I grew up in Madison and have toured this house multiple times. It always fascinated me, especially the children’s toys. Being the troublemaker I was, I’d duck out of the tour and explore on my own. Got me in some big trouble and they told my dad I was banned for a year. Thankfully they forgot when my first grade class went. But my favorite childhood memory was picking blackberries at Clifty Falls.
@@AdventureswithRoger I never knew who’s toys those were there. I loved the rocking horse best. They used to have manikins dressed in period dress sitting in various places in the house. They were pretty creepy. Big time. This was 60+ years ago. Lol. I’m an old fart. I remember when it flooded back in the early 60’s. The water came right up to the back steps of the mansion and the community pool, Crystal Beach was completely flooded. It had to be drained and scrubbed clean before it could be refilled for use. The clams that got left all over the lower city were huge!! Some over 12”. They stank when they died after the river receded. The hydroplane races, the Jefferson Proving Grounds, the Power Plant, Devils Backbone Road were all big parts of my childhood. And the Dixie Delta Paddle wheeler. Can’t forget that.
Awesome memories! And the clamshells: epic! Largest I ever found were downstream of Anderson Falls, 6” wide, max. I still have them somewhere. Like you, I look back with fondness to all my time at Madison. 🙂
I grew up in Jefferson Co and when my friends and I didn’t know what else to do downtown we’d to the mansion and play tag in the courtyard (as teenagers).
I remember a story from a VERRRY long time ago, that a kid was playing in the garden area and cut their foot. When the parents investigated, they found a confederate sword in the ground! It might just be one of those made up stories, but I haven’t been able to find anyone else that’s heard it!
I've been thinking about traveling Indiana from Lawrenceburg to Evansville along the Ohio over a summer. You've given me ideas of places to stop that I wouldn't have known about.
It’s a soul-cleansing journey, you’ll get a lot out of it! Below is a playlist of Lawrenceburg to Mount Vernon. New Albany I’ve filmed but have yet to publish. ua-cam.com/play/PLs79BVReZPlSv3S6dAmwDa-FENsxYPYJJ.html
Mr Lanier remarried at Madison after Elizabeth died, to Mary McClure. They went to New York where he formed the Winslow, Lanier and Co bank, that made him even more wealthy! New amazing showplace of a home, and he and his entire family became New York socialites. Not long ago, his sons Manhattan mansion was offered at $33,000,000 by Christie’s. I’ll put a link below, it is really something! www.francisyork.com/blog/the-james-f-d-lanier-house-in-manhattan-new-york?format=amp
I got to go there in 2016. It's so beautiful. My camera wouldn't take a clear picture of the 3rd story room with the trunk's. I wonder what those 2 brick buildings are next to it. Maybe a summer kitchen. My dad called me an asked if i wanted to go on vacation with him and my mom. I said YA! I hadn't been on vacation with them since 1974. They also took me to Story. We stayed at Cliffty Falls park. Me an my mom went on a couple hikes. I really liked it there. They used to go to bed an breakfasts all over. They stayed at a cool old rock house once an it had other things mixed in with the rock walls. It looked like someone just bought it and was in a little disrepair. I got some good pictures of the outside. There's a doll head in the wall. The rocks were smaller than other houses and real pretty. Geodes. Not to far from Nashville. My dad bribed me. Said if i vote for Trump we would go on vacation that day. It was fun. Great video. Thanks
The rock house, north of Nashville! Hadn’t been there in ages. I used to live outside Greenwood, but drove to Nashville for pizza, elephant ears and Christmas shopping. Good times!
Thanks Bart! I’ve done 8 videos about Madison, but hope to do at least one more about the waterfalls, with better filming. My Mother loved Madison, and it will always be special to me, as one of the places we visited together. Below is a link to the Madison playlist: Madison, Indiana ua-cam.com/play/PLs79BVReZPlQQDNCZdF3p3GxGX8-qasi1.html I filmed the awesome Ohio River view from the back of Hanover College, hope to feature it on a video about best high up views.
