Eclipse draws cheers, oohs and aahs from observers in Muncie

Douglas Walker, Muncie Star Press
·2 min read
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MUNCIE, Ind. — Muncie's first total solar eclipse in 1,067 years drew cheers, oohs and awes Monday afternoon from several hundred people gathered at Canan Commons in downtown Muncie.

As Muncie's view of the sun was totally blocked by the moon — for three minutes and 40 seconds, beginning at 3:07 p.m. —the sound of what were likely fireworks were heard coming from the city's near-south side.

A family from Lowell, Indiana, in Lake County — Gene and Celena Wojciechowski and their sons, Christopher and Gene — spent Sunday night in Muncie to view Monday's total solar eclipse from Canan Commons.
A family from Lowell, Indiana, in Lake County — Gene and Celena Wojciechowski and their sons, Christopher and Gene — spent Sunday night in Muncie to view Monday's total solar eclipse from Canan Commons.

Larger crowds gathered elsewhere in and near Muncie, including at Minnestria cultural center, the nearby Delaware County Fairgrounds, Prairie Creek Reservoir and city parks.

Some of those at Canan Commons were visitors who traveled to Muncie for a comparatively rare view of a total eclipse.

Erica Smith, Chance McDermott and their son, Naaman — and the family's dog, Lupo — made the three-hour drive Monday morning from Kalamazoo, Michigan, to see the eclipse.

A family from Kalamazoo, Michigan — Chance McDermott, Erica Smith and their son, Naaman, and the family's dog, Lupo — made the three-hour drive Monday morning from their home to see the eclipse from Canan Commons in downtown Muncie.
A family from Kalamazoo, Michigan — Chance McDermott, Erica Smith and their son, Naaman, and the family's dog, Lupo — made the three-hour drive Monday morning from their home to see the eclipse from Canan Commons in downtown Muncie.

Chance McDermott said they had chosen Muncie as their destination in part because its state of "totality" lasted longer than in some other locations.

A family from Lowell, Indiana, in Lake County — Gene and Celena Wojciechowski and their sons, Gene and Christopher — spent Sunday night in Muncie to view Monday's eclipse.

More: Muncie's first total solar eclipse in 1,067 years brings excitement, caution

Gene Wojciechowski said his family chose to visit Muncie for the eclipse because it was a smaller city.

"Lowell where we come from is a small town, so I figured we'd give a small town the business, a college town. .."

With local lodging prices increased for the eclipse, the family's cost of an overnight stay — at the Courtyard by Marriott, near Canan Commons — approached $400, he said.

Melissa Criswell, deputy police chief, said all local events and gatherings associated with Monday's eclipse "went smoothly," with no reports of significant problems.

While some feared major traffic problems would develop as spectators left viewing areas, no related issues were reported, she said.

The eclipse aside, it was a relatively calm day for local emergency responders, Criswell said, aside from a house blaze battled Monday afternoon by Muncie firefighters along East Jackson Street, and what seemed like an unusually high number of shoplifting-related calls for police.

Chief Deputy Jeff Stanley of the Delaware County Sheriff's Department said late Monday afternoon that eclipse activities aside, Monday had largely been a quiet day for the county's deputies.

The Muncie area had not experienced a total solar eclipse since July 29 in the year 957.

Those who experienced Monday's eclipse in Muncie are unlikely to be present the next time the moon briefly blocks local residents' view of the sun — on June 3, 2505.

However, in northeastern Indiana, Fort Wayne and other nearby cities will experience a total solar eclipse in "only" 75 years — on Sept. 14, 2099.

Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Police: Muncie remains calm despite eclipse excitement