There are many reasons to visit Spencer, Indiana. It is the home of the holiday season, and has a cemetary, trail system, and lake. If you’re looking for the perfect place for a small-town Christmas celebration, Spencer is the place for you. It’s a little known gem of southern Indiana and is a perfect example of small town life mingled with progressive thinking.
Spencer is America’s Christmas Hometown
Santa Claus, Indiana is a small rural town just over an hour from Louisville and Evansville. The town has a population of around 2,500 people and is known as America’s Christmas Hometown. Although it’s not a major city, many of its businesses are themed around the holiday.
One of the town’s most unique features is its Santa Claus post office, where thousands of letters are mailed every year. Throughout the Christmas season, Santa’s Elves make sure every letter is received and replied to by the big man himself. The tradition has been going on since 1914. The Spencer post office also creates a special Christmas hand-cancellation pictorial postmark that is used during the month of December. The design is chosen by art students from nearby high schools.
In 1855, when a post office was built in the town, residents were forced to change the town’s name. In an effort to secure a post office, residents debated whether or not to call it “Santa Claus”. The name was finally selected when a gust of wind blew open the front door and a child said, “Santa Claus!” The town has retained its name ever since.
It has a trail system
Spencer’s trail system provides a variety of opportunities for outdoor recreation. It includes the Depot Rail Trail, which runs along the abandoned rail bed that once provided rail service to downtown Spencer. The trail begins at 65 South Spencer Road, just before the railroad bridge. From here, you can walk or bike along the scenic paved path that follows the Little Sioux River. The trail continues to Riverview Park, where you’ll find picnic tables, restrooms, and the city’s Family Aquatic Center.
From the town, the Spencer Butte Trail connects to FR 93. The trail is generally level, rising only a bit, and is dotted with Douglas-fir and western white pine. The trail features a bend that requires you to slow down to 15 mph, as well as a second 15-mph sign. The Bluff Trail (#24) begins about 500 yards from the intersection of FR 93.
The main trail leads to the top of Spencer Butte. It also features the “Tie Trail,” which connects the mid-dle Willamette Trail with the Fox Hollow segment. This trail travels through the oldest Douglas-fir forest in the natural areas of the city. Near the trailhead, you’ll find prairie wildflowers in spring, and butterflies in the summer.
The Spencer Snowbirds Snowmobile Club maintains a network of trails throughout town. The trails wind through private and public land. The trails are designed for beginner riders and experts alike. These trails are maintained by volunteers and are free of charge to use. The club also offers lessons and rental equipment for riders of all skill levels.
Another popular attraction is Spencer Butte, a 2,054-foot mountain that dominates the southern skyline of Eugene. The trails on the top of Spencer Butte are well maintained and wide enough for groups to hike together. During the rainy and cold seasons, the park can get very crowded. The trails are also popular for picnics and hiking.
It has a lake
Located on the southwest side of the Puget Sound, Spencer has a lake that’s just right for fishing. The lake is stocked with rainbow, cutthroat, and jumbo-sized trout, and is also a good spot for bass fishing. It’s also accessible by boat and has a public boat landing. The lake is just 15 miles from Shelton and about 40 minutes from Olympia.
Spencer’s City Pool is a great place to cool off during the hot summer months. It features a water slide, diving board, and lifeguards. Located near the McDonald’s, Miletree Lakes is also a great spot for swimming and fishing. You can catch trophy-sized crappie, largemouth bass, bluegill, and a variety of catchable trout.
The Spencer area has a few lakes. The Sugden Reservoir, off Paxton Road, was built to serve as a reserve water supply for a wire mill. While most of the lake’s shoreline is privately owned, a gravel ramp off of Donnelly Cross Road provides access to the lake for small boats. Thompson Pond, on the other hand, was originally built to run a sawmill. Richard Sugden expanded it into a lake. There’s a limited amount of public boat access on the lake, but you can enjoy fishing along the shore.
Despite its small size, Spencer has a lake that provides excellent fishing opportunities for Rainbow Trout and Yellow Perch. The lake is also a good choice for smallmouth bass and coastal cutthroat trout. Although the lake isn’t very well known, it has been a popular spot for many fishermen.
It has a cemetary
Spencer has a cemetery for the Spencer family, and the graveyard is registered. It contains 38 graves of family members and four unmarked graves. The last burial there was in 2008. The Spencer family has spent a considerable amount of time researching its history and preserving the cemetery for future generations. The cemetery was originally a part of a 100,000-acre grant to King George III in 1784. This land was later passed to J.F.W. DesBarres, a lieutenant governor of Cape Breton from 1784-1787, and was the site of Sydney in 1785.
The cemetery is located in a plot north of the town of Spencer. The cemetery is located on 46 acres of land. It has been owned by the City of Spencer since 1878, but it was not the first cemetery to be established in Spencer. The land was originally located in a different location due to high water levels. A fire in 1916 destroyed the cemetery’s records. In order to replace the records, the Spencer family made contact with friends and acquaintances. Many visitors from far and wide came to the cemetery to help.
The cemetery was originally named the Straight Cemetery, but the name was changed in 2001 to the Spencer cemetery because it now has the names of two families. The Straight family has more than thirty people buried there, while the Spencer family has only four. The Spencer father and elder son were killed by smallpox in October 1777. Their wives were buried next to them. The eldest daughter died of scarlet fever in 1832.
The cemetery was established more than two hundred years ago, and the Spencer family wanted to bury their ancestors there. The cemetery is located on the Mira River, near the Albert Bridge. It is expected to be the site of a recreational vehicle park.
It has a Civil War park
If you’re interested in the Civil War, Spencer has an excellent park dedicated to the war. This park was founded on the same land where the Battle of Stonewall is believed to have taken place in August 1861. The park includes a replica wooden cannon, a cemetery where Union soldier William Pool is buried, and interpretive kiosks. The site also features a beautiful view of the surrounding countryside.
In the fall of 1910, a statue was shipped to Spencer from Boston. The statue was held up in customs, but the Spencer selectmen were “considerably upset” by the detention. Fortunately, customs officials eventually released the statue in time for an April 19, 1911 dedication ceremony, which commemorated the first casualties of the war and the 50th anniversary of the Baltimore Riot.
Spencer’s historic park is located near Lake Whittemore. Near downtown Salisbury, it is a beautiful place for hiking, biking, and kayaking. The area also has a great park for dogs. There are many trails and picnic tables to explore, making it the perfect spot for play dates with your pet.
The town is also known for the Spencer rifle. This is the same rifle used by the Union’s 12th Corps soldiers during the Battle of Gettysburg. Its superiority frightened a whole division of General Ewell’s troops. One eye-witness said that the head of the column appeared to sink into the ground.
The town has an active Civil War history. During the war, many civilians lost their lives in the area. It’s also worth visiting the town’s historic buildings and historical landmarks. The town is also home to the Burncoat Pond Wildlife Sanctuary, a 64-acre parcel that was purchased by the Massachusetts Audubon Society in 2006.
