Today is the first day of a new month, so there’s a new Hot Flash on the Hot Flashes page.

The Stevens Memorial Museum is part of the John Hay Center, about which I posted last week. The Stevens Memorial Museum is dedicated to Indiana history, specifically of the area around Salem, Indiana.

Here’s the gateway. My husband says the finials (if that’s the word I want) look like something rude, but I think they’re supposed to be pineapples, a symbol of hospitality.And here’s the DOOR. I’ve smudged Youngest Grandson’s face because I’m opposed to putting recognizable children on the interweb. The other dear boy is my ever-lovin’ husband.

Just inside the door is a shirt that once belonged to John Hay, who was secretary to Abraham Lincoln and Secretary of State under McKinley and TR. The note pinned to the shirt says that it was left in the guest bedroom of a house where he stayed. AND THEY DIDN’T GIVE IT BACK! So just remember: If you ever stay overnight in Washington County, Indiana, count your shirts as you pack them. If they’re lucky, he won’t come back and sing about it.

There are rooms in the museum just for toys, just for wars and weapons, and just for sports, and there’s one with case after case of random stuff. That one was my favorite. Here’s some of the stuff.

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Oh, and guess where 2% milk was invented!

There was also this porch that led to a series of rooms set up as middle-class Victorian Hoosiers would have lived. #4 Daughter, the amazing Sara Marian, was delighted with the table settings, because she’s been cataloging fragments of just such glassware and dishes from site surveys with the archeological firm she works for.

And this fish. Mr. Elliot, the man who gave us the tour, said it was the largest blah-blah caught blah-blah, and #4 Daughter and I looked at each other and laughed. I said, “I’ll wager it isn’t a real fish.” Mr. Elliot said, “No, it’s a plaster model.” We laughed again. He didn’t understand. No doubt, he hasn’t read THREE MEN IN A BOAT, TO SAY NOTHING OF THE DOG by Jerome K. Jerome. But you can, and for free. Of course, I had to take a picture! Writer included to show scale.

We got worn out, so we had to leave. But we’ll be back!

On the way to the car, I took a picture of the awesome house!

And this pumpkin plant, complete with pumpkin, just planted on a corner like it wa’n’t no thang. Apparently, your pumpkins are safe in Washington county. Just not your shirts.

This has been part of Norm Frampton’s way-fun Thursday Doors link-up. Gwan over there and see who else is posting what.

A WRITING PROMPT FOR YOU: A character leaves something where they stay overnight.

MA

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