Midweek: Union City Lunch

 

 A bit of background:

Union City is a single community split by the Indiana and Ohio state line, with a city on the Indiana side and a village on the Ohio side. 

Both municipalities are geographically linked and cooperate on community initiatives, but they have distinct local governments and separate census data. 

Union City, Indiana is a declining city in Randolph County that was platted in 1849, 11 years after, also declining twin village, Union City, Ohio, in Darke County.

The 2025 population for Union City, Indiana, is 3,391 and the 2025 population for Union City, Ohio, is 1,370. 

First visited the area on a Sunday morning 2009.  For several reasons never managed to return until a rather dark, gloomy and cold 2015 Saturday morning.  After a hurried photo walkabout came across, open for business, Luz Tacos.

I was cold and it appeared warm so in I went.

   Union City, Indiana. ca. 2015

Inside, while warm, it was rather dark.  Spotted a older women at a counter in the back and headed over to her.  We looked at each other for a moment and then ordered a burrito. She just smiled and remained looking at me.  Then it hit me - she didn't speak English.  Now my one year of college Spanish was a very long time ago.  Was about to give it go when another women appeared, speaking English, asked what I ordered and then translated the request in Spanish to the older women who started to prepare my order.

Without a doubt, maybe it was the weather or perhaps I was just cold and tired, but that was the very best Burrito outside my experiences in Mexico. Have often wished to return for another real Mexican meal. 

Returned last Sunday, off course while still in business,

   Union City, Indiana.

it was closed.

Next week is open, might be a fine time to revisit Union City, Indiana for a Mexican Lunch.

All writing and images © Richard W. Rodgers unless expressly noted. Do not use without permission.

Monday Morning Coffee: Suprising Union, City

Up early, quickly finished morning tasks, packed camera kit, loaded car and drove off North along the Indiana / Ohio boarder to Union City.

Now have often photographed there, but has been a while since have returned.  Time to see what's changed, if anything. 

Arrived, parked, picked up the camera, locked the car and started walking.  First stop was to checkup on an old favorite subject.

In February, 2009 found, while walking in a back alley, 

    Union City, Indiana. 

a building that appeared to be empty and forgotten.

On this early cold and damp morning, discovered

    Union City, Indiana. 

the building had been completely cleaned up, refreshed, appearing brand new and ready for an occupant. 

Questions - Who did this? Why was it done? What's going on here? 

Moving a bit to the right to view the buildings East side

    Union City, Indiana.

found a rather spectacular mural depicting the history of the location. 

I'm amazed.  Once again, Who / Why. What's going on here.

Returning to the front and moving in close to read the sign in the window,

      Union City, Indiana. 

my questions are answered.

What a wonderful opportunity for the community and surrounding area.  

On Wednesday, will continue the Union City walkabout with  another rather surprising discovery.

All writing and images © Richard W. Rodgers unless expressly noted. Do not use without permission. 

TGIF: The White Chair

Quiet Piggy, Get the Bum off the Air, Traitors, Arrested for Seditious Behavior, Put on Trial, Hang Them.

   Red Key, Indiana.

 The current occupant is mentally unstable.

All writing and images © Richard W. Rodgers unless expressly noted. Do not use without permission.

Midweek: Repeating History

 

Experiencing  the systematic deconstruction of our democracy by an autocratic wannabe.

     Arcanum, Ohio.

All writing and images © Richard W. Rodgers unless expressly noted. Do not use without permission.

Monday Morning Coffee: Bertie's

  

If retro dive bars are the in thing these days, Bertie's definitely fits the bill.

    Richmond, Indiana.

Bertie's Music Bar on East Main Street is a Indiana neighborhood bar, so you get exactly what you expect.    

Beer, mixed drinks, food, music, dart boards, pool table, and a friendly welcoming atmosphere all making it a popular choice for both locals and tourists. 

Walking around to the buildings East side, for a full view   

   Richmond, Indiana.

of a proper wall mural for a music bar.

All writing and images © Richard W. Rodgers unless expressly noted. Do not use without permission.

Midweek: Tuesday / Fort Recovery

 

The World Headquarters of My Midwest was not a happy place early Tuesday morning, as the coffee maker stopped making coffee. 

Oh, it tried but was only able to produce about a quarter of a cup. Needless to say, everything came to a halt. 

Was time to bring out the White Vinegar, mix a few ounces in water and pour the mixture in and run the machine.

That was the easy part.  For the next hour, there were repeated pure water flushes to eliminate the vinegar taste.  By late morning, after washing coffee parts, attempted to brew a cup of coffee.  Not the greatest cup of coffee as it still tasted of vinegar. 

By early afternoon, after a bit more flush and wash, was able to brew an acceptable full cup of coffee.

Today - Wednesday - back to normal with coffee maker making coffee along with a result from an near-by historic Ohio community.  

Fort Recovery is a declining village in Mercer County in West Central Ohio with a 2025 population of 1468.

Established in1793 under orders from General Anthony Wayne, built on the site of St. Clair's Defeat in 1791 and Wayne's Victory in 1794.

Located close to the corner of Boundary and Wayne streets is the Park National Bank,

    Fort Recovery, Ohio.

that has been delivering flexible secure options and convenience to residents and businesses alike for more than a century.

All writing and images © Richard W. Rodgers unless expressly noted. Do not use without permission.

Monday Morning Coffee: Cold / Liberty, Indiana

 

We were up - later than usual - to be confronted with outside temperature 11f along with a dusting of snow.  With a predicted high of 35f - later in the day - there will be no outside photo wander. It is time to be indoors. 

On a recent warmer and sunny Sunday spent some walkabout time in Liberty, Indiana.  Why Liberty, you ask?  

Will explain later, but first an introduction.

Now Liberty, the county seat of Union County with a 2025 population of 1965, is a declining town located South of Richmond and about 5 miles west of the state's border with Ohio.

A couple of observations:

1.  The average household income in Liberty is $59,107 with a poverty rate of 13.34%. 

2.  The median age in Liberty is 44.1 years: 35.9 years for males, and 49.8 years for females. 

Beginning at one corner of the courthouse square, with typical architecture at the time of construction, a row of buildings.

    Liberty, Indiana.

Moving to the right, West along the street, discover a more recent architectural addition

   Liberty, Indiana.

the Liberty United States Post Office.

On this Sunday the town was almost silent.  No one out and about and very little vehicle traffic.  It was morning, to early for church traffic and restaurants to be open for breakfast.

Was a wonderful splash of time to enjoy the real historic and present Liberty, Indiana.  

Buildings were built and many still exist. 

People appear and later many vanish to be replaced by others appearing who will be later replaced.  The human replacing cycle continues. 

Standing architecture is fixed in time stating past, present, and future utilization's. 

To understand a community is to comprehend it's architecture.

 All writing and images © Richard W. Rodgers unless expressly noted. Do not use without permission.