Pilgrimage to Grease Gravy Road

Stephen and Nancy DickeyLotus Dickey on porch of his cabin

     Hey, Nick (aka Narley Hick Harley, the hillbilly fidller) and I went on a pilgrimage to Grease Gravy Road in (very) rural Orange County, near Paoli, in search of the 1860's circa log cabin that the great Lotus Dickey lived in all his life until his death in 1989. We found it (eventually), but even better we discovered that Lotus's son Stephen, a renowned fiddle player and songwriter in his own right, lived in the house right next door to Lotus's cabin. Stephen and his banjo playing wife Nancy welcomed us into their beautiful home, served us a delicious country dinner, and then jammed with us playing old time tunes for well over three hours. Stephen loved playing my blind Uncle Harry's 1820's era fiddle; he and Nick traded off playing it and Stephen's fiddle, which was the same one Lotus played all his life.

     Stephen and Nancy now have the original forty acres that Lotus's dad/ Stephen's granddad bought in the early 1900's. Their house and Lotus's cabin sits at the top of a steep ridge overlooking a valley with forest extending as far as the eye can see, and is one of the most beautiful and peaceful places I've ever been. Nearly as good as getting to play with them and experiencing their wonderful hospitality was learning that there are black bears that live in their woods and the 3 by 6 mile forest that extends beyond. Bears in Indiana! They also have mountain lions and lots of coyotes. Thank you Stephen and Nancy for one of the best days of our lives! Stephen and Nancy will be performing in Bloomington this Friday in 3rd Street Park as part of the Lotus Festival, named in honor of Lotus Dickey. See you there!

 

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