@@bartgarrett7710 Whenever I can’t get out, I watch my own videos, to remember the great times I’ve had. I’ve had many people tell me that they now live across the country, across the world, or just can’t get out anymore, and these bring back fond memories. it’s my honor and privilege to do these films, for that reason. 🙂
I totally agree! So far: 8 videos! My favorite town to spend the day. 🙂 Madison, Indiana Playlist ua-cam.com/play/PLs79BVReZPlQQDNCZdF3p3GxGX8-qasi1.html
Lifelong Hoosier and been to Madison many time, love all your content so far. New subscriber for sure..may i make one suggestion, i like the background music, but in a few spots it gets a bit loud..
Thank-you and welcome, Rob! Still adjusting the Dolby TBX algorithm. Built for theater sound, it often overpowers audio on some computers. When I edit with my earphones: it always sounds fine.
That's my hometown, currently live in Commiskey. I'm in Madison every day. I went on a grade school field trip there many many years ago, I'm 52 now. The mansion is haunted. A mannequin bust has been seen move by me and others. The basement is connected to the First Baptist church as part of the underground railroad. Went part way through the tunnel back when I was a teenager. It's collapsed and unsafe to explore now and has been sealed off for years.
You didn't go to the basement ? We took a fieldtrip there in 5th grade . I know Indiana didn't have slaves but , i know for a fact ... there are chains set into the walls in the basement ! I can't remember why they told us they were there though ? It was back in 1980 or '81 . Lol
The regular tour doesn’t go to the basement anymore, though I would’ve loved to have seen it. On the haunted tour in October, they take you through the basement with only a candle or lantern. 😉 Would like to know about the chains on the wall at the Lanier Mansion! Here’s some interesting things I found during my travels. Indiana was never a slave state, but slaves were often brought here. Several slaves sued for their freedom, one at old Palestine lost, another at Corydon won. There’s a place along the Ohio River in Harrison county, a historic plantation house, that has chains on the walls, in the basement, to keep slaves from running away. The slaves were illegally brought across the Ohio river to work the fields. Another tactic, was that some slave owners claimed their slaves were working off a debt, but set the made-up debt so high that freedom was unobtainable.
@@AdventureswithRoger there's an area outside of Madison , closer to Dupont , called Lancaster . There is house there considered a historical site and has one of the markers in the front yard . Back in the 70's , that was my babysitter's house . I was only 5 or 6 and wasn't allowed in the basement ? When i was a teenager i asked my mom about it and she told me ... "there's an entrance to an old cave that slaves used" ! I was shocked to find out that , the other end is visible from the road . The same end i always pointed to as a kid and told my mom , "i wanna go in there" . She said she had told the babysitter , "if he knew the other end of that was under your house , you'd never get him to stay out of it" ! Lol There's actually alot of tunnels and caves around the Madison area , that were used by runaway slaves . (Caves that were also used by the Native Americans that lived in the area)
@@bartgarrett7710 Now you just lit the rocket! 😀 I’d actually not heard of caves around Madison, but did hear of Underground Railroad activity. Also hadn’t heard about that home near DuPont. I was at DuPont in October, tracing the Morgan raid, only saw the Morgan marker. If you know of any cave names, I have a friend who belongs to a grotto, and can pull up all kinds of information!
@@AdventureswithRoger there's one cave i'm curious about but , i don't know the name ? It's out by Kent , whick is where i grew up . I went with a friend that i grew up with . (I'm gonna reach out to him and see if he can still find it) Definitely used by Indians ! It had an opening in the top that let light in to what we thought , looked like a meeting area . I can get to the general area but , have never found it on my own .
remember "Gone With the Wind?" Mammy made Scarlet's gown from the bedroom draperies. PS what are the outbuildings separate from the mansion? Carriage house? Summer kitchen?
The attached building directly to the east is an informal dining room. Above it is a bath area. Directly east of the informal dining room is the kitchen.
As I recall going there years ago, he also funded a great bit of the civil war. Indiana was almost broke and he funded quite a bit. I remember the tour guide saying that.
