Discovering the Weird Side of Indiana

Since starting this blog, I've a few people say, "How on earth will you keep this blog updated with fun adventures around Indiana since there isn't anything fun here to begin with?" So to all you naysayers out there, let me share with you a few guides I've found that helped me discover the entertaining, odd side of Indiana.

There are a few good books that give you insight on interesting sights around the Hoosier State. One that I own is "Weird Indiana". It's a fascinating look at the oddities of a state that you might have always assumed was just cornfield, cornfields and more cornfields. Just goes to show how wrong you can be if you judge a book by its cover. This book, like all of the others in this Weird series, is an intelligent, witty and well written survey of the creepy, eccentric and bizarre aspects of Indiana's strange sites, unique history and many unexplained mysteries. Indiana weird? Believe it or not, it really is!

Square Donuts. The World's Largest Stump. Oscar the Monster Turtle. Johnny Appleseed's grave. The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction. While other travel guides tell you about yet another cozy bed-and-breakfast and bike trails through Brown County, Oddball Indiana offers wacky travel destinations and little-known historical tidbits.

Start out with those two guides, and in no time you'll start to see a side of Indiana you didn't know existed!

Indiana Urban Legend #1: Stiffy Green

I plan on periodically posting a series on this blog of Indiana Urban Legends, because we definitely have our fair share of them in the Hoosier state! My first feature is on the mysterious Stiffy Green, located in Terre Haute, Indiana.

When John G. Heinl died in 1921, the legend of Stiffy Green was born. Stiffy was a loyal pet bulldog that refused to leave the side of his master, even in death. When John died, Stiffy could always be found at the steps of the mausoleum watching over his master's remains. Stiffy would not eat, drink or sleep, keeping a watchful eye over John. Eventually, Stiffy was found dead at the mausoleum from starvation and dehydration.

The family decided to have Stiffy stuffed with green glass eyes (thus earning hin the nickname "Stiffy Green") and put in the mausoleum so that he could be close to his lifelong companion. At night, the local kids would sneak into the cemetery to listen to the sounds of barking and shine flashlights through the glass doors to see the green glow of Stiffy's eyes staring back at them. Many people to this day insist that you can still hear barking on certain nights and sometimes see a man and his dog walking amongst the tombstones.

Last month, I took a road trip to visit Mr. Heinl and Mr. Green and see if the legend was true. Unfortunately, due to vandalism in the 1980s (gunshot would to the eye), the statue was removed by the local Lions Club as a public service and placed with care in the Vigo County Historical Society in 1998, where you can go and visit him today in a replica mausoleum.

*** SPOILER ALERT ***

Do not continue to read unless you want to be sorely disappointed. After reading, it might evoke the same feelings you got when you first found out that Santa Claus wasn't real and the Tooth Fairy is just your Mom.

Turns out that after a little research, I found out that Stiffy Green was never even a real dog! He was just a statue that adorned the front porch of Mr. Heinl's home; a personal favorite of his. So after he died, the statue was placed in his mausoleum. What a bummer... but it's still worth a visit.

Statue of Stiffy Green the Bulldog
Address: 1411 South 6th Street, Terre Haute, IN
Directions: In the Vigo County Historical Society
Hours: Tu-Su 1-4 pm, closed Monday and major holidays

Stiffy Green/John Heinl Mausoleum
Address: 4420 East Wabash Avenue, Terre Haute, IN
Directions: Highland Lawn Cemetery - after you enter the main gate, stick to the far left-hand side of the cemetery and eventually you'll run across it