WTIU Shop - Your favorite WTIU programs on DVD and Blu-Ray

For architecture enthusiasts, Columbus is best known for its incredible collection of modern structures, featuring buildings and bridges designed by some of the world's most famous architects, including I.M. Pei, Eero and Eliel Saarinen, Richard Meier, Eliot Noyes, and many others. This hour-long documentary tells the stories behind Columbus's famous Bartholomew County Courthouse, the revolutionary First Christian Church, and the spectacular private residence of former Cummins Corporation CEO J. Irwin Miller.

Columbus, though, is about more than just architecture. Our Town: Columbus also depicts the city's early years, when Columbus was the epicenter of a thriving furniture industry, producing some of the world's finest pieces. Viewers will also learn about the young entrepreneur Clessie Cummins and the founding and rise of his company, Cummins Engine Company - one of the world's largest and most innovative makers of diesel engines.

Throughout the 20th century and into the 21st, Columbus has played an important role in world events, serving as home to Camp Atterbury - an important training ground and hospital during the Second World War - and continuing to support and promote architectural innovation. Today, with its newly revitalized downtown, year-round festivals, state-of-the-art hospital, and burgeoning business community, Columbus is truly thriving.

Our Town: Columbus captures the spirit and tells the remarkable story of this truly unexpected, unforgettable gem of a town.

For architecture enthusiasts, Columbus is best known for its incredible collection of modern structures, featuring buildings and bridges designed by some of the world's most famous architects, including I.M. Pei, Eero and Eliel Saarinen, Richard Meier, Eliot Noyes, and many others. This hour-long documentary tells the stories behind Columbus's famous Bartholomew County Courthouse, the revolutionary First Christian Church, and the spectacular private residence of former Cummins Corporation CEO J. Irwin Miller.

Columbus, though, is about more than just architecture. Our Town: Columbus also depicts the city's early years, when Columbus was the epicenter of a thriving furniture industry, producing some of the world's finest pieces. Viewers will also learn about the young entrepreneur Clessie Cummins and the founding and rise of his company, Cummins Engine Company - one of the world's largest and most innovative makers of diesel engines.

Throughout the 20th century and into the 21st, Columbus has played an important role in world events, serving as home to Camp Atterbury - an important training ground and hospital during the Second World War - and continuing to support and promote architectural innovation. Today, with its newly revitalized downtown, year-round festivals, state-of-the-art hospital, and burgeoning business community, Columbus is truly thriving.

Our Town: Columbus captures the spirit and tells the remarkable story of this truly unexpected, unforgettable gem of a town.

Goose Pond: The Story of a Wetland & Its Neighbors tells of efforts to reclaim the wetland dating as far back as the 1930s when conservationists teamed with local sportsmen in a plan to turn Goose Pond into "a bird haven." A "Goose Pond Lake Project" was initiated in the 1940s, but was stalled in 1950 by lack of government support due to the Korean War. The US Fish & Wildlife Service nearly OK'd Goose Pond for a "National Wildlife Refuge" in 1959. In the early 1990s, local opposition prevented the Indiana Department of Natural Resources from succeeding in its initial bid to make Goose Pond a "Fish & Wildlife Area."

Goose Pond was mired in politics as mucky as the clay soil covering it. In 1999, a pair of passionate conservationists came to the rescue, persuading the Goose Pond property owner to enroll his land in the newly created Wetlands Reserve Program, within the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service. This enrollment placed the Goose Pond property in a permanent easement, meaning it could never again be farmed.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources once again became involved and the wetland restoration began.

At the dedication of the Goose Pond Fish & Wildlife Area in September 2010, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels proclaimed, "Every projection I was ever shown for what might happen, and how quickly, has been exceeded...number of waterfowl, number of species, number of visitors...it didn't matter what it was...every expectation has been exceeded."

This product is also available on Blu-ray.

