Obsessive/compulsive Backyard Fun
Imagine for the moment that you are a 49 year old mold maker working for the local foundry in Springfield, Ohio. Also, you are supporting a wife and three children. Then, to top it all off, your employer lays you off at the height of the Great Depression. That is some serious stress. Of course, PT would just start drinking. But, Ben Hartman is a better man. Ben was a highly skilled, obsessive compulsive, laborer that needed to be busy. So, Ben gathered a few million rocks and built an artistic wonder land in his backyard. Ben’s obsessive/compulsive backyard fun remains open to this day and free to all visitors. The Harman Rock Garden is a truly a hidden gem of tourism that is worth finding.
Ben Hartman and daughter start the Rock Garden 
The Hartman Rock Garden
PT borrowed the feature picture at the top of this post to give you a look at the garden in all its spring glory. For whatever reason, PT took Carol here in the dead of winter. So, as you will see, my pictures tend to be a little dreary. Be that as it may, this place was great. First, bear in mind, this is not a park. Its a backyard in your average blue collar, American neighborhood. You just find the house, park on the street, and walk into the backyard…no admission, no attendants. As we were the only ones there, Carol was quite concerned that we were trespassing. But, its now owned by a non-profit organization that cares for it and welcomes visitors from all over the world.
Carol dresses for winter blog missions 
Winter gave the castle a drearier look
OK, I need to better explain Mr. Hartman’s garden. Basically, its numerous structures and scenes mostly of a patriotic or biblical theme. The structures range from inches tall to 10 feet tall. The basic building blocks are small rocks that have been cemented together. To accent the rock, he uses whatever else it takes, usually reclaimed/recycled materials. I do not know how many displays he made, but they easily fill his backyard.
PT admires the castle 
But, why did Noah take the moles!
Well, since I gave you the beginning of Mr. Hartman’s story, I probably should not leave you hanging. As I said, he started this garden in 1932 when the foundry laid him off. Between 1932 and 1939, Mr. Harman completed most of the garden. Thankfully, in 1939, the foundry hired him back. However, if you are a mold maker for a foundry, sand is the major component of your molds. Sand means silica. And, in those days, silica meant silicosis. Five years after starting back with the foundry, Ben Hartman died of silicosis. His wife (actually second wife) was much younger than Ben. She remained at the house, maintaining the garden and offering tours until her death in 1997. Soon thereafter, the non-profit organization took it from there.
The White House 
Of course, there was a Baby Jesus
In summation, in the category of “Best Collection of Backyard Rock Miniatures built by One Obsessive Compulsive,” the Hartman Rock Garden was the best I had seen at that time. For the better part of 12 years, Mr. Hartman painstakingly completed his life’s work. I salute his skill and dedication. However, and remarkably, I have recently discovered someone that surpassed Mr. Hartman. At just about the same time…in a Benedictine Abbey…somewhere in Alabama…a hunchback monk out did Mr. Hartman’s rock miniatures. Its all true. I never joke about disabled monks from Alabama. So, PugsleyTonks traveled to Alabama to witness the ultimate obsessive/compulsive backyard fun. In the not too distant future, look for my post on the “Hunchback Monk of Alabama.“ PT
Thank you for reading “Obsessive/Compulsive Backyard Fun” on Traveling with PugsleyTonks.
If you enjoyed reading that post, check this out https://travelingwithpt.com/the-temple-of-tolerance/
If you want more information on the Hartman Rock Garden http://hartmanrocks.org/
