NOTE: Loblolly is what the Native Americans called this area. The Europeans called it the Limberlost. Swamp is what the settlers called this area. Marsh is what it really was in those days, according to the terms we use now. Thus Loblolly Marsh equals Limberlost Swamp.
The Loblolly Marsh Wetlands Preserve Is Open
An Historic Event
After four years of planning, fund-raising, paperwork and generosity with a few near miracles, the Loblolly Marsh opened with a moving dedication on Saturday, June 14, 1997. Over 400 acres are being restored to the original watershed conditions, so far as possible.
There was a day-long celebration at the Limberlost State Historic Site on dedication day, June 14, 1997. There were hiking tours, wagon-ride tours, van-tours, a slide show, food and festivity, herbal lore, sunflower planting, a picnic lunch and more. Activities started at 9:30 a.m. at the house. At 10:30 we drove to the wetlands dedication. Everyone was there, from babies crawling in the grass to an octogenarian and a nonagenarian. This was a day for all ages.
Some of the sponsors thanked were those who bought a square foot of the swamp for $10.00, as well as the major contributors:
- Indiana Heritage Trust
- Ropchan Foundation
- ACRES, Inc.
- M.E. Raker Foundation, Inc.
- The Lawton Doll Company
- The Dr. John W. Flory Foundation
- George M. and Christine Plews
- Sycamore Audubon Society
On a rare sunny day in Indiana, with birds singing around us, master of ceremonies Kenneth Brunswick of Friends of the Limberlost welcomed us on this historic occasion. Scott Mynsberge of the Jay County Soil and Water Conservation District spoke about how this project and others like it will recharge the groundwater table and prevent flooding.
Becky Smith, curator of the Limberlost State Historic Site explained that out of the 10,500 to 13,000 visitors each year to the site, 2/3 of them want to see the swamp. The swamp simply does not exist. Marla Freeman was instrumental in starting this project. Becky reminded us that Gene Stratton-Porter said to honor our forebears by continuing to act on their beliefs. We can all feel that this marsh honors Gene Stratton-Porter.
Ms. Smith suggested we begin taking photographs now, and take more each season. The wetlands will undergo substantial changes. These will be the reverse of the losses Gene Stratton-Porter had to witness as the swamp was drained for croplands.
Jim Fiechter, the first farmer to sign over his land, told how wet it had always been despite all the tiling. No land was confiscated for this project! All was sold willingly. Senator David Ford told about the benefit of all “greenspaces” in our countryside, not just wetlands. He explained some of the funding for the project and told how it benefits the character of the area.
At the last minute, Robert Weber of ACRES Inc. and the Ropchan Foundation, was unable to attend. Thomas Gross, Director of Indiana Historic Sites thought we might wonder what the State Historic Site is doing with a wetlands. He felt that the state only helped; it was the wonderful volunteers who made the project a reality. He especially thanked
- Marla Freeman and the Friends of the Limberlost
- ACRES, Inc.
- Carolyn McNagny
- The Ropchan Foundation which saved the entire project, in a grave emergency that required $50,000.
- Becky Smith, the only full-time employee at the Limberlost State Historic Site.
- Ken Brunswick, “the best volunteer I’ve ever met.” He never asked for anything; he only said ‘what can I do?'” He worked countless hours.
- I may have missed someone in my notes here. Mr. Gross didn’t.
Denise Howard, the Landscape Architect of the project comes from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. She was very excited to have a chance to tie together landscape architecture with cultural history and a national resource. With storyboards, she explained how this wetlands is but a speck of the original swamp. One section will be restricted for biologists to study. The other three sections will be for all of us.
The dedication, which we all recited in unison, says
This preserve is dedicated for the present and future generations to use as a study area, a hiking area, a photography area or as a place to relax with nature just as Gene Stratton-Porter enjoyed this area nearly a century ago.
After the dedication we gathered around a small sycamore sapling which everyone helped to plant. The sycamore was chosen because it is featured in Mrs. Porter’s first book.
You can learn more about the swamp preservation project, or become a member, at Limberlost Swamp Remembered Here’s the link to a page with a map of this area on it. After you view the map, you will be able to pop right back to this line of this page.
I have a Rainbow Bottom Walking Tour put on line here for you. It goes with the map. The author is unknown to me.
The Limberlost Swamp
The original swamp was 13,000 acres. Wetlands surrounding it added another 12,000 acres of difficult terrain. The Limberlost was commonly believed to be a “treacherous quagmire, holding every plant, animal and human danger known.” You can take a self-guided auto tour of the swamp area, at your own risk. You really must heed the warnings. Stop at the 12 acre bird sanctuary developed by Friends of the Limberlost. But stay on the trail so you won’t become a legend like old Limber Jim Corbus whose body was never recovered from the swamp. (Hence the name Limberlost.)
Gene Stratton-Porter was fearless in the swamp. She carried heavy glass plates into every part of it, shot her photos, sketched, made notes, developed her own film, tinted the photographs with watercolors, wrote her books and stood up to the publisher who tried to water down her knowledge.
What an amazing woman!If you enjoyed this page, be sure to see Kenneth Brunswick’s 1998 nature tour of this site and others in the area. Here is the link to the Rainbow Bottom information and walking tour .
Mr. Gross, when he was director of the State Historic Site Division of the DNR’s IDEM, gave me permission to scan the official postcards and literature for the Limberlost, for use on this website.
Although I, Sandra Weinhardt, wrote this, I have no official connection to the DNR or the Geneva State of Indiana Historic Site. I can’t answer any questions about anything. I plead ignorance! You have two recourses. You could phone the Limberlost State Historic Site at 1-260-368-7428 if you have questions, or you can write to a very knowledgeable volunteer,
Marla Freeman
6769 East 900 North
Bryant, Indiana 47326
Please, no phone calls for Marla or for me!