Fort Branch (1,200) Built 1938
June 13, 2025
June 13, 2025
How and why places get their names is a topic that's always fascinated me as I've read history books over the years. This has become even more true lately as I've been diving into Indiana history and the schools that have populated our fine state for over a century now. One of the towns and schools that stuck out to me very early on was Fort Branch. Naming a town after a fort isn't exactly a very original idea, but to name it after a relatively weak building material is. Usually military forts are named after famous generals or other important leaders throughout history. Their names are intended to invoke strength and strike fear into the heart of the adversary. I'm not sure "branch" exactly accomplishes that (I mean one of the first stories you learn growing up is the The Three Little Pigs. It didn't exactly work out too well for the poor guy who used branches as his first line of defense). While the name may not have the most robust connotation, the legacy that has been built on it is as sturdy as they come, for both the town and the school. Fort Branch was named after a fort that was located near the present town. Early settlers used it to defend the area from local Native American tribes. When the local school adopted the town's name as their own, they settled on "Twigs" as the mascot. Again, it may not be the most fearsome mascot, but it's certainly one of the most unique I've come across. That always makes it more special to me personally, and I'm sure to those who proudly called themselves Twigs as well.
When the Fort Branch school decided they needed a new gym in 1938, they built a beauty. I've heard it called the Twig House by some locals, and just the old Fort Branch gym by others. Whatever you want to call it, it has long been on my list to go see. What stuck out to me looking at pictures of it before I visited was how it differed from other 1930s gyms. To my knowledge, and I've looked and asked around pretty extensively, this gym was not a product of the Works Progress Administration that dominated construction in that era. It's one of the only 1930s gym's I know of that was built without that backing. You can tell right away by looking at the exterior. The long, straight roofline that comes to a center peak at the top does not match the sloped style you see in the vast majority of WPA gyms. The inside on the other hand is a little more consistent with the era, which we will get into soon. I visited the gym at a pretty awkward time. Over the last year, the gym has been going through a pretty big transformation. The local Redevelopment Commission awarded funds to the community center that runs the gym to update it in many ways that have long been needed. I stopped by right in the middle of the construction. While I would have loved to see it before the work started, or even after it is all done (I do plan on stopping by again sometime), when you live over three hours away, you have to visit when you have the chance. Mr. Bill Knapp, who has been instrumental in the effort to preserve the gym for future generations, was kind enough to let me in and look around. While sawdust was everywhere, the hardwood floor temporarily removed, and construction equipment as far as the eye could see, the heart of the place still shone through.
Eight sectional titles is no small feat for a small school. From what I can tell, all eight of Fort Branch's sectionals were won at Princeton (who's own old gym being torn down is one of the greatest travesties in our state's basketball history). Winning even one sectional in that field was a big deal. The Twig House was home to some fantastic teams over the years. All eight of those sectionals came while the Twigs played their home games here. This lasted until 1974 when Fort Branch, Haubstadt, and Owensville were all swept into Gibson Southern via consolidation (unbelievably, all three schools have preserved their beautiful gymnasiums). The adjoining old high school lasted a few more years as a middle school before it was eventually razed. Thankfully the gym was saved, and it has stood the test of time. As I mentioned earlier, the interior of the gym matches what you will find in many of the gyms from the Great Depression era. There is permanent seating along both sidelines, and large brick walls behind the baselines. The one big departure is the fact that there is no stage. That is another fixture of WPA gyms. Thankfully it doesn't diminish the aura of the place in the least bit.
In most places with permanent bleachers, you'll find seat benches that are fastened to little risers or posts. In rare instances though, the people will actually sit on the same surface that the people in the row behind them put their feet on (Haubstadt also comes to mind). This makes the rows feel really wide, and gives the bleachers a cool look. All the faces of the wooden bleachers here are stained a brown color that is so dark it almost looks black depending on how the light hits it. The sides are painted a much brighter grey color which gives it all a very different look depending on what angle you are sitting or standing at. Yellow lines are painted vertically up the seven rows of bleachers to divide seating sections. A few rows were painted to designate where the Pep Club would stand. All the seating runs from wall to wall and looks very sharp. A really neat scorer's table that spells out "Twigs" in brilliant gold lettering sits at center court. Thin rectangular windows that haven't been filled in still line the upper sideline walls above the bleachers. It's always great to see these preserved, even though I know they can make heating and cooling the place tougher. Another small feature that is pretty cool is that at the bottom of the bleachers in the corners, instead of the wood just meeting the baseline wall at a ninety degree angle, it curves ever so slightly. The little things matter! There are also some unique vents built into the bottom step of the bleachers.
I wish that I could do the old hardwood floor justice in my description, but it's hard to do without seeing it in person. A new one will soon be put in, and I hope they are able to find a classic design that matches the vibe of the rest of the gym. If you would like to see what it looked like before, CLICK HERE for a link to the blog that the fantastic Hoosier Hardwood Project put together about the gym before their book was completed. There are a few more things in the gym worth pointing out that I was thankfully able to see in person. High in the corners of the baseline wall above the main entrance are big wooden squares. They almost look like doors of some sort, but I haven't the foggiest what their function would be or what may be behind them. This center wall has been painted a yellow that is much brighter than the yellow that runs up alongside the bleachers on the far ends of the wall. The opposite baseline wall features unpainted red brick and an older scoreboard hanging high up on one side. In the bottom corners on this side of the gym are stairways that lead down to the old locker rooms and other spaces underneath the bleachers. They are now used for storage and a teen club that meets in the gym.
The one thing that was missing from the gym that I really would like to see when I come back is all the old Fort Branch pictures and memorabilia. I know they used to hang all throughout the gym and in the old lobby. I read a recent article that said they plan to put it all back up when the renovation is done, which is very encouraging. Those artifacts are a big part of what help anchor these old gyms to their past. The lobby itself is actually being completely redone and expanded to make more room and provide new uses for the community center. The only thing that was recognizable from the past in the lobby when I visited was the shell of the old ticket booth. As I've said before, I never blame the people in charge of these gyms for evolving. A lot of times it is needed to ensure their survival. I'm thankful that the people here are doing it in a way that will truly honor the legacy and heritage of the Fort Branch Twigs. As I wrapped up my visit to the last of the three old gyms that were the foundation of basketball in southern Gibson County, I couldn't help but feel thankful as I left. Learning about their stories and talking to the people who lived through the most meaningful moments in them has been a special experience. It may be about the furthest point from my home on an Indiana map, but the stories don't feel distant at all. These gyms continue to have the uncanny ability to transport me back in time. In most cases, I don't want to come back to reality.
