Center Township in Marion in Grant County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Cole Porter
Photographed by Craig Doda, January 28, 2023
1. Cole Porter Marker
COLE ALBERT PORTER was born in Peru, Indiana on June 1891. At the age of eight, he began studying piano in Marion at The Marion Conservatory of Music. By age 10, he began to compose songs, and his first song was entitled Song of the Birds.
Porter's mother was instrumental in introducing him to the arts, but like most parents, wanted her child to pursue something more stable like law. Cole graduated from Yale University in 1913 with a BA degree and attended Harvard Law School from 1913 to 1914 and the Harvard School of Music from 1915 to 1916. Unlike contemporaries such as George Gershwin and Irving Berlin, Cole Porter did not succeed on Broadway in his early years and proved his parents concern accurate. Dismayed by rejection, he moved to Europe, living for some time in Paris and Venice. He was not idle, however, and continued to write with great tenacity. Many of the songs
this page online
In 1934, his hit, Anything Goes, appeared on Broadway. During the show's hectic rehearsal Porter once asked the stage doorman what he thought the show should be called. The doorman responded that nothing seemed to go right, with so many things being taken out and then put back in, that Anything Goes might be a good title. Porter liked it, and kept it. Cole Porter worked with Bob Hope, Jimmy Durante, Ethel Merman and many of the greats as they sang his lyrics and performed his works.
Cole Porter wound up being one of America's premier composers and songwriters and produced such classic songs as Let's Do It in 1928, You Do Something to Me in 1929, Love for Sale in 1930, What Is This Thing Called Love? in 1929, Night and Day in 1932, I Get A Kick out of You in 1934, Begin the Beguine in 1935, My Heart Belongs to Daddy in 1938, Don't Fence Me in 1944, I Love Paris in 1953, I've Got You Under My Skin, In the Still of The Night, You'd Be So Nice To Come
Photographed by Craig Doda, January 28, 2023
2. Cole Porter Marker
Who would have ever imagined that a small eight-year-old boy, who learned how to play the piano in Marion, would create legendary music for Broadway, movies and television and provide work for countless dancers, singers, producers, crew members, record labels, etc. all over the world?
Cole Porter followed his passion despite his parents' protective discouragement and the obvious insurmountable odds and disappointments of the business. However, recognizing artists and nurturing them at an early stage could eventually produce massive economic and spiritual rewards to them and those around.
Helping people invest for their future is what Luke and Royce Mitchell at Edward Jones do best. CSA wants to thank Luke and Royce Mitchell at Edward Jones for providing growth, diversity and stability for The Community School of the Arts and highlighting the fact that Cole Porter's stock as an iconic musician continues to soar.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music
Photographed by Craig Doda, January 28, 2023
3. Community School of the Arts Mural
Location. Marker has been reported permanently removed. It was located near 40° 33.509′ N, 85° 39.497′ W. Marker was in Marion, Indiana, in Grant County. It was in Center Township. It was on South Adams Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 307 S Adams St, Marion IN 46952, United States of America.
We have been informed that this marker is no longer there and will not be replaced. This page is an archival view of what was.
Regionally, this marker was in Central Indiana. It was also in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it was in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it found itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 7 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Persian Gulf Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Grant County Vietnam War Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Korean War Honor Roll - Grant County (Indiana)
Photographed by Craig Doda, January 28, 2023
4. Community School of the Arts Mural
Other markers no longer nearby. Willis VanDevanter (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); James Dean (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); Samuel Plato (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed); Jim Davis (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed); Kenesaw Mountain Landis (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed); Marie Webster (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed); Mildred Dilling (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed); Madelyn Pugh Davis (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Marion (Indiana) W.W. I Honor Roll (was
Photographed by Trevor L Whited, February 1, 2025
5. Cole Porter Marker Missing
All markers have been removed.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 31, 2023, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 528 times since then and 23 times this year. Last updated on February 1, 2025, by Trevor L Whited of Kokomo, Indiana. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on January 31, 2023, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. 5. submitted on February 1, 2025, by Trevor L Whited of Kokomo, Indiana. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
