Indiana University Athletics
Hometown Hoosiers: Terre Haute, Ind.
2/28/2007 12:00:00 AM | General
Feb. 28, 2007
Story by Ryan Sheets
As part of an ongoing series, IUHOOSIERS.com will take a look at the hometowns of Hoosier student-athletes throughout the year. The ninth in the series is Terre Haute, Ind.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Nestled along the bank of the Wabash River and located just miles from the Illinois border is the city of Terre Haute, Ind. Terre Haute is perched along Interstate 70, nearly 80 miles southwest of the state capital, Indianapolis. The city is the county seat for Vigo County and is one of the most populated cities in Indiana. It is home to a number of opportunities and attractions, as well as the home to many Indiana Hoosier student-athletes.
Freshman basketball guard Armon Bassett, junior volleyball player Lauren Ditteon (South Vigo), junior women's golf player Gennifer Marrs (North Vigo), freshman baseball standout Josh Phegley (Terre Haute North), and fifth-year senior football player Matt O'Neal (Terre Haute South), all hail from the city of Terre Haute.
The town of Terre Haute was established in 1832, and declared a city in 1853. After the Civil War, it was an industrial and mining center with iron and steel mills, distilleries, breweries, coal mines and coal operating companies. Business boomed during this era and the thriving economy led to several collegiate institutions. A few of these institutions still exist today, including Indiana State University, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.
Terre Haute is also the host every year to the Vigo County Fair, an event that goes by a different name to Vigo County residents.
"The county fair is also known as the Dirty Toe Fest," Phegley said. "It was originally nicknamed Dirt Fest, because where they have it is a big field that always turns to mud. It is always hot when it is held, so a lot of people wear sandals. Their toes would always get caked with mud. After a while, it was nicknamed the Dirty Toe Fest."
Another major event every year in Terre Haute is the Terre Haute Air Fair. Usually held in September, the event is an all-weekend affair with a number of planes taking part in the festivities. The 2006 event saw performances by a B-2 Stealth Bomber, an F-16 Demo Team, a P-51 Mustang, and many more. Although some of the planes are just there for show, there are a number of pilots that perform daring stunts, as well. The weekend is usually wrapped with a concert to commemorate the event.
But just like many other Midwest cities, Terre Haute is also a great community to grow up in. In 1998, Reader's Digest named Terre Haute one of the 50 best places to raise a family based on a statistical and demographic review of 301 metropolitan areas throughout the U.S. Although is it considered a city, Terre Haute has a very special hometown atmosphere.
"Although it is one of the most populated cities in Indiana, the community is very close and supportive," Phegley said. "Being in Bloomington, I kind of miss the simple life and doing things outside. Terre Haute is kind of big, but it is a pretty quiet city. Everyone goes about their own business and everything is pretty routine. It is a pretty, peaceful place to live."
