Indiana National Road, The Hoosier Gym, and the Hoosier 40

    The National Road was an early road project of the Federal government. Work began in 1811. Beginning in Cumberland Maryland and concluding in Vandalia Illinois, this historic road crosses through the State of Indiana as US Route 40. In fact, US 40 was built upon the National Road.

The Hoosier Gym

The Indiana National Road Association held its annual business meeting and dinner on October 27, 2016 in the Hoosier Gym located in Knightstown Indiana. This is the gym that was used for the filming of the great basketball movie 'Hoosiers" featuring Gene Hackman.
 
This historic gym was used as a regular high school gymnasium until 1966 at which time it became an elementary school gym. Around 1985 it was decided that it would no ,longer be a gym as the community was building newer facilities. Hence a perfect location for the movie.

Wade Schenk, "Ollie"

 Fitting with the location for this meeting, the Association invited Wade Schenck, who played "Ollie" in the movie to speak. He reported that while it was a fun experience to appear in the movie, he preferred to stay on his family farm rather than try to be a professional actor.

  You never know who you will meet at these events. At my table I met Scott and Rene Booker who are in the process of researching and writing a book about the Indiana section of the National Road.
   They call their book and project "The Hoosier 40".

Scott and Rene Booker

 The book will cover the stretch of the national Road between Richmond Indiana and Terre Haute Indiana. Scott and Rene are spending time interviewing business owners along that stretch of road. They are researching the history of the communities. This young and excited couple hope to create a book based upon the lives of real people along this historic road rather than an academic collection of facts. They seek a personal, warm, and meaningful story rather than a cold and flat journey to irrelevant data.

  This makes sense. Scott and Rene are warm and engaging. It will take you about thirty seconds to feel as though you have known them since elementary school. I'm sure with that kind of inviting personality people will open up to tell their stories.
If you would like to follow the progress on this book, please visit
https://scottandrenebooker.com
thehoosier40.wordpress.com

If you would like to learn more about the Indiana National Road Association visit
http://www.indiananationalroad.org/

And tell them Mike sent you!