Letter to the Editor

Setting the record straight

Monday, August 6, 2007

To the Editor:

Men behind the scenes, continued…

First, thank you to my step-daughter, Melissa Frye, for her Letter to the Editor printed in this newspaper July 19, 2007.

Second, to acknowledge two of the "original" three "partners" in the Walnut Grove Spring, John Pegg and Joe Pegg, owners of the Idle Acres Dairy Farm. The spring was so named by John Pegg after being given permission to use the name "Walnut Grove" by Virgil Davis (board member of Walnut Grove Church). Duane Smith was the third partner.

Third. to correct some misstatements in other newspapers' and magazines' articles. For example: In an article in the Business Section (F) of the Hoosier Times, Sunday, July 10, 2005 Mr. and Mrs. Smith tell how they were able to "find" the spring after area residents told them of toting water to the church. They didn't "find" the spring. John and Joe showed Duane. Joe pushed a piece of PVC pipe into the bubbling spring and the water shot out. That's when a partnership was formed to develop the spring (which was once a dream of the Peggs). The church had used the spring for many, many years and so had farmers for their livestock. The spring had been discovered before anyone alive today can remember. Idle Acres Dairy Farm thrived for 30+ years. Families were raised here (before I met and married John). School children were brought to the milking parlor and treated to ice cream by the company that was buying the milk.

It was not as Bloom Magazine, February/ March 2007 printed: "Where others, including his wife Leslie, saw scrubby trees, sticker bushes, and a dilapidated, run-down dairy operation." Mr. Smith bought his first 40 acres from Idle Acres, but I guess it slipped his mind we had a hand in helping him with his first 200 persimmon seeds. It has also slipped his mind that we had Dannon, Cameron Springs and Perrier around our kitchen table during our "partnership" trying to generate interest in our water. I always served coffee (made with Walnut Grove Spring water). He always asked me what kind of water I used when we had these companies visit. I also have an original picture of when the main part of the spring was hit. It was a beautiful site to see.

There is a lot more I could bring up, like Mr. Smith telling me to my face that "It wasn't his fault that we couldn't pay our bills and we had to file bankruptcy" -- another untrue statement. If you heard it, ignore it. Idle Acres closed business with all debts paid in full!

The one thing that bothers my husband the most in all this: No one has ever asked him what happened. We still live in the same place. Stop by. John is recovering from knee replacement surgery. I'll make you coffee, but it won't be made with Walnut Grove Spring Water Company water. The Park/ Walnut Grove community and God knows everything I've written is the truth and there is more but ... enough said.

Thank you for allowing me this space.

Sandi Pegg

Bloomfield