Goose Pond: The Story of a Wetland & Its Neighbors tells of efforts to reclaim the wetland dating as far back as the 1930s when conservationists teamed with local sportsmen in a plan to turn Goose Pond into "a bird haven." A "Goose Pond Lake Project" was initiated in the 1940s, but was stalled in 1950 by lack of government support due to the Korean War. The US Fish & Wildlife Service nearly OK'd Goose Pond for a "National Wildlife Refuge" in 1959. In the early 1990s, local opposition prevented the Indiana Department of Natural Resources from succeeding in its initial bid to make Goose Pond a "Fish & Wildlife Area."

Goose Pond was mired in politics as mucky as the clay soil covering it. In 1999, a pair of passionate conservationists came to the rescue, persuading the Goose Pond property owner to enroll his land in the newly created Wetlands Reserve Program, within the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service. This enrollment placed the Goose Pond property in a permanent easement, meaning it could never again be farmed.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources once again became involved and the wetland restoration began.

At the dedication of the Goose Pond Fish & Wildlife Area in September 2010, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels proclaimed, "Every projection I was ever shown for what might happen, and how quickly, has been exceeded...number of waterfowl, number of species, number of visitors...it didn't matter what it was...every expectation has been exceeded."

This product is also available on DVD.

Witness vivid examples of this amazing wetland success story, beginning with a 4th Grade Field Trip and an excited group of youngsters who are ready to “dig in the mud” on their way to future careers as naturalists.

Next, during "the largest citizen scientist event in the world," record numbers of bird species are counted at Goose Pond for the National Audubon Society’s Annual Christmas Bird Count.

With the Sandhill as its mascot, Marsh Madness kicks off in celebration of the seasonal return of tens of thousands of Sandhill Cranes.

And finally, experience a Community Birding Day at Goose Pond with rare, close-up glimpses of nesting Black-crowned Night Heron chicks, as well as other exotic migratory species.

Plus, as an added bonus, The Four Seasons of Goose Pond features exquisite portraits taken by some of the best wildlife photographers in America.

This product is also available on Blu-Ray.

Witness vivid examples of this amazing wetland success story, beginning with a 4th Grade Field Trip and an excited group of youngsters who are ready to “dig in the mud” on their way to future careers as naturalists.

Next, during "the largest citizen scientist event in the world," record numbers of bird species are counted at Goose Pond for the National Audubon Society’s Annual Christmas Bird Count.

With the Sandhill as its mascot, Marsh Madness kicks off in celebration of the seasonal return of tens of thousands of Sandhill Cranes.

And finally, experience a Community Birding Day at Goose Pond with rare, close-up glimpses of nesting Black-crowned Night Heron chicks, as well as other exotic migratory species.

Plus, as an added bonus, The Four Seasons of Goose Pond features exquisite portraits taken by some of the best wildlife photographers in America.

This product is also available on DVD.

Indiana Legends: Madam C.J. Walker centers on a re-issue of award-winning filmmaker Stanley Nelson's 1987 documentary "Two Dollars and a Dream."

This program remains entertaining, informative, and educational today, combining interviews, historical stills and unique film footage, including scenes from Harlem's famous Cotton Club. The film is punctuated with the music of Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway and other masters of the era.

The child of slaves freed by the Civil War, Madam C.J. Walker became America's first self-made millionaire. She was an orphan at age 6, a mother at 14, and widowed by the time she was 20. By interweaving social, economic and political history, "Two Dollars and a Dream" not only tells the story of Madam C.J. Walker, but it also offers a view of black America from 1867 to the 1930's.

Newly added to the documentary is an interview with Stanley Nelson and A'lelia Bundles, Madam C.J. Walker's great-granddaughter as they discuss Madam Walker's philanthropy and social activism, two topics only briefly discussed in "Two Dollars and a Dream."

Widely recognized as among the best in the country, Indiana state parks are a great source of Hoosier pride. Anyone who has visited Turkey Run, McCormick’s Creek, Indiana Dunes or any of the dozens of other state parks can’t help but marvel at their natural wonders.

Although we owe the parks’ raw beauty to glaciers and other natural forces, these wild areas would have vanished long ago if not for the largely behind-the-scenes efforts of the many people—park directors, conservationists, ecologists and others—who over the past century have worked to preserve some of Indiana’s most stunning natural landscapes.

INDIANA STATE PARKS: TREASURES IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD showcases and celebrates these wild lands, introducing viewers to their vibrant, natural beauty and the people who have dedicated their lives to preserving the parks for future generations.

