Robert Indiana kept a series of illustrated journals during the late 1950s and 1960s, in which he discusses the development of his work as well as his daily life on Coenties Slip.

In his journal entry for April 5, 1961, Indiana writes that he pushed towards completion of his constructions  by picking up more wheels, noting that "the supply of the size and rustiness that I use is exhausted now." He adds that he didn't know if Stephen Durkee would continue to use the ones he had, but that he had made no offer.

Indiana often added to his journals at a later date, and here a note added on January 4, 1970, states "a subject of greater grief later," explaining that Durkee had given his wheels to his students at the settlement house.