Kendallville Sesquicentennial

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013

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SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION HIGHLIGHTS Saturday, June 1 • Paul Revere 5K Run • 44th Indiana Civil War encampment • Flint & Walling history • Free guided historic downtown walking tour • Free community picnic • Fireworks

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Sunday, June 2 • Kendallville Airport Fly-IN • McCray Mansion Tour • Historic church tour • Porch tour of historic homes

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Monday, June 3 • Lunch and Learn at City Hall with John Cazier • Sharing of Stories

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Tuesday, June 4 • Lunch and Learn at City Hall with Terry Housholder • Proclamation Ceremony • Old-time well drilling and windmill demonstration • Noble Country Fairgrounds tour

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Wednesday, June 5

Thursday, June 6

Friday, June 7

• Lunch and Learn at City Hall with David Christianson • Ice cream social with local historic churches • Cemetery Tour at Lake View Cemetery and Old Cemetery

• Lunch and Learn at City Hall with Amanda Blackman • Interurban and Railroad History at Kendallville Public Library • Genealogy Room open house

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• Lunch and Learn at City Hall Mayor Suzanne Handshoe • Children’s one-room schoolhouse classroom camp • Wayne Center oneroom schoolhouse tour • Downtown collector car and art show

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Saturday, June 8 • Parade on Main Street • Salute to Kendallville at the EN auditorium

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KENDALLVILLE SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013

Celebrate Kendallville 150 schedule of events

BY DENNIS NARTKER dennisn@kpcnews.net

KENDALLVILLE — The city will celebrate its 150th birthday with several events for the whole family June 1-8.

Highlights will include the free community picnic in Bixler Lake Park on Saturday, June 1, starting at 4 p.m. with a fireworks show over the lake at dusk; the sesquicentennial parade Saturday, June 8, at 3 p.m. on Main Street; and the “Salute to Kendallville� show in Cole Auditorium, produced and directed by Craig Munk with performances on Saturday, June 8, at 6 and 8:30 p.m.

A re-creation of the Main Street popcorn stand that once stood at the northwest corner of William and Main streets will operate downtown during the celebration week. People can stop by for some popcorn and

find out more about the stand Sunday, June 2, from 1-6 p.m., Monday through Thursday, June 3-6, from 5-8 p.m., Friday, June 7, from 5-9 p.m., and Saturday, June 8, from 2-7 p.m.

Lunch and Learn sessions will take place in City Hall from noon to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. Participants can bring sack lunches, and beverages will be provided.

Presenters will tell stories about the city’s past.

People can pick up free “Celebrate Kendallville 150� brochures from locations throughout the city for details about the events, including costs and registration information.

Here are the dates, times and locations of sesquicentennial events:

Saturday, June 1 Paul Revere 5K Run, 8 a.m., Bixler Lake Park; Flag Raising Ceremony with 44th Indiana Civil War Re-enactors, 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Kendallville Public Library; 44th Indiana Civil War

Encampment, June 1-2, Bixler Lake Park; Flint & Walling History Tour, 10:30-11:30 a.m., Flint & Walling Inc.; Historic Downtown Walking Tour, 1-4 p.m. every half hour; Free Community Picnic, 4 p.m., Bixler Lake Park; Memory Lantern Launch tribute to Don Moore, 9 p.m., Bixler Lake; Fireworks Spectacular, 9:30 p.m., Bixler Lake.

Sunday, June 2 Kendallville Airport Fly-In and breakfast, all day starting at 6:30 a.m., Kendallville Airport; McCray Mansion Tour, 1-6 p.m., McCray Mansion, 703 E. Mitchell St.; Historic Church Tour, 2-5 p.m.; Porch Tour of Historic Homes, 2-5 p.m.

Monday, June 3 Lunch and Learn, noon to 1 p.m., City Hall, Early Criminal Chase and Shootout, John Cazier;

Sharing Stories, 6:30 to 8 p.m., Kendallville Public Library.

Tuesday, June 4 Proclamation Ceremony, 10:30 a.m., oak tree at 119 W. Mitchell St.; Lunch and Learn, noon to 1 p.m., City Hall, Famous people with Kendallville ties and VIP visitors, Terry Housholder; Old-Time Well Drilling and Windmill Demonstration, 5-7 p.m., Mid-America Windmill Museum, 732 S. Allen Chapel Road; Noble County Fairgrounds Wagon Ride Tour, 5-8 p.m., Noble County Fairgrounds.

Wednesday, June 5 Lunch and Learn, noon to 1 p.m., City Hall, Early businesses and organizations still active, David Christianson; Ice Cream Social, 5-7 p.m., Rush Street next to Trinity Church United Methodist; Cemetery Tour, 6:30 p.m., starts in Lake View Cemetery.

Thursday, June 6 Lunch and Learn, noon to 1 p.m., City Hall, the Anderson family, Amanda Blackman; Interurban and Railroad History, 6-8:30 p.m., Kendallville Public Library; Genealogy Room Open House, 5-8 p.m., Kendallville Public Library.

Friday, June 7 Children’s One-Room Schoolhouse Classroom Camp, 9 a.m. to noon, Wayne Center One-Room Schoolhouse; Lunch and Learn, noon to 1 p.m., City Hall, Vision for Kendallville’s Future, Mayor Suzanne Handshoe; Wayne Center One-Room Schoolhouse Tour, 6-8 p.m.; Downtown Collector Car and Art Show, 6 p.m.

Saturday, June 8 Parade on Main Street, 3 p.m.; Salute To Kendallville Show, 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., Cole Auditorium.

Fifty years ago, city celebrated centennial

BY DENNIS NARTKER dennisn@kpcnews.net

KENDALLVILLE — Fifty years ago Kendallville was buzzing with excitement, not because the Foodtown Supermarket was selling coffee for 5 cents a pound or the Strand Theatre had Saturday matinee double features for children for 25 cents or new 1964 Dodges had arrived at the Hilkert & Pankop Dodge dealership, 625 S. Main St. The community of about 7,000 at that time was in

hyper mode with plans for Kendallville’s centennial celebration, the biggest week-long celebration in the city’s history. Even thousands of chicks at Steckley’s Mill & Hatchery, 224 E. Mitchell St., were heard peeping about the news.

In June 1863, the community of Kendallville was incorporated when a majority of taxpayers successfully petitioned Noble County commissioners for authority to give

Jerry Svoboda shows his Brothers of the Brush badge he bought during Kendallville’s centennial celebration in 1963.

a higher degree of legal status to what previously had been a village named Kendallville in 1848.

Ask those today who witnessed the celebration what they remember about it, and most will say the beard-growing contest, the Keystone Kops and the jail, the amusement rides on Main Street and the grand parade that attracted an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 spectators. “I remember the SEE CENTENNIAL, PAGE A3

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Keystone Kops portrayed by members of the Kendallville Jaycees,” said former Kendallville resident Barb Mulholland. “The Jaycees played a huge and important role in the centennial celebration. There was a great parade. I took my oldest son, John III, in a stroller to the parade. He was less than 6 weeks old and cried when he heard the sirens from the fire trucks.”

Dr. Tom Jansen was 12 years old in 1963. “I remember the anticipation and excitement that was in the air. It seemed that everyone was talking about it,” he said. He remembered the beard-growing contest and the fact his father did not win. He enjoyed watching the Keystone Kops and their jail at the corner of William and Main streets.

“The best part was when my dad was arrested and put in jail for not growing a beard. I remember Red Peachy laughing as he was taken away to jail,” said Jansen.

Former Kendallville resident John Mulholland said he has fond memories of the centennial celebration. He still has a “Brothers of the Brush” badge. Participants in the beard-growing contest had to buy a badge for $1.

Those who didn’t grow a beard had to buy an exemption badge for $10.

Failure to pay could mean the arrest by the Keystone Kops and jail time.

Mulholland was a member of the Kendallville Jaycees at the time. They obtained Keystone Kops uniforms from a rental business in Warsaw. The Napa store that was located next to the V & A Restaurant in the downtown business district had a panel truck the Keystone Kops used as a paddy wagon.

“During the week of the celebration, very mysteriously, the paddy wagon

came up missing,” said Mulholland. It was later discovered in Fred Manahan’s garage.

When it was decided to have a celebration for the city’s 100th birthday, it was all hands on deck for local civic organizations, churches, businesses and industries. WAWK radio personality Paul King chaired the centennial celebration committee with committee members Mrs. Sam Levin, Robert Kropp, George Witwer, Morris Smith and Henry Feil.

Thirty-two organizations participated in the celebration and were assigned to different events and activities. Organizations such as the combined school PTAs, the Business and Professional Women’s Club, Delta Theta Tau, Kiwanis, Rotary, Sigma Eta, Kendallville Camera Club, East Noble Council of Churches and Delphians helped.

The celebration was held Sunday, June 2, through Saturday, June 8, 1963.

A fly-in breakfast was held the first day at the Kendallville Airport sponsored by the Kendallville Aviation Club. There were 32 pilots and aircraft, and 200 people were served breakfast. A centennial church service was held at the airport.

Monday, June 3, 1963, was Governor’s Day with Gov. Matthew Welsh’s caravan escorted into the city. The governor pressed a button to start up Jimmie Chernos Shows amusement rides set up on Main Street in the downtown business district. A Lions Club chicken barbecue was held in Bixler Lake Park with Gov. Welsh eating the first piece of cooked chicken.

Johnston C. Craig, the Lions food chairman, was later arrested and thrown into jail by the Keystone Kops for serving too much chicken.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Centennial parade, June 1963, in front of the Elks building on Mitchell Street.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Three of the Mapes brothers, Dean, James and Michael, enjoying the centennial celebration with the amusement rides on Main Street in June 1963. The

Also Monday, Mayor R.J. Rehwinkel planted a tree near McCray Memorial Hospital, and a fireworks show was launched at dusk over the lake.

During the week the Kiwanis Club offered free boat tours of Bixler Lake and tours of the park by horse and wagon.

The Keystone Kops would arrest people for various infractions, some true and some not so true, recalled Mulholland. They were then jailed and had to appear before a judge in a kangaroo court. They were either sentenced to jail and public ridicule, fined or both. Nelson Harrod was

boys were the sons of Arthur and Ruth Mapes of Kendallville.

the head jailer.

Tuesday, June 4, was Chamber of Commerce and Industry Day. There was a display of local industries in the chamber office, a Main Street pet parade sponsored

by Beta Sigma Phi, a baby contest sponsored by the Eagles auxiliary, Centennial Belle judging and street

square dance sponsored by the Girl Scouts with 320 people attending.

Wednesday, June 5, was Miss Indiana Day with an appearance by Miss Indiana 1962 Jane Flanigan. Centennial Belle and Little Centennial Belle contests were held with a parade of the SEE CENTENNIAL, PAGE A4

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KENDALLVILLE SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

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contestants. Mrs. Larry Leonhardt was named Miss Centennial Belle, and 10year-old Jan Abbs, daughter of Bill and Jane Abbs, was named Little Miss Centennial Belle.

A Centennial Queen contest was also held. Susan Taylor was named queen.

Members of her court were Kay Schemerhorn, Judith Lawson and Melody Chrysler. The street square dance again attracted a large crowd.

Thursday, June 6, was Old Fashioned Bargain Days. Starting at 9 a.m. merchants throughout the city offered goods at bargain prices. The Central Silver Palace Theater opened in the Shanower building on East William Street with two adult live shows nightly. The Noblairs, a barbershop quartet, were one of the acts and featured Dr. Robert Roush, Bill Parker, Robert Riehm and Bud Parker. A centennial record hop was

held on the east side of the lake. Organizers lowered the prices on centennial souvenirs.

During the week Mrs. Myron Hutchins entertained children at the library with a program of bird calls.

Friday was Old Timers Day with a program of live entertainment on the Main Street stage platform, and centennial commemorative coins awarded to registered old timers. The Strand Theatre hosted a cooking school, and a local artist display was on the west lawn of the Mitchell Street post office. The popular Main Street square dance was again held at 9 p.m.

Saturday, June 7, 1963, the centennial celebration ended with Finale Day. There were 120 entries in the Brothers of the Brush beard contest with Clyde Martin the winner with the best full beard and the cutest beard. Area fire departments battled each other in a water ball tourna-

ment in the American Legion parking lot. There was a centennial golf tournament at the Kendallville Golf Course.

The Grand Finale Parade had 3,000 participants including 14 bands, seven drum and bugle corps, a baton twirling group, 20 color guards, 30 groups of horses, 30 floats and 40 antique vehicles. The parade cost organizers $1,698. A centennial ball was held at the Elks Temple charging $2 a couple, while teens enjoyed a centennial record hop on the east side of the lake.

“I remember watching the parade but none of the specifics,” said Jansen.

“Interestingly, I recall wondering what it would be like 50 years later when we had a sesquicentennial. It seemed like forever away at the time.”

He’s 61 years old now and can enjoy the city’s sesquicentennial celebration with his grandchildren.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

The late Clyde Martin, longtime school janitor, won the best beard contest at the Kendallville centennial celebration, June 1963.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013

Business Honor Roll The following businesses submitted their history for publication

Max Platt Max Platt was the youngest auto dealer in Kendallville when he started in 1973. Today he is the oldest.

Max Platt Ford-LincolnMercury is celebrating its 40th anniversary this summer.

Platt purchased the former Johnny Roman Ford dealership at 561 S. Main St. on July 23, 1973. He was born and raised on a farm between Butler and Hamilton, and loved cars when he was a teen. “My grandfather and father worked the farm, and things were slim for three of us, so I decided to venture out and try something else.”

He went to work for a Ford dealership in Waterloo where he was a salesman and then general manager.

Platt left Waterloo when he heard the Johnny Roman Ford franchise was available. Kendallville was close to where he was born and raised, and Platt didn’t want to move from the area.

He also had an opportunity to obtain the Lincoln franchise and the Mercury franchise in 1976.

Stability (it’s family owned and operated), customer service, certified, well-trained employees and community involvement have been the hallmarks of Max Platt Ford-Lincoln over the years. The dealership’s attention to detail and customer needs have generated a bevy of loyal car and truck buyers.

“We’re now selling cars and trucks to children and grandchildren of our first customers,” said Platt.

The business has grown over the years. Platt purchased adjoining property along Iddings Street to expand the sales lot. More new and used cars

and trucks have been added.

When Platt started he had seven employees. The dealership now has 18 fulltime employees including four sales people, office staff, mechanics, body shop repair specialists and parts and service staff.

Max and Carol Platt’s son, Jeff, joined the business in 1989 after graduating from Vincennes University. He is the sales manager. Daughter Lisa (Platt) Bender, a Ball State graduate, has been with the business for 18 years as accountant and now business center coordinator.

Carol Platt is the office coordinator. “We’re all here every day. It’s a family business,” said Max Platt.

When asked about challenges over the years, Platt said keeping up with the changing trends in the auto industry, and the new technology is a constant learning experience for his sales staff and service technicians. “Instead of sending them to school, they now learn over the computer,” he said.

Max Platt has broken ground on a new location on U.S. 6, and plans to be open later this year.

“The community has been very good to us,” said Carol Platt. “Our customers are like family.’’

Dude’s Dairy Treat and Restaurant Dude’s Dairy Treat and Restaurant has been a part of Kendallville since 2008.

It is located at 848 N. Lima Rd., just north of the junction of U.S. 6 and S.R. 3 north.

The restaurant is named ‘‘Dude’s’’ for a reason. Its

owners are Lyman ‘‘Dude’’ and Karen Holbrook.

Lyman has been known as ‘‘Dude’’ since he was 2 years old, so everybody knows him as ‘‘Dude.’’

Dude had originally owned the old Dairy Queen at the corner of U.S. 6 and S.R. 3 from 1970 to 1987.

When the opportunity arose in 2008, Dude and Karen purchased an existing coffee shop and opened for business April 14, 2008.

It offers a diverse dining experience — it is a coffee shop with high-quality lattes, cappuccinos and smoothies; a restaurant offering healthier alternatives with 22 wraps, premium soups, fresh-baked products, awesome salads, and 17 sandwiches; and an ice cream shop featuring premium soft-serve ice cream as well as handdipped ice cream.

In focusing on customer service, cleanliness, great atmosphere, food freshly made at the time of the order and tripling the menu offerings, Dude’s has carved out a special niche in the community.

In emphasising healthier options, the restaurant offers no deep-fried foods.

Vegetarian, gluten-free and dairy-free menu options are available. In roasting their own coffee beans in-house, Dude’s can provide the freshest cup of coffee and greatest espresso around. A good cup of coffee starts with good beans.

Currently there are 15 people from the community who work at Dude’s on a regular basis. The Holbrooks consistently get high praise from the customers about the quality of employees that they have.

Visit Dude’s for an experience to remember!

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KENDALLVILLE SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

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Camp to mark city’s military history

Events Paul Revere 5K Run, 8 a.m., Bixler Lake Park; Flag Raising Ceremony with 44th Indiana Civil War Reenactors, 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Kendallville Public Library; 44th Indiana Civil War Encampment, June 1-2, Bixler Lake Park; Flint & Walling History Tour, 10:3011:30 a.m., Flint & Walling Inc.; Historic Downtown Walking Tour, 1-4 p.m. every half hour; Free Community Picnic, 4 p.m., Bixler Lake Park; Memory Lantern Launch tribute to Don Moore, 9 p.m., Bixler Lake; Fireworks Spectacular, 9:30 p.m., Bixler Lake.

BY MATT GETTS mattg@kpcnews.net

KENDALLVILLE — Nestled deep in the heart of any community are those who served to keep the land free.

To give homage to those veterans — and to provide a living history lesson — the 44th Indiana Civil War Historical Association will stage a living history camp June 1-2 as part of the Celebrate Kendallville 150 event marking the city’s sesquicentennial.

Beginning at 9 a.m.

Saturday, June 1, spectators can walk through a traditional Civil War-type camp in Bixler Lake Park near the tennis courts. Rifle and cannon demonstrations will be performed, and youngsters can sign up to “serve” in the Union Army.

Samplings of hard tack, a staple of Civil War-era rations, will be available.

Spencerville’s Margaret Hobson, who has penned a biographical account of soldiers who served in the 44th Indiana Infantry, will be setting up a tent Saturday as well as constructing a booth to “sign up” the youngsters for Civil War service.

“It gives me an opportunity to tell them a little bit about the Civil War,” Hobson said.

Hobson’s interest in the

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

The 44th Indiana Civil War Historical Association was started in 2005 by a small group of veteran re-enactors.

44th Indiana Infantry began 20 years ago as she worked on tracing her family’s roots.

“I’m a family historian,” Hobson said. “There were three brothers who served in the Civil War, and I started researching what they did. I haven’t gotten back to the family history.”

“We honor the men who fought,” said Phil English,

of Fort Wayne, who has been a re-enactor for 35 years. “It’s a historical unit.

We try to teach the public and have a good time at the same time.”

Kendallville has a proud history of service to America.

Located in the city, Camp Mitchell was a Civil War training camp for the then 10th Congressional

Here are members Jack Gaby, Eric English, Phil English and Neal Ostermeier.

District. The 12th Indiana Cavalry and 129th Volunteer Infantry were organized and trained there.

According to Hobson, one of her ancestors who served in the 44th Indiana Infantry met up with some of his fellow soldiers at Camp Mitchell.

