Another lovely breakfast at the farmhouse. This morning Janet cooked potato pancakes topped with yogurt and chives I picked from the garden. Great coffee and pears from a neighbor’s tree finished off the meal. Hugs all around and a promise to stay in their Air BNB again if they get the house in North Carolina.
As the weatherman promised, the rain stopped and the day was chilly but sunny. Time to haul out my jacket.
Sherilyn met me at the Wabash County Historical Museum on Market Street. The city of Wabash agreed to be the test city to try out electric lights. At eight p.m. on March 31, 1880, Wabash became the first city in the world to be lighted by electricity. Ten thousand spectators cheered as the lights on the courthouse illuminated the area. It was also the home of Mark Honeywell, who created the home thermostat. Honeywell donated money to build the Honeywell Center, venue for concerts, the arts and theater, and to set up the Honeywell Foundation, which supports a number of programs in the city.
The city has won several grants in recent years and has put them to good use sprucing up the main street and showing off the architecture to good advantage. Sherilyn’s brother Don has been part of the renovation efforts. He created a beautiful door of oak farmed with decorative glass squares for the city’s visitors’ center. Above the door he built stained glass windows. The young woman at the center said the effect is stunning when the sun shines through the windows and swathes the floor in a rainbow of colors.
Tonight I am at John’s cousin Sam’s house with Abby, his wife, and their three wonderful and very sweet children. We all helped Abby prepare a delicious supper of chicken soup, biscuits, and salad. After we ate, Abby and the kids made a happy birthday vide (a six-second video) for a friend. Even though I didn’t have a clue, I helped. Wade made the vide seem to organize candy into the person’s name. Pretty funny!
Tomorrow: Akron. Almost home!