It’s been ages since I’ve been to Brown County State Park and today was my first visit to the park’s lodge.
We’re here because the lodge added a water park. It’s pretty basic, but a great escape from the 15-degree weather.
The fun for me — besides the water slide, lazy river and hot tub — was learning about the lodge’s namesake, Abe Martin.
Martin was a Kin Hubbard-created newspaper cartoon character, who got his big break in The Indianapolis News in 1905. He was a mainstay for 25 years and enjoyed national syndication in more than 200 newspapers at the height of his popularity.
Some of his most popular quotes include:
Don’t knock the weather. If it didn’t change once in a while, nine out of ten people couldn’t start a conversation.
Nobuddy can talk as interestin’ as th’ feller that’s not hampered by facts er information.
We’d all like t’vote fer th’best man, but he’s never a candidate.
Just about all the quotes I’ve seen ring true today. Amazing how the more things change, the more things stay the same.
Abe Martin’s tie to Brown County came early in his newspaper development, when in 1905 Abe announced in print,”I’m goin’ ter move ter Brown County Tewmorrow.”
The isolated backdrop provided endless material for Hubbard, who’s hick-speaking character ironically helped put Brown County, Ind., on the map.
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