He saved Indiana, big time. Indiana had aggressively tried to develop infrastructure, believed canals would bring commerce to the state and took big loans to do it. They failed as they were just muddy ditches, needed constant dredging, and muskrats made holes in them, letting the water out. The foreign banks wanted their money back from their investment. Lanier negotiated a settlement with the foreign banks for that, and later provided the $1 million ($19 million in todays money) to shore up the state and equip troops for the civil war.
Hi Edith! Each video has a location in the UA-cam description, and that’s tied to Google maps. If you click on the location, it will take you to the map!
R’r, Can you confirm that the staircase in the JFDL Mansion is a floating staircase ??? B/c if it is, it certainly is a point of interest to me !!! Especially a 3 story one !!!
Hello Roger, I enjoy your videos. I have learned a few things about this great state that I live in. I have a couple of ideas for cool stories you may be interested in. If so let me know & if you want me to comment them here or send an email ? Thank you for the enjoyable and educational content.
Have you heard of what they called a fire blower ? Also the Fort Ritner crazy house ? If you are not familiar I can elaborate . The fire blowers fascinate me and think it would make a great story for you to tell. Thank you
@@AdventureswithRoger Fire blowers were people with a gift to be able to "take the fire " from you if you got burned . No one could watch them while they took the fire or they would lose their abilities. They could however pass that gift on to one person of their choosing when they were ready to let's say retire. My Ex Mother In Law told me that she was in charge of watching her little Sister but had neglected her duties & her then 2-3 yr old Sister laid both of her hands on their old barrel stove & began to scream the M-In law grabbed her but she was stuck. Her Grandma came running in from the garden having heard the child's screams & had to pry her hands off of the stove . The grandma then yelled to grab her a blanket and get the wagon from the barn as she had to take the child to the "fire blower". Unfortunately I do not remember their name but she took the child into another room & returned sometime later and the child's hands were wrapped in bandages the fire blower told them to leave the bandages on overnight remove them in the morning and the burns would be gone. Sure enough the burns were gone the next morning even though skin was still on the barrel stove with my mother-in-law said she would never forget the smell of. I read a book on Hoosier folklore at the local library many years ago and it also told of the fire blowers. Apparently someone must have watched them because according to the stories they would take their mouths and blow small circles of air onto the wound then inhale supposedly taking the fire from the victim's burn. I hope you can make sense of this. I will have to tell you about the crazy house in a bit. Although that story is brief I am dealing with a crazy house at the moment & must go. Thank you & have a wonderful day.
@@Jamie-om2iz At Heltonville, my Mothers family were familiar with a woman as you described. She was elderly, lived by herself, and all the kids thought she was a witch. They called her “Hattie”. But if you got a serious burn or other injury, people would send for Hattie. My one uncle has a scar on his arm where he was severely burned, and Hattie put her hands on him: he was healed instantly and the pain went away. Word had it that she was related to my Grandma’s side of the family, and might even have been an Indian medicine woman, but I can’t confirm any of that.
Just beautiful...
Another great job.
Thanks Roger!
Excellent video Roger!,
Educational
Thank-you!
I grew up in Madison and have toured this house multiple times. It always fascinated me, especially the children’s toys. Being the troublemaker I was, I’d duck out of the tour and explore on my own. Got me in some big trouble and they told my dad I was banned for a year. Thankfully they forgot when my first grade class went.
But my favorite childhood memory was picking blackberries at Clifty Falls.
The secret is “blend in”. 😀
The first time I toured this, I said to myself, “I want one just like this someday.”
@@AdventureswithRoger 😁😁
@@AdventureswithRoger I never knew who’s toys those were there. I loved the rocking horse best. They used to have manikins dressed in period dress sitting in various places in the house. They were pretty creepy. Big time. This was 60+ years ago. Lol. I’m an old fart. I remember when it flooded back in the early 60’s. The water came right up to the back steps of the mansion and the community pool, Crystal Beach was completely flooded. It had to be drained and scrubbed clean before it could be refilled for use. The clams that got left all over the lower city were huge!! Some over 12”. They stank when they died after the river receded. The hydroplane races, the Jefferson Proving Grounds, the Power Plant, Devils Backbone Road were all big parts of my childhood. And the Dixie Delta Paddle wheeler. Can’t forget that.
