I never expected to visit Madison, Indiana.   More to the point I never heard of the place until we passed through yesterday on our way to the Ohio River.  The road trip to Kentucky was for the purpose of having a talk with Wendell Berry.  Berry is a prolific author, essayist, poet–  one who contends for the sanctity of Nature and humankind.  I plan to tell of our two hour kitchen table talk at the Berry home tomorrow.

Focused as we were on being on time for our visit with Wendell Berry — the sight of brightly colored 19th century buildings on both sides of Madison Main street, inspired a desire to return.  We wanted to more intimately experience this obviously special place.  A road trip always has potential of exciting discovery of an interesting place.  No matter the destination,  there is no predicting what you will find along the way.

Upon our return early this morning we crossed the Ohio and made for Madison.

The town was laid out in 1810 and grew rapidly through the Civil War years.  Madison Indiana was a important stopping off point for the Underground Railroad, as Kentucky, a slave state, was just across the river.

Entering G.H. Coffee Co. housed in a refurbished Drug store, we ordered two large coffees, and two breakfasts.  I sized up the place with it’s two customer seating rooms furnished with a variety of time worn wooden dining room tables, and sturdy wood chairs.  The well used, still serviceable items gave the place it’s ambience.  Original

purchasers of those artifacts are gone but not forgotten.  The place breathed with the spirit of past generations, farmers, emancipated slaves, –past purposes and acts which constitute who we are today as Americans.

Yes, the quality of the coffee was spot on.  Our breakfasts

were tasty and filling.

We stepped out the front door and gazed down the street.  I would not have been surprised at that early hour to see some of the sturdy farm folk making their way to obtain dry goods and other supplies to aid their labor.  The past is present here.

Madison is a fine town in my estimation.  I would be happy to visit there again.