Produced for WTIU/Indiana University Television by Ron Prickel.

Production support was provided by Vectren Foundation, Stewart & Irwin, Attorneys at Law, and Bridgestone Firestone Trust Fund.

Widely recognized as among the best in the country, Indiana state parks are a great source of Hoosier pride. Anyone who has visited Turkey Run, McCormick’s Creek, Indiana Dunes or any of the dozens of other state parks can’t help but marvel at their natural wonders.

Although we owe the parks’ raw beauty to glaciers and other natural forces, these wild areas would have vanished long ago if not for the largely behind-the-scenes efforts of the many people—park directors, conservationists, ecologists and others—who over the past century have worked to preserve some of Indiana’s most stunning natural landscapes.

INDIANA STATE PARKS: TREASURES IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD showcases and celebrates these wild lands, introducing viewers to their vibrant, natural beauty and the people who have dedicated their lives to preserving the parks for future generations.

Produced for WTIU/Indiana University Television by Ron Prickel.

Production support was provided by Vectren Foundation, Stewart & Irwin, Attorneys at Law, and Bridgestone Firestone Trust Fund.

Monroe County has a long and storied history—a history chronicled in the WTIU-produced documentaries Spirit of Monroe County I and II. The latest installment, SPIRIT OF MONROE COUNTY III, turns to the present, documenting the county’s abundance of resources in arts and culture, science, and the people who make it all happen.

In part I of the documentary, “Arts & Culture,” producer John Winninger takes a behind the scenes look at the success of the Cardinal Stage Company, samples local delicacies at the Bloomington Farmer’s Market, Oliver Winery and Taste of Bloomington, and visits some of Monroe County’s many seasonal festivals.

Part II, “Life Sciences,” surveys some of the most exciting advances in life sciences research and business in Monroe County, including cutting edge proton therapy at the IU Cyclotron facility, and recent developments on stent technology at Cook Medical.

Part III, “Diversity,” finds Winninger exploring the incredible variety of people and institutions that are the heart and soul of Monroe County.

In chronicling the here and now, SPIRIT OF MONROE COUNTY III depicts a region where a flourishing of arts and culture, scientific discovery and diversity point toward an even more dynamic future.

Production support provided by Smithville Telephone, McCrea & McCrea, and CFC, Inc.

Companion Website:
The Spirit of Monroe County III

Monroe County has a long and storied history—a history chronicled in the WTIU-produced documentaries Spirit of Monroe County I and II. The latest installment, SPIRIT OF MONROE COUNTY III, turns to the present, documenting the county’s abundance of resources in arts and culture, science, and the people who make it all happen.

In part I of the documentary, “Arts & Culture,” producer John Winninger takes a behind the scenes look at the success of the Cardinal Stage Company, samples local delicacies at the Bloomington Farmer’s Market, Oliver Winery and Taste of Bloomington, and visits some of Monroe County’s many seasonal festivals.

Part II, “Life Sciences,” surveys some of the most exciting advances in life sciences research and business in Monroe County, including cutting edge proton therapy at the IU Cyclotron facility, and recent developments on stent technology at Cook Medical.

Part III, “Diversity,” finds Winninger exploring the incredible variety of people and institutions that are the heart and soul of Monroe County.

In chronicling the here and now, SPIRIT OF MONROE COUNTY III depicts a region where a flourishing of arts and culture, scientific discovery and diversity point toward an even more dynamic future.

Production support provided by Smithville Telephone, McCrea & McCrea, and CFC, Inc.

Companion Website:
The Spirit of Monroe County III

Part 1: A visit to the Peden farm on Maple Grove Road for the spring farm festival, where over 3000 kids learn how farm life used to be. Part 2: A 1986 violin lesson with the late Josef Gingold, distinguished professor of music, who epitomized the spirit of music in the community and performances by his students. Part 3: The making of the 1998 5A State High School Football championship of Bloomington South. Part 4: The Indiana University men's soccer team's 1998 NCAA soccer title. Part 5: The good and bad memories of the African-American community about the history of race relations in Monroe County.

