As the school year
drew to a close in 1972-73, I received a rude awakening: the teaching position
I had taken was only temporary, as I was filling in for a teacher on maternity
leave. I had not been informed of this during the interview process, and the
prospect of losing my job after just one year weighed heavily on my mind.
That's when I heard about a summer job opportunity at an Aluminum manufacturing
plant just south of Henderson, Kentucky. The plant was looking for someone with
a science background to work in their environmental control section, and I
decided to apply.
The job turned out
to be an interesting experience for me, as it was my first time working in a
large industrial facility. At the end of the summer, I was offered a full-time
position at the plant, which I accepted. This marked the end of my brief stint as
a teacher, as I bid farewell to the classroom and embarked on a new career in
industry.
After several
years at the plant, I decided it wasn't the right fit for me, and I resigned to
pursue other opportunities. That's when I joined a friend in the Real Estate
business, opening the first ERA Realty franchise in Kentucky. While at Anaconda
and Real Estate, I continued volunteering with the Henderson Audubon Society
and Audubon State Park. Both the Society and the Park were in poor condition
and in need of more funding. However, they held a rich history, and I was eager
to preserve what had been built in the past and try to build a more prosperous future.
It was during my
time at the park that I met King Benson, a former schoolteacher who had
volunteered as the summer park naturalist for several years. Despite his
difficulty walking, King was a wealth of information about the park's natural
history. I eagerly accompanied him on various trails to learn about the local
flora and fauna. When King decided to retire, he suggested I take his place,
which I gladly accepted. In the spring of 1975, I became the naturalist at John
James Audubon State Park.
Meanwhile, I also
became involved with the Henderson Audubon Society, which had fewer than 100
members at the time. Despite its small size, the society was filled with
dedicated members passionate about preserving the area's natural beauty. Two
people who stood out to me are Dr. Richard (Dick) Wham, the society's
president, and Julian Duffy, a geologist who taught at Henderson Community
College. Together, we worked on many projects and shared many laughs. A most
memorable experience with Dick Wham was a 10-day canoe trip to the Boundary
Waters Canoe Area in northern Minnesota. We had a blast planning the trip, and
the trip itself turned out to be even more fun than we expected.
Sadly, Julian
passed away unexpectedly in his sleep not long after I moved from Henderson to
upstate New York in 1982. Despite this loss, I will always cherish the memories
of the time I spent with him in the backwaters of Henderson.
In my next post, I
will detail some projects I worked on at Audubon State Park and with the
Henderson Audubon Society.
Thank you for
reading, and cheers to preserving the natural beauty around us!
Instead of launching right into “I did this, and I did that,”
I thought it important to start by posting about who else “did this and that”
and built the foundation upon which I worked. Secondly, I want readers to know
that although this blog is called My Audubon Adventures, it was
not the “Audubon Society” that built the foundation. For that matter, it was
not even John James Audubon. “Audubon” is a conservation movement and the
foundation upon which I stood was built by many individuals across the country
who cared about birds, nature, and the conservation of natural resources. I
felt then and now that my job is to motivate people to become more closely
connected with nature and sustainable natural resource management.
Through this blog, I intend to tell the story of how and why
I chose to do what I did over a 50+ year career and talk about successes and
failures along the way.
Henderson, Kentucky, was and is full of businesses and
organizations that include the word “Audubon” in their titles and branding. So,
it seemed to me that Henderson must be a bird-friendly town as often as the
name Audubon is used. And I thought if the town is bird-friendly, it must be a
conservation-minded community.
Instead of focusing on John James Audubon and his family as
my main research project, I should focus on the history of the Henderson
Audubon Society and the history of John James Audubon State Park, particularly
since I had been elected to serve as Vice President of the Society and was
spending a lot of time at the park.
I saw myself as a teacher who focused on nature and
environmental education. But, now that I was no longer a classroom teacher, I
needed to define what I would teach and to whom I would teach it. So, my first
step was to discover how the Henderson Audubon Society came into existence and
the organization’s main mission. Since Audubon State Park seemed to be the
“main Audubon place,” I also needed to look into the park’s history.
I discovered that, to a great degree, the Henderson Audubon
Society and Audubon State Park had much in common. That was not necessarily
John James Audubon, but one local woman who had an unbelievable interest in
John James Audubon and his art.