The new Camp Mitchell, on the grounds of Bixler Lake Park, will be typical

of encampments of that time period. If the questions spectators have remain typical as well, the reenactors can expect to hear a lot of “Are those suits hot?” and “Do you sleep in that tent?”

The answer to the first question is always a yes.

And the answer to the second is usually yes as well.

“They fought in those wool uniforms,” said reenactor Jack Gaby of Wawaka. “We try to be realistic in our camps.”

“It’s a hobby of history and paying respect for the soldiers,” English said.

Margaret English will add a touch of realism with her portrayal as a period camp follower, something perhaps rare, but not unheard of in the Civil War era.

“They did laundry for the soldiers,” Margaret English said. “They did the mending.”

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The First Christian Church (non-denominational) of Kendallville was actually founded as The Church of Christ on Sunday, August 28, 1853, “at the nearby village of Lisbon.” The original church building was moved to Harris and Oak Streets, Kendallville in 1862, when it became apparent the population center was shifting there because of the new railroad. Elder William Dowling was “the leading spirit and founder of the congregation.”

After substantial growth and joining with another small congregation, a new church building was erected (with brick exterior and no basement) in 1891 at a cost of $10,000.

Between 1949 and 1953 a building expansion and remodeling was undertaken. A new heating plant was added.

The daunting task of handdigging a basement under the sanctuary was completed and the exterior was wrapped with Indiana limestone. The men of the church spent nights and weekends digging out the church basement, hauling out 94 loads of dirt. The building project cost $33,460, of which only $4,900 was owed at the dedication ceremony.

There were about 400 members of the church. Over the years there were numerous remodeling projects and repairs to the old church building.

In the 1980’s the board of directors of the church purchased 22 acres of property at the corner of Waits Road and State Road 3. Construction of the QHZ EXLOGLQJ EHJDQ LQ DQG ZDV ¿QLVKHG IRU RXU ¿UVW FKXUFK VHUYLFH DW this location in June 2001.

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Saturday, June 1

Flint & Walling, Kendallville have grown together

BY MATT GETTS mattg@kpcnews.net

KENDALLVILLE — The roots of the city itself run just a bit deeper, but for more than 147 years, Kendallville’s and Flint & Walling Inc.’s histories have intertwined.

A one-hour tour of the facility at 96 N. Oak St., the longest existing major industry in Kendallville, will be offered from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday, June 1, as part of the city’s Celebrate Kendallville 150 weeklong sesquicenntenial event.

Company president Scott Lechner said the tour will begin with a PowerPoint presentation in the company’s training center, detailing the company’s history.

Following the presentation, a walking tour will visit hallways at the company that contain what Lechner referred to as museum-type displays that showcase the company’s long tenure in Kendallville.

“Flint & Walling and the Kendallville city history go

hand in hand,” Lechner said.

“Main Street grew around Flint & Walling, or Flint & Walling grew around Main Street.”

The history book “150 Years Kendallville Indiana” says Flint & Walling was founded in 1866 by Canadian-born Simeon Flint and David Walling, a machinist from Erie County, N.Y. The two men purchased an interest in the machine and metalworking business that William Hildreth and Jerry McComskey had opened in 1864, east of Main Street. In 1871, Hildreth sold his one-third interest in the business to A.B. Park and Bros., and the company became Flint & Walling Manufacturing Co. The plant was enlarged in 1874 so it could massproduce windmills and hand-operated water pumps.

In 1878, the company patented its Star Windmill, its most successful product.

According to the Kendallville history book, the Flint & Walling

Manufacturing Co. produced 15,688 pumps and windmills in 1891. At that time, the company employed approximately 164 workers.

By 1902, the company had grown to approximately 400 workers.

Always an innovator, Flint & Walling shipped its windmills throughout the United States and around the globe.

During World War II, the company converted its Kendallville facility to manufacture 20-millimeter tracer shells and casings, an effort that earned it the Army-Navy Award of Excellence.

By the time electric water pumps began to replace windmills, Flint & Walling had pioneered the development of convertible jet pumps, centrifugal pumps and sump pumps. In the 1950s, Flint & Walling began to manufacture submersible pumps.

Flint & Walling was locally and privately owned until 1978.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Flint & Walling in the early years of the 20th century.

Historic downtown guided tours set for 1-4 p.m.

KENDALLVILLE — Guided tours of historic downtown Kendallville will be part of the city’s sesquicentennial celebration on Saturday, June 1, the opening day of the weeklong festivities.

Terry Housholder, president and publisher of KPC Media Group, and

volunteers from the board of directors of the Kendallville Area Chamber of Commerce, will be conducting the free walking tours from 1 to 4 p.m. from the chamber office at 122 S. Main St. The 30-minute tours will leave each half hour.

Housholder, along with

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the late city historian Russell Frehse, worked to get the downtown on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003. Housholder recently authored a book for the city’s 150th anniversary.

William Mitchell, a farm boy from New York state who was of Scottish descent, is considered the “father of

Kendallville,” Housholder said. Mitchell came to Kendallville with his family in 1836. He helped establish a post office in Kendallville, serving as the first postmaster. He named the future town after the U.S. Postmaster General Amos Kendall.

SEE GUIDED TOURS, PAGE A7

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Fri. - Sat. 9 a.m. - Midnight

CHAD KLINE

101 - 105 S. Main St.

Don Gura, Agent

Law Offices Of

Emerick Diggins & Zabona P.C.

218 S. Main St., Kendallville 260-347-1050

LINDA ZABONA-WOOSTER

633 N. Main Street Kendallville 260-347-FARM (3276) www.dongura.net DAN DIGGINS

Cheryl L Casselman CPA, P.C. Serving Northeast Indiana Since 1991

Providing Lawn and Landscaping Service to the Kendallville area since 2003

Workforce Skills Development National Certifications and State Licenses Offered

260-347-5277 • Claymillerlawn.com

www.freedomacademy.net • 800-200-6499

Peachey’s Dry Cleaners Since 1945 On-Site Dry Cleaning & Shirt Laundry 114 E. William St., Downtown Kendallville

Certified Public Accountant 2409 East Kammerer Rd. Kendalville, IN 46755 (260) 347-1171 • Fax: (260) 347-9122 Email: cherylcasselman@att.net

WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013

KENDALLVILLE SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

©KPC Media Group Inc. • kpcnews.com A7

Saturday, June 1 GUIDED TOURS FROM PAGE A6

In 1848, Mitchell helped initiate the construction of the Lima Plank Road (later S.R. 3) from Fort Wayne to near the town of Lima (now Howe) in LaGrange County.

The plank road came through what today is Main Street, Kendallville. When there was no money to pay the road workers, Mitchell orchestrated a plan to pay them in goods from Kendallville merchants, thus boosting the town’s commercial trade.

By 1849, Mitchell owned 500 acres in the area of what today is downtown Kendallville. He platted 20 lots, some of which he gave away to men who agreed to establish a business on them.

He later laid out two additional similar-sized plats of 20 lots each.

Mitchell also helped Kendallville grow and thrive by helping to establish the railroads through the future city. The first railroad passenger cars arrived in Kendallville in 1857, traveling from New York to Chicago. By then, the community had grown to 300 residents.

Most of the downtown business district standing today was built from the period of 1860 to 1910. In 1887, Main Street was lighted with oil lamps attached to wooden poles.

The following are details of some of the more historic and interesting buildings of the downtown that will be highlighted on the tour: • 107-113 N. Main St. — The Iddings-Gilbert-LeaderAnderson buildings at 107113 N. Main St., were built between 1892-1896. The current occupants of the buildings are Business Service of America and the offices of certified public accountant Scott Frick and insurance broker Michael Corps. The building to the far north was built by

African-American barber Alonso Anderson. Anderson operated a barbershop in the Mitchell Block of Main Street in the late 1800s, but wanted his own building. He saved enough money to build an 18-foot-wide building in an empty lot in 1893. This was the same year — 1893 — that new electric streetlights were erected in the city.

• 101-103 N. Main St. — The brick building at 101103 N. Main St., identified as the Relaxation Station and occupied on the north side by Rudy’s Bar & Grill, was built in 1910. It was occupied by the Citizens National Bank and was the scene of the city’s only Main Street bank robbery. It occurred on Oct. 16, 1931, when four men, armed in John Dillinger-style, entered with a machine gun and robbed the bank. A bank patron was slugged when his laughter failed to amuse one of the robbers. The bandits fled west on Mitchell Street in a waiting car, and eventually traveled to Drake Road where they continued west toward Sacrider Lake. Two of the robbers were eventually caught in Jonesville, Mich.

• 102 S. Main St. — The two-story brick Italianate structure at 102 S. Main St., occupied today by the Sozo Art Studio, was built around 1870. At about the time of its opening, the building contained the office of the Kendallville Standard, a weekly newspaper in the city.

• 106 S. Main St. — The brick building occupied by Weible’s Paint and Wallpaper at 106 S. Main St., was erected in 1890. In 1928, the Morris 5 & 10 Store was opened at that location and in 1951, G. C. Murphy’s occupied the building. It remained the Murphy’s store through

CHAD KLINE

202 S. Main St.

CHAD KLINE

106 S. Main St. SEE GUIDED TOURS, PAGE A8

Dependable Metal Treating, Inc. Kendallville’s Hometown Hardware Store for the Past 20 Years!

See us for all your hardware needs.

• Electrical • Plumbing • Hardware • Tools • Paint • Screen & Window Repair • Lawn & Garden • Key Cutting • Daily UPS Service • And Much More

Your one stop shop for: • Dependable Service • Dependable Quality • Dependable Pricing

Specializing in the Heat Treatment of Powdered Metal and Carbon Steels

• Carburizing • Carbonitriding • Direct Hardening • Annealing • Normalizing • Tempering • Stress Relieving • Tool Hardening • Metallurgical • Analysis • Shot Blasting • Parts Washing • Vibratory Finishing • Pick-up and Delivery

HOME OF

Kendallville 882 N. Lima Rd., Kendallville, IN

(260) 347-1483

902 E. Dowling St., Kendallville, IN 46755

(260) 347-5744 • Fax (260) 347-5944

A8

kpcnews.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.

KENDALLVILLE SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013

Saturday, June 1 GUIDED TOURS FROM PAGE A7

the 1970s.

• 112 S. Main St. — The building occupied by Other People’s Treasures, was built in 1867. One of the main occupants over the years was J.C. Penney, which opened in 1928 and was in existence until June 1992.

The part of the building at 108 S. Main St. once housed the Colonial, a movie theater.

• 120 S. Main St. — The

store front occupied today by the Pizza Forum housed the Kaiser Grocery Store from the 1860s until 1956.

Four generations of Kaisers ran the store. This location one time housed the Central Drug Store, later the Chronister Central Drug Store and later the Fischer’s Drug Store.

• 132-136 S. Main St. — This set of buildings, occupied by Kendallville

Computers and the Best Little Hair House, was built in 1863 by John Mitchell, the son of William Mitchell.

It was known as the Mitchell Block. It originally contained three stories but the top story was removed in the 1950s after storm damage. The building contains most of its original features. It originally was occupied by the First National Bank, which became the Campbell & Fetter Bank in 1894. It also housed several businesses and professional offices over the years including a drug store, the H.D. Ward Store, a hardware store, wool exchange office and grocery.

The third floor housed the Kendallville Boys Club and the Mitchell Hall was the site of many public meetings. Renowned Indiana poet James Whitcomb Riley

once spoke and recited his poetry to an audience in Mitchell Hall. The store at 134 S. Main St. once housed the Princess Theatre in the early 1900s. Live vaudeville acts were performed at the theater. Admission was 5 cents. Silent movies were also shown.

• 202 S. Main St. — The building occupied by the Doug Atz law office and Nicolet Counseling was known as the Keller Building. Built around 1870

by German Jewish businessman Jacob Keller, it was a dry goods store. In 1889, Keller opened a private banking facility and in 1891 incorporated it as the Noble County Bank & Trust Co. Keller helped establish other banks in the area, including the Auburn State Bank, Farmers and Merchants Bank in LaOtto,

and Kendallville Trust & Savings Bank. J. Keller & Co. was located in the building from 1883-1928.

• 212 S. Main St. — This vacant building is one of the most interesting structures downtown. It was erected in 1910 by Jewish merchant Jacob Keller. It was in the neo-classicical building style with art nouveau details. It later housed the Noble County Bank, which was in operation until it closed in the Great Depression in January 1931. Depositors in the bank lost half of their money in the bank’s collapse.

• Vacant lot north of City Hall Annex — The area housed the Airdome Outdoor Theatre, also called the Star Theatre. It was built around 1907. Early film events before motion pictures became popular

included photoplays with pianists providing background music.

Photoplays were like slide photo shows with still photos projected on the screen.

The Star Theatre billed itself as an “electric theatre” with a change of programs every night. Doors opened at 7:30 p.m. Admission was 5 cents.

• 234 S. Main St. — City Hall was erected in 1914.

This is the second City Hall at that location. The first City Hall was dedicated on July 4, 1907. It was destroyed by fire on March 21, 1914. Rumors circulated around town about the origin of the fire. It was said that the two firemen on duty were playing checkers or cards when the fire broke out, but they were unaware SEE GUIDED TOURS, PAGE A9

CHAD KLINE

102 S. Main St. CHAD KLINE

132-136 S Main St.

Free Estimates • Insured

Josh Molen

Excavating, Inc. • Site Development • Septic • Sewer • Water Lines • Driveways • Basement • Demolition

260-347-0595

5999 E. US 6, Kendallville • www.eshelmaninc.com

Need Help With a Loved One? Hickory Creek at Kendallville is Here For You. At Hickory Creek we believe in compassionate and personalized care. Our small home atmosphere gives your loved one a feeling of security and comfort.

• Long-Term Nursing Care • Short-Term Rehabilitation • Respite Care • Dementia Care “We Are Neighbors Taking Care of Neighbors” For additional information, stop by for a personal tour or call: (260) 347-3612

1433 South Main St., Kendallville www.hickorycreekhealthcare.org

KENDALLVILLE SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013

©KPC Media Group Inc. • kpcnews.com A9

Saturday, June 1 GUIDED TOURS FROM PAGE A8

of it until the legs of their table starting burning.

Supposedly, they did not rush to extinguish the fire because the first City Hall was poorly constructed and was sinking. But Housholder said while that was a good story, The News Sun reporting at the time refuted the “many rumors,” saying, they were untrue. Crossed wiring in the basement was determined to be the cause of the blaze.

• 227 S. Main St. — The building that houses the Antiques and More Store was built in 1910 by the Berhalter family that had a funeral parlor and furniture store. German immigrant Joseph Berhalter came to Kendallville in 1860 and built a cabinet and coffinmaking business. His wife, Fanny, managed the business while he served the Union Army during the Civil War.

Berhalter’s was a furniture store until the early 1980s.

• 210-225 S. Main St. — The Strand Theatre building was erected as an opera house, opening Sept. 30, 1890, as the Spencer Opera House. The cost of the building was a staggering $26,000. Spencer hosted stylish stage shows by touring theater companies and vaudeville acts. It booked major touring shows of the day. That was partly due to the fact that when shows closed in New York, they moved to Chicago.

When business trailed off in Chicago, they came to Fort Wayne, and would stop over a night or two in Kendallville to pick up a few extra dollars. The shows included musical comedies, minstrels, and even Shakespeare.

• 215-217 S. Main St. — The building housing the Kropp Insurance building

and Jenny’s Tacos is a twostory Queen Anne-style building. It was built by John Deibele in 1878 as a hardware store. It later was a saloon and from 1933-1975, was a soda shop operated by Kenny Blech, known as the Palace of Sweets. From 1975-1981, it was the Palace Restaurant, but it closed in 1981.

• 201-203 S. Main St. — The building occupied by Joanna’s Delicious Treats and Summer’s Stories was built in 1863 by German businessman John Gappinger, who first ran a harness shop from that location. From 1889 until 2000, that building was operated as Klinkenberg’s Drug Store by Gappinger’s son-in-law and grandson.

• 125 S. Main St. — The building occupied by Christianson Jewelry has SEE GUIDED TOURS, PAGE A10

CHAD KLINE

107-113 N. Main St.

CHAD KLINE

KPC Media Group Inc., 102 N. Main St.

EXPERIENCE NOBLE COUNTY

Experience history

KENDALLVILLE’S LARGEST EMPLOYER Estalished 1824

Take the Tombstone trail and learn about the people who shaped northeast Indiana in the historic cemeteries that are their final resting places. Visit the Gene Stratton-Porter Historic site and learn about the famous author–naturalist of the Limberlost.

Experience rural life Visit any of 10 Noble County farms and learn how real food is grown and produced. Then treat your taste buds to a catered meal of locally grown foods in season at one of Noble County’s unique sites.

Experience the outdoors Enjoy water sports and wildlife at popular Chain O’Lakes State Park near Albion. Numerous campgrounds dot Noble County.

Noble County Convention & Visitors Bureau 260-599-0060 • 122 S. Main St. • Kendallville, IN

VisitNobleCounty.com

Book manufacturing and publishing; content management, customization and distribution 3rd largest book manufacturer in North America Specialty book publisher

S & S Travel Inc. 1863

Kendallville, IN

260-347-2253 • 888-262-4423 Family Owned & Operated 33 Years

Making the most of new and traditional media

Our Business is going places...

Learning To Travel...

WE TAKE PRIDE IN YOUR RIDE Sheryl, Mary, Ron Godby

Traveling to Learn

2013

Happy 150th Birthday, Kendallville!

2013

Call for our tour calendar • www.s-stravel.com

COURIER KENDALLVILLE, INC. 2500 Marion Drive • Kendallville, IN 46755

1-260-347-3044 • Fax: 1-260-347-3507 www.courier.com

A10

kpcnews.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.

KENDALLVILLE SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013

Saturday, June 1 GUIDED TOURS FROM PAGE A9

been a jewelry store since the 1870s. The business was originally known as Gotsch & Co. run by Julius Gotsch and his apprentice, Louis Beckman. Reuben Christianson, a watchmaker from Wisconsin, joined

Beckman in 1951. The business has been owned by the Christianson family since 1955.

• 107-111 S. Main St. — The building occupied by the 7 Scoops and a Bun and the teen dance club

(formerly Stroman Electronics), was built in the early 1890s. On Feb. 21, 1895, the first telephone line in Kendallville was opened in the Otis Drug Store, 111 SEE GUIDED TOURS, PAGE A11

CHAD KLINE

212 S. Main St.

Celebrating 150 Years of bringing an Exceptional Level of Service to Kendallville

since 1863 Offering: • Fine jewelry and timepiece selections • Professional jewelry, watch and clock services • All work performed on the premises

127 South Main Street Kendallville, IN 46755

260-347-0560

CHAD KLINE

221 S. Main St.

Helping you with all your printing needs since 1968 • Quick Printing • Invitations • Offset • Announcements

• Letterpress • Diecutting • Process Color • Business Forms

MODERN PRINTING COMPANY 117 E. William, Kendallville • 260-347-1679

KENDALLVILLE SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013

©KPC Media Group Inc. • kpcnews.com A11

Saturday, June 1 GUIDED TOURS FROM PAGE A10

S. Main St. Amos Ray Otis was a pharmacist who opened Otis Drug Store in Kendallville in 1894. By 1898, Kendallville had its own telephone exchange with 13 subscribers.