Part 1: Monroe County's natural history and the longtime search for a safe water source. Part 2: Cities and towns, including Stinesville, Ellettsville and the limestone industry's history, Smithville, Harrodsburg; farming; and the Monroe County Fair. Part 3: Education, business, and industry, including Indiana University and the leadership of Herman B Wells, Showers Brothers Company, RCA, downtown Bloomington, and Bill Cook and Cook, Inc. Part 4: Breaking Away and Hoagy Carmichael. Part 5: Athletics and sports figures, including Bob Knight, slow pitch softball, Jerry Yeagley and IU soccer, and Bloomington High School North's 1997 IHSAA championship in boys basketball.

OUR TOWN: TERRE HAUTE tells the story of Terre Haute, Indiana, from its origins as a trading post on the banks of the Wabash River in the early 1800s to today’s modern, thriving city with a fast-developing Riverscape Project. The hour-long documentary takes you on a journey through the history of the town known as the “Queen City of the Wabash”—a truly American tale full of inspiring triumphs, dramatic setbacks, and surprising twists and turns.

As the United States navigated the often-turbulent, fast-paced decades of the 20th century, so too did Terre Haute forge ahead, meeting challenges head on. OUR TOWN: TERRE HAUTE explores the city’s rapid growth during the “Roaring ’20s,” its struggles during the Great Depression of the 1930s, its patriotic fervor and sacrifice during World War II, and development as a center of higher education, healthcare, and diverse industries in the post-war decades.

Along the way you’ll meet colorful and fascinating characters, including visionary businessmen Chauncey Rose and Tony Hulman, acclaimed songwriter Paul Dresser, poet Max Ehrmann, and many others. You’ll discover Terre Haute’s surprising number of esteemed institutions of higher learning, including Indiana State University, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, and Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. And you’ll get a taste of the city’s impressive array of arts and vibrant festivals that instill Terre Haute with a lively and forward-looking spirit.

Bonus features on the DVD and BluRay include additional segments on Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College; the Hillary Clinton visit to the Saratoga Restaurant; the legend of Stiffy Green; Tom Roznowski singing “Back Home Again in Indiana”; and more.

Production support was provided by The Electrical Workers of the IBEW Local 725 and the National Electrical Contractors Association; The Hollie and Anna Oakley Foundation; The Terre Haute Convention and Visitors Bureau; and The Wabash Valley Community Foundation.

OUR TOWN: TERRE HAUTE tells the story of Terre Haute, Indiana, from its origins as a trading post on the banks of the Wabash River in the early 1800s to today’s modern, thriving city with a fast-developing Riverscape Project. The hour-long documentary takes you on a journey through the history of the town known as the “Queen City of the Wabash”—a truly American tale full of inspiring triumphs, dramatic setbacks, and surprising twists and turns.

As the United States navigated the often-turbulent, fast-paced decades of the 20th century, so too did Terre Haute forge ahead, meeting challenges head on. OUR TOWN: TERRE HAUTE explores the city’s rapid growth during the “Roaring ’20s,” its struggles during the Great Depression of the 1930s, its patriotic fervor and sacrifice during World War II, and development as a center of higher education, healthcare, and diverse industries in the post-war decades.

Along the way you’ll meet colorful and fascinating characters, including visionary businessmen Chauncey Rose and Tony Hulman, acclaimed songwriter Paul Dresser, poet Max Ehrmann, and many others. You’ll discover Terre Haute’s surprising number of esteemed institutions of higher learning, including Indiana State University, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, and Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. And you’ll get a taste of the city’s impressive array of arts and vibrant festivals that instill Terre Haute with a lively and forward-looking spirit.

Bonus features on the DVD and BluRay include additional segments on Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College; the Hillary Clinton visit to the Saratoga Restaurant; the legend of Stiffy Green; Tom Roznowski singing “Back Home Again in Indiana”; and more.

Production support was provided by The Electrical Workers of the IBEW Local 725 and the National Electrical Contractors Association; The Hollie and Anna Oakley Foundation; The Terre Haute Convention and Visitors Bureau; and The Wabash Valley Community Foundation.

