Historic Brown County home is still serving the communityIn the mid 1800’s a modest two-story log house on Hoover Road was the hub of many social, educational and community activities in rural Brown County. For the last twenty years this historic site has been home for young Brown County women with mental and physical challenges. DSI’s Hoover Group Home has provided a place for residents to learn to not only live more independently but as more fulfilled citizens who are better able to contribute to the community they so dearly love. This home where residents learn to cook, clean, develop social skills, budget their money, and develop a solid work ethic is currently in need of some repair and renovation. Some new windows and other minor repairs are needed to maintain this beautiful and unique Brown County landmark. As we continually feel the pinch of reduced state and federal monies to support DSI’s not-for-profit programs, we are asking for the first time for help from a generous and caring community to give Hoover some much-needed repairs. A tax-deductible gift from you would not only be a very sound investment in your Brown County neighbors, it would help ensure that this beautiful historic home will continue to serve your community for many years to come. Unique Hoover History is re-kindled by book The Brown County Home in 1909. "All the dogs, cats, chickens, geese, turkeys, ducks, guinnies slept under the house," said Gleason. "Mother loved it all." A few years ago, DSI support service staff Melody Griffith welcomed some special guests to the Hoover street home in Brown County. They are the descendants of Leonidas Gleason, author of a book that revealed some very interesting facts about the 19th century log home. Gleason was 99 years young at the time and resided in Florida with his wife.
Leonidas Gleason’s father bought the home on Hoover Road in 1909 from a blacksmith and it quickly became a focal point for much of the community’s activities. In an autobiography about his reminiscences of Indiana ("The 20th-Century As I Lived It"), Leonidas Gleason wrote about the home in detail. Additional facts about the home are revealed in family correspondence with Melody. An excerpt from the book: "During the winter of 1908-09, Dad saw an ad in the paper offering an operating 160-acre farm with a blacksmith shop attached in the Brown County Salt Creek area," said Gleason. "He knew the general area as he had gone hunting down that way. There were lots of quail, rabbits, squirrels and night game in the area as he checked it over." When he (Gleason’s father) met Mr. Ford, the owner and blacksmith, this gentleman was sitting in the kitchen where the wood floor had cracked wide enough that he could spit tobacco juice through the cracks and not spatter the floor. Dad was amazed at his accuracy. The snow was blowing under the house which was setup on rock piers on the east side 21/2 to 3 feet up from the ground, but on the west side, it rested on flat rocks about 6 inches above the ground. The yard sloped that much. Anyway, the deal was made and Dad put down some cash as earnest money until he could get an attorney to draw up a contract. Occupancy would be in time for spring crops. He came back with lots of stories to tell the family.  Photo taken near the turn of the century of visiting friends of Leonidas Gleason's family. Mother’s mind went to work. All her life, she wanted to live on a farm. By the time springtime cultivation came, she had hired the two Ford boys (18 and 20 years old). Dad had hired a blacksmith and bought all new equipment for wagon making and general repairs of the time, plus horseshoeing. They would all live in the house and work the farm. Immediately they built an addition with a large kitchen and pantry with a bedroom upstairs. The well had to be cleaned and capped with a concrete slab, and a pump installed. A "leanto" roof was added in front of the shop to provide weather protection. This completed, Mother made the 50-mile trip by horse and wagon with me, a six-year old boy to care for, several times moving things from Indianapolis to Brown County. One thought much about it. Dad was in the bakery making the money. Mother had arrangements made where she would stop at a livery stable in the country town, Trafalgar I believe it was. The horses were taken care of and we slept in a bunk she always fixed up. She tended a one-acre garden and canned all its produce, some 700-800 half-gallon and one-quart size glass jars of fruits and vegetables each year. We ate well. With two or three neighborhood "butcherings" per winter there was also plenty of meat. Weekly Sunday church services were held at Salt Creek Church, on Dad’s property just a mile north of our house. A preacher would ride the twelve miles from Columbus to preach for as little as 40 cents, plus a couple of chickens or a ham. Mother often fed him and his wife dinner and gave some money as they left to drive home – religion in the old fashioned way. Midsummer came and it was time to think about school. The schoolteacher approached Mother for lodging. They agreed on $7.00 per week as room and board. Thus another mouth to feed Our house was the gathering place of the community. Mother became the country person to come to for anything from questions and supplies.  Picture of some of Leonidas’ decendants taken on Thanksgiving Day, 2001. Back row: Kim Gleason, Marilyn Gleason Humphrey, Rusty Humphrey. Front row: Adrianna (Tweed), Kathryn, Christopher Gleason, Red Humphrey holding Nicholas Gleason. DSI purchased the Hoover road residence in 1985 and since then it has been both a home and a place for learning for dozens of young adults with developmental disabilities. As with all DSI residents, the six young ladies currently residing at Hoover are assessed annually to determine their greatest attributes and as well as areas that could use improvement. A program is specifically designed to enhance strengths and diminish deficits. The residents at Hoover learn to budget and manage their money, cook and clean for themselves, and learn how to take advantage of community resources. Hoover also provides recreational opportunities as well as a wellness program whereby residents can receive dietary assistance, exercise, and complete medical care services. "The DSI group home program offers a supervised setting with an emphasis on increasing competence for self-sufficient living," said Tom Harpring, DSI Director of Communications. "In the last 22 years, Hoover has greatly improved the quality of the lives of its residents and helped them gain skills to make more significant contributions to their communities." It seems only fitting that after more than 100 years, Hoover is still a special place for learning and living. Leonidas Gleason’s father would be proud. |
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Although Leonidas did not make the trip to Brown County, his presence could be felt there in a unique way. While living in the Hoover home as a child, Leonidas put his hand in some soft concrete on the fireplace. The print remains as does the many memories – old and new - that seem to speak through the timeless timbers of Hoover.