• 101-105 S. Main St. – The Kendallville Auto Parts building was erected in 1865. It was built as a hotel

by German businessman Herman Krueger to accommodate visitors and newcomers departing the nearby Main Street train station. Later John Kelly acquired the building and it became the Kelly House or the Kelly Hotel. His son, John, owned the first automobile in Kendallville.

In 1919, the building was remodeled into a furniture store. Atz Furniture took over the building in 1937.

The most famous guest of the Kelly House was

Democratic presidential contender and famed orator William Jennings Bryan, who addressed a crowd outside the Kelly House in 1899. Earlier that day he had spoken at the Island Park Assembly, Sylvan Lake’s Kerr Island, Rome City, where he was paid the handsome price of $500 to speak.

• 102 N. Main St. — KPC Media Group Inc. occupies this building at the northeast corner of Main and Mitchell streets. This building was erected by Herman Krueger in 1880.

The post office was once located in the area where KPC’s front counter is today. The News Sun, which was established as a daily newspaper in 1911, has been published out of a portion of this building for more than 100 years.

CHAD KLINE

120 S. Main St.

Business Honor Roll

The following businesses submitted their history for publication

Yoder & Kraus Yoder & Kraus focuses its practice in the four northeastern counties of Indiana, as well as Federal Court in Fort Wayne.

The firm was formed on July 1, 2009, by Michael Yoder and Anthony Kraus.

Michael Yoder has practiced law since 1971 and Anthony Kraus has practiced law since 1990.

Their office is located at 515 Professional Way and there are nine employees. The office can be reached at 3479400 or myoder@yoderkraus.us.

Mr. Kraus has extensive jury trial experience in state and federal court. Mr. Kraus is

a graduate of IU Law School.

Despite a busy trial schedule, Mr. Kraus also finds time for service activities having served on the Clear Lake Town Council and the Clear Lake Plan Commission, and has been active in Big Brothers/Big Sisters.

Mr. Yoder focuses his practice on estate planning, elder law, and real estate. Mr. Yoder is a graduate of Notre Dame Law School and on May 18, 2013, received his Masters in Elder Law from Stetson University. Mr. Yoder has served as Kendallville City Attorney, on the East Noble School Board, as LaGrange County Prosecuting Attorney, and currently serves as Albion Town Attorney and on the Indiana State Board of Law Examiners.

CHAD KLINE

112 S. Main St.

We help you invent the future.

Silicones can provide durable fuel-system sealants by making bodywork gleam as an ingredient in waxes and polishes.

Silicones are shaping high-performance buildings all over the world - from enabling glass-walled skyscrapers, to providing solutions for energyefficient materials and architecture.

The Dow Corning brand delivers innovative and sustainable silicone solutions for customers who require customized services and technical support.

Silicones deliver new, improved and multiple benefits that enhance the feel, condition and appearance of skin and hair.

Custom Silicone Elastomers, Materials & Service U.S. 6, Kendallville • 260-347-5813

Educating Kendallville’s Youth Past, Present & Future

Maximizing potential in all people every day

KENDALLVILLE SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

kpcnews.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.

A12

WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013

GFW BUSINESS WEEKLY, TIMES, KPC MAIL CONNECTION & DIGITAL SERVICES • FORT WAYNE

Since

THE NEWS SUN, KPC CORPORATE & PRODUCTION KENDALLVILLE

1911

Over 100 Years

kpcnews.com fwbusines.com fwdailynews.com fwfamily.com

Writing history one day at a time

THE HERALD REPUBLICAN ANGOLA

THE STAR, BUTLER BULLETIN & GARRETT CLIPPER AUBURN

1859 JUDSON PALMITER Began the weekly publication Noble County Journal.

18 5 9 -1910 1870 THE NOBLE COUNTY JOURNAL was renamed TheKendallville Standard.

1898 KENDALLVILLE STANDARD went daily with The Daily Sun. 1906 THE WEEKLY NEWS went daily withThe Daily News.

1877 THE WEEKLY NEWS was launched, a competitor to the Kendallville Standard.

1910-1960

1911

DAILY NEWS & DAILY SUN consolidated by owners O. E. Michaelis & George W. Baxter into The News-Sun. KENDALLVILLE PUBLISHING COMPANY, INC. was formed.

1958 JOSEPH GASKILL The News-Sun Editor and General Manager from 1958-1962

1913 - CHARLES O. MERICA Publisher until his death in1918.

1918 - C. W. BRIDENTHAL The News-Sun Editor/General Manager from 1918-1937 1918 - ALICE MERICA Publisher 1918 until her death in 1969. She was 103.

1937 - R.V. “BUSTY” FISCHER The News-Sun Editor/General Manager from 1937-1958

1960

1962 - GEORGE O. WITWER joined The News-Sun as Editor and General Manager

1965 FIRST offset press installed at KPC 1966 FIRST SHOPPER started in Noble County

1966 EDITORIAL STAFF The News-Sun. Left to right are George O. Witwer (editor), C. William West (city editor), Wendell Jollief (sports editor), Bill Gisel (photographer, reporter), Jeanette Hetrick (society editor) and Marguerite Sand (wire editor).

1969 - GEORGE O. WITWER purchased Kendallville Publishing Company, Inc. Publisher from 1969-96 when he retired.

He is now publisher emeritus.

Taking a Leap Page A2 Woman jumps from moving semi in Waterloo

FRIDAY July 22, 2011

Weather

Page A12

Almost Over Page B1 NFL lockout nearing conclusion

The

A 20 percent chance of rain today.

High 97. Low 77.

A slight chance of rain Saturday.

Serving DeKalb County since 1871

Auburn, Indiana

GOOD MORNING Thermometer hits 100 at local airport AUBURN — The temperature hit the 100degree mark Thursday afternoon, according to readings from the DeKalb County Airport south of Auburn.

A National Weather Service website, noaa.gov, said the DeKalb airport’s thermometer reached 100 at 2:35 p.m. and stayed there through 3:15 p.m. The reading dropped to 99 degrees at 3:35 p.m.

arrived amid patriotic fanfare, escorted by thousands of motorcycles. A parade for the Elkhart beam passed through Angola earlier this month.

Auburn’s steel arrived in a covered trailer three weeks ago with no fanfare at all. Auburn Fire Chief Mike VanZile said his department did not want to detract from the parade through Angola on the same weekend.

The Auburn department’s short notice to pick up its beam in New

Under wraps until 10th anniversary waiting for the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks that brought down the towers.

They plan to unveil the beam this Sept. 11 at 4 p.m. during a memorial service at Lakewood Park Baptist Church.

Indianapolis and a township outside Elkhart also have obtained steel from the wreckage of the World Trade Center. Their beams

BY DAVE KURTZ dkurtz@kpcnews.net

AUBURN — Like two other fire departments in Indiana, the Auburn Fire Department has obtained a steel beam from the ruins of the World Trade Center collapse on Sept. 11, 2001.

Unlike the others, Auburn firefighters haven’t shown their beam to the public. They’re

SEE 9/11 BEAM, PAGE A12

Obama, GOP in secretive endgame negotiations over debt ceiling plan

HOWE — A 16-year-old Amish boy who drowned Wednesday evening was playing in the water with his 12-year-old brother at Ontario Dam in LaGrange County.

The victim has been identified as Felty E. Bontrager, son of Ervin and Lydia Bontrager of LaGrange.

Indiana Conservation Officers say several juveniles were swimming at the public boat ramp on the Pigeon River at about 6 p.m.

Bontrager, who did not know how to swim, panicked when he stepped off the end of the ramp and into water several feet deep. He slipped below the water and did not resurface.

His 12-year-old brother attempted a rescue, but also did not know how to swim.

LaGrange County Sheriff’s deputies recovered Bontrager 40 minutes after he went under the water. The

July 28, 2011

York allowed little time to plan a procession, VanZile added.

After the beam’s unveiling Sept.

11, Auburn firefighters wants to enshrine it with a memorial near the flagpole outside Fire Station No. 2 on Grandstaff Drive. They’re awaiting drawings and cost estimates for the project, and they plan to ask for donations when the project is farther along.

Auburn Fire Department Division Chief Doug Cox came to

Hope for deal

Beating the Heat

Drowning victim was playing with brother

THURSDAY

75 cents

kpcnews.com

Firefighters get 9/11 steel beam

WASHINGTON (AP) — In secretive endgame negotiations, President Barack Obama and House Republican leaders reached anew on Thursday for an elusive “grand bargain” deal to cut deficits by $4 trillion or more and prevent a government default, officials said.

House Speaker Boehner John Boehner declared that his rank and file generally stood ready to compromise in order to reach an agreement as a way of “getting our economy going again and growing jobs.” Obama, in a newspaper opinion piece, said the talks provided an “opportunity to do something big and meaningful.”

Still, 12 days before the default deadline, officials stressed that no compromise appeared imminent and that significant differences

remained. And new hope of one ran instantly into old resistance: from Republicans opposed to higher taxes and Democrats loath to cut Medicare and other benefit programs.

In a measure of concern among Democrats, party leaders spent nearly two hours meeting with Obama Obama at the White House late Thursday.

Democratic officials familiar with Obama’s talks with Republicans said that while some cuts could be agreed upon and even enacted relatively quickly, there were major differences on taxes and savings from benefit programs like Medicare and Social Security.

As an example, there is no agreement on how much additional revenue would be raised through an expected overhaul of

1971 THE EVENING STAR was purchased by KPC. Name changed to The Star in 2009 1971 HOOSIER STATE PRESS ASSOCIATION AWARDS Terry Housholder, Jan Richardson, L. Joyce Smith, Bill Gisel

Comfort From COPS

MLB

Seats available for B-17 flight

Bike ride helps family of late town marshal

Angels’ Santana pitches no-hitter

Page A2

Page B1

Page A8 Serving Noble & LaGrange Counties

GOOD MORNING Hospital museum to offer Kids Day WOLF LAKE — The Luckey Hospital Museum will offer a free Kids Day Wednesday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Children accompanied by an adult can come to learn about the Indians who once lived around Wolf Lake and make something they may have used. They will also learn about Clara Barton’s impact on the Civil War and see what a state-of-the-art hospital looked like in the early 1900s.

Admission is free to any child accompanied by an adult. A lunch of a hot dog or chili dog, chips, cookies and lemonade will be available for $4.

The museum is at the corner of U.S. 33 and S.R. 109 in Wolf Lake.

kpcnews.com

WASHINGTON (AP) — Crisis concerns rising, House Republican leaders shrugged off a White House veto threat and an outbreak of tensions within their own party Wednesday as they built support for legislation to stave off the government default threatened for next week. Worried Wall Street sent stocks plunging on fears that political gridlock would prevail.

With some politicians talking of economic Armageddon, Americans coast to coast were suddenly focusing on debt and deficit matters that most would have dismissed as arcane until recently.

Some lawmakers’ offices were inundated with phone calls and emails, many urging some kind of deal to avert the possibility of

SEE DEBT, PAGE A8

Stutzman expects debt ceiling deal

BY MATT GETTS mattg@kpcnews.net

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Marlin Stutzman, RInd., said Wednesday afternoon he expects some kind of measure to raise the nation’s debt ceiling to pass the House and Senate before an Aug. 2 deadline.

Local teen singer releases debut single KENDALLVILLE — A local teenage singer will release his debut single, “Best Friends,” next week.

Fourteen-year-old Spencer Kane (Hess)’s song will be released Sunday on iTunes and Amazon MP3.

The official music video for the song was published Monday on his website, spencerkanemusic.com. He recently finished shooting the music video for “Best Friends” at area locations, including a scene in downtown Kendallville last

A key vote in the House is expected today.

If the country would default on some of its debt obligations, interest rates would go up, Stutzman said, and that would be harmful to an already fragile U.S. economy.

Sen. Sue Glick is honored with state award from firefighter group

Weather A 40 percent chance of rain today.

High 93. Low 73.

Page A8

Page A2

Angola, Indiana

SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2011

75 cents

kpcnews.com

Unemployment rates in percentages

County June ’11 May ’11 June ’10

GOOD MORNING

DeKalb 9.2 LaGrange 8.8 Noble 9.9 Steuben 9.3 Allen 8.1 Elkhart 10.2 Indiana* 8.3 U.S.* 9.3

Prairie Heights Class of 1966 meeting in Orland in August

Jobless rate sees decline

FW park to celebrate military history

OSLO, Norway (AP) — A homegrown terrorist set off a deadly explosion in downtown Oslo before heading to a summer camp dressed as a police officer to commit one of the deadliest

11.6 12.3 13.3 11.9 10.3 12.9 10.3 9.5

FROM STAFF REPORTS

AMY OBERLIN

Angola Street Department workers use heavy equipment to remove downed trees from the 300 block area of South Wayne Street near the Steuben Community Center Friday after a strong

storm made its way through Steuben County.

There were numerous power outages and downed trees reported due to the storm.

Storm packs a punch Cameron powers hospital with generators after outage

BY MIKE MARTURELLO mikem@kpcnews.net

ANGOLA — Cameron Memorial Community Hospital had to switch to auxiliary power as it and other businesses and residences in the Angola area lost power due to a short-lived but powerful storm that blasted through town Friday afternoon.

“We ended up with a very intense thunderstorm that formed in that area that produced the very

Lewis, meteorologist with the Northern Indiana office of the National Weather Service.

Initial reports have wind speeds at 55-65 mph, Lewis said.

Heavy rain fell with the storm in some areas, in some as high as 1.5 inches.

“There are some areas that got very little rain,” Lewis said.

Because of the high wind and heavy rainfall, some areas reported zero visibility Lewis said

fell, ripping down two power lines near the hospital on East Maumee Street. The hospital had to switch to generator power.

“The hospital has lights and everything because we’re on auxiliary power. We don’t have any air conditioning, so it’s warm, but all of our equipment is running,” Laura Lutterbeck, Cameron’s director of community relations, said while the power was out.

Power at the hospital was

Unemployment rates improved in three of the four counties of northeast Indiana during June, according to a state report Friday.

DeKalb, Noble and Steuben counties all reported better unemployment rates for June, compared to May. LaGrange County’s jobless rate rose slightly, though it remained the area’s best.

Steuben County’s unemployment rate stood at 9.3 percent from June, down from 9.8 percent in May and 11.9 percent one year ago. The state said 14,678 Steuben residents had jobs in June, up from 14.303 in May. DeKalb County showed a 9.2 percent unemployment rate for June, down from 9.4 percent in May. The state said 18,038 DeKalb County residents had jobs in June, compared to 17,880 a month earlier. DeKalb County had an 11.6 percent rate one year ago.

Noble County’s unemployment rate dropped to 9.9 percent in June, improving on 10.0 percent in May and 13.3 percent a year ago. The report said 19,564 Noble County residents had jobs in June, compared to 19,311 in May. LaGrange County had 8 8

1996 BOB BUTTGEN The Advance Leader Editor 1996-present

See MEALS, page A4

FORT WAYNE

Daily updates at www.fwbusiness.com

Photo by Kelly McLendon

By VALERIE CAVIGLIA vcaviglia@kpcnews.net

Nine hundred eyes

2012 GARTH SNOW Times Publications Editor

Loc be p

PAG

$1.00

Fra

YOUTH LEAGUES: 2011 Butler Youth League team photos, MORE ON PAGE 3

THE

Butler An edition of The

COMMUNITY

Bulletin

TUESDAY

JULY 19, 2011 145th YEAR — ISSUE #29 On the web at: kpcnews.com

75 cents Butler, Indiana ESTABLISHED IN 1866

Yoder picks jury trial

budget for the coming year. For a small agency, the Council on Aging is trying to do big business to serve the needs of the entire county, she said.

“But if we can ask folks like you for a few thousand dollars — from cities, towns and townships — those dollars put together can do service to the hundreds and hundreds and

Wagon program that provides food for almost 100 families. Most are seniors, she said, but they have helped people of all ages, especially in emergency situations.

The Farm Wagon is not in competition with any other food pantries, but is more able to help with staples during off hours, she explained.

The DART transportation program is perhaps the most visible of the agency’s programs, with close to 1,000 unduplicated individuals using their service she said

DECEMBER 2005 THE BUTLER BULLETIN weekly newspaper was purchased by KPC

2006 JEFF JONES The Butler Bulletin Editor 2006-present DECEMBER 2007 GEORGE O. WITWER KPC publisher emeritus receives the Charlie Biggs Commitment to Community Award from the Hoosier State Press Association.

2008 CONVERTED to a 23”web APRIL 2009 KPC DAILIES become morning publications seven-days-a-week –

KPC Executive Editor

named KPC CFO

Council nixes additional street funding

By Sue Carpenter suec@kpcnews.net GARRETT — During Tuesday’s brief session, Meg Zenk, director of the DeKalb County Council on Aging, asked the Garrett Common Council to keep her agency in mind when compiling next year’s city budget.

“The City of Garrett when possible has

LOC

Na ch

2011 DAVE KURTZ named 2012 RICK MITCHELL

AUBURN — The Retired Senior Volunteer Program will begin distributing backpacks and school supplies through its Pack a Backpack program Aug. 1.

The program is for children who qualify for free and reduced school lunches. Distribution will

2003 2005 LEANN ROBINSON 2003 DeKalb/Noble Phone CONLEY FIRST ISSUE Book split into two separate The Phone Book DeKalb/Noble books with LaGrange County Manager Phone Book published added to Noble book.

2003-present 2003 CREO TRENDSETTER NEWS INSTALLED Began processing pages direct from computer to plate (CTP). CONVERTED to a 25”web JANUARY 2005 KENDALLVILLE PUBLISHING COMPANY INC. changed name to KPC Media Group Inc.

newspapers purchased by KPC

A student enjoys her lunch at one of the downtown food sites.

Established in 1885

2001 MATT GETTS The News Sun • Sports Editor Editor • Senior Reporter 2001-present

July 1, 2011

Students ‘dance like no one is watching’

Garrett, Indiana

2001 FIRST ISSUE of KPC Phone Book published – Steuben County

BusinessWeekly GREATER

RSVP distributing backpacks, school supplies

2000

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

During the school year, the school lunch may be the only meal some students get all day. To combat this during the summer months, there are two programs that serve the downtown area that provide breakfast and lunch for students when school is out of session.

The first is the East Wayne Street

THURSDAY VOL. 125 ISSUE #58

Business & Professional............................A9 Classifieds..................................................A12 Community Calendar .........................A14-15 Dining & Entertainment.........................A6-7 Sports..........................................................A11

Director of Programming Services Diana Swayze said the program has changed now that it is in its second year.

“The first year was pretty slow.

We’ve definitely picked up,” she said. “We’ve done pretty well.”

The increase in participants comes due to increased marketing efforts.

Information was sent to area loca-

The chamber also honored Peggy Daniels of Superior Sample as its outgoing president, and installed a new president.

Suzanne Kistler, from the human resources of department at Silgan

On the web at: kpcnews.com

2006 BARRY ROCHFORD Business Weekly Editor 2006-present 2006 CONVERTED to a 24”web JANUARY 2007 TIMES COMMUNITY PUBLICATIONS Summer food programs serve up www.StJoeTimes.com

accomplished over the years.

He was nominated by, and presented with his award, by Harlan Hite, who was one of the chamber’s two citizens of the year in 2010.

75 cents

2001 THE HERALD REPUBLICAN purchased by KPC and expanded from a twice weekly to a daily publication.

Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly published DOUBLE

Center. This center offers an indoor breakfast and lunch program. The site is sponsored by Associated Churches of Fort Wayne. Children sit at tables while they eat their meals, which consist of sandwiches, a fruit, a vegetable and milk. A Disney movie is typically played each time as well.

