ARE YOU A TRUE LAWRENCE COUNTY NATIVE?

Are you a true Lawrence Countian?
Today, we are challenging you to see how well you know Lawrence County.
Grab a piece of paper and a pencil. It’s time to score!
You have four answer choices for each question. On a piece of paper, write down your answer (A,B,C or D).
When you are finished, scroll to the end of the page and tally up your score.
Are you an Outsider, a Traveler or true Lawrence County Native?

QUESTIONS

1. Bedford is known as “The ____ Capital of the World”
a. Bluegrass
b. Limestone
c. Pine Tree
d. Granite

2. What famous astronaut grew up in Mitchell?
a. Kenneth D. Bowersox
b. Charles D. Walker
c. Buzz E. Aldrin
d. Virgil I. Grissom

3. Finish this sentence: Green persimmons taste ____.
a. Spicy
b. Sweet
c. Puckery
d. Salty

4. What Heltonville athlete was recruited as an 8th grader by IU’s great Bobby Knight?
a. Damon Bailey
b. Larry Bird
c. Brian Evans
d. Cody Zeller

5. Where can you find a picture of Johnny Appleseed standing?
a. Spring Mill State Park
b. The Bedford Farmer’s Market
c. Applacres
d. The Bedford Square

6. What 1940’s comic strip character has a limestone carving that sits in Oolitic?
a. Popeye
b. Beetle Bailey
c. Scooby Doo
d. Joe Palooka

7. Where can you go fishing on the site of an old, hydroelectric dam?
a. Tunnelton
b. Springville
c. Huron
d. Williams

8. What is the name for the narrow, 1 mile stretch of road with drop-offs on each side?
a. The Lawrence Peak
b. Dragons Back
c. Devils Backbone
d. The Cutouts

9. Which of the following is NOT a township in Lawrence County?
a. Spice Valley
b. Palestine
c. Shawswick
d. Guthrie

10. Every county has a little friendly competition. What is the biggest rivalry in Lawrence County?
a. Beavers v. Bobcats
b. Bulldogs v. Rams
c. Bluebirds v. Hornets
d. Stars v. Bluejackets

11. What type of pudding is on every Lawrence County native’s table during Thanksgiving? Everyone’s grandma has their own recipe!
a. Banana
b. Persimmon
c. Chocolate
d. Blueberry

12. Where can you go to take an underground ride along Myst’ry River?
a. Thornton Park
b. Bluespring Caverns Park
c. Lost River
d. Murray Park

13. Which of these famous places was built with Lawrence County limestone?
a. Empire State Building
b. Statue of Liberty
c. Mount Rushmore
d. The Eiffel Tower

14. Walking through here is almost considered a “rite of passage” in Lawrence County, but if you see a lantern walking towards you, you better run!
a. The Williams Tunnel
b. Martin State Forest
c. The Tunnelton Tunnel
d. The Heltonville Bridge

15. Lawrence County was named after Naval Captain, James Lawrence. What famous words did he utter after being mortally wounded in the War of 1812?
a. “Aim small, miss small”
b. “Private, what is your malfunction?”
c. “If you’re ever in trouble, don’t be brave. You just run, OK? Just run away.”
d. “Don’t give up the ship”

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ANSWERS
Use the guide below to grade yourself! Are you a true Lawrence County native?

1. Bedford is known as “The ____ Capital of the World”
B – Limestone
Lawrence County’s rich limestone quarrying and carving history began in the early 1800s. Since then, the county has been known as “Limestone Country.” Limestone is found underground in the Stone Belt, a unique area in Lawrence County and nearby Monroe County that is 35 miles long and 10 miles wide. It gives the area it’s rolling hills and has been transformed into stunning buildings and statues.

2. What famous astronaut grew up in Mitchell?
D – Virgil I. Grissom
Virgil I. “Gus” Grissom was raised in Mitchell, Indiana. After being in the military, he became an astronaut and one of the first few people to go into space! If you picked Bowersox or Walker, we understand why! These two astronauts spent their time growing up in Bedford. We reach for the stars here in Lawrence County. Click here to learn more about the astronauts!

3. Finish this sentence: Green persimmons taste ____.
C – Puckery
You are a true Lawrence County native if you know that it is NEVER a good idea to pick a persimmon off of the tree when it is still green. Pick persimmons off of the ground when they are a beautiful burnt orange color. That’s when they taste sweet and ready to eat. Never heard of a persimmon? Click here to learn more about them!

