Submitter’s note: The story we are sharing with you today was written by Rob Coulter, historical society archivist, about a conversation he had one Tuesday morning several years ago when we were housed at the old bowling alley building up on State Road 135 (now Quaff ON! brewery).
I got an interesting phone call while in the Archives Room at the Brown County Historical Society about mid-January. Working at the 135 North building with no one around can be pretty creepy. This is a big, empty building, dark, quiet, and what little noise there is, echoes. You get the picture.
The phone rings and I answer. A well-spoken guy on the other end asks, “What’s the phone number of the jail?”
I pause a beat, wondering if this is a joke, and say, “The jail isn’t open, and besides, there’s no phone there.”
There is now a pause for several l-o-o-ng beats and Well-Spoken-Guy says, “They have to open the jail.”
I say, “Nope, we don’t have anyone there ‘til May 1st.” You can arrange for a tour if you have a group though. Would you like me to have someone call you to arrange that?”
Well-Spoken-Guy huffs back, “How do the prisoners contact their relatives and attorneys if there is no one there to run the place?”
Now it’s my turn for a real l-o-o-ng pause. “I don’t think we are talking about the same jail here. You’ve reached the Brown County Historical Society, and while we operate a historic jail, I think you want the jail that the sheriff operates.”
“That’s right! The county jail! Can you give me the number?”
“Oh, sure. Who am I speaking with, if you don’t mind my asking?”
With more self-importance than I thought was called for, he replies, “I’m Well-Spoken-Guy, an Indianapolis attorney, and I need to reach my client.” I did a search for the jail’s number on the internet and the Brown County Historical Society turned up.
This is turning out to be fun. “Ya, I’ll look it up for you. Not trying to be rude, but how come you didn’t you call directory assistance?”
Now comes the mother of all l-o-o-o-o-ng pauses. “I guess I didn’t think of it.”
My day is made! I gave him the number and filed it away for future reference that if I ever got in a jam with the sheriff, not to hire Well-Spoken-Guy.
If you would like to help answer important questions like this about Brown County history, why don’t you join us?
— Submitted by Pauline Hoover, Brown County Historical Society
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We extend an invitation to you to visit the Brown County Archives whether you are interested in researching your family roots, people, places or happenings.
Maybe you would like to see the History Center. It is open Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The archives are open on Tuesdays and Fridays from 1 to 4 p.m.
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