While last year’s inaugural year went slow, the program is beginning to pick up speed.

BOB BUTTGEN

Burnworth Zollars Automotive Group was named “Business of the Year” by the Ligonier Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday. From left are Ken Cook, general manager, with Deb and Rick Zollars.

1975 THE CROMWELL ADVANCE AND THE LIGONIER LEADER purchased by KPC and renamed The Advance-Leader

An edition of The

JULY 22-28, 2011

healthy meals, good times

BY BOB BUTTGEN bbuttgen@kpcnews.net LIGONIER — Daniel Alemu, the Ligonier Chamber of Commerce’s 2011 “Citizen of the Year” was caught by surprise Tuesday night when he was presented with his award during the group’s annual banquet held at Ligonier United Methodist Church.

The business of the year award went to the Burnworth Zollars auto dealerships. In addition, Eric Vance, who graduated from West Noble High School in June, was given the outstanding youth of the year award for his dedication to the community.

Alemu immigrated to the United States 20 years ago from BOB BUTTGEN BOB BUTTGEN Ethiopia, and became a citizen of Eric Vance, who graduated Local restaurant owner this country on the 4th of July in June from West Noble Daniel Alemu was named nearly a decade ago.

High School, was honored as “Citizen of the Year” for 2011 Alemu was surprised by the by the chamber of commerce. the community’s “Outstanding honor.

Youth” of the year.

Friends talked him into coming to the banquet on the pretext He’s active in clubs, having ships, employs dozens of people. another friend was receiving an But perhaps the company’s honor. Alemu, known to everyone served as president of the Cromwell-Kimmell Lions three biggest contribution to the quality as ‘Daniel,’ is well known in years ago. He’s also involved with of life in the West Noble area is Ligonier not just for operating a the Ligonier Masonic Lodge, its willingness to be an active popular eatery and having many supporter of young people. friends, but also for his generosity Ligonier United Methodist Church and other community Zollars and his employees are and willingness to help others. endeavors. well known for their willingness Although he is modest about Daniel was completely to lend a hand to everything from his many acts of kindness Alemu

NEWS IN BRIEF

MARCH 2005 FIRST ISSUE of

pr@timespubs.com

75 cents

JULY 21, 2011

2005 FIRST ISSUE Family Magazine published GRACE WITWER HOUSHOLDER Family Editor 2005-present

Serving Northeast Fort Wayne & Allen County

JULY 21, 2011

Ligonier, Indiana, USA On the web at: kpcnews.com Vol. 127, No. 29

Chamber honors Daniel, BZ, Vance

SNEEZY SMITH HIGHLIGHTS Garrett Alumni golf outing, MORE ON PAGE 4

2001 TERRY HOUSHOLDER KPC Publisher & CEO 2001-present

By KELLY MCLENDON

An edition of THE NEWS SUN

THURSDAY

Leader

1996 FIRST KPC WEBSITE KPC became one of the first newspaper groups in the state to have a Web page on the worldwide Internet system.

1999 ® ® THE GARRETT CLIPPER purchased The Garrett Clipper

by KPC and SUE CARPENTER Agency seeks city funds The Garrett Clipper Editor 1999-present

*Seasonally adjusted INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

ORLAND — The Prairie Heights High School Class of 1966 will celebrate its 45th reunion on Aug. 6, 5-8 p.m., at the Orland Community Building.

Class members can bring a dish to pass.

Details are available from Linda Bachelor at 833-1721, Sharon Beer at 475-5763, Sharon Nickels at 665-2512 or Sandy Butler at 9278094.

Norway ripped by bomb, shootings

9.4 8.7 10.0 9.8 8.1 10.1 8.2 9.1

1998 MICHAEL MARTURELLO The Herald Republican Editor 1998-present

Advance

1990

1992 FIRST 4-HIGH installed on press 1995 AGFA PHOENIX NEWS IMAGESETTER INSTALLED Began processing pages direct from computer to film.

Above, LaGrange firefighter Duane Billman salutes as a

Serving the Steuben County 101 lakes area since 1857

FORT WAYNE (AP) — Work is starting on a park near Fort Wayne’s airport that will recognize the city’s military history.

The Indiana Air National Guard’s 122nd Fighter Wing is leading the project and held a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday at its base next to Fort Wayne International Airport.

A Fort Wayne newspaper reports that plans for the Baer Field Heritage Park call for it to include picnic tables, a pavilion and a variety of military aircraft, including the currently displayed F-100, F-4, F-84 and F-16 fighter jets.

1986 FIRST ISSUE

OSLO, Norway (AP) — Norway will never be the same after last week’s bombing and mass shooting but it shouldn’t change the way the suspect wants it to, the prime minister said Wednesday. He called on his country to react by more tightly embracing, rather than abandoning, the culture of tolerance that Anders Behring Breivik said he was trying to

PHOTOS BY CHAD KLINE

Saluting a fallen hero

The

1981 EARTH-STATION RECEIVER INSTALLED First paper in the nation to receive the United Press International (UPI) worldwide news reports via an earth-station receiver from a satellite in orbit 22,300 miles above the Equator.

of the Steuben Phone Book published by The Herald Republican

Prime minister says country should embrace tolerance

NOBLE COUNTY WOLFPACK playing Saturday night at Central Noble. SEE PAGE 6

1980

SEE STUTZMAN, PAGE A8

Leader: Norway shouldn’t change

Laid To Rest

1975 DAVE KURTZ The Evening Star, Editor 1975-2011

1979 TERRY HOUSHOLDER The News-Sun Managing Editor 1979-2001

75 cents

Debt deal hopes stay alive GOP downplays veto threat, dissent

1974 CONVERTED to a 32”web

1978 CONVERTED to a 27-1/2”web

Weather A 30 percent chance of showers today.

High 93. Low 73.

Rain possible Friday.

Kendallville, Indiana

1971 JIM KROEMER Editor & General Manager of The Evening Star

SEE DEAL, PAGE A12

Inside Comment Page A5

1970

2012 TERRY WARD named KPC Vice President

2010

The News Sun, The Herald Republican and The Star.

2011 KPC MEDIA GROUP INC. celebrates 100 years KPC LAUNCHES direct mail operation in Fort Wayne 2013 KPC EXPANDS digital services.

2013 TERRY WARD named KPC Chief Operating Officer

Sunday, June 2 WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013

KENDALLVILLE SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

©KPC Media Group Inc. • kpcnews.com B1

Tours of historic McCray Mansion offered

Events Kendallville Airport Fly-In and breakfast, all day starting at 6:30 a.m., Kendallville Airport; McCray Mansion Tour, 1-6 p.m., McCray Mansion, 703 E. Mitchell St.; Historic Church Tour, 2-5 p.m.; Porch Tour of Historic Homes, 2-5 p.m.

Silent films to run on silver screen in home

BY BOB BRALEY bobb@kpcnews.net

KENDALLVILLE — No celebration of Kendallville history would be complete without celebrating what Elmer Ellsworth McCray gave the city.

That’s why tours of his mansion are being offered June 2 as part of the city’s sesquicentennial celebration.

The historic home was one of the showplaces of the city in its day, and it is again now, thanks to the efforts of its current owners, Mike Post and Michael Nelaborige.

It was E. E. McCray’s father, Hiram McCray, who obtained patents for refrigeration, but it was E. E. who made them the basis for the McCray system of refrigeration with the McCray Refrigeration Co. Inc. of Kendallville.

Charles Roll said in his 1931 book, “Indiana: One Hundred and Fifty Years of American Development,” that E. E. McCray had the talent to develop the patents “to such a point that he may rightfully be called the founder of modern sanitary refrigeration.

“The result is a business which sustains one-third of the families of its home

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

The McCray Mansion as it appeared from the outside in 1928, the year it was completed.

community, which has made McCray synonymous with efficient refrigeration, and brought a food-saving and health-protecting service into homes, stores and institutions throughout the country and in many foreign lands as well,” Roll said.

Chicago architect Ralph E. Stoetzel designed the mansion in 1926 for E. E. McCray, his wife, Lena Orr McCray, and their daughter, Sarah Amanda McCray.

Building was overseen by local contractor George Diggins, and the colonial revival home was completed

in 1928.

Evidence indicated that woodworkers from McCray Refrigeration were involved in building the residence, Nelaborige said.

Tours of the home will include Stair Hall, a circular staircase that spans 18 feet and is embellished with an interpretation of a “Vetruvian wave” frieze and many other hand-carved details.

In many ways, Stair Hall looks like something you’d expect to see in a mansion in a film from the 1930s. In SEE MCCRAY, PAGE B2

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Mike Post and Michael Nelaborige have restored the living room of the McCray Mansion in Kendallville.

Sarah McCray stands in her wedding dress at the base of the stairs in Stair Hall in this 1936 photo.

Sara married Robert West Candler of Atlanta, Ga., at the mansion on June 24, 1936.

In May of 2006 Jeff and Andrea Wolheter moved to Kendallville to plant Bridgeway Evangelical Church. The church began as a small group in their house in late September of that year. In March of 2008 Bridgeway began meeting in the Kendallville Youth Center on Sunday mornings for worship.

Breaking Barriers, Bridging Gaps, Building Community

GRAND OPENING AT NEW LOCATION JUNE 2, 10:30 AM (210 Brian’s Place just east of Fairview Plaza)

Bridgeway previously met at the Kendallville Youth Center with their office and weekday activities held at the Activity Center at the corner of William and Lincoln Streets.

Bridgeway is now meeting at 210 Brian’s Place and will have a Grand Opening on June 2 at 10:30

Bridgeway’s desire has always been to share the Good News of Jesus Christ by being His hands and feet. Twice a year Bridgeway has a “Be the Church” Sunday instead of having their typical worship service. They worship God by serving others as His Church on that Sunday morning. This has included going to nursing homes, doing work for the elderly, cleaning windshields at a gas station, paying for and doing laundry for people at a local laundromat, giving away hundreds of loaves of free homemade bread, and numerous other service-minded things.

Bridgeway has also done free oil changes for single moms. They have been involved in local community festivals and activities such as the Apple Festival, Kid City, the Main Street Festival, Trick or Treat on Main Street, and the Polar Bear swim at Bixler Lake.

After meeting for five years at the Kendallville Youth Center, Bridgeway has moved to a more permanent location at 210 Brian’s Place (just east of the Fairview Plaza). Bridgeway will have a Grand Opening Service at the new location on June 2 at 10:30 AM. All are invited to attend.

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kpcnews.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.

KENDALLVILLE SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013

Sunday, June 2 MCCRAY FROM PAGE B1

1936, Sarah was photographed there in her wedding gown. She married Robert West Candler of Atlanta, Ga., at the mansion on June 24, 1936.

Other stops on the tour will include the living room, library and porch, north and south guest rooms, Sarah’s room, master bedroom, two maids’ bedrooms and dining room.

The walls in the library are solid mahogany. It apparently contained a fullhouse radio system with speakers that could be plugged into other rooms.

Furniture on the adjacent porch is the only original furniture still in the mansion.

A storage hall contains four airtight vaults to store furs, coats, woolens, silk, formal dresses, sweaters and hats.

A space known as “the ballroom” actually was used primarily for additional storage. Solid cedar drawers in the west wall protect contents from moths, sunlight and dust.

The kitchen area includes custom cupboards and drawers for utensils, flour, canned goods, spices and cutlery. A waste chute in the kitchen leads to an incinerator in the basement.

A fully-functional McCray refrigerator was built into the kitchen and still operates via a compressor in the basement.

It’s designed with eight doors — five in the kitchen and three in the butler’s pantry behind it.

The butler’s pantry also includes a Washer Super Sink Dishwasher that is original to the house. Dishes were stacked in the wire rack. Next, the washer was manually filled with hot water from the faucet. Once washing was done, it was drained and refilled to rinse.

Down the kitchen SEE MCCRAY, PAGE B3

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Mike Post and Michael Nelaborige are the current owners of the McCray Mansion, and are opening it to tours June 2 for the Kendallville sesquicentennial.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Spectacular Stair Hall in the mansion features a staircase embellished with an interpretation of a classic Greek “Vetruvian wave.”

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

The breakfast room in the McCray Mansion overlooks the gardens out back.

The library of the McCray Mansion is shown as it looked in the 1930s. The walls are solid mahogany. It apparently contained a full-house radio system with speakers that could be plugged in while in other rooms.

Old Feel.....

New Reel Our Mission: To provide all member businesses with purpose-driven benefits to improve, grow and strengthen their businesses.

The Kendallville Area Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit organization that became a duly elected organization member of the Chamber of Commerce on October 6, 1925.

STRAND THEATRE KENDALLVILLE

The Chamber is led by a Board of Directors comprised of 13 members, representing the service, professional, retail and industrial segments of our area business.

TOP 10 MEMBER BENEFITS 1. PHP Discount 2. Leads & Referrals Groups 3. Free Marketing 4. Event Promotions & Sponsorship 5. Free Use of Chamber Space 6. Free Use of Projection System & Screen 7. Free Coupons 8. Political Advocate 9. Continuing Education 10. Chamber Listing & Hot Link to Website

Mike Walton Executive Director

Sara Fisher Chamber Administrator

Lisa Wolf Office Manager

kendallvillechamber.com 122 South Main Street • Kendallville, IN 260-347-1554

• Opened 1890 as Spencer Opera House and in 1919 opened as a movie theatre • 1980 - Became twin theatre • 2013 - Continues to feature first run films

cinemaassociates.com

KENDALLVILLE SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013

©KPC Media Group Inc. • kpcnews.com B3

Business Honor Roll

Sunday, June 2 MCCRAY

The following businesses submitted their history for publication

FROM PAGE B2

staircase to the basement is a hallway with utility rooms, including a laundry room with full bath, fruit cellar, boiler room, coal room and several large storage rooms.

At the base of the spiral stairs is the recreation room, which contains an original silver screen — the kind for which the movie nickname was coined.

Silver screens were made by embedding either silver or equally reflective aluminum in the material making up the screen’s surface. They were phased out for technical reasons, as other types of screens could be used to display movies better.

Post and Nelaborige acquired 1924 theater seats from the Scottish Rite Auditorium in Fort Wayne during its remodeling, Nelaborige said. A 1926 Bond player piano in the room was built by Packard of Fort Wayne.

Vintage silent films will play in the recreation room throughout the tours for

those who want to see a classic silver screen in use, Nelaborige said.

Those who wish can go from the butler’s pantry through to the breakfast room and, from there, take a stroll in the gardens on

the grounds.

Tours will run from 1-6 p.m. June 2. Tickets cost $8 in advance or $10 at the home. All ticket proceeds will go to the Kendallville Sesquicentennial Celebration Fund.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

E. E. McCray

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Hiram McCray

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Dependable Metal Treating Dependable Metal Treating, Inc., a locallyowned and operated heattreating facility, was established in 1995 with the needs of small and mediumsized companies in mind. As a commercial heat-treating business, their primary customers are the off-road equipment, building, heavy truck, automotive, and agriculture industries. The heat-treating services provided increase the strength or wear-resistance of metal products, and improve the ability of metal products to be machined or formed.

Incorporated in 1995, Dependable Metal Treating began with two furnaces.

Within the first year, two more furnaces were added.

By 1998, the fifth and sixth furnaces were installed with operation of them beginning immediately. In January 2002, a seventh furnace was added, once again increasing production capacity.

Initially, four stockholders were involved with Dependable Metal Treating. Ross L. Noble and his father, Ross E. Noble, purchased all the outstanding stock in 1999; and in 2000, they purchased the leased land and buildings that house the facility.

The facility, consisting of a 14,000 square foot building on three acres of land, houses seven integral batch furnaces with support equipment, automatic monitoring controls, a metallurgical laboratory and offices. Processes performed include annealing, hardening, carburizing and carbonitriding. A 9,600 square foot addition was built onto its existing

structure in 2002 and three larger furnace lines were installed. They are currently entertaining thoughts of another expansion in 2014.

The State of Indiana granted Dependable Metal Treating the Quality Improvement Award in 1999. They have a registered quality system, being recertified by NQA in March 2011 , ISO 9001 :2008, WHTX compliant, and CQI-9 compliant.

Dependable Metal Treating currently employs 18 individuals. Ross L. Noble, now the sole owner of the company, recognizes that the success of his company is due to the efforts of dedicated key employees and their understanding that Dependable Metal Treating is a service business. The good quality of service that Dependable Metal Treating provides has been maintained over the years because they have been able to keep and increase a trained work force. The company strives to improve all aspects of its business by supplying its employees with training and the proper work environment. The entire staff realize that if they do not provide the services requested by a customer, their company can be replaced by another heating facility. They pay close attention to the needs of each customer and adapt their services to specific requirements. As Noble says, no customer is too small for them to accommodate. Dependable Metal Treating is dedicated to satisfying customer expectations every time, not just the first time.

With “Dependable Service” and “Dependable Quality,” Dependable Metal Treating, Inc. progresses with expansion as it consistently offers a high mark of service. While the industry

in general has recently declined 10 to 15 percent, Dependable Metal has continued to grow, establishing itself as a leader in the heat-treating field.

Best Western Kendallville A Days Inn was opened in Kendallville in 1990 by owners Gene Mory, John Kenny and Ron Plassman at 621 Professional Way. The 61-room facility was the first branded hotel in Kendallville and was managed by Rainelle Silvers.

Shortly after that, the Kendallville Event Center was built nearby and the two businesses partnered to offer services for wedding receptions and other local events.

When the Kendallville Chamber of Commerce urged Days Inn to increase its capacity, the change was made to Best Western and the hotel increased by 26 rooms for a total of 87 guest rooms.

John Kenny passed away and his shares of Best Western were distributed to his children. The ownership of Best Western eventually came to Gene Mory and the Kenney family.

A full service lounge was added to accommodate the hotel’s guests.

Currently the hotel is operated by general manager Kathleen Dues.

Best Western Kendallville is a reciepient of the Director’s Award. The hotel ranks in the top 20 percent of all Best Westerns across the United States.

On behalf of the entire Best Western Kendallville Inn staff, we would like to thank the entire community for their support.

The McCray Mansion library as it appears today.

YODER & KRAUS, PC Elder Law • Divorce Estates, Wills & Trusts Real Estate Family Law Criminal Law We Listen. We Care. We Can Help.

515 Professional Way, Kendallville, IN 46755

Anthony L. Kraus

Indiana University School of Law

260-347-9400 1-800-545-6453

Michael M. Yoder Notre Dame Law School

www.YoderLaw.com

Residents First ~ Employees Always Kendallville Manor Offers.... 24-Hour Skilled Nursing Care • Medication Administered by Licensed Personnel Rehabilitation Services: Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapies • Restorative Nursing Programs • IV Therapy Respite Care • Long-term Nursing Care • Post Surgical Care • Wound Care • Pain Management • Hospice Care Therapeutic Diets • Activity Programs for All Levels of Care • Social Services • Podiatry, Dental and Vision Services • Beauty Salon and Barber Services • Housekeeping and Linen Services • Religious Services that are Multi-Denominational

We welcome you to tour Kendallville Manor at any time. If you would like to schedule an appointment and tour with our admissions nurse, or join us for a complimentary lunch, please call us at (260) 347-4374.

