By Kelsey VanArsdall
The Republic
Editor's Note: The final part of an exclusive week-long series of articles explores the past, present and future of the Muscatatuck State Developmental Center in Butlerville. The center opened in 1919 and is scheduled to close by Jan. 1.
BUTLERVILLE — Employees clustered on the front stoop of the administration building at the Muscatatuck State Developmental Center, smoking cigarettes and watching streaks of camouflage race across the grounds.
That misty October day, they were witnessing the future.
A different type of state employee, a military type, will replace them.
No longer will they travel down a hill and then back up on the road that branches off U.S. 50 and leads to the place they’ve come to call their second home.
After 85 years, the Muscatatuck State Developmental Center is closing. The Indiana National Guard is moving in to develop the campus as a training ground for homeland security.
The Guard tested its future training site during an exercise in early October.
“I’m just glad they’re using this place for something,” said Dennis Bottorff, sitting at the end of a table in the Administration Building’s break room.
“It’s a legacy, this place.”
Family and Social Services Administration, the state agency operating the center, is targeting a move-out by the end of January.
The late Gov. Frank O’Bannon announced the center closure in 2001.
The land originally was given to Purdue in a memorandum of understanding for agricultural research.
Gov. Joe Kernan announced its reuse as a training grounds in September.
“The area offers an ideal setting for the type of training our soldiers need,” said Maj. Gen. Martin Umbarger, at the official announcement.
“There are tunnels, a church, a high-rise building — all things in the urban setting in the conditions our soldiers are working under.”
Purdue will obtain ownership of about 1,000 acres from the Department of Natural Resources to establish the university’s single largest site for forestry research.
Purdue will transfer nearly 150 acres of its existing farmland to the city of North Vernon for an industrial park.
“This is an exciting change for the city and county,” said North Vernon Mayor John Hall.
“It will bring new jobs and new opportunities to our residents and our economy.”
The first official training exercise under ownership of the Guard is scheduled for mid-January or early February.
The 1st Battalion, 152nd Infantry out of Jasper will undergo homeland security training involving city, county, emergency management and law enforcement agencies, with mock exercises including hostage and hazardous material situations.
“The facility will be up and running with full occupation and full-time employees, hopefully by June,” said Lisa Kopcyznski, Guard public affairs officer.
Initial employment will provide about 30 jobs.
Umbarger estimates that military personnel at the state and federal level will use the grounds, 68 buildings and more than 800 acres.
“There’s no place like this,” he said.
“It would cost $150 million to build a similar facility.”
Portions © 2004, The Republic, Columbus, Indiana