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.
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.
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