1802 East Dowling Street, Kendallville, IN 46755 • (260) 347-4374 • www.kendallvillemanor.com

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KENDALLVILLE SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

kpcnews.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013

Sunday, June 2

Porches on 12 homes featured in historic tour

BY JAN RICHARDSON janr@kpcnews.net

KENDALLVILLE — In 1863, the front porch was an idyllic setting where a person could relax. It provided a cool, shaded area during the day or a place to enjoy the night air.

Those features still draw today’s residents to their porches. Twelve such porches will be featured on the Kendallville Sesquicentennial Historic Porch Tour.

The free, self-guided tour will take place Sunday, June 2, from 2-5 p.m.

Pat and Kathy Young, owners of Young Family Funeral Homes, and Kendallville Mayor Suzanne Handshoe are in charge of the event, which is part of the city’s weeklong celebration of its 150th birthday. ‘‘The homes were chosen for their uniqueness and their historic value,’’ said Kathy Young.

Many homeowners will be on hand to greet those on the tour, offer information on the homes and tell stories about the families that have resided in the dwellings over the years.

Several hosts will offer refreshments. ‘‘Each home has a history tied to Kendallville’s past, and we want to make our residents aware of that,’’ Young said. ‘‘Two of the homes on the tour were owned by former mayors, and one is owned by our current mayor. ‘‘Former Mayor Clinton Case built the home at 117 E. Rush St. in 1914 with lumber from the Case family farm in LaGrange County, and former Mayor Ralph Nash lived in the

home at 217 W. William St. that was built in 1912 by Dr. Frank Hardy.’’

Also on the tour are two homes formerly used as hospitals. The home at 208 S. Morton St. served as a private, eight-bed hospital operated by Dr. Wells, and the home at 220 E. Diamond St., was used during the winter of 1916 by nurse Irene Byron as a sanatorium for her tuberculosis patients. She also operated the Irene Byron Sanatorium in Fort Wayne.

It is still standing along S.R. 3 and is now known as Byron Health Center.

Young said a brochure is available with information on each home, and a map will help those taking the tour to find the dwellings easily. ‘‘We gathered information for the brochure from history books, former resident Jean Cochard’s book on Kendallville homes and from the homeowners themselves,’’ Young said. ‘‘It was a lot of work, but well worth the effort.’ ‘‘We encourage participants to start with house No. 1 and work their way to house No. 12, which is Mayor Handshoe’s home.

She will be there serving refreshments and giving a brief history of her home.’’

Young said the Historic Church Tour also will be from 2-5 p.m. Sunday, and many of the churches are in the same areas as the historic porches, so people can participate in both tours.

The interiors of the homes on the porch tour will not be open to the public.

A MUSEUM TO COLLECT, DISPLAY AND PRESERVE THE STORY OF WINDPOWER

More photos of the porch tour on page B5

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Home at 112 N. Park Ave.

Home at 220 E. Diamond St.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Home at 217 W. Mitchell St.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Home at 215 S. Park Ave.

VISIT THE MID-AMERICA WINDMILL MUSEUM • 53 Models on Display • Group Tours Welcome • Inside & Outside Displays • 10 Minute Video on Wind Power BAKER HALL

Reserve for Your Reception, Party or Gatherings

260-347-9706

Mid-America Windmill Museum www.midamericawindmillmuseum.org

South of U.S. 6 on 1000E • 732 S. Allen Chapel Road, Kendallville, Indiana • 260-347-2334 Hours: Tuesday thru Friday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. • Saturday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. • Sunday 1 - 4 p.m. • Closed Monday

• Individual Counseling • Group Counseling • Consultation & Education • Drug & Alcohol Counseling Steuben Clinic 3265 Intertech Drive Angola, IN • 260-665-9494

Noble Clinic 1930 E. Dowling St. Kendallville, IN • 260-347-4400

LaGrange Clinic DeKalb Clinic 2155 N. SR 9 1800 Wesley Road LaGrange, IN • 260-463-7144 Auburn, IN • 260-925-2453 Inpatient Services 1850 Wesley Road Auburn, IN • 260-927-0726

• Child & Adolescent Counseling • Family Counseling • Geriatric Services • Inpatient Mental Health Services

24-Hour Emergency Services: 1-800-790-0118 • necmh.org

WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013

KENDALLVILLE SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

©KPC Media Group Inc. • kpcnews.com B5

Sunday, June 2

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Home at 207 W. William St.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Home at 208 S. Morton St.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Home at 427 S. Oak St.

Business Honor Roll The following businesses submitted their history for publication

KPC Media Group Inc. Fourteen years before Kendallville’s incorporation as a community in 1863, a newspaper office existed on South Main Street.

Now 150 years later, journalism continues to thrive in downtown Kendallville. Under the leadership of George O. Witwer as publisher and then publisher emeritus, KPC Media Group serves all of northeast Indiana with its print and online products.

In the spring of 1849, William H. Austin, who was an accomplished fiddler, established the first newspaper in Noble County.

He published the Noble County Star from the second story of Samuel Minot’s store (later known as the George Aichele property) on

South Main Street.

He later sold it to Samuel E. Alvord, a law student from Pennsylvania who came to Indiana to regain his health.

The second newspaper in Kendallville was the Noble County Journal, established in 1860 by Judson Palmiter, an intellectual man from Ligonier. The paper was editorially linked to the political party of Abraham Lincoln, who captured the White House in the first year of the paper’s existence.

In subsequent years, other newspapers came and went.

By 1911, Kendallville’s two rival daily newspapers were consolidated by owners O.E. Michaelis and George W. Baxter, and the Kendallville Publishing Co., with offices at 112 N. Main St., was created.

In 1913, Michaelis and his wife sold their interest to

Dr. Charles O. Merica, a well-known educator and lecturer. He published The News-Sun until his death in 1918 at the age of 54. His widow, Alice W. (White) Merica, assumed ownership.

Known for her wit and charm, Mrs. Merica was long active in the Tuesday Club, a women’s study organization and the oldest social club in the city. She also served on the city library board and was active in the First Presbyterian Church.

George O. Witwer assumed the position of editor and general manager in June 1962. He became publisher and owner after the death of Mrs. Merica on Jan. 27, 1969. Mrs. Merica was 103.

When he first arrived in Kendallville, The News-Sun was a sleepy newspaper with a circulation of 3,600 and 16 employees.

Today, KPC Media Group, with more than 100 full-time employees, publishes daily and weekly newspapers in northeast Indiana, shoppers, phone books and magazines and has a robust online presence.

Its main website is kpcnews.com.

In August 1996, Witwer retired at the age of 66. He continues to serve as publisher emeritus of the family-owned company.

Witwer’s son-in-law, Terry Housholder, is president and publisher.

Business Service Co. of America

Having only a part-time job in the midst of the Great Depression, Thurlow M. Cazier began selling office

supplies out of the trunk of his car. A few years later, his business, Business Service Company of America, found a new home in the center block of Main Street. By this time, Thurlow had begun to service typewriters. During World War II, the military shipped in typewriters in wooden crates for reconditioning and cleaning.

In 1947, Thurlow’s father, Irvin Cazier, bought the building at 107 N. Main St., for his son’s business. The building was originally set up to be a restaurant or bar, and they worked around the long counter and large mirror until removing them in 1952.

In the early 1970s, Thurlow acquired the building next door and completed a major remodeling project to combine 107 and 109 North Main. The biggest challenge in completing one large

showroom was installing a 30-foot, 6-ton beam so the wall between the two buildings could be removed.

The building and three others on the 100 block of North Main Street were added to the National Register of Historic Places after the construction project was completed. Business Service has maintained the same facing on the building that existed in 1893.

The company has gone through many changes over the years and is now managed by Thurlow’s son, John, and grandson, Joe.

Dairy Queen The Kendallville Dairy Queen is owned by Doug and Tammy Woodward and is located at 840 W. North St. in Kendallville.

SEE BUSINESS HONOR ROLL, PAGE B6

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B6

kpcnews.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.

KENDALLVILLE SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013

Sunday, June 2

Church tours to highlight city’s faith heritage

BY MATT GETTS mattg@kpcnews.net

KENDALLVILLE — Even before there was a formal city, there was faith.

Numerous churches in the area started worshipping before Kendallville became a city in 1863, including the First Presbyterian Church that held its first services in 1848.

That part of the city’s heritage played an important role in early Kendallville, and a Sunday, June 2, tour of some of the area’s more historic churches is a fitting part of the Celebrate Kendallville 150 week-long celebration planned for June 1-8.

“The churches are an important part of our history,” said Jill Jollief, one of the organizers of the tour.

Retired Presbyterian minister the Rev. Stan Kessler sent letters to

various churches in the area, asking for those who wished to participate in the free tour.

To accommodate as many churches and attendees as possible, two open-housestyle church tours will run on the afternoon of Sunday, June 2.

2-4 p.m.

• First Presbyterian Church, 201 S. State St. • Trinity Church United Methodist, 229 S. State St. • St. John Lutheran Church, 301 S. Oak St. • Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 319 E. Diamond St. 3:30-5 p.m.

• First Christian Church, 110 W. Waits Road • Faith United Methodist Church, 411 Harding St. • First Church of God, 111 S. Oak St. These churches will be

open and staffed for tours during their allotted time periods, Jollief said. People can pick one or more churches to visit, as long as they do so during the hours listed.

Jollief said the intent of the tour is not to add to a congregation, but to show off the churches themselves and share the history that particular faiths have had in Kendallville.

The first occupied church structure in Kendallville was a Baptist church located at the corner of Oak and Diamond streets, the site of the current Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. The church was built in 1856 on land donated by William Mitchell, the founder of Kendallville.

Jollief grew up in the Presbyterian Church and said youth group gatherings

CHAD KLINE

The First Christian Church, 110 W. Waits Road, will be one of the churches open for tours Sunday, June 2, as part of the city’s Celebrate Kendallville 150 week-long celebration.

helped her to connect with others her age. Her own fond church memories and a love of times past made Jollief a natural to work on the committee.

“I love the history,” she said. “I thought it was a fun thing to do.”

She hasn’t been disappointed.

“I’ve met a lot of neat people,” she said. “It’s really been fun.”

Jollief’s own ancestry predates the founding of Kendallville in 1863. The Sawyer side of her family

came to the area in 1836, she said. In 1860, one of her relatives donated the land that was used for the old cemetery, now behind Quick Tanks in Kendallville.

“I’m proud of the fact they were early settlers,” Jollief said.

Business Honor Roll FROM PAGE B5

For more than 70 years, the DQ system’s recipe for success has been simple. It’s been a combination of hardworking people who own and operate restaurants, and great-tasting food and tempting treats served in our establishments.

Our phenomenal story began with the 10-cent sale of a then unnamed product on Aug. 4, 1938, in Kankakee, Ill. A father-andson partnership in Green River, Ill, had been experimenting with a soft frozen dairy product for some time.

They contacted a good friend and customer, who agreed to run the “all you can eat” trial sale at his walk-in ice cream

The following businesses submitted their history for publication store. Within two hours, he dished out more than 1,600 servings of the new dessert.

Although much has changed in the world and in the DQ® system through the years, one constant has remained: DQ® restaurants are still, and always have been, the place to find kids’ sports teams celebrating a victory, business people on their lunch break and families taking time out to enjoy great food and softserve treats.

Dairy Queen loves kids.

Whether it’s kids’ sports teams celebrating at our restaurants after games, children enjoying dinner with their parents or

teenagers visiting for cool treats at the end of a date, DQ and kids go hand in hand. And if these cherished youngsters ever become sick or injured, we want to help assure they have the best medical care available.

That’s why the DQ system has been a proud national sponsor of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (CMN Hospitals) since 1984. During the past 29 years, DQ operators throughout the United States and Canada have raised more than $97 million for CMN Hospitals.

The Woodwards look forward to seeing you soon at Kendallville Dairy Queen.

East Noble School Corp.

In April 1961, the East Noble School Corporation was formed by merging schools in Wayne, Allen and Swan townships. Edgar B. Redman was hired as the first superintendent.

In the fall of 1962, Rome City High School closed and its students enrolled at Kendallville High School.

Soon after, Kendallville and Avilla High Schools’ final classes graduated in 1966 and the new $2.5 million East Noble High School building opened in the fall of 1966 with students from

Kendallville, Rome City and Avilla in attendance.

East Noble High School’s first class graduated in May 1967.

Royal W. Tritch, the last principal of Kendallville High School, also served as the first principal of East Noble High School. Tritch graduated from Kendallville High School in 1926 and worked in the education field for 43 years, including 29 years in administration, before retiring in 1972.

East Noble High School constructed the Cole Auditorium to the north of the main gymnasium and a second gymnasium to the south in 1981. Kendallville

Middle School, the old high school at Diamond and Riley streets, was remodeled in 1984 and currently functions as the East Noble Middle School.

In recent years, the city established three new elementary schools for Kendallville and Wayne Township residents: South Side Elementary (1997), North Side School (2006), and Wayne Center Elementary School (2009).

Kendallville’s educational facilities have evolved over the years. The city continues to strive to provide the best possible opportunities for its students.

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Tuesday, June 4 WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013

KENDALLVILLE SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

ŠKPC Media Group Inc. • kpcnews.com B7

Ceremony to honor Kendallville legends This 150th anniversary year for Kendallville also marks the 100th anniversary of Mapes’ birth and the 50th anniversary of “Indiana� becoming the state poem.

BY DAVE KURTZ dkurtz@kpcnews.net

A sesquicentennial ceremony Tuesday, June 4, will honor two Kendallville residents with statewide impact.

Arthur Franklin Mapes, who was Indiana’s poet laureate, and L.D. Baker, an influential state legislator, will be recognized as their descendants watch. “They’re both a part of Indiana’s history — a huge part of Kendallville’s history,� Mayor Suzanne Handshoe said.

The mayor will read proclamations saluting Kendallville’s 150th birthday from Gov. Mike Pence and the Indiana House of Representatives.

The ceremony will repeat a highlight from the city’s history, when Gov. Matthew Welsh read a proclamation at the centennial celebration in 1963.

This year’s observance will take place in the same place the governor visited 50 years ago, under a tree at the site of the former post office on West Mitchell Street.

Profiles of the two city natives who will be honored:

Arthur Franklin Mapes Born in Kendallville in 1913, Mapes grew up in what one of his poems described as “the humble streets of Sunnyside� on the city’s south edge. He worked as a machinist at Flint & Walling, helped raise 10 children and somehow found time to

L.D. Baker If Laurence D. Baker had done nothing else besides his work in education, his career would be considered admirable. By his early 30s, he had become principal of Kendallville Junior High School.

But Baker did so much more. He had started his

education career in Remington, where a friend taught him to raise peonies.

After Baker returned to Kendallville, he started peony farms in three sites around town. He would send the cut peonies on trains to be sold in Cleveland, Detroit and New York. He recruited high school boys to work on the farms.

When peony fields wore out, Baker planted apple trees that would become the basis for a long-running family business.

Events Proclamation Ceremony, 10:30 a.m., oak tree at 119 W. Mitchell St.; Old-Time Well Drilling and Windmill Demonstration, 5-7 p.m., Mid-American Windmill Museum, 732 S. Allen Chapel Road; Noble County Fairgrounds Wagon Ride Tour, 5-8 p.m., Noble County Fairgrounds.

SEE LEGENDS, PAGE B8

“Indiana�

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Arthur Franklin Mapes

pursue his passion for poetry.

Mapes’ homespun verse described the characters and places in his rural Indiana world, but also people and events on the national and world stage that inspired him, such as President John F. Kennedy and the first moon landing.

His rhymes told stories of 19th-century northeast Indiana passed on by his much older, rustic friend, “Sassafras John� Beight. A tribute poem relates how Beight would come “Trudgin’ along in his

gumshoe boots, A-sellin’ his bundles of Sassafras roots.�

In midlife, Mapes began to build a local following. It grew statewide when, in 1961, he wrote “Indiana� — which would become the state poem — in a 15minute burst of inspiration. “Indiana� caught on when WOWO radio of Fort Wayne played the poem on its broad-reaching airwaves.

Within two years, the state Legislature adopted “Indiana� as the official state poem. In 1977, the lawmakers declared Mapes the state’s poet laureate.

By Arthur Franklin Mapes, written in 1961

Play along the willowed shores.

(Adopted as the Official State Poem by the Indiana General Assembly, March 11, 1963)

I must roam those wooded hillsides,

God crowned her hills with beauty,

For a Pagan voice within me

Gave her lakes and winding streams,

Seems to answer to it all.

Then He edged them all with woodlands

I must walk where squirrels scamper

As the settings for our dreams.

Down a rustic old rail fence,

Lovely are her moonlit rivers,

Where a choir of birds is singing

Shadowed by the sycamores,

In the woodland ‌ green and dense.

Where the fragrant winds of Summer

I must learn more of my homeland

I must heed the native call,

For it’s paradise to me, There’s no haven quite as peaceful, There’s no place I’d rather be.

Indiana ‌ is a garden Where the seeds of peace have grown, Where each tree, and vine, and flower Has a beauty ‌ all its own.

Lovely are the fields and meadows, That reach out to hills that rise Where the dreamy Wabash River Wanders on ‌ through paradise.

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KENDALLVILLE SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

kpcnews.com • ©KPC Media Group Inc.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013

Tuesday, June 4 LEGENDS

The poetry of L.D. Baker

FROM PAGE B7

In 1944, he won election to the Indiana House of Representatives, where he would serve 14 years.

Baker rose to prominence in the Legislature and played a major role in writing state government budgets.

His son, David, said L.D. Baker was chatting with Statehouse reporters one day, when one of them said, “Baker, all these peonies you’re talking about, and we’ve got the zinnia for the state flower. … Why don’t we have the peony for the state flower?”

The Legislature passed a bill making the peony Indiana’s state flower in 1957 as a salute to Baker, who was nearing the end of his career.

When David Baker learned that his father would be honored during the sesquicentennial along with Kendallville’s famous poet, he remarked, “Dad enjoyed poetry about as much as Arthur Mapes.”

Communion

His widow, Frances, published a booklet of L.D. Baker’s poems after his death.

The world held nothing that was wrong

“Rarely was a present given at birthdays or at Christmas without an accompanying poem,” she wrote. “And most of his friends received a sample of his rhyming wit when the suitable occasion struck his fancy.”

A sample of Baker’s poetry: PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

By L.D. Baker I wandered through the orchard long, I listened to the thrasher’s song.

It seemed I worshipped in that walk.

No harassed thoughts, no idle talk Broke in on my communion.

The sermons preached in gospel hall I would not deprecate at all,

For Heaven seemed part of Earth.

But God speaks through a songbird’s call

The flowering trees were inspiration,

To make divine reunion.

A wondrous show of God’s creation.

I felt within a strange elation Of spiritual rebirth.

I saw on high, the encircling hawk.

And He revealed how I was blest While I unconsciously confessed to Him, This Holy Unseen Guest Was with me from above.

L.D. Baker

Business Honor Roll The following businesses submitted their history for publication

Christianson Jewelry Inc. Christianson Jewelry Inc., 127 S. Main St., was originally known as Gotsch & Company and was located a block south of its present downtown location in what is now known as the Little Shop of Music. Watchmaker Julis Gotsch, assisted by his apprentice Louis Beckman, soon had a thriving business and in 1865 changed the store’s location to the corner of Main and William streets and its name to Gotsch & Beckman.