Susan Starling Towles: A Woman Ahead of Her Time
Susan Starling Towles was a remarkable woman who lived an
extraordinary life. Born on a farm a few miles south of Henderson, KY, on
October 11, 1861, she was a nervous, studious child who loved reading. Her
mother recognized her daughter's talents and educated her at home until she
attended Central School.
After graduation, Susan became a teacher and eventually the
principal of Henderson Seminary, a private school for girls. But her life took
a new turn in 1903 when she was asked to become the librarian of the Henderson
library. Despite hesitating, Susan accepted the challenge and traveled to
Washington, D.C., to learn the Library of Congress cataloging system. In 1904,
the Henderson library opened with 500 books.
Susan's passion for education and civic engagement extended
beyond the library. She was a member of the Henderson Audubon Society (Founded
in 1898 as the first Audubon Society in Kentucky), working tirelessly with
other civic leaders to establish the John James Audubon State Park and Museum,
securing many of Audubon's paintings in the process. As president of the Civic
Improvement Society in 1903, Susan and her colleagues planned the riverfront
chain of parks. She was also a member of the General Hopkins chapter of the
Daughters of the American Revolution, a communicant of St. Paul's Episcopal
Church, a life member of the Women's Club, a member of the Century Club, and an
organizer of the Society of Transylvanians.
Susan's memoir, in which she said, "Mine has been a
busy life with many dreams and much fulfillment," perfectly encapsulates
her incredible journey. Despite the limitations placed on women during her
time, Susan's tireless dedication to education, community service, and the arts
made her a trailblazer and role model for future generations.
John James Audubon State Park is a historical landmark in
Henderson, Kentucky, just south of the Ohio River. It is named after John James
Audubon, the famous ornithologist, naturalist, painter, and slave owner who
lived in Henderson from 1810 to 1819 when it was still a frontier village. The
park, which covers 650 acres of land, was listed on the National Register of
Historic Places in 1988 and is dedicated as a state nature preserve by the Office
of Kentucky Nature Preserves.
In 1934, the Wolf Hills area in Henderson was selected for a
new state park, and a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) base Camp Cromwell was
established nearby. Over the next four years, the CCC drained swamps, built two
lakes, and developed trails and roads, while the Works Progress Administration
(WPA) constructed the park shelters, the Tea House (which is now the park
office), and the Audubon Museum using local stone and millwork.
The park could have been smoother sailing, with delays
caused by a lack of funds and disagreements over its focus. However, with the
help of Gibney Oscar Letcher, a Henderson attorney, and businessman, progress
was made among the CCC, WPA, National Park Service, Kentucky Department of
Parks, local contractors and suppliers, the Audubon Park Committee, and the
Audubon family descendants. The Tea House was completed in June 1940 and served
three meals daily until December 1941. The cottages were completed in the
spring of 1941, and the recreational lake was excavated and filled. After the
attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Kentucky and the nation prepared
for war. Camp Cromwell was converted into a Naval Cadet Aviation Training
School during the war and supervised by Evansville College (presently the
University of Evansville).
After World War II, attention returned to the park. From
1948 to 1955, a restoration and construction program was carried out, including
construction of a new museum and nature center. From 1960 to 1969, another $500,000
was invested in the park by constructing a camping area and a nine-hole golf
course. Additional land was acquired, bringing the park to nearly 700 acres.
Today, the park boasts the Audubon Museum, which proudly
displays one of the world's largest collections of original Audubon art that
made the wildlife artist a legend. The museum's four exhibit halls chronicle
Audubon's life, including his 1810–1819 residence in Henderson, Kentucky, with
personal artifacts and memorabilia that portray his often-difficult life.
John James Audubon State Park is a historical landmark and a
nature lover's paradise. It is one of three state parks in Kentucky that will
be in the path of totality for the 2024 total solar eclipse. It is a must-visit
destination for those who appreciate art, history, and nature.
“Hi Ron, congratulations.” That was the greeting I received
as I stepped out of my car for an evening meeting of the Henderson Audubon
Society in the autumn of 1974 that was being held at the home of Frank
Stanonis. I responded with “Hi” but in my head, I said, “congratulations for
what?”