Awesome memories! And the clamshells: epic! Largest I ever found were downstream of Anderson Falls, 6” wide, max. I still have them somewhere.
Like you, I look back with fondness to all my time at Madison. 🙂
Thanks Rodger! Another fun video and what such an amazing place. Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
My pleasure! You as well!
I grew up in Jefferson Co and when my friends and I didn’t know what else to do downtown we’d to the mansion and play tag in the courtyard (as teenagers).
I remember a story from a VERRRY long time ago, that a kid was playing in the garden area and cut their foot. When the parents investigated, they found a confederate sword in the ground! It might just be one of those made up stories, but I haven’t been able to find anyone else that’s heard it!
I've been thinking about traveling Indiana from Lawrenceburg to Evansville along the Ohio over a summer. You've given me ideas of places to stop that I wouldn't have known about.
It’s a soul-cleansing journey, you’ll get a lot out of it! Below is a playlist of Lawrenceburg to Mount Vernon. New Albany I’ve filmed but have yet to publish.
ua-cam.com/play/PLs79BVReZPlSv3S6dAmwDa-FENsxYPYJJ.html
Love those old mansions. 🥰
Me too! I was able to film the Hillforest, Schenck,Lanier, Howard, and Culbertson mansions. All are unique and interesting!
Interesting fella Roger. What ever became of him in New York?
Mr Lanier remarried at Madison after Elizabeth died, to Mary McClure. They went to New York where he formed the Winslow, Lanier and Co bank, that made him even more wealthy! New amazing showplace of a home, and he and his entire family became New York socialites. Not long ago, his sons Manhattan mansion was offered at $33,000,000 by Christie’s. I’ll put a link below, it is really something!
www.francisyork.com/blog/the-james-f-d-lanier-house-in-manhattan-new-york?format=amp
@@AdventureswithRoger Thanks for the followup!
A beauty
Extremely well preserved
thank you for sharing
My pleasure!
Ty Roger 🏆 🙏 👴
My pleasure, Richard!
Wonderful tour, Roger. Definitely impressive
Thanks, Gerald!
I got to go there in 2016. It's so beautiful. My camera wouldn't take a clear picture of the 3rd story room with the trunk's. I wonder what those 2 brick buildings are next to it. Maybe a summer kitchen. My dad called me an asked if i wanted to go on vacation with him and my mom. I said YA! I hadn't been on vacation with them since 1974. They also took me to Story. We stayed at Cliffty Falls park. Me an my mom went on a couple hikes. I really liked it there. They used to go to bed an breakfasts all over. They stayed at a cool old rock house once an it had other things mixed in with the rock walls. It looked like someone just bought it and was in a little disrepair. I got some good pictures of the outside. There's a doll head in the wall. The rocks were smaller than other houses and real pretty. Geodes. Not to far from Nashville. My dad bribed me. Said if i vote for Trump we would go on vacation that day. It was fun. Great video. Thanks
The rock house, north of Nashville! Hadn’t been there in ages. I used to live outside Greenwood, but drove to Nashville for pizza, elephant ears and Christmas shopping. Good times!
I was born and raised in the Madison/Hanover area . Thanks for covering this . Great video ! ❤️
Thanks Bart! I’ve done 8 videos about Madison, but hope to do at least one more about the waterfalls, with better filming. My Mother loved Madison, and it will always be special to me, as one of the places we visited together.
Below is a link to the Madison playlist:
Madison, Indiana
ua-cam.com/play/PLs79BVReZPlQQDNCZdF3p3GxGX8-qasi1.html
I filmed the awesome Ohio River view from the back of Hanover College, hope to feature it on a video about best high up views.
@@AdventureswithRoger awesome ! Thank you . I live in Greensburg now and i can watch these again when i get homesick . ❤️
@@bartgarrett7710 Whenever I can’t get out, I watch my own videos, to remember the great times I’ve had. I’ve had many people tell me that they now live across the country, across the world, or just can’t get out anymore, and these bring back fond memories. it’s my honor and privilege to do these films, for that reason. 🙂
Absolutely stunning and great video
Thank-you Kenny! This is one I wanted to do, for a long time!