A devastating fire swept through the block in 1871 and Gotsch & Beckman’s store burned. Gotsch retired and Beckman opened a new store in 1875. He was joined by his son, Charles, 12 years

later and the store became known as L. Beckman & Son. In 1913, the store was completely remodeled to celebrate Beckman’s 50th anniversary. To celebrate, the Beckmans offered a genuine diamond bar pin for $1 and a 17-jewel man’s watch for $17.50.

Reuben Christianson, a watchmaker from Wisconsin, joined Beckman in 1951 and the store became known as Beckman & Christianson. Christianson acquired full ownership in 1955, changing the name to Christianson Jewelry, and was joined by his son, David, a Certified Master Watchmaker and jeweler, in 1975.

David Christianson took over management responsibilities in 1982 and today he and his wife, Rhonda, a qualified jeweler, and

assisted by jeweler/gemologist Brekan Manahan, specialize in jewelry repair and antique watch and clock restoration, as well as servicing contemporary timepieces. With a complete horological machine shop, jewelry repair shop and gem laboratory, the workshops of Christianson Jewelry can fabricate any parts needed in watch, clock and jewelry restoration and repair … a tradition that has continued since the shop’s founding in 1863.

Pizza Hut

Kendallville Pizza Hut opened its doors in May 1981. Since then, the store has been heavily involved in the community, supporting many local organizations and exemplifying the “hometown Pizza Hut’’ and

setting the brand standard for Pizza Huts across the nation.

The restaurant is owned

by Dick Freeland and managed by Kelly Broyles.

It is located at 101 E. North St., and has 71 employees.

Dick and Deanna Freeland opened their first restaurant in 1972 and began with the philosophy of always doing the right thing — for their customers, employees and for the communities that they proudly serve.

Over three decades and nearly 50 restaurants later, all of their people serve their guests in the same tradition.

The Freelands are dedicated to providing great food, reasonably priced, and to providing their guests with the utmost in service.

The Kendallville location is proud to be the highest

volume Pizza Hut and has only accomplished this because of the honest and loyal patrons of Kendallville.

Noble County Disposal Inc. Noble County Disposal Inc. (also known as NCD) was originally started in 1972 by Gerald W. Potee, father to current owner Myrna Arnold.

Myrna and her husband, Sam Arnold, ran the operations for many years and were later joined by their two sons, Chad and Brice Arnold.

Noble County Disposal Inc. is located at 1973 E. U.S.6, west of Kendallville, and is a sanitation company and trash hauler. It can be reached at 349-9150.

What started with one garbage truck and a dream turned into a fleet of trucks and successful family business. A family business that is passing its values of generosity, reliability and hard work down to the grandchildren who now work for the business.

The company logo and website were also both designed by nephews of Myrna and Sam. Noble County Disposal Inc. has grown to offer many services over the years: residential trash cans, clean up containers, household recycling, and electronic and fluorescent bulb recycling.

The Voice of Northeastern Indiana since 1956

95.5fm Classic H its The HAWK an d AM1140 WAWK is one of the las t independent, lo cally owned radio stations in the United State s, and we continue to grow … THANK YOU!

Don Moore

Proudly serving Northeast Indiana from Kendallville since 1956.

• Thanks to the support of our s ponsors and advertisers.

• Thanks to all th e people who ha ve graced the hallways and air waves of this leg endary radio station for the p ast 57 years.

• Thanks to tens of thousands of radio listeners throughout Kend allville, Northea st Indiana and around the worl d on www.955fm TheHAWK.com.

We take our res ponsibility to co ntinue Don Moore’s legacy to serve this com munity seriously Providing entert . ainment, sports , news, weather, 24-hour emerge ncy information and a platform for community o rganizations, we look forward to another 57 years serving our frien ds and neighbors.

KENDALLVILLE’S HOME FOR 955fmTheHAWK.com

347-2400

Wednesday, June 5 KENDALLVILLE SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013

©KPC Media Group Inc. • kpcnews.com C1

Cemetery tour reveals fascinating tales

BY DAVE KURTZ dkurtz@kpcnews.net

Every tombstone tells a tale to Amanda Blackman.

She’ll share a dozen of her favorite stories June 5 at 6:30 p.m., when she leads a tour of two cemeteries for the sesquicentennial celebration.

Blackman, a Kendallville resident, loves spending time in cemeteries. Strolling through the shady grounds of the older section of Lake View Cemetery, she says that’s what the builders intended.

“You were supposed to come out here and hang out, have picnics, go for walks,” she said.

Designed as a park-like cemetery, Lake View opened in 1867. Its older section is laid out in man-made mounds that serve as sites for individual families, with a large family marker in the center of each mound and small individual gravestones surrounding it in a circle.

Blackman picked up her passion for cemeteries from her parents. who have helped restore a half-dozen cemeteries in northeast Indiana, including Kendallville’s “old” cemetery.

The city’s forgotten burial ground will make up the second part of Blackman’s tour. It wouldn’t be worth

Events Ice Cream Social, 5-7 p.m., Rush Street next to Trinity Church United Methodist; Cemetery Tour, 6:30 p.m., starts in Lake View Cemetery.

stopping by except for the efforts of Blackman and her folks.

“There were five stones standing in 2007. Every other one was knocked over or broken,” she said. “In 2007, we fixed all the vandalized stones, and now we’re fixing the rest.”

She has found records of 248 burials in the “old” cemetery, dating back to 1836.

Blackman expects her tour will spend 30-45 minutes in Lake View Cemetery and 30 minutes at the “old” cemetery.

People could drive their cars on the Lake View portion of the tour, because most stops are near one the car paths.

Blackman plans to make these stops on her tour:

Lake View Cemetery Anna Hickman-Long — died of exposure in a scandalous incident. An account of her death at the age of 28 filled the front page of the local newspaper in the late 1890s. It covered a court hearing aimed at finding an explanation for her death. “Basically, she got drunk and caused a scene at her sister’s house,” Blackman said. “One guy proposed to her, but she left with a totally different guy.”

Her body was found, halfnaked, at a lumberyard.

George Dawson — captured during the Civil War, he survived at the notorious Andersonville prison camp, but did not make it home alive. After his release in 1865, he boarded the riverboat Sultana as one of some 2,400 passengers, SEE CEMETERY, PAGE C2

DAVE KURTZ

Amanda Blackman will lead a cemetery tour of including Kendallville’s “old cemetery,” shown above,

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KENDALLVILLE SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013

Wednesday, June 5 CEMETERY FROM PAGE C1

many of them prisoners heading home. The greedy ship owners severely overloaded the boat, designed to carry a limit of 376 people. It exploded on April 27, 1865, on the Mississippi River near Memphis, Tenn. An estimated 1,600 people died.

Dawson’s tombstone lists the date of his death as June 28, 1865, indicating he died from injuries after the disaster.

Alonzo Anderson and Cora Anderson Siebert — Anderson, an AfricanAmerican barber, built a block of storefronts on the northwest side of downtown Kendallville. He served in an African-American unit during the Civil War. Two of his great-great nieces are coming for the cemetery tour. Their grandmother graduated from Kendallville High School before moving to Chicago. Until Blackman contacted them, her descendants knew she had lived in Indiana, but did not know

where. Cora Anderson Seibert was revealed to be a man who posed as a woman for much of his life.

Elmer McCray — a business leader and philanthropist, he may have influenced life in Kendallville during the 20th century more than anyone. At one point, it was said that his McCray Refrigerator company sustained one-third of the families in the city.

He was the largest donor to establish Lakeside Hospital, which became McCray Memorial Hospital. “People still love to reminisce about McCray,” Blackman said.

Alvin M. Strauss — a Kendallville native and architect, he designed McCray Memorial Hospital in Kendallville, the Auburn Automobile Co. headquarters (now the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum), and several Fort Wayne landmarks — the Embassy theater, Lincoln Bank tower, St. Vincent Villa and original Memorial

Coliseum.

William Mitchell — known as the “father of Kendallville” and the namesake of Mitchell Street, he died while on business in Macon, Ga.

Old Cemetery Matthew Mott — an attorney and regulator for horse thief trials.

Bixler family — pioneers who gave their name to Kendallville’s lake.

Anderson family — more members of Kendallville’s best-known AfricanAmerican family.

Sawyer family — early landowners who donated the site for the old burial ground.

Samuel Minot — owned Kendallville’s first grocery store and platted the residential neighborhood that includes Diamond Street.

Bloomfield family — includes a veteran of the War of 1812 and many veterans of the Civil War.

DAVE KURTZ

E. E. McCray, perhaps Kendallville’s most influential citizen, lies buried in the older section of Lake View Cemetery.

Business Honor Roll

The following businesses submitted their history for publication.

St. James Restaurant

DAVE KURTZ

William Mitchell, known as the “father of Kendallville,” died in the fall of 1865 on a business trip to Macon, Ga. He lies buried in Lake View Cemetery.

The Freeman Family’s association with the St. James Restaurant started in 1948 when Bill and Evelyn Freeman purchased the St. James Hotel.

Jonathan James, a Pennsylvania farmer who moved to Indiana in 1860, built the St. James Hotel in 1878. By 1948, the once-proud hotel had turned into a deteriorating run-down tavern until its purchase by the Freemans.

Over the years, the St. James has continued to grow and expand. In 1979, a new dining room was added and in 1983 the second story that once housed the hotel rooms was remodeled into a lounge

We’re available whenever and wherever you need us.

and banquet room. A new bar was built in 1991, as well as other remodeling.

The Freeman Family is still carrying on the tradition through Bill, Tom, Bob and his wife Beth, and grandson, Todd.

Over the years, the St. James Restaurant has received several awards such as the Oldest Restaurant in Northern Indiana by the Indiana Restaurant Association, the Centennial Business Award by the Indiana Historical Society, selected Best Restaurant in 4 County Area for American Cuisine, and voted by readers of News-Sun in 4 County Area for Best Steaks, Best Chicken and Best Soups.

The Freeman Family invites you to experience their history of serving fine food

and tradition.

Peachey’s Dry Cleaners Peachey’s Dry Cleaners was established in 1945 by Maxwell Peachey.

Gary ‘‘Sid’’ and Sandy Fisher purchased the dry cleaning business from Maxwell Peachey in September of 1985 and currently own and operate the business located at 114 E. William St., Kendallville.

Maxwell continued to work for the business until September 2009, retiring after 65 years in the cleaning business just four weeks before his death. Cleaning and pressing garments were the

things that Mr. Peachey loved the most, besides his family, fishing, mushroom hunting and his pets.

Prior to the establishment of Peachey’s Dry Cleaners, another dry cleaning service was located at Peachey’s current location. It had been operating in the 1930s.

Peachey’s Dry Cleaners is thought to be the only on-site dry cleaners remaining in business in all of Noble County. On-site dry cleaning of formal dresses and wedding gown preservation are some of the services that Peachey’s provides to the community.

The cleaners serves customers Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and most Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon.

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Stewart Brimner Peters & Lear

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www.csbbankonline.com Member 800-488-3958 FDIC

HAPPY 150 KENDALLVILLE! TH

Your Communications Company Since 1896

414 S. Cavin St, Ligonier, IN 1-800-714-6353 • www.ligtel.com

KENDALLVILLE 303 E. North St. • 347-1352

Providing reliable, safe and affordable energy while supporting our LOCAL communities for over 75 years!

Noble REMC A Touchstone Energy Cooperative ®

260-636-2113 • 800-933-7362 nobleremc.com

KENDALLVILLE SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013

©KPC Media Group Inc. • kpcnews.com C3

Business Honor Roll

The following businesses submitted their history for publication.

Atz Furniture Julius and Carl Atz established Atz Furniture Store in Goshen in 1922.

They opened a store in Kendallville in 1928 at the corner of Main and Mitchell streets, in the old Kelly Hotel building. The store later moved to its current U.S. 6 West location.

The Ligonier store opened on Cavin Street in 1942. In the 1960s, John Atz managed the Ligonier branch while his brother, Eugene “Gene” Atz, operated the Kendallville store.

In 1978, Gene Atz retired to Florida and John Atz took over the family business. In 1982, Joe Atz, son of John, came to work for the company and managed the Ligonier store from 1982 to 1990. In 1990, Joe Atz became the corporation president and Kendallville store manager.

Gene Atz died in 1996; John Atz died in 2006.

Courier

Courier Corporation, based in North Chelmsford, Mass., is one of America’s leading innovators in book manufacturing, content management and publishing.

The local plant at 2500 Marion Drive in East Industrial Park is the corporation’s flagship fourcolor plant and Kendallville’s largest employer, with 600 plus employees.

Courier’s roots in Kendallville go back more than 40 years to when Uniform Printing & Supply, a subsidiary of Courier Corporation, started operation at 2500 Progress Drive by printing forms for the insurance industry. In 1985, Uniform Printing was sold and Courier Corporation started Murray Kendallville on the same site to

manufacture one-color paperback books.

In 1990, Murray became Courier Kendallville Inc. The plant had about 90 employees at the time.

Two years later, Courier Kendallville purchased a new Hantcho web press and started printing high-quality, four-color books for education and trade markets.

The workforce stood at about 160 employees.

In 2003, Courier Kendallville purchased its first of four high capacity state-ofthe-art MAN Roland web presses to cope with the growth of four-color books.

The number of employees nearly doubled.

Five years later, the company constructed a new 200,000 square-foot warehouse on Lester Drive with a rail spur access on the east side of the industrial park.

Last year, Courier Corp. announced plans to provide complete, end-to-end digital production capability at its Kendallville location. The heart of the new production line is a high-volume HP T410 color inkjet web press, Courier’s fourth HP press and its largest. The new line is now operating from Courier Kendallville’s warehouse building. ‘‘With this new capability, the plant will now have the opportunity to make a comparable name for itself in digital content delivery,’’ stated James Conway, Courier Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer.

Flint & Walling In 1866, Flint & Walling began operations on the corner of Mitchell and Oak streets in Kendallville. Its founders were David C. Walling and Simeon Flint.

When it was first

established, F&W built hand-operated water pumps and the Flint & Walling windmill, a revolutionary product that quickly spanned the globe.

As the only United States pump company to manufacture its own electric motors for jet and centrifugal pumps, Flint & Walling is known world-wide for superior quality. It is a full line manufacturer of water systems and water conditioning equipment.

Today, Flint & Walling continues to operate at the original location on Oak Street in Kendallville and is owned by Zoeller Company in Louisville, Ky. With several employees who are third and even fourth generation, Flint & Walling has provided ongoing employment to the local community for 147 years. It currently has 126 employees.

The 21st century promises even greater demand for efficient, waterproducing products. Flint & Walling will continue to meet these demands with a full line of well pumps, irrigation pumps, industrial pumps and a wide variety of specialty products for niche markets.

with exotic animals like monkeys, cheetahs and lions.

After veterinary school, Dr. Taylor practiced in Mitchell, Ind., and then in Auburn, Ind., working with both farm animals and companion pets.

His desire to provide lifelong care for animals was the force behind the establishment of the Kendallville Animal Clinic.

In 2010, Dr. Taylor had the opportunity to again work with exotic animals as he took over the primary veterinarian role at Black Pine Animal Sanctuary.

One day, Dr. Taylor would once again like to go on short-term mission trips to assist people and their animals in different locations throughout the world. His love for animals and people is seen every day as he cares for the pets that come into the clinic.

Please visit our website at kendallvilleanimalclinic.com to learn more about us and the care and services we provide.

Kendallville Animal Clinic is located at 522 Professional Way in Kendallville. Call 260-3479644 to schedule an appointment or contact the clinic online at om@kahpc.com.

Kendallville Edward Animal Jones Clinic Edward Jones is served Kendallville Animal Clinic was opened on July 12, 1995, beginning another chapter in Dr. Scott Taylor’s desire to assist animals.

Dr. Taylor was raised on a farm near Decatur, Indiana, and went to veterinary school at Purdue University. He did an externship in Ethiopia, Africa, where he provided surgical and preventative medicine for domestic livestock and had the opportunity to work

locally by financial advisers Greg Beckman and Troy Hartman.

Greg is the financial adviser at the office located at 747 E. North St., and Troy Hartman is the financial adviser at the office at 710 Goodwin Place.

Beckman has been with the financial services firm since 1991 and Hartman has served Edward Jones since 1998. Jim Weddle is currently the managing

partner for Edward Jones.

Most offices have two associates.

Edward Jones got its start in 1922 when Edward D. Jones Sr. founded the firm that bears his name.

For more than 50 years, Edward Jones has brought its unique brand of service to communities across the country. Edward Jones’ onebroker strategy runs counter to that of virtually every other major securities firm in the United States and has helped fuel remarkable growth for the company.

With more than 11,000 branch offices in all 50 states and through its affiliate in Canada, Edward Jones’ growth has been extraordinary.

Edward Jones continues to be distinguished by its unique brand. The firm remains focused on serving the serious, long-term individual investor. Its investment philosophy still emphasizes quality and diversification. Today, Edward Jones locates its offices in communities so financial advisers can develop face-to-face, personal relationships with clients. Diversification does not guarantee a profit or protect against loss.

Contact Greg Beckman at 260-347-0452 or email him at greg.becman@edwardjones. com or Troy Hartman at 260-347-2803 or troy.hartman@edwardjones. com to make an appointment to discuss your investment needs.

Member SIPC.

Drs. Roush and Will Three generations of the Roush family have been involved in the practice of optometry in Kendallville.

Dr. Robert Roush graduated from Northern

Illinois College of Optometry in 1943. After a tour of duty in the United States Navy, he started a solo practice in Kendallville in 1945, located in the second story of the Keller building on South Main Street. The practice was then moved to its current location at 117 W. Rush St. in 1956.

Dr. Roush continued to practice there until his retirement in 1988.

An expansion of the facility was completed in 1973 to accommodate the addition of Dr. Roush’s eldest son, Richard. He graduated from the Indiana University School of Optometry in 1970 and completed a three-year tour with the Army in Germany.

Dr. Richard Roush began as the primary practicing optometrist in Albion, when a second office location was established in 1973 at 106 W. Main St. Dr. Richard Roush continued to practice in both the Kendallville and Albion locations until his retirement in 2004.

Dr. R. Alan Roush graduated from the Indiana School of Optometry in 1979 and then joined the family practice in Kendallville. In 2000, the Kendallville office completed a major renovation and expansion that doubled the size of the facility.

In June 2004, Dr. Matthew Will was added to the staff as an associate. A new Albion clinic was built in the Northridge Medical Complex at 805 Trail Ridge Road in 2005. In 2007, Dr. Matt Will became a partner in Drs. Roush and Roush resulting in the change to the current practice name of Drs. Roush and Will.

In June 2010, Dr. Elizabeth Roush, Dr. Alan Roush’s daughter, was added to the staff as an associate.

In June 2010, Dr. Craig Lichlyter was also added as a part-time associate with Drs. Roush and Will.

We are now proud to offer a new

Digital Panoramic 3-D X-ray Technology.

It provides clear results for faster diagnosis.

Latest technology in all dental procedures including: • Implants • Endodontics • Surgical Extractions • Orthodontics • Cosmetic & Bleaching • Preventative and Basic Services • Dentures • Laser Technology • Sedation Dentistry

Dental Laser

More comfortable, less pain, less noise & fewer needles!

