Madison, Indiana Lovely Madison, Indiana is a gem of a town, its downtown historic district recently designated a National Historic Landmark, one of the largest in the United States, encompassing approximately 130 blocks. Madison is most noted for its friendly people, easy-going shop owners of antique, craft and other unique specialty items, and its beautiful, well-preserved buildings. The shores on the north side of the Ohio River in the area were not officially settled until approximately 1804. I find this fascinating because as you gaze directly aross the river to Milton, Kentucky, which was settled in the late 1700s, you wonder how that could have been. I imagine that some adventurous people, indeed, crossed the Ohio River to the area of what was then the Northwest Territory and present-day Madison. Besides the beauty and atmosphere of this wonderful town, I've found an interesting array of characters that made it what it is now. For special oddly unusual and interesting historical highlights of Madison I'd like to share:

The gazebo in John Paul Park

John Paul Park Once called The Old Third Street Cemetery, now John Paul Park: A small, unassuming park in the northwestern part of downtown, I found myself fascinated by what it really was - an early cemetery of Madison. It had fallen into disrepair and the John Paul chapter of DAR committed to cleaning it up and making a memorial park of it. The unusual part - all but a few of the bodies are still buried underneath it. The stones were moved but the remains left; some underneath where Third Street borders it to the south. I wanted to know who those people were and what happened to them, and began a journey of stepping into the past to feel their presence and tell their stories.

The Ohio River This is where it all started, on the Ohio River.  The river has a lively history all its own and, like all rivertowns, Madison has it's share of river lore.   From the first days of canoes and rafts on arrival, to a ferry from the Milton, Kentucky side that was halted during the Civil War, to the days of steamships and packets, the river was the lifeblood of Madison.

The Belle of Louisville in port

The Ulster Project International
	Madison, Indiana, rich in Irish heritage, participates in the Ulster Project, a very worthy cause to help bridge the gap of religious differences and intolerance in Northern Ireland. For more information about the Ulster Project International, please see their website at: ULSTER PROJECT

Have You Seen Molly Datillo? A vibrant young woman, native of Madison, Indiana, who disappeared in 2004 in Indianapolis. Please look at this link and help the Datillo family find Molly. FIND MOLLY DATILLO