Cole Porter
Anything Goes
Peru has more than the history of clowns and high wire acts as part of its heritage. It is where Cole Porter (1891 – 1964), the urbane song writer, grew up and where he is buried. His family home still stands.
Drive east from Peru on Indiana 124 just past the Mississinewa River Bridge to the Frances Slocum Trail off of Indiana 124 to see two more homes that played an important part in Cole Porter’s life and both near each other.
Westleigh, an imposing brick manse standing on the east back of the Mississinewa River, was used in the opening scene of the movie about Porter called "DeLovely," starring Kevin Kline and Ashley Judd. Just down the road is the Old Fashioned Garden, where Porter’s grandmother lived.
Her flowers inspired one of his first commercially successful songs, Old Fashioned Garden; A white house with a white picket fence, it is now owned by the Jordan family. Many of the flowers planted there were mentioned in the song and indeed, even today, the gardens look very old fashioned, teaming with a vast array of colorful blooms.
Cole Porter's heritage here is celebrated every year in a summer festival.