Faeries, Sprites, & Lights Recap
For some people, Minnetrista’s Faeries, Sprites & Lights event is an annual occasion to bring the family together, but there are others who have heard of the event, but are still unsure what exactly it entails. Is it a play production? A summer carnival for kids? When you haven’t ever experienced FSL firsthand, there can be a lot of questions. As a newcomer to Muncie myself, and as a Minnetrista rookie, I approached the same learning curve.
The Machine That Cures All Illnesses
If only it was that simple. According to the instruction book for a piece of medical equipment in the Minnetrista Heritage Collection, “All human ailments, with the exception of highly infectious and contagious diseases, are traceable to one cause: Imperfect circulation and impoverished blood.”
Storm Water Mitigation at Minnetrista
Muncie is making its mark in the Midwest as an eco-friendly city and Minnetrista’s work in storm water mitigation is a big part of these efforts! Minnetrista is known in East Central Indiana for its historic gardens and beautiful landscaping. It is apparent to many who visit that Minnetrista goes above and beyond in our care for the gardens and our emphasis on nature preservation.
Experiencing Bob Ross at Minnetrista
In 1983 a Datsun camper drove into Muncie, IN, carrying a little-known art instructor named Bob Ross. Although the vehicle had seen better days and the wheels had some rust, the truck itself was filled with paints, canvases, and easels ready to unlock the creativity and dreams of those lucky enough to join Bob in one of his painting classes.
Weddings at Minnetrista
To many people, the most magical time at Minnetrista is summer, with events such as Faeries, Sprites and Lights and the Fourth of July. However, if you ask a bride or groom they will tell you the real magic and fireworks at Minnetrista occur at each wedding held there. Spanning 40 acres and filled with natural beauty and rich history, Minnetrista is truly a hidden gem wedding location. This week we are going to take a look into what makes Minnetrista the perfect wedding spot and how the event staff works to make each bride and groom’s special day one to remember.
Baur Window Glass
Emil Baur started the Baur Window Glass Company in Eaton in 1897. The factory was located just east of the Standard Washboard factory, bounded by Perry Street on the west (known today as Meridian) and Washington Street on the south.
Ball Blue and the Hoosier Slide
They’re everywhere – in grandma’s basement, at flea markets and rummage sales, and in the Minnetrista Heritage Collection. They are used to hold pencils and pens, as centerpieces at wedding receptions, and as decoration in many kitchens. They are the beautiful blue jars, which Ball Brothers in Muncie produced. In approximately twenty years, Ball made millions of Perfect Mason and Ideal jars, some in clear, but most in blue.
Meet the Marketing Team
In recent blogs, you were introduced to the horticulture team and the grounds team. This week, we would like to introduce the marketing team! The marketing team is of responsible for internal and external branding, outreach efforts and continuing Minnetrista’s message to the community and East Central Indiana.
Ball Women Fashion
From big and extravagant to slender and elegant, the evolution of women’s traces self-expression through history. Style showcases personality without ever saying a word. This was the case for the Ball women. For decades, they used clothing as a way to display not only their personality, but their social status. Let’s take a look at some of these beautiful pieces that have stood the test of time, pieces that have been entrusted to Minnetrista for safe-keeping.
Creative Ventures and Colorful Dreams
Did you watch the Academy Awards ceremony last month? Like usual, the event was filled with celebrity appearances, musical performances, and of course the presentation of Hollywood’s most coveted award – the Oscar. While the awards have been given out since 1929, the film industry has been around much longer. In fact some entrepreneurs achieved success in producing motion pictures in the late 19th century, and by the early 20th films had become a full-fledged industry drawing countless viewers.
Delaware County Airports
Aviation excitement caught on early in Delaware County. On September 27, 1912, nine years after the Wright brothers’ first successful flight, the Muncie Aero Club was established. According to a Star Press news article that day, it was thought that “Muncie, the Magic City, should occupy a prominent space in the annals American Aviation. It possesses the intellectual, mechanical and financial ability to make it an excellent aviation center.”
Black History Month in Delaware County
February is finally here, and it’s a very special month for more than one reason. Not only is it a time to celebrate love with Valentine’s Day, but also to honor the strength and resiliency of African-Americans who paved the way in our communities.
Winifred, The Artist
Winifred Brady Adams, wife of well-known Hoosier Group artist J. Ottis Adams and a fine artist herself, is stepping front and center in an upcoming exhibition at the David Owsley Museum of Art at Ball State. The exhibition titled Impressions of Love: J. Ottis and Winifred Brady Adams, a Ball State University Centennial Exhibition will feature an almost equal number of paintings by the husband and wife artists.
A Christmas Carol
Each year the Holiday season seems to get busier and busier. Hanukkah and Christmas have now passed us by and New Year’s is fast approaching. Last month it seemed like I had plenty of time ahead of me to bake treats and make plans to see everyone on my list. Now that we’re in the home stretch to turning the calendar I mainly feel tired and frazzled.
Meet Our Grounds Team
In one of our last blog's you were introduced to our Horticulture Team—some of the people that keep Minnetrista looking its best. This week, it's our pleasure to introduce you to our Grounds Team! The Grounds Team is comprised of Manager, Steve Scott; Supervisor, Olaf Larson; and assistants Tim Smith and Brian Peterson. These gentleman work tirelessly every single day to make sure Minnetrista's roads are clear, the paths are clean, and the grass and grounds are well-cared for and looking their best.
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.