Definitely worth the trip. There’s plenty to see in that area.
I totally agree! So far: 8 videos! My favorite town to spend the day. 🙂
Madison, Indiana Playlist
ua-cam.com/play/PLs79BVReZPlQQDNCZdF3p3GxGX8-qasi1.html
Lifelong Hoosier and been to Madison many time, love all your content so far. New subscriber for sure..may i make one suggestion, i like the background music, but in a few spots it gets a bit loud..
Thank-you and welcome, Rob! Still adjusting the Dolby TBX algorithm. Built for theater sound, it often overpowers audio on some computers. When I edit with my earphones: it always sounds fine.
Maybe do a video on Marcia Yockey? She lived in my great uncles carriage house.
I’ve thought about doing one about Hoosiers that made it big in Hollywood or music, but I’m still working on all the footage from this summer.
@@AdventureswithRoger
You're doing a great job. Thank you.
@@sharksport01 I’m just happy that people enjoy things I do! 🙂
That's my hometown, currently live in Commiskey. I'm in Madison every day. I went on a grade school field trip there many many years ago, I'm 52 now. The mansion is haunted. A mannequin bust has been seen move by me and others.
The basement is connected to the First Baptist church as part of the underground railroad. Went part way through the tunnel back when I was a teenager. It's collapsed and unsafe to explore now and has been sealed off for years.
You didn't go to the basement ? We took a fieldtrip there in 5th grade . I know Indiana didn't have slaves but , i know for a fact ... there are chains set into the walls in the basement ! I can't remember why they told us they were there though ? It was back in 1980 or '81 . Lol
The regular tour doesn’t go to the basement anymore, though I would’ve loved to have seen it. On the haunted tour in October, they take you through the basement with only a candle or lantern. 😉
Would like to know about the chains on the wall at the Lanier Mansion! Here’s some interesting things I found during my travels. Indiana was never a slave state, but slaves were often brought here. Several slaves sued for their freedom, one at old Palestine lost, another at Corydon won. There’s a place along the Ohio River in Harrison county, a historic plantation house, that has chains on the walls, in the basement, to keep slaves from running away. The slaves were illegally brought across the Ohio river to work the fields. Another tactic, was that some slave owners claimed their slaves were working off a debt, but set the made-up debt so high that freedom was unobtainable.
@@AdventureswithRoger there's an area outside of Madison , closer to Dupont , called Lancaster . There is house there considered a historical site and has one of the markers in the front yard . Back in the 70's , that was my babysitter's house . I was only 5 or 6 and wasn't allowed in the basement ? When i was a teenager i asked my mom about it and she told me ... "there's an entrance to an old cave that slaves used" ! I was shocked to find out that , the other end is visible from the road . The same end i always pointed to as a kid and told my mom , "i wanna go in there" . She said she had told the babysitter , "if he knew the other end of that was under your house , you'd never get him to stay out of it" ! Lol
There's actually alot of tunnels and caves around the Madison area , that were used by runaway slaves . (Caves that were also used by the Native Americans that lived in the area)
@@bartgarrett7710 Now you just lit the rocket! 😀 I’d actually not heard of caves around Madison, but did hear of Underground Railroad activity. Also hadn’t heard about that home near DuPont. I was at DuPont in October, tracing the Morgan raid, only saw the Morgan marker.
If you know of any cave names, I have a friend who belongs to a grotto, and can pull up all kinds of information!
@@AdventureswithRoger i just sold a Morgan marker last year ! 😁 the old white one with black lettering .
@@AdventureswithRoger there's one cave i'm curious about but , i don't know the name ? It's out by Kent , whick is where i grew up . I went with a friend that i grew up with . (I'm gonna reach out to him and see if he can still find it)
Definitely used by Indians ! It had an opening in the top that let light in to what we thought , looked like a meeting area . I can get to the general area but , have never found it on my own .
remember "Gone With the Wind?" Mammy made Scarlet's gown from the bedroom draperies. PS what are the outbuildings separate from the mansion? Carriage house? Summer kitchen?
