As you enter the main part of Rockport, on Highway 62, either from the East or from the West, a local landmark looms on the North side of the highway. This "Weather Rock Station" is just across the highway from the post office. It has been a landmark for several years and primarily the idea of Leroy Barnes. At the top of this "Weather Rock" structure is a rock shaped in the form of an Indian Head. This gray "Rock", about the size of a basketball, has been a fixture in Rockport longer than any person alive today. When the Redman Building was constructed, back in the late eighteen- eighties, the rock was placed as a emblem for the two story building. It has faced generally North looking over the town for almost a hundred and fifty years. The town of Rockport is 150 years old this year and the "Indian Rock" has been looking over the town for almost that long. Hopefully, the "Indian Rock", in its' current location, and as a center piece for the "Rockport Weather Station", will continue to look over the town of Rockport for the next hundred and fifty years. It now faces South, still in a position to look over the town of Rockport.
In old downtown Rockport, just across from the old Rockport Hotel was a cluster of three, two-story buildings. The old Rockport Theater or Opry House, was on the uphill corner of the block or on the left if one was facing the buildings. On the right or the "River Side" was a multi-purpose building that was mostly used for a grocery store. In the center, or between the two buildings was the two story building called the Redman Building. As a decorative piece, at the top center section of the front brick wall, was an off-white rock formed in the shape of an Indian head. The Indian head just seem to set off the front of the Redman Building and was a landmark for all of us youngsters growing up in Rockport in the forties and fifties. This building was constructed in the early years of Rockport becoming a small river town. By the end of the twentieth century, it had become deteriorated to the point of non-repair. It was razed in the time frame of 2012. One thoughtful resident was smart enough to find and to save the old Indian head rock. Leroy Barnes dug the head out of the rubble and saved it for history. Little did he know, at the time, that a few years later, an idea would form in his head and soon the "Weather Rock" station would be built. Leroy and a couple of his buddies gathered the material needed to build this station and in a few days, a Rockport landmark would be standing for all to see and to use to be able to determine the current weather pattern.
This country has "Groundhog Day" and supposedly, some weather predictions can be determined by the action of one groundhog in Pennsylvania. The "Weather Groundhog" is right only forty percent of the time. The state of Kentucky has had the "Frymire" predictions for years where the winter weather is predicted by a mere tree. At last count, I believe the "Winter Weather Predicting Tree" is correct less than forty percent of the time. What is a person to do? Well, Rockport has a "Weather Rock Station" that is able to predict the weather conditions one hundred percent of the time correctly. Not bad. Seeing is believing. I have a couple of pictures that I have taken of this "Weather Rock Station" and have posted them in this "Miscellaneous" section. Better still, try to make a trip to Rockport and view this "Weather Rock Station" with your own two eyes. Oh yes, your admission for up close viewing is only for you to tell someone about your pleasant trip to Rockport. Good Luck.
2/13/2020.
Wishing you the best for the year, 2020..
see you.....
jerry
;<)