There are many features that make Spencer, Indiana unique—adventuresome pioneers, a strong biomedical industry, a mail-order livestock business, Babbs Grocery Store, the Doughboy Statue, a clothespin factory, and McCormick’s Creek State Park to name a few.

But what stands out most—the one element that makes this Owen County town so special—is the people.

WTIU’s 2005 production, Our Town: Spencer, Indiana puts the spotlight on the people, places and things that make Spencer important. The program is a pilot for what may be a series of Our Town specials following a national model in which public television stations have given cameras to people and asked them to document what makes their community unique.

“We looked for a way to work with townspeople yet give us a video product that was a little more professional,” says executive director Gino Brancolini. “We came up with the idea to work with advanced telecommunications students from Indiana University and have Spencer residents identify stories and use the students to help them execute those stories.”

Since WTIU director John Winninger also teaches in the Telecommunications department, he was able to recruit student for an independent study course and the project took off. Once the team was in place, the process of finding the stories started. WTIU held a public meeting in Spencer last fall to gather stories and volunteers. WTIU then signed Jim DeCoursey on to narrate the program and has utilized the expertise of Vivian and Jack Zollinger to provide background information and help keep the stories accurate.

“In our early interviews we learned that the people were pioneers who settled there,” Winninger said. “They were the adventurers and the hard workers. Those values have stayed. Those early pioneers came here and had real strong values of fierce independence, a great work ethic, resilience, determination and characteristic patterns of language. These qualities still exist within Spencer.”

Although the program will be of obvious interest to Spencer residents, Brancolini said it should also appeal to other WTIU viewers. “What I think is interesting is that every community has interesting people and interesting stories to tell. By looking at a story like this, it’s a chance to reflect on what’s interesting in your community. You start to draw parallels and think about the stories in your own community.”

If that happens, Brancolini hopes viewers will take notes so they can be prepared when the next community is selected for this ongoing Our Town project. “We have students signed up for the fall to begin working on another project to air next spring.”

Companion Website:
Our Town: Spencer

With a colorful history, a vibrant downtown, and expanding industrial, service and cultural sectors, Seymour, Indiana is a town on the move. Its roots are in the railroad and its proximity to major highways continues to make Seymour an important transportation and industrial center. WTIU asked the residents of Seymour to share their story—the result is OUR TOWN: SEYMOUR, the third program in the station’s Our Town series.

OUR TOWN: SEYMOUR begins with a look at the town’s past including the machinations of Meedy Shields to make it a railroad intersection poised for growth, the exploits of the infamous Reno gang (perpetrators of the country’s first train robbery) and the influential German migration and heritage. The program then offers a look at Seymour Manufacturing, a niche business that has been in town longer than the telephone, visits the town’s famed Oktoberfest, and, later, the annual Seymour Car Show.

Additional segments look at manufacturer Aisin U.S.A., the influence of the local Wal-Mart Distribution Center, the Schneck Medical Center and the history of Freeman Field, an important Army Air Corp multiple-engine training center during World War II. Finally, no trip to Seymour would be complete without a visit to the renowned Larrison’s Diner, This Old Guitar music store, and the Southern Indiana Center for the Arts, created by the town’s favorite son—singer-songwriter John Mellencamp—and his family.

Bonus features include a segment on the Seymour Veteran’s War Memorial in Gaiser Park and a performance by Mike Gerth and the T.O.G. Band playing and singing John Mellencamp’s “Small Town.”

OUR TOWN: SEYMOUR was produced for WTIU by John Winninger with assistance from students in the Indiana University Department of Telecommunications and Executive Producer Gino Brancolini.

Production support was provided by JCB - Jackson County Bank; Jackson County Visitor Center; Seymour Orthopedics; and The Community Center of Jackson County.

Companion Website:
Our Town: Seymour

Martinsville, Indiana—a small town with a big reputation is the focus of the fifth WTIU OUR TOWN production. The “City of Mineral Water” is the hometown of legendary basketball coach John Wooden, sanitariums featuring healing waters, outstanding high school academics and athletes, an aerospace industry and much more.

