Bloomington then and now

[Ron Simunic]

Just finished watching a WTIU special on the history of Bloomington. we have two famous members, George Carpenter and  Ron Marquardt  representing the society. Great viewing and lots of good Monon history. Good work gentlemen.

[Ron Marquardt]

As information, the show can now be viewed online at

http://indianapublicmedia.org/rememberwhen/

Enjoy,  / Ron

[Rick Dreistadt]

Just finished watching the video.  Great job Ron and George.  Towards the end I was highly disappointed in their calling the future park area "switchyard Park".  Probably many people now adults and living in Bloomington never heard of McDoel. Reminded me of the L&N, shortly after their taking over of the Monon, changed the name from McDoel to Bloomington, and at Lafayette, changing the name from Shops to Lafayette.  To us railroaders McDoel and Bloomington were seperate locations, just as Shops and Lafayette were also.  I felt that the L&N just wanted to take some of our history away from us, to let us know "who is boss." That might not have been the actual reason, but who knows what transpires at the top of managements ivory towers. 
Rick 

[Ron Marquardt]

We have talked to some of the political folks at Bloomington, and they assure us that the name Switchyard Park is just temporary until a permanent name can be selected.  We are pushing for some name that recognizes the McDoel area, but no doubt it will end up being named after some local politician.  / Ron

PS, maybe we need to organize some sort of letter writing campaign to see if we can influence their choice of names.  LOL.

[Gene Remaly]

Thanks to GIII and Ron for their part in the documentary !
Also, to Ron for the link

[Tom Kepshire]

So will Mr. Marquardt and Mr. Carpenter III be signing autographs at Convention? Now that they are big TV stars?

[Ron Marquardt]

Only if President Pedigo will guarantee some sort of crowd control.  We don't want to get crushed by the onslot of adoring fans.  LOL,  / Ron

[Tim T Swan]

The notion that old names can quickly become forgotten and lost should never be dismissed.

In March 2003, my wife and I stopped by the Bedford area.  I was taking photos of the Ku Klux Cut area and the site of the old overpass over Rawlins Mill Road (both of which I've since modeled in HO), when a guy mowing grass across the road from the overpass site approached me asking what I was doing.  I told him what I was doing and why and he said he'd lived there for 15 years, and while he remembered when the railroad had still been running, he had never heard of the name "MONON"!

[Joe Land]

Tim,
I had a very similar experience when photographing the semaphores at Campbellsburg.

[Tim T Swan]

And that's why our various "labors of love" within the MRHTS are so vital.