In the words of Mayor Thomas Estabrook, “We’re small enough to know our neighbors, but big enough to have businesses run by local individuals that can supply most of our everyday needs. We very much have that small town feel that you might see in Hallmark movies. Folks like me who were born and raised here often say that Bicknell is home, and there’s no place like it.” A COMMUNITY ROOTED IN HISTORY “I use the hashtag ‘Bicknell is Better’ every time we have some success or a good thing going for us,” he continues. “That’s kind of a way to show what we have if you compare us to other communities.” It was the coal industry that attracted immigrants and spurred Bicknell’s early growth, and today, the city is honoring this past while building a new legacy. The Bicknell Heritage Circle is a focal point of this effort, commemorating military service and showcasing a storied sports history. The Heritage Circle includes flags representing the United States, Indiana, and each branch of the military, along with monuments honoring residents who served and sacrificed their lives in service. The choice of location on Bicknell’s Hooper Field, a former high school sports venue, was twofold.“We wanted it to be prominent,” Mayor Estabrook explains . “We moved it to the highway for visibility. We wanted it to be something that people could see all the time.” The site also honors Hooper Field’s rich history as a venue for local athletics. The Mayor recounts, “Bicknell native Herdis McCrary played on the field and later played for the Green Bay Packers, and in 1921 an exhibition baseball team of Bicknell players defeated the St. Louis Cardinals, led by future hall of famer Roger Hornsby, by a score of 9 to 6.” Nearby, restored railroad equipment and coal mining artifacts pay homage to Bicknell’s industrial roots. Mayor Estabrook elaborates, “We took this whole area, and we made it about military service and about some of the heritage that made Bicknell into what it is. It will give future generations an idea of what Bicknell was like, what the community has sacrificed, not only locally, but nationally.” A THRIVING BUSINESS CLIMATE Mayor Estabrook reflects on Bicknell’s evolving commercial landscape and the shift in business focus over the years. “From the mid 90s backwards, it was more of a traditional downtown, old style storefronts, traditional service and commodity based businesses. We are talking about furniture vendors, clothing vendors, shoe stores, and jewelry stores. 21 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 01 BICKNELL, IN
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