Indiana Climate: Then vs. Now

This data is from the Indiana Climate Change Impact Assessment and the Purdue Climate Change Research Center and their climate change report.

What does this data mean?

Basically, our climate has been changing over the past century, but in the last couple of decades the increase in temperature, humidity, precipitation, extreme weather events, etc. has sped up a concerning amount. Indiana today is 1.2 degrees hotter today on average and has 6 more inches of rain and a higher frequency of precipitation on average than 100 years ago. The same weather patterns were still occuring when the Wylie families were living here, but the extremity of these patterns has shifted over the last 200 years. 

What does this have to do with the Wylie family?

In today's world, commercial farming contributes to the changing climate. The Wylie family and the period they lived in was more focused on sustainable farming; the family had to grow a lot of things that they could later process into food, but on a much smaller scale than today. The family also allowed nature to take its course with the crops they were growing and used resources they already had to cultivate plants. 

What can I do about it?

Here are some resources for learning more and taking action: 

The Nature Conservancy

Hoosier Environmental Council

Purdue University

Climate Change Resources

Additional information about the Meteorograph: 

How does a Barometer work?

A barometer indicates atmospheric pressure by "balancing" the weight of the air. This barometer is an Aneroid barometer which means that instead of mercury, it uses a series of pulleys and counterweights to balance and measure pressure. 

Would the Wylie family have owned something like this?

Most likely, yes. These instruments would have been more useful to the first family because measuring air pressure, humidity, and temperature would have allowed them to predict short term changes in weather. Meteorographs or banjo barometers like this one gained popularity in the middle classes around 1800 and became more readily available and more ornate in design. 

Look closely... does everything look original?

Hint: look at the hygrometer at the top of the meteorograph. This replacement needle is made from a flat toothpick and was fixed at some point before Wylie House recieved it from the Herman B Wells estate! 

What do the words on the barometer face mean? 

If you look closely, the barometer face says "A. Martinelli, 70 Union St. Boro". So... what does this mean? Alfred Martinelli made this meteorograph; it was typical for craftsmen to put their name and company address on their work. This signature actually helps date the object itself because Martinelli worked in multiple locations during his career which spanned from 1825-1851. "70 Union St. Boro" is an address in London where he would have been working during the late 1840s-early 1850s with William Day & Co.