Today marks three years since I hit the publish button on my very first blog post here. Some celebrations are in order! A lot of life has happened in that time: I adopted Zulu the cat. I took my first vacation in years. I stepped into a leadership role as editor of the Delaware County Historical Society’s quarterly newsletter and board. I earned a promotion at work.
On the flip side, I stepped away from the historical society, lost my belly button to hernia surgery, quit pipe smoking, and weathered two crushing depressive episodes courtesy of Bipolar II disorder. It hasn’t all been pretty, but I’ve kept showing up here to write. That is, with the maddening exception of September 21, 2022. Somehow, I forgot to post that day.
At any rate, I’ve managed to keep a 1,080-day streak alive by writing each day, right up through this one. In the beginning, my posts revolved almost entirely around Indiana courthouses, Delaware County schoolhouses, and the occasional musing on pipe-smoking. The pipes have since gone the way of the dodo, but the history stuck and, these days, my scope has widened. You’re just as likely to find me chasing down artesian wells, researching abandoned Marsh supermarkets and Village Pantries, wandering pioneer cemeteries, or spotlighting other local landmarks that time and people have mostly passed by.
Whether I’m out driving around looking for things to research and write about or I’m here at my computer, I spend the majority of my free time working on this blog. Not including wandering through the countryside, I wouldn’t be shocked if I spent thirty hours a week at it! Fortunately, I like it. I like it even better when people view, visit, and comment. Since I started, this blog’s seen 499,172 views, 333,405 visitors, and 1,639 comments. That’s small potatoes compared to more prolific posters, but I’m happy with how things have grown so far.
So far, 2025 has been nothing short of a bumper year. Views, visitors, likes -even the average comments per post and coffees purchased– are already at record highs! I chalk that up to a few factors I’ll get into at the end of the year, but at the heart of it, it’s thanks to visitors like you. You stop by, poke around, and sometimes tumble headfirst into the archives. Believe me- there’s plenty to get lost in.
Publishing here and getting to interact with you, if we have, has been one of the brightest parts of the past three years. I’m hoping that this little corner of the web will continue to grow into a place where curiosity meets increasing conversation, and where forgotten landmarks and overlooked stories find new life. As Hiding in Plain Sight begins its fourth trip around the sun, I’m grateful and energized. There are still so many roads to drive; flowing wells to uncover; schools and courthouses to revisit; and histories to piece back together. I’m glad we’re here to share it all.
Thanks for being a part of it.
Happy blogiversary! That’s an impressive streak with or without September 21, 2022. I’ll look forward to the next 1,080 posts!
Thanks, Greg! I’m looking forward to it, too. Glad you’re here!
I wondered what became of the pipe posts, and this explains it.
Congratulations! I enjoy my regular visits here and look forward to more.
I’ve been thinking about rectifying that with some new tobacco, but we’ll see.
I’m glad you’re here too!
Congrats on 3!
Thanks, Jim!
Thanks for all of the interesting posts over the past three years. I enjoy reading them, and in Delaware and Madison Counties, you’re sometimes teaching me things about my home that I either didn’t know or had forgotten about. Good memories!
You’re welcome. Really glad you’re here!
Google brought me here by way of pipes! Then like you mention above, one pipe article led to three or four, and I started to wonder, “who is Ted?”
So I went to the home page and imagine my surprise when I realized I stumbled upon the blog of a pipe-smoking Hoosier near me! I’m in Hamilton County, and I’ve driven past many buildings you’ve blogged about and wondered about their history.
I also share similar mental health struggles. I’m sorry you have to experience these things too. Thank you for sharing so openly & honestly. I can relate to many of the things you’ve shared.
If you’re ever down in Hamilton County and you’d like to get together to discuss pipes & tobacco and have a cup of coffee, let me know. And if you don’t see yourself smoking that Sav 320 with the green stem, I’d buy or trade for it. I’ve been meaning to get one of those 320’s and I like green. Also the 1st Annual Indiana Pipe Show is coming up Sept 19-20. I can’t make it this year but you might want to check it out.
What a small world! Thanks for falling down the rabbit hole here. I haven’t smoked a pipe in a while, but I miss it as a pastime. I wouldn’t mind starting back up -and writing about it- again.
Sorry to hear of your struggles, too. I’m glad you could relate. That’s why I share those posts.
I was unaware of the Indiana Pipe Show. I might have to put it on my calendar! And I will certainly drop you a line if I find myself making plans for Hamilton County with some time to spare. Getting together might be fun. I’m leaning on keeping the 320 for now, but that might change!
Ted
A belated congratulations on three years! That is a lot of posting. You have a way with words that makes very simple history interesting. And I love here about the area I grew up in but no longer live in. Keep Posting!
Thanks! It’s flown by. I appreciate the compliments- I intend to keep up my work here!