Photo by Mark Webber | The Republic Hope celebrated Total Eclipse of the Hope through the weekend into Monday.
HOPE – Six months ago, the Hope Town Council first heard about this week’s total eclipse of the sun.
Using figures from Hopkinsville, Kentucky during a 2017 eclipse, Hope Town Marshal Matt Tallent said tens of thousands of visitors might come to northeast Bartholomew County.
While Tallent’s figures and prediction were valid at the time, crowd estimates dropped after larger communities with more resources and attractions also tried to boost tourism with the eclipse.
“The crowd hasn’t reached what we were told it would going to reach in Bartholomew County,” Tallent said Monday. “I think so many towns and organizations have something going on that our crowds are down.”
But the marshal estimated the number of visitors to the Hope Town Square at more than 200 both Saturday and Sunday.
“That’s not too bad,” Tallent said.
When the eclipse finally arrived Monday, about 250 people watched the once-in-a-lifetime event from the Hope Town Square – including several visitors from outside Indiana.
Sherri Cox said she came to Hope from Maryland for two reasons: to watch the eclipse and visit her husband’s family in Waldron.
“I just love the vibe here,” Cox said about Hope. “This town has a laid-back vibe. You don’t have to worry about anything. And the weather is so perfect right now. It is gorgeous.”
Her husband, Mike Cox, said he was impressed with all the improvements that have occurred in Hope in recent years.
“In Waldron, we have one blinking stop light and that’s it,” Mike Cox said. “The town hasn’t changed since I was a little kid. But Hope? It’s awesome.”
Ted Davis of Port Huron, Michigan, travels 236 miles to come to Bartholomew County on business. But instead of staying on Interstate 65, Davis says he always takes a detour to State Road 9 and drives through Hope because the town makes him nostalgic for the small towns he knew while growing up.
“I knew about a year ago there was going to be a solar eclipse,” Davis said. “So I scheduled a meeting with my customer early this morning – just so I could come back to Hope at the right time.”
According to one of the entertainment headliners, visitors from Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio and California also came to northeast Bartholomew County on Monday.
Over the three-day of festivities in Hope, eight food vendors sold a variety of food items ranging from BBQ ribeye sandwiches to fruit smoothies. In addition, seven merchandise vendors were on hand to sell clothes, jewelry, ceramics and several other items.
With different events often going on simultaneously, one of the most well-attended concerts was Saturday’s performance by the Brackish Water Beavers, a three-piece group with a repertoire of alternative rock, classic rock and country music, Main Street of Hope board president Jenni Richards said.
Richards said she found herself fascinated by the science projects presented by Hope Elementary and Hauser Jr.-Sr. High School.
“Beyond the eclipse, there are other things happening in the sky,” Richards said. “Some of the science presentations showed us where to find the planets and comets.”
Performing up to the time of the big event was local band Dirty Laundry. With her wireless microphone, lead singer Lynn Marie Reese sang while strolling through the crowd.
While the band did a cover of Elton John’s “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me” five minutes before the eclipse, the group decided the best way to bring on the main attraction was to play a recording of Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of The Moon.”
Closing out the entertainment on Monday was the Columbus-based rock band “Treasured.” By all appearances, the group’s members were amazed as they watched day turn into night for 4 minutes.
“I couldn’t wrap my head around what it was going to look like,” band member Colby Lovins said. “But this was unbelievable. I was definitely not disappointed.”
While band-mate Toby Gover says he’s always been fascinated with astronomy, Monday’s event was far beyond his expectations.
“It’s just wild,” Gover said. “It just blows my mind.”
As for fellow musician Alec Coomer, he didn’t want the eclipse to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“Ah, man, turn off the lights again,” Coomer said with a laugh. “That was amazing!”