The documentary on Martinsville explores the history of the city including the mineral water, floods, reputation, current industry, famous people and the future. Included are segments on Albert ‘Doc’ Merritt, John Wooden, Twigg Aerospace, Form-Tec, The Candy Kitchen, Grassyfork Fishery and the Morgan County Cancer Center. The documentary also explores the city’s future and how I-69 will impact it.

Production support was provided by Indiana Gratings, Inc., HomeBank, Community Foundation of Morgan County, and Bynum’s Steakhouse.

Companion Website:
Our Town: Martinsville

WTIU asked the people of Bedford, Indiana what was special about their community. They responded by identifying the places, people, organizations, events, industries and history they thought important. The result is OUR TOWN: BEDFORD, a video portrait of the self-proclaimed Limestone Capitol of the World.

You cannot examine Bedford without considering the limestone industry, its historical and aesthetic impact on the community and its vital role in the area’s economic development. The program explores the historical roots of the industry and the techniques used to shape this beautiful stone. It showcases the buildings, monuments and artifacts in town and throughout the United States produced by Bedford workers and artisans.

However, Bedford offers much more than limestone. The program provides insider looks at the town’s two major automotive manufacturers, Visteon and General Motors Powertrain. It explores the Lawrence County Museum of History, visits the town’s chief recreational facility, Otis Park, looks behind the scenes at the Bedford Little Theatre and introduces a few of Bedford’s celebrities, including its two “home grown” astronauts. No look at Bedford would be complete without a visit to its renowned annual Christmas parade and festival of lights, the program’s final segment.

OUR TOWN: BEDFORD was produced in association with Indiana University’s Department of Telecommunications by student producers Ole Brereton, Andrew Lee, Mark Pallman and Aaron Waltke under the supervision of John Winninger and Executive Producer Eugene Brancolini.

Production support was provided by the Hoosier Hills Credit Union, Elliott Stone Company, Inc., Dunn Memorial Hospital, and the Times-Mail Newspaper.

Companion Website:
Our Town: Bedford

OUR TOWN: GREENCASTLE, INDIANA is the fourth community to be profiled in WTIU’s ongoing series putting the spotlight on towns and cities in southern and central Indiana. As with the other programs, the Greencastle show started with a community meeting to get input from citizens about what makes their town special.

According to John Winninger, executive producer of the program, “We didn’t have to dig at all for interesting features. There was really good representation from the first call-out meeting. The community was very aware of their history and significant events. They were very responsive and excited and were honored to have been chosen.”

The program includes segments on the history, economy, folklore and people of Greencastle. Viewers will learn about the Heritage Wall; the impact of IBM leaving the community; DePauw University; the national road; the fire that burned most of the town in 1874; the history of the Buzz Bomb on the courthouse square; the Monon Bell rivalry; People Pathways; the Putnam County Fair; and the John Dillinger bank robbery in 1933. Current industry is also featured with segments on Dixie Chopper and Buzzie Unicem, formerly Lone Star Industries.

Bonus features include extended interviews and features on the Heritage Wall, Ivy Tech Community College, the Monon Bell rivalry and the Veterans Memorial Highway.

Greencastle historian Jinsie Bingham narrates the program. Joining her in the program are other well-known locals such as Frank Durham, John Baughman, Mayor Nancy Michael, Ken Eitel, Don Weaver and Alice Greenburg.

WTIU has previously featured Spencer, Bedford and Seymour. Winninger said the common thread in each of WTIU’s documentaries has been a genuine love of the community by the people who live there.

OUR TOWN: GREENCASTLE was produced for WTIU by John Winninger with assistance from students in the Indiana University Department of Telecommunications and the WTIU production crew.

Production support was provided by The Walden Inn and Conference Center and Old National Bank.

Companion Website:
Our Town: Greencastle

Hometown: A Journey Through Terre Haute, Indiana takes an in-depth look at six of these buildings, transporting the viewer to a place that stands as monument to the way most Americans lived their lives in 1926. Based on the popular public radio program Hometown with Tom Roznowski, the documentary features Roznowski on a walking tour of Terre Haute in an improvisational exploration of history.

“We're trying to change the way people see Terre Haute,” Roznowski says. “Many people don't see it as very exceptional. One of our goals with this program is to uncover the fascinating in the everyday.”

