we want.
Do It Yourself: Faerie Garden in a Ball Jar
It’s that magical time of year when the faeries return to Minnetrista! Capture some of this magic by building your own faerie garden in a jar.
Eaton Bank Robberies
In my last blog, I wrote about Eaton’s post office robberies and speculated that those events might have been the reason for Joel Hamilton’s ownership of a set of brass knuckles. That was not the only crime wave Eaton experienced in the early 20th century. In 1924 and 1925 both banks in town were robbed and in 1925 there were several thefts at businesses and homes.
Season Your Summer with the Culinary Herb Garden
Where else can you find popular cooking spices like basil, parsley, and oregano that are fresh and for public use? The Culinary Herb Garden is yet another gathering place within Minnetrista that enhances quality of life. This garden is free and open to the community to harvest growing herbs for cooking at home.
Admiral Hayler From Muncie
In 1992 I received a call from William Hayler asking if Minnetrista would be interested in a donation of photographs, archival material, and artifacts relating to the career of his father, Admiral Robert W. Hayler. Admiral Hayler grew up in Muncie and sounded like an interesting man with an interesting story; of course we were interested.
Using SNAP and Health Bucks for Farmers Market at Minnetrista
The outdoor season of the Farmers Market began on May 5. The Market runs from 8 a.m. to noon every Saturday from May through October. The market includes a wide variety of local and fresh foods – many of which you can use SNAP benefits or IU Health Bucks to purchase! Below, you will find information about using the two programs at Minnetrista.
From Home Kitchen to Company Creations
Do you do your own canning at home? Did your mother or grandma? If so, chances are they had at least a few copies of the Ball Blue Book floating around the kitchen. Full of recipes and tips, over time the publication became a go-to resource for home canners. With the iconic Ball logo or jars incorporated into the cover art, anyone picking up a copy knew that the publication came with the same quality as the company’s other trusted products.
Do It Yourself - Spring Flowers in a Ball Jar
Springtime may bring blooming flowers outside, but you can create your own DIY flowers inside. With just a few materials, we created our own indoor garden that will stay vibrant all year long!
Eaton Post Office Robberies
An interesting item in the Heritage Collection is a set of brass knuckles that belonged to Joel W. Hamilton of Eaton, Indiana. The story of why he had these is not clear although his son Herbert H. Hamilton related that a bank in which Joel had worked had been robbed and afterward he had the knuckles for discouraging further attempts. A look at crime in Eaton during the early 1900’s may provide some insight as to why he had them.
The Orchard Shop, Then and Now
Today we know The Orchard Shop for its collection of local art and other exciting finds. But the origins of the unique store go way back to an orphanage more than 100 years ago.
Children of the Delaware County Orphanage, which was located on the southeast corner of what is now Minnetrista’s East Lawn, tended and sold produce from the orchard to earn money. When the orphanage moved west of Muncie in 1906, Frank C. Ball purchased the entire site, including the approximately ten-acre orchard.
Jack Reichart and the Iron Lung
For some reason, my husband and I were talking about polio a few days ago. That subject brought to mind the project that included a local inventor, a Ball Memorial Hospital administrator, and the Warner Gear Company. It’s a story of people coming together during a crisis, working quickly, and solving a problem.
The Ball Brother Homes in the Summer and Winter
Minnetrista Boulevard is lined with the historic Ball Brother homes. The homes are beautiful in any season and each has distinctive features making them a beautiful site. We love the beautiful summer flowers as we equally love the pearl colored snow against each home. Below we have photos of each home in summer and winter. Enjoy!