The Hoosier Spirit in Action

Madison, Indiana is one of the most laid-back spots on the face of the globe, and one of the most historic. An Ohio River city of about 12,000 residents, Madison contains some of the best surviving examples of Federal-style architecture in the country. The city projects an atmosphere of an 1830s-era re-creation, somewhat sleepy yet vibrant at the same time. Practically the entire downtown area – 133 blocks’ worth – is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Even in such a languorous place, however, events can create sudden challenges for the Daily Improviser – as demonstrated by the events of last week.

On the evening of Wednesday, May 20, Madison’s 154-year-old Jefferson County courthouse, which had just the day before seen the completion of a full restoration, suffered a devastating fire that severely damaged the interior and devoured the entire roof, including its stately gold-domed bell-and-clock tower. Only the exterior walls remained standing.

As I surveyed the damage over the Memorial Day weekend, I was immediately struck by the way in which the tents and booths that normally ringed the courthouse for the annual Old Court Days celebration had simply moved one block south, toward the river. Obviously the fire wasn’t dampening the spirits of the organizers and patrons of this yearly tradition.

As I follow the aftermath this week, I see numerous examples of ExploreFlexSupport in the city’s reaction to the challenges ahead. Little time to mourn – the business of the people must go on. As county offices moved to temporary quarters down the street, officials focused on the little details – pens, paper, paper clips, staples, shelving – that demanded attention. Employees still need to be paid, tax payments still must be collected, court dates must still be met.

And even as the city geared up for its June 6-14 bicentennial celebration, the focus quickly shifted from a planned celebration of the newly refurbished courthouse – a symbol of Madison’s historic past - to a forward-looking resolve to come together and rebuild.