“There were a lot of aspects of everyday life in the 1920s that we face as challenges now,” says Roznowski. “There was a balance between the rural and the urban in Terre Haute, the traditional and the cutting edge of technology. We always make the assumption that progress is being made as time passes. Terre Haute is case where a city actually declined over the course of the 20th century. It provides a window on America and American life that is very revealing once you explore it.”
Companion Web Site

The COMPANION WEB SITE contains a detailed program description with comments from the filmmakers, and images of vintage maps and postcards.

The documentary is based on the public radio program Hometown with Tom Roznowski.

This documentary tells the story of Reverend Ernest Butler, his family, and his efforts as a grass roots civil rights activist. The documentary traces his childhood and formative years as a pastor in Connersville to his efforts to integrate public and private facilities in Noblesville. The major segment of the video concentrates on his years in Bloomington, as pastor of the Second Baptist Church. It describes the conditions he confronted on arrival in Bloomington in 1959, and examines his efforts to open up employment and housing opportunities for African Americans in Bloomington. Attention is also given to his daily struggle to improve the lives of the members of his church and the wider community.

The DVD contains the 28 minute program and approximately 19 minutes of additional material, including two songs and extended interview footage.

INDIANA LEGENDS: GEORGE TALIAFERRO is the remarkable story of an American hero who overcame racial barriers to succeed on the football field and in life.

A star halfback at Indiana University in the 1940s, George Taliaferro led the Cream and Crimson to its only undefeated season and Big Ten Football Championship. As a student activist, he helped desegregate the Bloomington campus, opening local restaurants and movie theaters to African Americans.

In 1949, Taliaferro made history by becoming the first African American to be drafted by an NFL team. The “Jackie Robinson of Professional Football,” he revolutionized the pro game with his unique combination of speed, quickness and all-around ability. As a player and later a social worker and university administrator at IU, Taliaferro was an outspoken opponent of racism and bigotry, fighting for equal opportunities for all students.

This DVD chronicles the life of a true Indiana legend, including bonus material on Taliaferro’s youth in Gary, Indiana and racism in the United States in the 1940s.

Produced for WTIU/Indiana University Television by Rob Anderson and Jeremy Shere.

Production support was provided by the Indiana University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics; Indiana University Alumni Association; Indiana University Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Multicultural Affairs; Indiana University Press; Indiana Humanities Council in cooperation with the National Endowment for the Humanities.

INDIANA LEGENDS: GEORGE TALIAFERRO is the remarkable story of an American hero who overcame racial barriers to succeed on the football field and in life.

A star halfback at Indiana University in the 1940s, George Taliaferro led the Cream and Crimson to its only undefeated season and Big Ten Football Championship. As a student activist, he helped desegregate the Bloomington campus, opening local restaurants and movie theaters to African Americans.

In 1949, Taliaferro made history by becoming the first African American to be drafted by an NFL team. The “Jackie Robinson of Professional Football,” he revolutionized the pro game with his unique combination of speed, quickness and all-around ability. As a player and later a social worker and university administrator at IU, Taliaferro was an outspoken opponent of racism and bigotry, fighting for equal opportunities for all students.

This DVD chronicles the life of a true Indiana legend, including bonus material on Taliaferro’s youth in Gary, Indiana and racism in the United States in the 1940s.

Produced for WTIU/Indiana University Television by Rob Anderson and Jeremy Shere.

Production support was provided by the Indiana University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics; Indiana University Alumni Association; Indiana University Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Multicultural Affairs; Indiana University Press; Indiana Humanities Council in cooperation with the National Endowment for the Humanities.

On any given day there are people in our community who need assistance as the result of personal decisions or outside influences. In many cases family and friends are the answer to their needs. In other cases short-term assistance can serve to address the need for food, shelter and clothing brought on by poor personal decisions, an abusive relationship or a sudden catastrophic event like a flood. HARD LIFE is the story of 3 people who are on a journey of recovery.

Kent was living paycheck to paycheck and lost his job which resulted in nearly instant homelessness. He learned from others on the street of a place he could go for daily meals, help in a search for work, personal guidance, and transportation assistance. Still, nothing can replace the loss of priceless family photos destroyed as the rental company cleaned out his apartment to rent it to someone new.

