The main object of this trip was to drive part of US Highway 150 (US-150) from Vincennes, Indiana, to its eastern terminus in Mount Vernon, Kentucky, by I-75. US-150 runs across central Illinois going west to its western terminus by the Quad-Cities. I-74 has replaced it in the state.
The drive from Loogootee, Indiana (how's that for a name?) to Hardinsburg, Indiana, was particularly scenic. About half way through it is the town of Paoli, which I found was named after the son of the governor of North Carolina (an interesting story in itself). Paoli is also the county seat of Orange County (not a name you'd expect in Indiana). I'll write about this in my history blog: http://cootershistorything.blogspot.com.
There is a beautiful town square (actually a town circle) with a striking courthouse in the center with a pair of Civil War-looking cannons. I parked and investigated. Both cannons were on concrete stands with plaques reading "1908. Presented by the government to Williamson post No. 364 GAR and by the post to Orange County In memory of its soldiers of 1861-1865." GAR stands for the Grand Army of the Republic, the organization that developed for Union veterans after the war.
Doing some research today, I found out that Paoli was actually occupied for a short time by Confederates during the war, one of their farthest north forays.
I'll have more on this later.
Paoli, Orange County. Why Would This be in Indiana? Old B-Runners Want to Know. --Old B-Runner
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