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Wherein we learn of the connection between the scientific name of an ancient sea creature and Gene Stratton-Porter

12/31/2014

By Curt Burnette

Gene Stratton-Porter referred to herself as a Nature Lover, and she called scientists who
studied nature, Naturalists. In her mind, in her day, a naturalist was a learned person who
studied and specialized in some aspect of nature. An ornithologist who studied birds would be
a naturalist. An entomologist who studied insects would also be a naturalist.

Nowadays, we refer to naturalists as someone who is knowledgeable about nature in general
and is usually more of an educator than a scientist. Using this modern definition, Gene could be considered a naturalist since she was knowledgeable about many aspects of nature and was an educator through her articles, books, and photographs. Gene corresponded with scientists in certain fields of biology. One such person she communicated with was Professor R. R. Rowley,a prominent paleontologist from Missouri who was her scientific advisor on her book "Moths of the Limberlost". He was of great assistance to her and apparently had respect and admiration for her. When he gave a scientific name to a trilobite (an extinct marine arthropod related to insects, spiders, and crabs), it was a tribute to Gene---Phillipsia stratton-porteri.

A scientific name is the unique name given by scientists to every known species of living
thing. It is composed of a two-part name, the genus and species. Often a third part, the
subspecies name, is included. Human beings are Homo sapiens. The wolf is Canis lupus. The
dandelion is Taraxacum officinale. The scientific name of an organism is its one true name.
Any scientist anywhere in the world would know exactly what the organism is. But a common
name can sometimes apply to different animals. In the United States, a robin is one species
(Turdus migratorius), while in England, a robin is a different species (Erithicus rubecula). Many animals have several common names. The black rat snake is also known as the cow snake or chicken snake, but it has only one scientific name---Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta.

When I ask non-scientist folks, especially children, if they know any scientific names, they
usually shake their heads no. They think scientific names are just for scientists. When I tell
them that they do know scientific names, they look at me as if I’m crazy. But almost everyone
knows the name of the most famous dinosaur of all---Tyrannosaurus rex. Tyrannosaurus rex is a scientific name, Tyrannosaurus is the genus, rex is the species. Dinosaurs are generally known only by their scientific names. Triceratops is a genus. Stegosaurus is a genus. And even some modern animals are known by their scientific names. Gorilla gorilla is the scientific name of the gorilla and Bison bison is the scientific name of the American bison.

Scientific names aren’t just for brainiacs. We all use them from time to time, whether we
realize it or not. However, becoming part of a scientific name is a rare privilege that only a few
individuals, such as Gene Stratton-Porter, ever experience.

Gene Stratton-Porter and Charles Deam

12/31/2014

By Terri Gorney

Gene Stratton-Porter’s husband Charles enjoyed collecting Native American handiwork
and relics as he called them. In 1895, the Geneva Herald wrote “C.D. Porter has probably
the finest collection of Indian relics in this section of Indiana.” In October 1906, he wrote
to Charles “Charlie” Deam asking if it would be all right if he and his wife could “drive
over and call on you sometime” as he understood that Deam was also a collector.

Charlie Deam was two years younger than Gene and like Gene was born close to the
Wabash River on a farm; he in Wells County, to the northwest of Geneva. Deam, like
Gene, loved to roam the countryside studying nature. By the 1890s, he was a druggist
with his own pharmacy in Bluffton. A profession he shared with Charles Porter.

Slowly, Deam evolved into a self-taught botanist who in his lifetime collected 73,000
specimens in the state. This collection is housed at Indiana University. His books on
Indiana’s flora, grasses, shrubs, and trees are four classic books that are still consulted by
those studying the field.

Both the Deam and Stratton families came to northern Indiana in the late 1830s.
According to his biographer, Robert Kriebel, Deam’s grandfather, John Aughey Deam,
brought his family and followed the Wabash River “to a scenic promising valley.”

In August 1921, Gene wrote Charlie “after eighteen years and fourteen books in my
swamp region of Indiana, I have done two years of botanizing in California and written
a book from the new location. It you can find time to read it, I shall enjoy having your
official opinion as to the change.” She sent him a copy, as well as his daughter, Roberta,
of her new book “Her Father’s Daughter.” They had planned to meet for a visit at her
home Wildflower Woods on Sylvan Lake but it was not to be. That August was busy
time for the Porters and the Deams and Gene left for California on September 10 with
plans to spend the winter there.