Ellen was the manager of an apartment complex on the south side of Martinsville when days of rain finally covered her home in 3 feet of sewer backwash and neighborhood debris. She lost nearly everything she owned and for the first time in her life needed to seek out the help of local agencies. As the waters rose, she watched the life she knew wash away and a new life of waiting, reconstruction and change come to the surface.

Debbie came to Bloomington late one night after having bounced between shelters and the home of a friend, finally coming to rest on the doorstep of an agency which provides shelter for battered women. They took her in and gave her a place to stay, but in return she would be expected to go to work. At first she was angry and frustrated when faced with the expectation she would become self-sufficient but soon found herself moving toward greater self confidence.

In the end, this is a story of ourselves. We do not know when we may be the next person in need. As a society we’ve come to accept the everyday nature of those experiencing hunger, who are in need of emergency shelter, or who have lost everything due to a natural disaster. Experiencing these stories serves to remind us of the value and need of the social services in our community.

On any given day there are people in our community who need assistance as the result of personal decisions or outside influences. In many cases family and friends are the answer to their needs. In other cases short-term assistance can serve to address the need for food, shelter and clothing brought on by poor personal decisions, an abusive relationship or a sudden catastrophic event like a flood. HARD LIFE is the story of 3 people who are on a journey of recovery.

Kent was living paycheck to paycheck and lost his job which resulted in nearly instant homelessness. He learned from others on the street of a place he could go for daily meals, help in a search for work, personal guidance, and transportation assistance. Still, nothing can replace the loss of priceless family photos destroyed as the rental company cleaned out his apartment to rent it to someone new.

Ellen was the manager of an apartment complex on the south side of Martinsville when days of rain finally covered her home in 3 feet of sewer backwash and neighborhood debris. She lost nearly everything she owned and for the first time in her life needed to seek out the help of local agencies. As the waters rose, she watched the life she knew wash away and a new life of waiting, reconstruction and change come to the surface.

Debbie came to Bloomington late one night after having bounced between shelters and the home of a friend, finally coming to rest on the doorstep of an agency which provides shelter for battered women. They took her in and gave her a place to stay, but in return she would be expected to go to work. At first she was angry and frustrated when faced with the expectation she would become self-sufficient but soon found herself moving toward greater self confidence.

In the end, this is a story of ourselves. We do not know when we may be the next person in need. As a society we’ve come to accept the everyday nature of those experiencing hunger, who are in need of emergency shelter, or who have lost everything due to a natural disaster. Experiencing these stories serves to remind us of the value and need of the social services in our community.

In southern Indiana, just south of Bloomington and nestled between rolling, forested hills lies the state’s largest inland lake. Lake Monroe contains more than ten thousand acres of water and provides recreation for boaters, hikers, swimmers, and campers. The city of Bloomington and surrounding communities rely on it for a water supply. But underneath the jet skis and fishing boats lie the remains of a town that was washed away by progress.

Elkinsville: Washed Away By Progress is about that lost town. This once peaceful farming community in Brown County was displaced by construction of Lake Monroe in the 1960s.

Through an extensive collection of photos and interviews with former residents, the town of Elkinsville has been brought back to life. The program shows where these residents once lived and worked, and provides a glimpse of Indiana history seen through the eyes of people who can never go home again.

This program recounts the failed efforts by officials to find an adequate water supply for the greater Bloomington area and the circumstances that led the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to construct a dam across Salt Creek, thus creating Lake Monroe. The new lake helped control downstream flooding, provided Bloomington with a reliable water supply, and spurred tourism and economic development in southern Indiana. But it didn't come without a price.

The cost was the entire town of Elkinsville. With their land taken away by the power of eminent domain, the residents had no choice but to move on.

Every year an Elkinsville reunion is held to remind people of the town that once was. Though saddened to move, most of the former residents express no bitterness, but rather, fondly remember their old town and enjoy the lake that washed it away.

Produced by WTIU in association with Tabletop Productions.

Production support was provided by the Fourwinds Resort and Marina.