Our Town: Greencastle

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.