It was remarkable all that Charlie Deam accomplished in 1921. He collected 1741
specimens in the state, spending 104 days in the field, driving 4880 miles. He spent
several weeks revising his “Trees of Indiana.” This is the year that he began planting
hickory and walnut trees at his Bluffton home which became known as the Deam
Arboretum.

These two famous Hoosiers both produced an enormous body of work in their lifetimes
and taught us much about the natural history of Indiana. We were fortunate that they
called northeastern Indiana home. They had very similar backgrounds and lived one
county a part for much of their lives. It is not surprising that they met and developed a
friendship. Unlike Gene, Deam lived a long life and died in 1953. He enjoyed a long and
productive career as a successful botanist and pharmacist.

Gene Stratton-Porter’s Lasting Influence

12/29/2014

By Terri Gorney

Gene Stratton-Porter’s influence is felt even today over 150 years after her birth and
almost 90 years after her death. This is an enormous accomplishment for any author or
naturalist to still be quoted, read and written about by contemporary writers.

Her legacy has become more than her fiction writing which gave her early fame. Gene’s
non fiction books, articles and her activity in the early environmental movement in this
country has become widely recognized by the conservation community.

She keenly felt the loss of the Limberlost and wanted to ensure that other natural areas
were not drained. Gene spoke out nationally about the drainage of the upper bottoms
of the Mississippi River. In northeast Indiana, she was passionate and vocal about the
proposed draining of the lakes in northeastern Indiana. Today we cannot imagine a time
when some would want to drain our lakes for agricultural land. What if she and others had not spoken out against it?

Gene’s writings have been quoted in a number of books published in the United States in
the past twenty-years. Books on collective nature writings contain chapters of her work.
One such book is “Environmental Writing Since Thoreau: American Earth.” Her article
on “The Last Passenger Pigeon” is included. She was one of those named in a book
called “The American Conservation Movement: John Muir and His Legacy.” I think that
Gene would be humbled to be in the company of John Muir, John Burroughs, Enos Mills,
Aldo Leopold, and Rachel Carson (who came after Gene).

In the book “Sisters of the Earth,” there is a chapter called “Song of the Limberlost”
that was written by Gene. Her beloved Limberlost is still remembered, mourned for its
loss and now celebrated for efforts of restoring some of the old Limberlost back into wetlands.

Her latest biography, “Nature’s Storyteller: The Life of Gene Stratton-Porter” by Barbara
Oleynik Morrow is geared for youth. Barbara does a wonderful power point presentation
which she has given to school children, there by introducing a whole new generation to Gene.

In 1960, Gene was given an award posthumously by the Izaak Walton League along
with Aldo Leopold. Gene was a charter member of this organization in 1922. I think
that Gene would be pleased to be honored with Leopold. They recognized her work as a
conservationist and a naturalist. Gene wrote an article in the first issue of their magazine “Outdoor America.”

In 1922, she was asked to write the forewords of two books: “Wild Birds and Their
Haunts” and “The Wild Heart.” In the nineteen years since the publication of “Song of
the Cardinal,” Gene had become a well-respected naturalist and author.
Gene’s voice may have been silenced but her work is still remembered and honored. Her
life ended suddenly when it was only three-quarters lived. We can only imagine what she
could have accomplished had she lived that last quarter.

2014: The Year in Review

12/1/2014

By Alex Forsythe

What a spectacular year 2014 has been!

On January 1, Limberlost hosted the Adams County Christmas Bird Count for the first time. Volunteers from 6 counties came to help record populations of Gene’s feathered friends. We saw several exciting species including Bald Eagles, the rare and elusive Short-eared Owls, Northern Harriers and so many more interesting species. Limberlost and Loblolly have quickly become some of the best birding areas in Indiana. Throughout the year, countless exciting bird species were reported in the Limberlost/Loblolly area, including the Greater White-fronted Goose, American Black Duck, Black-necked Stilts, King Rail, Bonaparte’s Gull, Sandhill Cranes, Gray-cheeked Thrush and Bay-breasted Warbler. Is it any wonder Geneva was chosen as Indiana’s first Bird Town?

The romantics gathered at Limberlost on February 14 for “Romance of the Limberlost”. Wine, a Gene movie and a program about animal courtship - the perfect Valentine’s Day!

The “Owls: Superheroes of the Night” program on March 2 proved to be quite popular, packing the conference room three times over!