4. What Heltonville athlete was recruited as an 8th grader by the IU’s great Bobby Knight?
A – Damon Bailey
That’s right! When he was in 8th grade, Damon Bailey was recruited by the legendary Bob Knight. He was Indiana’s all-time high school leading scorer, and played for Indiana Hoosiers where he earned All-American honors. There is a limestone statue in Heltonville to commemorate this incredibly talented athlete.

5. Where can you find a picture of Johnny Appleseed standing?
C – Applacres
This apple orchard and market has been sitting along highway 37 for a very long time. If you have never stepped foot inside of Applacres, are you sure you are from Lawrence County?

6. What 1940’s comic strip character has a limestone carving that sits in Oolitic?
D – Joe Palooka
In 1948, Ham Fisher, creator of comic strip character, Joe Palooka, dedicated this limestone statue to Bedford, Indiana. The 10 foot and 20,000 pound Joe Palooka statue now stands safely in Oolitic, Indiana.

7. Where can you go fishing on the site of an old, hydroelectric dam?
D – Williams
In the early 1900’s the town of Williams was partially powered by the hydroelectric Williams Dam. The dam is no longer in service, but it serves as a very popular fishing spot along the White River.

8. What is the name for the narrow, 1 mile stretch of road with drop-offs on each side?
C – Devils Backbone
As a lesser known area in Lawrence County, we won’t blame you if you got this one wrong. However; If you have never been there, it is definitely a site to see! Sitting atop this high stretch of road, you can see for miles.

9. Which of the following is NOT a township in Lawrence County?
B – Palestine
While Palestine is not a township in Lawrence County, it was the original county seat of Lawrence County in the early 1800’s until Bedford took its place.

10. Every county has a little friendly competition. What is the biggest rivalry in Lawrence County?
D – Stars v. Bluejackets
A little friendly competition is healthy, right? The Bedford North Lawrence Stars and the Mitchell Bluejackets have been at it for who knows how long! Good luck finding a seat in the bleachers when these two teams go head to head.

11. What type of pudding is on every Lawrence County native’s table during Thanksgiving?
B – Persimmon Pudding
Every grandma, aunt and uncle has their own persimmon pudding recipe, so it’s not uncommon to see more than one persimmon pudding on a dessert table in Lawrence County. If you’re a true native, right now you are agreeing, “That’s so true. I DO have my own recipe”

12. Where can you go to take an underground ride along Myst’ry River?
B – Bluespring Caverns Park
Open mid-March to October, Bluespring Caverns Park offers up a fun and intellectual underground river boat tour! Visitors can also try their hand a mining for gemstones at the Myst’ry River Sluice.

13. Which of these famous places was built with Lawrence County limestone?
A – Empire State Building
It’s okay if you didn’t know this one or if your answer was made through the process of elimination. Lawrence County limestone has been used for many famous buildings around the country like Grand Central Station and the Pentagon. Crazy, right?

14. Walking through here is almost considered a “rite of passage” in Lawrence County, but if you see a lantern walking towards you, you better run!
C – Tunnelton Tunnel
If you aren’t familiar with the Tunnelton Tunnel, no one will believe that you are from Lawrence County. The tunnel is not open to the public, but most locals know the story. According to the tale, a railroad worker lost his head either during the construction of the tunnel or by a train passing through the tunnel (depends on the storyteller). Now, it is said that one can see his ghost walking through the tunnel with a lantern in one hand and his head in the other.

15. Lawrence County was named after Naval Captain, James Lawrence. What famous words did he utter after being mortally wounded in the War of 1812?
D – “Don’t give up the ship.”
Unfortunately, Captain Lawrence passed during a naval battle, but not before he uttered the famous words “Don’t give up the ship”. Lawrence County was named after this naval hero.
KEY

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1-5 CORRECT ANSWERS
YOU’RE AN OUTSIDER
It’s okay that you didn’t get them all right, but are you sure you are from Lawrence County?

6-10 CORRECT ANSWERS
YOU’RE A TRAVELER
You have definitely spent some time in Lawrence County! Study a little more and try again.

11-15 CORRECT ANSWERS
YOU’RE A NATIVE
You are a true Lawrence Countian! Congratulations

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Thanks for playing! To learn more about Limestone Country, click here.