The attached building directly to the east is an informal dining room. Above it is a bath area. Directly east of the informal dining room is the kitchen.
As I recall going there years ago, he also funded a great bit of the civil war. Indiana was almost broke and he funded quite a bit.
I remember the tour guide saying that.
He saved Indiana, big time. Indiana had aggressively tried to develop infrastructure, believed canals would bring commerce to the state and took big loans to do it. They failed as they were just muddy ditches, needed constant dredging, and muskrats made holes in them, letting the water out. The foreign banks wanted their money back from their investment.
Lanier negotiated a settlement with the foreign banks for that, and later provided the $1 million ($19 million in todays money) to shore up the state and equip troops for the civil war.
I am new to Indiana and really enjoy your videos about Indiana. Perhaps a map showing the location you are telling us about.
Hi Edith! Each video has a location in the UA-cam description, and that’s tied to Google maps. If you click on the location, it will take you to the map!
Did you go to Hinkle's yet?
It's a Madison tradition.
Not yet, but definitely on my list. 🙂
R’r, Can you confirm that the staircase in the JFDL Mansion is a floating staircase ??? B/c if it is, it certainly is a point of interest to me !!! Especially a 3 story one !!!
Not a floating staircase
@@AdventureswithRoger
They’re very rare. Soo, Thank YOU for that prompt answer !!!
@@gaylereid8264 Over at Vevay, they have one of the last floating balconies, in their old theater. Very cool old place! 🙂
Hello Roger,
I enjoy your videos. I have learned a few things about this great state that I live in. I have a couple of ideas for cool stories you may be interested in. If so let me know & if you want me to comment them here or send an email ? Thank you for the enjoyable and educational content.
Hey Jamie!
Go ahead and post them here, or at returpen@yahoo.com, either one works! I’m always happy to hear of new places and ideas!
Have you heard of what they called a fire blower ? Also the Fort Ritner crazy house ? If you are not familiar I can elaborate .
The fire blowers fascinate me and think it would make a great story for you to tell. Thank you
@@Jamie-om2iz Tell me more!
@@AdventureswithRoger Fire blowers were people with a gift to be able to "take the fire " from you if you got burned . No one could watch them while they took the fire or they would lose their abilities. They could however pass that gift on to one person of their choosing when they were ready to let's say retire.
My Ex Mother In Law told me that she was in charge of watching her little Sister but had neglected her duties & her then 2-3 yr old Sister laid both of her hands on their old barrel stove & began to scream the M-In law grabbed her but she was stuck. Her Grandma came running in from the garden having heard the child's screams & had to pry her hands off of the stove . The grandma then yelled to grab her a blanket and get the wagon from the barn as she had to take the child to the "fire blower". Unfortunately I do not remember their name but she took the child into another room & returned sometime later and the child's hands were wrapped in bandages the fire blower told them to leave the bandages on overnight remove them in the morning and the burns would be gone. Sure enough the burns were gone the next morning even though skin was still on the barrel stove with my mother-in-law said she would never forget the smell of. I read a book on Hoosier folklore at the local library many years ago and it also told of the fire blowers. Apparently someone must have watched them because according to the stories they would take their mouths and blow small circles of air onto the wound then inhale supposedly taking the fire from the victim's burn.
I hope you can make sense of this. I will have to tell you about the crazy house in a bit. Although that story is brief I am dealing with a crazy house at the moment & must go. Thank you & have a wonderful day.
@@Jamie-om2iz At Heltonville, my Mothers family were familiar with a woman as you described. She was elderly, lived by herself, and all the kids thought she was a witch. They called her “Hattie”. But if you got a serious burn or other injury, people would send for Hattie. My one uncle has a scar on his arm where he was severely burned, and Hattie put her hands on him: he was healed instantly and the pain went away. Word had it that she was related to my Grandma’s side of the family, and might even have been an Indian medicine woman, but I can’t confirm any of that.
Far-out
I'd live there but my animals would get fur all over everything. 😆