Alexandra’s Outreach Program was launched, and several schools have been reached. It has been particularly humbling and rewarding to be accepted into the Amish schools and community. We have done three Amish outreach programs this year, reaching 124 students and 11 adults.

The Easter egg hunt, as always, was very well attended and full of excitement! The race for the golden eggs was on! Over 110 children and almost 130 adults packed the site!

We installed signs, both modern and vintage. One is a modern digital sign informing passers-by of coming events, while the other is a quaint, vintage-style sign reminiscent of the signage in Gene’s day.

On Independence Day, we celebrated with our national symbol: the Bald Eagle. The attendees enjoyed a rare close-up look at a live Bald Eagle and they learned more about this majestic bird.

We were honored to host the participants of the Flat 50 Bicycle Race in June. Over 400 bicyclists enjoyed the sights, sounds and hospitality of Limberlost. The Trailblazer race series brought out even more athletes with the 2K, 3K and 4K runs.

The Bluegrass Jams (on the third Sunday of July, August and September) were a huge hit! This is the 12th year that Randy has hosted the Jams. The Jams brought musicians and music lovers from all backgrounds and places to join together in perfect harmony.

The Chimney Swifts were happy to cooperate and put on a breathtaking show for the Chimney Swift program in August. As we watched, dozens of Swifts performed their aerial acrobatics, spiraling like a feathered tornado into the chimney below.

“Geneva’s Geneva”, a celebration of Gene Stratton-Porter’s life, allowed visitors to take a trip back in time. Participants enjoyed the wine-tasting and live musical entertainment, and strolled a timeline featuring significant events that occurred in Gene’s life while she lived in Geneva.

On the 100th anniversary of the death of the last Passenger Pigeon, Limberlost installed a spectacular display telling the cautionary tale: no matter how abundant or strong a species may seem, it can disappear in the blink of an eye if we do not act properly. Sought-after speakers and authors Joel Greenberg and Sherrida Woodley lent their voices to the message with thought-provoking presentations.

The movie matinee featuring two movies based on Gene Stratton-Porter novels (the 1934 Girl of the Limberlost and the 1940 Laddie) brought Gene’s written words to life.

The log cabin is getting its youthful glow back, thanks to Kenny Schwartz and his beautiful restoration of the logs paid for by the Indiana State Museum.

The nighttime marsh programs were especially popular this year. Curt did a fantastic job introducing crowds to the magic that you can only experience when visiting this special habitat in the evening.

The new Rent-a-Naturalist program has been well received. Curt is available for tailor made programs and tours, and with his expertise, his skills are in high demand! He has also been writing a popular monthly column for the Berne Tri-Weekly: “Limberlost Notebook”.

The hikes, tours, safari and “Creature Features” throughout the year were quite popular and participants always came away with a newfound sense of awe and wonder at the beauty surrounding them at Limberlost and Loblolly. Curt, Randy and Bill have a rare skill of instilling in visitors a lifelong love and appreciation of history and nature. We are so fortunate to have them!

Our own Terri Gorney uncovered several treasure troves of research about Gene Stratton-Porter and her friends, including Ray Boze (“Freckles”), Carl Faille (Gene’s “Painter Man”), and Jane Brooks Hine (the other Indiana Bird Woman). Terri’s unmatched research skills and her willingness to share her findings have given all of us rare insights into the life of Gene Stratton-Porter, and her book, “Jane Brooks Hine”, should be on everyone’s book shelf.

Terri wasn’t the only author in our midst this year. Curt wrote a must-have book (“Why I Loved a Giant Rat: Adventures of an Animal Man”) that will make you laugh until you’re hyperventilating!

To no one’s surprise, Bill was named the Geneva Citizen of the Year. Bill’s contributions to the community and to Limberlost would fill volumes!

We welcomed Ben Hess to the Limberlost family this year. Ben is our new east-central ecologist. Tom Swinford became the assistant director of nature preserves.

We’ll be ending the year in celebration with “Limberlost Christmas” (December 13) and “Limberlost New Year’s Eve” (December 31). Join us for these family-friendly events as we celebrate all of the wonders of the Limberlost with you - our friends and supporters.

Thank you for making 2014 a remarkable year!

Wherein we learn of the connection between the scientific name of an ancient sea creature and Gene Stratton-Porter

Gene Stratton-Porter and Charles Deam

Gene Stratton-Porter’s Lasting Influence

2014: The Year in Review

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