Juliet V. Strauss

Juliet V. Strauss
Greetings, today I will talk about Juliet V. Strauss, whose writings promoting the Turkey Run area led to the creation of Indiana’s second state park.
From the Book:
Turkey Run Indiana State Park

Greetings, today I will talk about Juliet V. Strauss, whose writings promoting the Turkey Run area led to the creation of Indiana’s second state park.
Juliet V. Strauss (Jan. 7, 1863 – May 22, 1918)
The second of four daughters born to William and Susan King Humphreys, Juliet was a native of Rockport, Indiana. As young girl, she loved wandering in the forest, a trait that earned her the nickname “Gypsy.” This later shortened to “Gyp.” She displayed a talent for writing at an early age. Many of the children asked her to complete their writing assignments.

She married Isaac Strouse, who was the editor of a local newspaper, the Rockville Tribune. She preferred to use the German form of his name, Strauss. In 1893 she began writing a weekly column for the paper called “Squibs and Sayings.” The column mostly entailed stories of domestic life in which she occasionally poked fun at her husband. The column gained the attention of Charles Williams, editor of the Indianapolis News. At his invitation she began writing a column called “The Country Contributor” for the News. She obtained another writing gig with the Ladies’ Home Journal. She gained nationwide fame for her writing.
Creating a Park
Her love of nature prompted her effort to save the area that became Turkey Run State Park. She wrote articles for the Rockville Tribune and sent letters to state legislators. Her efforts paid off when the Indianapolis Motor Speedway contributed money to help the State of Indiana acquire the property. The Park erected a memorial in her memory inside the park four years after her death in 1918.

Juliet V. Strauss
Location:
514 N. College St., Rockville, IN 47872 (Parke County, Indiana)
Installed by:
Installed 2012 Indiana Historical Bureau, Rockville Public Library, Parke County Historical Society, and Friends of Turkey Run
Marker ID #:
61.2012.1
Marker Text:
Popular columnist writing as “The Country Contributor,”1 Strauss (1863-1918)2 idealized simple rural life and traditional roles for women3 in a time of national shifts in class and gender relations.4 Began writing for hometown newspaper, Rockville Tribune, 1880,5 for Indianapolis News, 1903,6 and for Ladies Home Journal, 1905, which reached a million readers worldwide.7
Through her columns and influence,8 Strauss worked to save old-growth forest, 9 called Turkey Run,10 from destruction by lumber company.11 Turkey Run became Indiana’s second state park during Indiana’s centennial celebration, 1916,12 at a time of heightened national interest in conservation.13 Indiana women’s clubs dedicated a statue to her efforts at Turkey Run, 1922. 14

Turkey Run State Park is the second state park established in Indiana in 1916. Sugar Creek bisects the 2382 acres of rugged woodland terrain, providing some wonderful canoeing opportunities (off site) which span two state parks. A suspension bridge connects the developed south section from the undeveloped north section. Two covered bridges, the Cox and the Narrows Covered Bridge on either end of the park provide a scenic backdrop to many wonderful photo opportunities in the park. Visitors may either stay in the large campground or in Turkey Run Inn with its accompanying restaurant. Park visitors may fish, with an Indiana license, in Sugar Creek and hikers can enjoy the many miles of great hiking.
Turkey Run State Park
8121 E. Park Road
Marshall, IN 47859
(765) 597-2635

Author Paul Wonning – Mossy Feet Books
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