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WordPress just informed me that today is my 800-somethingth consecutive day of posting. Honestly, I’m a little surprised. I thought I’d hit a wall after covering most of the courthouses and schoolhouses I’ve visited, but inspiration keeps showing up when I least expect it! Still, a few big projects remain simmering on the back burner awaiting their turn. I’m frustrated I haven’t finished them yet, but here’s a sneak peek at what’s in the works for 2025.

Star Boulevard in Raysville

Star Boulevard winds its way northeast from an old alignment of the National Road in the tiny hamlet of Raysville, Indiana. What’s its story? Why does it exist? I’ve uncovered the answers, but I haven’t had the time to weave them into a full narrative just yet.

Elkhart’s old Concord Mall

When I was a kid, Elkhart’s Concord Mall was full of energy and bustled with shoppers and activity. Today, it’s being repurposed into a business park after sitting mostly empty for years. Before the renovations started, I took a few exterior shots to preserve a glimpse of its fading history. I hope to have an obituary ready soon.

“White Bronze” headstones

“White Bronze” headstones might fool you into thinking they’re made of marble or stone. Crafted from zinc, the distinctive markers were marketed as durable and affordable alternatives to traditional materials around the turn of the twentieth century. I’ve come across many of them as I’ve wandered around, and I hope to write about what I’ve discovered.

AT&T central offices

I’ve shared plenty about AT&T’s old Long Line towers, but I’ve barely touched the company’s central offices. They powered the connections that kept communities in touch long before the digital age! I’ve visited them in Indianapolis, Elkhart, Hammond, Kokomo, Lafayette, Muncie, South Bend, and Terre Haute, but haven’t written much yet.

Anderson’s old Mounds Mall

Opened in stages in 1964 and 1965, Mounds Mall was one of Simon’s first enclosed shopping centers. It wasn’t a place I frequented much as a kid, but I made a point to visit just a couple of weeks before it closed in 2018. Even after its decline, I kept going there for movies, right up until Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. I’m still piecing together its history, but I hope to publish something soon.

Penguin Point

Penguin Point wasn’t just a fast-food chain- it was a Hoosier institution. Founded in Wabash in 1950, the restaurant grew to beloved status over the next sixty-five years. Sadly, things took a turn for the worse after an investor bought the business in 2018. Seven stores closed in 2022, and the remaining outposts were shuttered the following year. I still miss my beloved Super Wally and crinkle fries.

Ohio’s Butler County Courthouse

I’ve visited twenty or thirty courthouses across Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia that I haven’t written about yet, but I need to focus on Butler County’s courthouse in Hamilton. There’s something about it -some je ne sais quoi- that makes it my absolute favorite courthouse in all of Ohio. Here’s hoping that I’ll finally be able to capture what makes it so special.

Elder-Beerman in Richmond

Elder-Beerman was once a cornerstone of the Midwestern shopping experience. In 1974, the iconic department store opened a 100,000-square-foot, $1.5 million outpost in a downtown Richmond that had been decimated by an explosion. The store was shuttered forty-four years later after its parent declared bankruptcy. I’ve heard it was recently demolished.

Between these eight projects, it’s safe to say my hands are full. My path is set, and I’m eager to wrap these up and dive into whatever sparks my curiosity next during the new year. Stay tuned: there’s plenty more to come as we usher in 2025!