Once October arrives in Southern Indiana, we want to take advantage of as many warm sunny days as we can. We never know how many more there will be before the cold really settles in. This year we were blessed with several nice weekend days, perfect for getting out and and taking advantage of the colorful fall foliage, the smell of firewood in the air, and Indiana’s Fall Festivals.

On October 15th SouthernIN.com headed out across the scenic backroads to Daviess County for the Montgomery Fall Festival at The Gasthof Amish Restaurant and Village. Daviess County is home to around 530 Amish families. While driving through the country you can see Amish homes, beautiful farmlands, Amish-owned businesses, cheese shops, quilt and craft shops, and gardens that still appear to be thriving in October!

The Gasthof offers guided tours, several shops including a gift shop, a general store, a bakery, and “Der Stall”, where one can find handmade quilts, Amish collectibles, cookbooks, handmade baskets, bulk foods and spices. The restaurant is housed in a beautiful barn-type building framed by Amish carpenters, and built of native Indiana Oak and Poplar. There is even a hotel on the grounds.

We enjoyed our visit to the Gashof, but were a little disappointed to learn that some of the things which we hoped to see - buggy rides, apple butter-making, quilting demonstrations, and a “horse-powered freezer” would not be there until the following day. There was, however, a flea market where vendors offered a large variety of antiques, hand-made items, and even Buckeyes! The folks we met were all friendly and helpful.

Hoosier Heritage Fall Tour
Perry County

On October 23rd we enjoyed part of Perry County’s Hoosier Heritage Fall Tour in Cannelton. Perry County has a unique way of showcasing different towns each weekend throughout October. There are maps available from the Perry County Visitors Center offering scenic drives through the hills of this beautiful, historic Ohio River county, on Indiana’s southern border.

Cannelton has a rich history, which began in 1837 when the area was found to contain high-grade “cannel coal”, a type of bright-burning coal. With its coal, high quality timber and its location on the river, Cannelton thrived during the 1840’s. By 1848 there were 12 manufacturing companies and the population was nearly four thousand. The town was incorporated in 1852 and became the county seat for a time.

Sadly though, Black Sunday, as it came to be called, arrived in Cannelton and other Ohio River towns when the area was hit by a devastating flood in 1937. Many buildings were destroyed or floated away, and the citizens were urged to be vaccinated for Typhoid fever. In 1954 the Cannelton Cotton Mill closed, which led to folks leaving town to find work elsewhere.

Today, Cannelton is an active, historic town that appreciates its history and is striving to prosper once again. A Walking Tour of Cannelton’s Historic District map can be obtained from the Perry County Visitors Bureau, and many of the original buildings including the Cotton Mill, built in 1849, and other mid-19th century historic buildings can still be enjoyed. The Myers Grade School or Free School, completed in 1869 is still in use, and is “thought to be the oldest school in Indiana - perhaps the United States - in continuous use.”

At the festival we enjoyed the parade, vendors, and especially a carriage ride through the streets of this well-preserved small town. If you appreciate history and fine old architecture, we would recommend taking the walking tour, where you can see and learn about 57 historic buildings close-up.