Dr. John Thompson, D.D.S. & Dr. Thomas M. Jones, D.D.S. 225 Fairview Blvd., Kendallville • thompsondentalcare.net 260-347-2251 • 1-800-433-GRIN (4746)

RELIABLE PAPERBOARD PACKAGING The world’s most valued brands rely on Graphic Packaging paperboard beacuse our exacting standards, unique fiber blends and production processes deliver superior filling-line performance, better durability during transportation and eye-catching appearance on the shelf.

We deliver the right paperboard for virtually every carton application: automotive, beverage, candy, cereal, cosmetics, crackers and cookies, detergent, dry food, electronics, fast food, hardware, health and beauty, ice cream, paper goods, perishable bakery goods, pet foods, sporting goods, tobacco and toys.

TICCIT (pronounced “ticket”, which stands for “Trees into Cartons, Cartons into Trees”) is an outreach and educational program for school-aged children held every year at the end of April to honor Earth Day and highlights the renewability and sustainability of paper and paperboard packaging.

Kendallville, IN • 260-347-7612

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KENDALLVILLE SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013

Business Honor Roll

The following businesses submitted their history for publication.

St. John Lutheran School St. John Lutheran School first opened its doors in 1860. From that day forward St. John has served the people of Kendallville and the surrounding area by providing children with a Christ-centered education.

Although the school closed in 1968, it reopened in 1981, in large part due to the desire of several St. John Lutheran Church members to have a Christian education opportunity once again.

Since the school restarted, St. John has been served by three principals: Vernie Scheiber, Neil Grepke and Tim Walz, and more than 30 teachers.

The school is a ministry of St. John Lutheran Church.

As such, the school’s mission is to nurture faith in Christ and promote discipleship. The students have the opportunity to grow in faith through Bible lessons, memory work, prayer, and worship. The students live out that faith as they financially support various local, national and international ministries. The students also participate in various community outreach events. In addition to providing a spiritual foundation, St. John strives to develop God-given talents and abilities and to encourage academic excellence. St. John develops the whole child by offering a well-rounded program including physical education, athletics, art, drama, technology, and music. St. John students have opportunities to use their talents and abilities in many different competitions and events. St. John students have traditionally excelled as they have continued their

education in high school and college and entered the workforce.

St. John Lutheran School is a Christ-centered family.

Students, families, teachers, and staff all come together across generations as a family with care and concern for each other. That family atmosphere continues into the Kendallville community.

The people and businesses of Kendallville have been a tremendous support and blessing to St. John over the years. Likewise, St. John has been a tremendous blessing to the people of Kendallville.

St. John and Kendallville have been interconnected since their beginnings, and, God willing, will continue together for many years to come.

To learn more about St. John Lutheran School, please visit stjohneagles.org.

Eshelman Excavating Eshelman Excavating Inc. was established in 1972 by Hugh Eshelman on C.R. 1000 East in Kendallville.

Hugh began with a dump truck and a backhoe. His first employee was his father, Paul Eshelman, and his wife Cathy was always behind the scenes lending a hand and support.

As the company grew, Hugh moved his operation in 1986 to its current location at 5999 E. U.S. 6 in Kendallville.

He later purchased more land and developed Eshelman Sand & Gravel.

The company is currently owned by Cathy Eshelman and Josh and Heather Molen. There are 15 employees in the excavating, trucking and sand and gravel operation.

The owners’ goal is to continue the growth of the

company and to serve the community.

The company can be reached at 347-0595 or eshelmanexcavating@att.net.

Campbell & Fetter Bank Campbell & Fetter Bank, located on the corner of William and Orchard streets, is deeply rooted in Kendallville’s history.

On Jan. 6, 1858, William Mitchell and Henry Hitchcock began a private banking business in Kendallville that continued until Dec. 31, 1861. The business was resumed by Mitchell & Son from Jan. 1, 1862, to June 11, 1863. On June 12, 1863, the business merged into the First National Bank of Kendallville with William Mitchell, president, and Charles Mitchell, his son, cashier. William Mitchell died in September 1865, and Charles Mitchell died in September 1866, leaving the bank in the hands of William’s younger son, John Mitchell.

The economic panic of 1893 brought the retirement of John Mitchell and the reorganization of the bank

by Mitchell’s son-in-law, Archy Campbell, and his business partner Jacob C. Fetter. These two men had worked together in the dry good business on Main Street, Kendallville. At its beginning on June 1, 1894, the Campbell & Fetter Bank took over deposits of $27,507 and resources of $135,351 from the First National Bank. Campbell & Fetter started with only two employees, a teller and a loan officer, at 132 S. Main St. Despite the onset of the Great Depression in the 1930s, Campbell & Fetter weathered the storm. The bank met every call of

We’re stronger together.

business and was among the first Indiana banks authorized to reopen for business after the federal bank holiday in 1933, ordered by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Between 1938 and 1941, the bank moved to 212 S. Main St. The Noble County Bank originally was housed in this building until its demise during the Great Depression.

In 1949, Campbell & Fetter Bank became one of the last private banks in the country to incorporate with 90 shareholders.

The bank coasted along nicely under the leadership of Archy Campbell’s son, Don Campbell, during the 1950s and early 1960s. Don Campbell, great-grandson of William Mitchell, died in 1962, thus ending the fourth generation identified with the operation of the Campbell & Fetter Bank.

Following Don Campbell’s death, Henry Feil, a longtime employee of the bank, became president.

In 1963, the bank purchased the corner lot on William and Orchard streets in order to construct a new banking facility with 10,600 square feet of space, at a cost of $200,000. It opened in 1964.

Feil retired as bank president in 1971. Paul E. Catt, a Chicago banker, was named president but remained with the bank only for a short time.

Robert Todd, another longtime employee of the bank, then followed in the line of leadership. Under Todd’s direction, the branch on North Street was constructed and opened in January 1974.

In 1976, William T. Doyle, former Chicago resident and owner of a chain of supermarkets, purchased controlling interest in the Campbell & Fetter Bank and became

chairman of the board.

Also in 1976, the bank purchased the Lyle Bailey property located just west of the bank and demolished it to make room for three additional drive-up lanes.

Todd retired as president in 1978 and Doyle succeeded him. Campbell & Fetter Bank continued to grow and in 1982 a branch bank was built in Ligonier for the benefit of customers in the western part of Noble County.

In 1984, Campbell & Fetter Bank purchased and merged with Albion National Bank. A new building was erected in the summer of 1984 south of the business district on Orange Street, Albion.

In October 1985, Campbell & Fetter Bank opened a branch in Auburn.

This was a temporary facility in a trailer. The grand opening of its new Auburn facility occurred in May 1986.

In June 1987, the grand opening for the Warsaw branch was held.

In 1988, Larry Doyle, son of William Doyle, became president of Campbell & Fetter Bank. William Doyle retired in 1993; in 1994 his son rose to chairman of the board.

In January 1996, the Angola branch opened and in January 2000, the Fort Wayne branch launched a commercial lending office.

Cole Center YMCA The Olive B. Cole Foundation helped bring a YMCA to Kendallville beginning in 1969, and in 1970, a 27-member group of citizens formed the Cole Center YMCA Inc. The group financed the administrative costs of its efforts through personal donations

and a $2,000 grant from the Cole Foundation.

John Hutchins was the general chairman and Fred Manahan served as the first board president. Campaign leaders included John Milnor, Tom Alberts, David Baker, Dave Hosler, Dr. Robert Bryan, Tod Wolfrum, Betty Newkirk, Duane Axel, Darol Stroman, George Witwer and Allen Nelson.

With the $400,000 matching funds committed by the Cole Foundation, the campaign topped over $800,000.

Although the board intended the YMCA to be located in Bixler Lake Park, southeast of the McCray Memorial Hospital, a strong backlash from the public resulted in a change of plans.

In October 1971, the East Noble School Corp. agreed to lease land it owned on Garden Street for 99 years at $1 per year. Groundbreaking occurred in October 1972 and the YMCA opened on Feb. 15, 1974.

The YMCA added a fitness center and racquetball courts in 1979, established an endowment fund in 1985, and launched a capital campaign to expand the facility in 2000. Then in 2002, it opened a $5.5 million expansion, including a second swimming pool, a second gym, a 4,000-squarefoot fitness center, a preschool education wing and a renovated baby-sitting room. An exercise classroom opened in renovated space in 2008 and locker rooms were improved at the cost of $75,000 in 2009. In 2011, additional renovations included a state-of-the-art group exercise studio and a renovated lower level for school-aged childcare programming.

The YMCA strives in its mission “to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind and body for all.”

Many leading doctors in Noble County are part of Parkview Physicians Group.

This means that at every stage of your family’s life, top quality healthcare is right here — close to home.

Family Medicine

Cardiology

Lilly S. Bontrager, MD

Lisa A. Lane, MD

Peter J. Chaille, MD

Gary Hambel, MD

326 Sawyer Road Kendallville, IN 46755 (260) 349-9166

104 Nicholas Place Avilla, IN 46710 (260) 897-3308

401 Sawyer Road Kendallville, IN 46755 (260) 266-5700

401 Sawyer Road Kendallville, IN 46755 (260) 266-5700

Philip W. Corbin, MD

Mycal L. Mansfield, MD

William C. Collis, MD

Kevin J. Kelly, MD

104 Nicholas Place Avilla, IN 46710 (260) 897-3308

104 Nicholas Place Avilla, IN 46710 (260) 897-3308

401 Sawyer Road Kendallville, IN 46755 (260) 266-5700

401 Sawyer Road Kendallville, IN 46755 (260) 266-5700

Michael R. Engle, DO

Ron L. Sloan, MD

Robert W. Godley, MD

Roy W. Robertson, MD

817 Trail Ridge Road Albion, IN 46701 (260) 373-9590

326 Sawyer Road Kendallville, IN 46755 (260) 349-0434

401 Sawyer Road Kendallville, IN 46755 (260) 266-5700

401 Sawyer Road Kendallville, IN 46755 (260) 266-5700

Christopher Frazier, MD

Gerald Warrener, MD

Kevin K. Hart, MD

326 Sawyer Road Kendallville, IN 46755 (260) 343-9666

104 Nicholas Place Avilla, IN 46710 (260) 897-3308

401 Sawyer Road Kendallville, IN 46755 (260) 266-5700

Lenora Hirschler, MD 1464 Lincolnway S. Ligonier, IN 46767 (260) 894-7139

Obstetrics & Gynecology

General Surgery

Internal Medicine

Colon & Rectal Surgery James W. Edlund, MD 401 Sawyer Road Kendallville, IN 46755 (260) 489-8898

Urology

Miroslaw Foltyniak, MD, FACS

Sadaf Bangash, MD

Rhys Rudolph, MD

213 Fairview Blvd.

Kendallville, IN 46755 (260) 347-4900

512 N. Professional Way Kendallville, IN 46755 (260) 347-8550

401 Sawyer Road Kendallville, IN 46755 (888) 933-8681

Orthopedics

Podiatry

Sleep Medicine

Thomas W. Miller, MD

Douglas F. Bolda, MD

Vincent J. Coda, DPM

Srinivasan Devanathan, MD

420 Sawyer Road Kendallville, IN 46755 (260) 347-8030

401 Sawyer Road Kendallville, IN Suite B 46755 (260) 347-8430

410 E. Mitchell Street Kendallville, IN 46755 (260) 347-2833

401 Sawyer Road Kendallville, IN 46755 (260) 373-5850

Thursday, June 6 WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013

KENDALLVILLE SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

Interurban trains linked Kendallville to area cities

BY DAVE KURTZ dkurtz@kpcnews.net

Craig Berndt tries to imagine what it would have been like to ride on the new interurban electric trains when they began serving Kendallville in 1906.

“It must have been breath-taking,” he said.

Whizzing through the countryside at up to 60 mph, the interurban could reach Fort Wayne — a long journey by horse — in barely over an hour.

Berndt will tell the story of the interurban line that served northeast Indiana in

a sesquicentennial program Thursday, June 6, at 6 p.m. in the Kendallville Public Library.

Berndt has written a book on the Toledo & Chicago Interurban Railway Co. — the interurban’s original name — that served Kendallville from 19061937.

With a route shaped like the letter “Y,” the interurban lines ran from Fort Wayne north to Garrett, then branched off toward Avilla and Kendallville to the west, or headed for Auburn and Waterloo to the east.

The company built its giant powerhouse in Kendallville, east of the present site of East Noble High School. It opened in July 1906, using water from Bixler Lake in its giant steam turbines. Its chimney towered 160 feet tall.

The tracks ran past the powerhouse to Main Street, where a depot stood on the site of what today is the Max Platt Ford dealership.

A loop track for the trains to turn around occupied the site of today’s youth center.

Passenger service from Garrett to Kendallville

©KPC Media Group Inc. • kpcnews.com C5

Events Interurban and Railroad History, 6-8:30 p.m., Kendallville Public Library; Genealogy Room Open House, 5-8 p.m., Kendallville Public Library.

began in the last week of September 1906, according to Berndt’s book. That was the week of the annual fair in Kendallville, and more than 1,200 Garrett residents traveled to the fair during the week, including 800 on a single day.

Original plans called for a much larger interurban system that would stretch west to Albion, Ligonier, Syracuse and Goshen. It also would connect with routes connecting Chicago and Toledo, as its SEE INTERURBAN, PAGE C6

PHOTO COURTESY WILLIAM AND OLIVE HINKLEY

PHOTO COURTESY MICHAEL MAPES COLLECTION.

Toledo & Chicago Interurban Railway coach No. 7 waits at the Kendallville depot around 1910. The depot stood

on the site of the present-day Max Platt Ford dealership on South Main Street.

Gladys Grosh (later Gladys Hinkley) stands in front of Fort Wayne & Northwestern interurban line car “A” in Kendallville. She was about 20 years old and a secretary for the FW&NW when the photo was taken around 1920.

From Our “family” to yours for over 65 years.

Drs. Roush and Will Optometrists

Albion 260-636-7788 Ligonier 260-894-3912 Kendallville 260-347-3458

Providing Professional Eyecare with a Personal Touch........

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KENDALLVILLE SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013

Thursday, June 6 INTERURBAN FROM PAGE C5

name suggested.

The grander scheme never developed.

“The only thing ever built was the Fort Wayne division,” Berndt said.

Kendallville’s city council would not even give the interurban the right to cross Main Street to head west.

“I think it was probably because they had never completed that downtown business loop” that had been promised to Kendallville, Berndt said.

The interurban operated an office at the site of

Kendallville’s movie theater, until the office moved to Fort Wayne in 1924. The system’s repair shop also was at Kendallville, near the powerhouse along Sherman Street.

In 1923, the interurban’s owners decided to buy power from Indiana Service Corp. instead of generating it themselves. They shut down the Kendallville power house shut down on Feb. 9, 1923. A short time later, Indiana Service Corp. ended up owning the interurban system.

COURTESY OF MICHAEL MAPES COLLECTION

This photo taken around 1910 from atop the interurban power house shows interurban tracks running westnorthwest toward Kendallville from the power house, which was near the site of today’s East Noble High School athletic fields.

PHOTO COURTESY CRAIG BERNDT

This view from the south shows the interurban power station, right, and car repair barn at Kendallville. The powerhouse powered the interurban line from 1906 to 1923. The repair shops included one bay for electric repair and three for mechanical

work. The buildings stood east of the present site of East Noble High School, near the school’s athletic fields.

Furnishing Kendallville Homes Since 1928

Please join us in the week-long celebration of our great city’s 150th birthday.

For more information, please visit www.kendallville-in.org

Joe & Theresa Atz

The styles may have changed, but our commitment to service and quality remains the same.

celebratekendallville150@kendallville-in.org

...We Know Furniture from A to Z Suzanne Handshoe Mayor

US 6 West, Kendallville • 347-2254 atzfurniturecompany.com

KENDALLVILLE SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013

©KPC Media Group Inc. • kpcnews.com C7

Business Honor Roll The following businesses submitted their history for publication

Hickory Creek Hickory Creek Healthcare Foundation Inc. is a charitable non-profit, community-based organization committed to providing quality and compassionate long-term care and rehabilitation services to all our residents. President of the foundation is Francis J. Crosby and vice president is Brent Waymire.

Hickory Creek Healthcare Foundation owns 16 facilities in Indiana and Ohio including Hickory Creek at Kendallville, a 36bed facility located at 1433 S. Main St. Hickory Creek at Kendallville offers physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, short-term and long-term care, hospice and respite care. The care of every resident is personalized to enhance quality of life.

Hickory Creek at Kendallville recognizes that our employees are critical to our success and we are proud to have attained a 5 Star rating from CMS in RN Staffing and Overall Staffing.

We are a service company committed to the highest standards of professionalism and to continuous improvement in the quality of service we provide to those entrusted to our care.

Annette Weber, RN, HFA, is the administrator of Hickory Creek at Kendallville. She is assisted by 34 staff members in caring for its residents. Contact Weber at kendallville_admin@hchfi.org.

Holiday Inn Express Holiday Inn Express

opened its Kendallville facility in 2000. It is located at 1917 E. Dowling St. Current owner Ashish Patel took over in 2006.

Front desk manager is Misty Workman and guest services manager is Vanisha Arney.

The hotel currently has 14 employees and can be reached at 343-0000 or at kendallvillehie.com.

Since 2006, more than $1 million in renovations and improvements have been made to the hotel. It has a Three Diamond rating from AAA and is part of the world’s largest loyalty program with its Priority Club Rewards.

It features an elevator, indoor pool, high-speed Internet, meeting rooms, corporate rates and golf packages and many other amenities.

Customer service is a priority and upgrades in services are made each month.

The hotel is communityminded and supports and sponsors many local events and activities.

Holiday Inn Express received a certificate of appreciation from the Kendallville Area Chamber of Commerce in 2011 recognizing its continued investment in the community.

In March 2013, the hotel hosted an overnight stay of then Gov. Mitch Daniels.

Holiday Inn Express of Kendallville is a partner with Intercontinental Hotels Group.

Orizon Real Estate Orizon Real Estate was founded in 1978 by Greg Fahl and Robert Grawcock and merged with Yuska Realty in 1997 to open an

office in Kendallville on U.S. 6 where it currently exists at 125 E. North St. The local office has three employees and 13 affiliated independent agents. Andy Treesh is the managing broker.

The company strives to give back to the area by sponsoring school and community events. Its agents are active in many community projects such as Basket Brigade and the Kendallville Area Chamber of Commerce Christmas Bureau.

Based on sales units and volume, Orizon Real Estate is consistently ranked the No. 1 real estate company in Noble County.

To contact the company for your real estate needs, call 347-4206 or email orizonkville@yahoo.com.

Slater Concrete Slater’s Concrete Products, 322 E. Wayne St., Kendallville, is marking its 90th year in business in 2013. Three generations of the Slater family have been involved in the firm over the years.

The company was founded in 1923 by the late Lynn Slater. He was born Nov. 17, 1902, in DeKalb County, the son of Alex and Jennie (George) Slater. He died in January 1994 at the age of 91.

Slater’s son, Jack W. Slater, a U.S. Navy veteran, joined his father in the business. When his father retired in 1983, he became president of the company.

He was born Nov. 22, 1925, and died unexpectedly in December 1995 at the age of 70.

Jeff Slater, the grandson of Lynn Slater and son of Jack Slater, is the third

generation owner who is involved in management of the company. Jeff’s mother, Marilyn, and wife, Dee, work in the office.