My Last Year as a Classroom Teacher
While we had moved to Henderson because I accepted a
teaching job at Henderson City High School, I spent several months of my free
time in 1972 and 1973 exploring the Henderson area and trying to connect with
the Henderson Audubon Society. Still, I needed help locating them or anyone
that was connected with the organization. Finally, in June 1973, I received a
telephone call from Dr. Richard Wham, who was a member of the Henderson Audubon
Society, and he told me that there was a meeting of the Society that very
evening if I was able to attend. I don’t remember what the evening program was
about, but I recall that at the program’s end, someone said that this evening’s
meeting was the last meeting for the season and that regular meetings would
start again in the Fall. They also said if anyone had ideas or recommendations
for programs that might be considered for the next season beginning in the Fall
of 1974, please let them know. During the refreshment period, I did mention
that I knew someone who was an expert in reptiles and amphibians of the region
that would make an excellent speaker and presentation.
The evening meeting at Frank Stanonis’ home was called to
order by Richard Wham, who was the newly elected President of the Henderson
Audubon Society. Just a few moments after the meeting started, I discovered
what I had been congratulated for. I discovered that, without my knowledge, I had
been elected (AKA appointed) as Vice President and Program Chair of the
Society. That was the first time I realized that just showing up and speaking
up can often lead to interesting things happening!
Ivory-billed Woodpeckers by John James Audubon
For those of you who have known me for many years, you might
find it hard to believe that in my younger years, I was very introverted and
would never even consider speaking in public. My Dad used to say that I was so
shy that if I was totally lost somewhere that I wouldn’t even ask anyone for
directions. Most of you know that as life moved forward, I managed to get over
that issue.
So, that is how I came to be involved with the Audubon
Society. I showed up, I suggested a program and there you go! In addition to my
search for a local Audubon Society, I was also spending time looking into the
history of John James Audubon and his family when they lived in Henderson,
which meant that I spent considerable time in John James Audubon State Park.
The next few posts will focus on some of my adventures with the Henderson
Audubon Society and Audubon State Park.
“Why are you calling
this blog My Audubon
Adventures? It seems to me like
you have been involved in many things over the years that didn’t really have
anything to do with Audubon.” That was one of the first questions/comments that
I got from a family member right after I announced that I was going to work on
this blog. The answer is that when I moved to Henderson, Kentucky, I became fascinated
with John James Audubon, his family, and art. Then from 1972 until around 2016,
I was involved with one Audubon organization or another.
John James Audubon Museum - Audubon State Park
So, it is my opinion
that my interest in nature conservation, environmental stewardship, and spreading
environmental education around the United States and the globe for nearly 50
years has been both an adventure and, for most of the time, connected in some
way to “Audubon.” I have worked with some outstanding mentors and fellow nature
advocates over the years. There have been many “high” moments and several “low”
moments. I have received various awards for programs that I created, and I have
been sued for creating those very same programs. I have been called a hero for some
of the environmental education programs that I created, and I have been called an
“environmental sellout” for creating those very same programs.
Throughout the
years, I have never changed my focus on encouraging people to become more
closely connected with nature and to become environmental stewards where they
live, work, and play. Mostly I have focused on the conservation and stewardship
of water and wildlife.
Common Loon
Through this blog, I
want to tell my story. I want to share some of my successes. I want to thank a
bunch of people and organizations. I want to poke a few people and
organizations in the eyes. In the end, however, it is my hope that readers will
become inspired to become more connected with nature and become active
environmental stewards where they live, work, and play.
It was a hot August 1972 day when the Dodson family made our way into Henderson, Kentucky, to establish our new home location and for me to begin what turned out to be my last year as a classroom teacher.
The Entrance to Audubon Park on U.S. Highway 41
Just after we crossed the Ohio River, we noticed the entrance to John James Audubon State Park on the left, and directly across from the park entrance on the right was an automobile dealership that was also named "Audubon." In just a few short months, I discovered that over 30 businesses and organizations had adopted the name Audubon as part of their titles. But, I also discovered that most of the citizens of the community knew very little about the person that was named Audubon, nor did they appear to appreciate his work and the value that his history in Henderson brought to the community.
John James Audubon and his dog Zephyur
And so the adventure begins. My interest in nature and conservation had begun years before our move to Kentucky, but finally landing a High School Biology teaching job in Henderson and discovering that John James Audubon and his family had lived in Henderson longer than any other location in America is what I needed to launch what would become my lifelong profession and consume my entire family from then on.
This blog is about the places that "Audubon" has taken us to, the people we have met and worked with, the organizations that I have worked with or started, the fun we have had, and the problems we have experienced, all the while trying to convince people that each of us can make positive contributions to the environment and nature where we live, work and play.
If this sounds interesting, I hope you will follow along.