Slater’s carries a variety of concrete products from blocks, retaining walls and steps to bird baths, fire pits and benches. It is open Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 7 a.m. to noon.

Young Family Funeral Home Young Family Funeral Home is located at 222 South State Street in Kendallville. We have endeavored to provide the utmost in professional service, plus a sincere understanding of a family in

their time of grief. We are carrying on a tradition started in Kendallville in 1860.

Joseph Berhalter was born in Germany and immigrated to America in 1828. He came to Kendallville in 1860, and opened a cabinet and coffin-making shop at 227 South Main Street.

In 1886, his sons, John and George, acquired the building and remodeled it into a furniture store and funeral parlor known as Berhalter Brothers. In 1935, the funeral home moved to 222 South State Street, eventually changing the name to Berhalter-Hutchins Funeral Home when Myron and Beverly (Berhalter) Hutchins became involved.

In 2006, Pat and Kathy Young purchased the Berhalter-Hutchins Funeral Home. At the recommendation of the Hutchins family, the name was changed to

Young Family Funeral Home.

Today, Young Family Funeral Home has the honor and distinction of being one of Indiana’s oldest continuing funeral homes and one of Kendallville’s oldest businesses.

We provide affordable funerals, offering traditional, graveside, cremation, veterans, and pet services at our facility, in a church, community building, or your home. Post funeral aftercare is a routine part of our dedication to serve the total family needs.

The principles of honesty, integrity and service, set forth in 1860 have proved a firm foundation on which to build. We are grateful for the confidence families have placed in us. We pledge to uphold the tradition of service that has been responsive to the needs of this community since 1860.

50’s and 60’s Theme Ice Cream Parlor and Restaurant Featuring all the Old-Fashion Favorites: Malts, Shakes, Fountain Sodas and More Brown Bag Lunch Specials $5.00 during the Sesquicentennial Celebration Pre-Order or Walk-Ins

260-242-5278 107 S. Main St. • Kendallville Hours: Mon. - Thurs. 11 AM - 8 PM Friday & Saturday 11 AM - 10 PM Sunday 12 - 5 PM

A Tradition of Service Since 1860 Joseph & Fanny Berhalter founded a furniture store and undertaking parlor in Kendallville in 1860. They began a tradition of service that continued through their family, and now 153 years later, that funeral home is owned by Pat & Kathy Young.

They are proud to carry on the legacy that Joseph & Fanny Berhalter began in 1860 by celebrating more than 150 years of service to the community.

“Our Family Caring For Your Family”

Young Family Funeral Home 222 S. State Street, Kendallville • 260-347-0950 • www.youngfamilyfuneralhome.com

Andy Treesh

Terri Deming

Michelle Eggering

Bob Tarleton

Hess Team

Dep Hornberger

Call us for all your Real Estate needs!

125 E. North Street, Kendallville 347-4206 • orizonrealstate.com

Dawn Hurley

Max Miller

Jodi Shuff

Janis Sobieski

Nick Sobieski

Jim Vandiver

C8

KENDALLVILLE SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013

Business Honor Roll The following businesses submitted their history for publication

Lewger Machine and Tool Lewger Machine & Tool was started by Lewis and Gertrude Groh in 1951. The name Lewger came from the

combining of the Grohs’ first names.

It was originally located in a small building at 201 West High Street, one block west of North Main Street.

Originally, Lewger sold and repaired guns and did light machine work. The machine work soon pushed

Lake City Bank is proud to support the city of Kendallville!

of caring and commitment

the guns sales out and by 1965 Lewger was mainly focused on machine work.

In the mid 1960s Mr. Groh sold 48 percent of the business to Paul Ream. Then in 1985, they in turn sold the company to longtime employee David Van Gessel.

By 2005, Lewger had outgrown its original location and needed a larger facility.

The High Street building was sold to Quick Tanks. Dave moved Lewger across town to 201 West Ohio Street, just west of Kraft Foods.

Sixty-two years after Lewger began, it now employs 18 people and has expanded its line of equipment to handle more than just light machine work.

Today Lewger Machine & Tool has the capability to do small and large jobs alike. It does mill, wire and lathe work, builds custom machinery and repairs pumps.

Lewger has always prided itself on being able to satisfy its customer’s needs and will continue to do so in the future.

Thompson Dental Thompson Dental was

With over 45 office locations, including:

established in 1951 by Alden B. Thompson, DDS, who practiced 27 years from 19511988.

Alden Thompson was joined by his son, William A. Thompson, DDS, in 1981.

Dr. William Thompson worked with his father until William was killed in a plane crash in 1984.

John B. Thompson, DDS, joined his father, Alden, in 1986 and currently operates the dental practice with his associate Dr. Thomas M. Jones.

The clinic is located at 225

Lake City Bank in Kendallville 631 Professional Way

260-349-0761

Fairview Boulevard in Kendallville and is open Monday through Friday and every other Saturday. It has 10 employees.

The practice keeps up with current technology in dentistry with newly acquired equipment and offers digital X-rays resulting in less radiation exposure to its patients. It has digital 3D cone beam imaging which, following a 10-second scan, allows a computer generated view of the bones of the face, teeth and other details from any angle. And Versa Wave Laser allows patients to experience fast, comfortable, highly-effective treatment.

Phone Thompson Dental at 260-347-2251 to schedule an appointment.

Dow Corning

Dow Corning, Kendallville, Indiana, began as the JSil company’s silicone rubber compounding site a few miles west of the city of Kendallville. Dow Corning purchased this plant in 1986 and it began operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dow Corning named Dow Corning STI. In 1988, the site moved to the current location in the East Industrial Park of Kendallville.

The site had a major expansion in 1993 to increase supply capabilities. In 1998, the Monroe, Connecticut, Dow Corning STI site was combined with, and relocated to the Kendallville site. A third expansion occurred in 1999 to house the current operations. The site is no longer operated as a subsidiary, but as a Dow Corning Corporation site.

The Kendallville site produces both silicone rubber base and compound, and is the largest silicone rubber

compounding facility in the world. In addition, the site acts as a distribution hub for various silicone rubber raw materials.

The company currently has 90 employees.

Scott Frick

In 1991, Allen R. Nelson, CPA, was looking for an exit strategy to his business. He met Scott R. Frick at a continuing education class in late 1991 in Fort Wayne.

Following numerous discussions, Scott Frick joined Allen Nelson in his practice in March 1992.

On Jan. 1, 1993, the two CPAs created a firm then known as Nelson & Frick, P.C. The current firm is really a continuation of Allen Nelson’s firm that was begun in 1968. Mr. Nelson sold his interest in the firm to Mr. Frick in May 1996. Sadly, Allen Nelson passed away in October of that same year.

The business was housed at 119 W. Mitchell St. in the old Post Office Building until August 2000 when Mr. Frick and Michael Corps joined together to purchase the building at 113 N. Main St. where the firm currently resides.

At the time of the move, the firm’s name changed to Scott R. Frick CPA, P.C. The firm has enjoyed steady growth over the years as evidenced by the fact that in August 2000 the firm consisted of two professional and one para professional.

Through God’s many blessings, the firm has grown to its current size of five full time and two part time employees.

Kendallville has been good to us and we wish to take this opportunity to thank the community that we serve.

Happy 150th Birthday Kendallville!

Hosler Realty

Hosler Realty Inc. was founded in 1939 by Charles Hosler, a prominent Kendallville citizen and member of numerous civic and social organizations. At that time, the business was located on the east side of downtown Main Street near the south end of the middle block. In the mid-1950s, Hosler Realty moved to the northwest corner of Main and Mitchell Streets where it remained for more than 40 years.

Charlie Hosler’s son, Dave Hosler, operated the business for quite a few years until Stephen Pyle and Tony Black purchased Hosler Realty in 1989. Dave Hosler continued an appraisal business until his retirement in the late 1990s, at which time he sold Hosler Appraisal, a separate business, to Bob Bohde of Kendallville.

In 1992, Stephen Pyle’s brother, Gregg Pyle, joined Hosler Realty as a sales agent and in 2002 the two brothers became the current co-owners after Gregg purchased Tony Black’s partnership interests.

Today, Hosler Realty Inc. remains the oldest, locally owned real estate agency in Kendallville and Noble County. With a staff of six professionally licensed Realtors®, Hosler customers can expect experienced leadership and financial counseling to help them make wise decisions in today’s complex residential and commercial real estate market.

Call us today … we look forward to assisting new customers and, of course, always enjoy hearing from our customer friends!

Member FDIC

Finding Homes For Buyers For 75 Years In Kendallville Providing you with the most oustanding customer service you deserve.

The oldest, locally-owned real estate company in Kendallville and Noble County

Featuring stylish accomodations and all the extras you’ve come to expect.

• Rated by AAA with a three diamond rating • Daily managers reception including complementary alcoholic/non-alcoholic drink and snacks • Free Hot Express Start Breakfast • Meeting room for all your social gatherings ~ Birthday Parties ~ Golf Packages ~ Dinner Parties ~ Business Meetings

• Only property in town with an elevator for easy accessibility to all floors.

• Private business center with all the essentials • High speed wireless internet to keep you connected • Only property in town with a heated indoor pool and spa for year round enjoyment.

1917 Dowling St., Kendallville, IN 343-0000 • kendallvillehie.com

(Front left to back): Gregg Pyle, Associate Broker/Co-Owner; Shawn Hoover, Sales Associate; Patsy Brandgard, Assocate Broker; Cheryl Ramsay, Secretary. (Front right to back): Steve Pyle, Principal Broker/ Co-Owner; Dave Button, Associate Broker/Licensed Residential Appraiser; and Bob Muller, Associate Broker.

119 W. Mitchell St. Kendallville, IN 46755 260-347-1158 (800) 347-7968 www.hoslerrealty.com

Friday, June 7 KENDALLVILLE SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013

©KPC Media Group Inc. • kpcnews.com D1

Tours share experience of 1863 schoolhouse and across the street from the former Wayne Center WAYNE CENTER — Elementary School.

Tours of the one-room The school had been schoolhouse at Wayne the site of a summer camp Center on Friday, June 7, that re-enacted a late-19thwill revisit the past in century, one-room schoolmore ways than one. house since the early They not only will mark 1990s, Pillers said. That a chance to step back in was when Deidre Atz time, but also will mark undertook the the return of a tradition in renovation. the building after a oneThe camp gave children year absence, said the opportunity to relive LouAnne Pillers, one of history and enjoy the the coordinators for the experience of the historic event. building, Pillers said. It “We’ll be conducting a includes 30 desks and an time-period classroom,” old butter churn, ice-cream Pillers said. It will take maker and lawn mower. place in the building on Pillers became part of Schoolhouse Road, next the board responsible for door to Wayne Center the school and the reUnited Methodist Church enactments in the

BY BOB BRALEY bobb@kpcnews.net

mid-1990s.

But there was no summer camp there in 2012, Pillers said.

The return to the schoolhouse for the sesquicentennial celebration June 7 will be different in that it will be set up as a schoolhouse of 1863, Pillers said.

The schoolhouse experience will run from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. June 7, Pillers said. It will include crafts, period games and cooking over an open fire.

An open house will take place at the schoolhouse from 6-8 p.m., Pillers said.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED It will include a birthday Students and adults take part in one of the Wayne Center One-Room Schoolhouse cake to celebrate “summer camp” events. The schoolhouse will be the site of a June 7 re-enactment Kendallville’s 150th as part of the Kendallville sesquicentennial events. birthday.

Business Honor Roll The following businesses submitted their history for publication

Kendallville Do It Center Jason and Joel Bolinger have been in the hardware business nearly all of their lives.

Their family had been the owners of Garrett Do It Best Hardware since 1986. When the opportunity arose in 1993, the Bolinger family

purchased Kendallville Do It Center located on Main Street in Kendallville.

In 1996, they moved to their current location on Lima Road in Cornerstone Plaza.

It was a family-owned business, so both of the young men worked after school in the store. Starting at a young age, they learned every aspect of the business

Events Children’s OneRoom Schoolhouse Classroom Camp, 9 a.m. to noon, Wayne Center One-Room Schoolhouse;

Wayne Center OneRoom Schoolhouse Tour, 6-8 p.m.; Downtown Collector Car and Art Show, 6 p.m.

over the years. It only made sense that they would be the owners of the business someday.

As of January 2013, they have purchased the company from their father, Barry, and they are now the second generation working the business. The Bolinger family business considers all of its employees “family’’ and as a tight-knit community, employees support each other during good and tough times.

At Kendallville Do It Center you will find the hardware items you need and a knowledgeable staff you can trust.

SEE BUSINESS HONOR ROLL, PAGE D2

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Students read during one of the Wayne Center One-Room Schoolhouse “summer camp” events. Events at the schoolhouse June 7 will include a re-enactment of a one-room schoolhouse in 1863 and a birthday party for the city of Kendallville.

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KENDALLVILLE SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013

Business Honor Roll The following businesses submitted their history for publication FROM PAGE D1

Culligan Emmett J. Culligan officially founded Culligan Water in 1936 with the hope of providing homes and businesses with quality soft water. His company and franchised dealer network has since emerged as the worldwide leader in water treatment.

Culligan Water Conditioning in Kendallville opened its doors in 1948 and has since become a staple of quality water and customer service in Northeast Indiana.

Serving DeKalb, Noble, LaGrange and Steuben counties, Culligan Water Conditioning has continued to grow and develop under owner and president Steve Gibson, a lifelong resident of northeast Indiana.

With main plant operations on U.S. 6 in Kendallville, Culligan has sales and customer service stores on N. Wayne Street in Angola and on South Wayne Street in Auburn. Culligan Water Conditioning offers residents and businesses in northeast Indiana water softeners, filtration, drinking water units, seasonal tank services, salt and bottled water delivery services and cooler rentals.

Today, Culligan Water Conditioning carries on Emmett Culligan’s legacy through the 19 valued employees of Culligan Water Conditioning who have more than 200 years of combined local service experience.

These employees are committed to continuing the Culligan Water tradition of excellence through highquality equipment and service. Their commitment was awarded when Culligan Water Conditioning received the Emmett J. Culligan Award of Excellence at the Culligan International 75th Convention. This prestigious award is presented to the top 15 Culligan dealerships in North America.

Dekko Investment Services Dekko Investment Services was established in 1982 by Erlene Dekko. Its motto is “Dream, Plan, Grow.” In 1997 Erica Dekko joined her mother in the business.

The company offers financial planning and investment advice to its clients. It has securities offered through LPL Financial and is a member of FINRA/SIPC. Both Erlene Dekko and Erica Dekko are certified financial planners.

Dekko Investment Services enjoys giving back to the community by supporting local nonprofit organizations and schools.

Drew Baker, a chartered financial analyst, joined the company in December 2012.

The company, located at 751 E. North St., Kendallville, can be reached at 3472265 or at dekkoinvestmentservices.com.

directors. The board members are elected by the dues-paying members of the Kendallville Windmill Museum and Historical Society, and the officers are elected by the directors. The board of directors and volunteers restore and maintain the windmills, the buildings and the grounds, staff the gift shop and serve as museum guides.

There are a total of 52 windmills that have been restored and are on exhibit in the museum barn or outside on the museum grounds. A highlight of the museum is a replica of the Robertson Post windmill, a single stone grist mill with a 52-foot diameter wind wheel. The original Robertson was shipped from England and erected on the James River near Jamestown, Va., in the 1620s.

Special events at the museum include a Youth Kite Day in mid-May; Antique Car Drive-In in mid-June; and Winter Wonderland Light Display the two weeks prior to Christmas.

Mid-America Family Windmill Shears Family Shears has its Museum roots in Kendallville from as The Kendallville Windmill Museum and Historical Society was incorporated in 1992 under the auspices of the Kendallville Local Development Corporation to create a tourist attraction for the area.

The board decided on the name “Mid-America Windmill Museum.”

The mission statement of the museum is ‘‘To provide a museum to collect, display, preserve and tell the story of wind power from its origination through the American windmill to the present day.’’

The museum is governed by a 21-member board of

early as 1962 when Bob Frick opened Bob’s Barber Shop in 1962 in the Food Town Shopping Center on the city’s north side.

Frick graduated from barber school at age 19 and went to work in Ligonier for Al Pyle in September 1961.

While working full-time in Ligonier, he also worked part-time at Food Town.

After opening his own shop, he hired Pete Growcock and the men worked together until 1975.

In 1987, two stylists began working at the shop.

After 27 years in the shopping center, Bob moved

to the current location at 130 S. Main St. on July 18, 1989, and changed the name to Family Shears.

Current stylists are Allison Luttman, Taryn Herron, Brittani Middleton, Paula Thatcher and Kelsey Parks.

Northeastern Center Under the Community Mental Health Act in 1963, Oaklawn Center in Elkhart provided minimal mental health services to DeKalb, LaGrange, Noble and Steuben counties DeKalb and Noble counties attempted to establish a four-county mental health corporation.

The two northern counties declined participation and financial support, and DeKalb and Noble moved ahead on their own. In 1970, the Northeastern Psychiatric Clinic, Inc., was formed, located in Kendallville.

Operating funds were contracted from the state, the building at 305 E. North Street was leased, and staff were hired (one clinical and on clerical). The clinic was considered an Oaklawn satellite because Oaklawn provided management expertise and part-time psychiatric coverage.

Though the staff of the Northeastern Clinic quickly expanded to five clinical and three clerical people, demands for service soon surpassed the clinic’s capacity to provide service, and the board and Oaklawn Center decided to seek federal funds through an Initial Operations Grant, which mandated a fourcounty board of directors.

LaGrange and Steuben counties wished to maintain their ties to Oaklawn, but agreed to the formation of a four-county board with the stipulation this board would become operative only when

the proposed mental health center was funded. However, it became obvious the grant application would be denied without a four-county corporation in operation and, in April 1975, the Northeastern Clinic was incorporated as a community mental health center with a mission to serve the residents of DeKalb, LaGrange, Noble and Steuben counties.

There are outpatient clinics in Angola, Auburn, Kendallville and LaGrange, along with a central facility in Kendallville that houses central administrative staff.

The center’s Inpatient Services in Auburn provides inpatient psychiatric and addictions care to adults.

Adult group living facilities are also located in Kendallville and Angola.

The center’s Clubhouse and Supported Employment programs were accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) in the fall of 1992. The entire center received CARF accreditation in 1996, in 1999, 2002, and again in 2005.

Even though the center has experienced significant growth throughout its 30plus years of service, its continues to hold to its mission of providing accessible, affordable and quality behavioral health services.

Four County Area Vocational Cooperative The Four County Area Vocational Cooperative (FCAVC) was formed by a joint service agreement between 10 school corporations in June 1969.

Beginning July 1, 2004, the cooperative was pleased to

add Westview School Corporation to its membership. This addition further strengthened the cooperative’s initiatives in LaGrange County. FCAVC is proud to announce the addition of Smith-Green Community Schools to our membership beginning with the 2013-14 school year. This marks the addition of Whitley County students to the membership of FCAVC. Eleven superintendents govern FCAVC, serving as the board of directors.

Monthly board meetings enable superintendents to have constant contact and direct influence over the cooperative’s direction. The cooperative’s director is Tim Holcomb, who serves as both Vocational Director and Adult Basic Education Director. Jim Walmsley serves as the Assistant Vocational Director and Special Populations Coordinator. Stephanie Ross serves as the Adult Education Coordinator.

The 11 superintendents are: Mr. Chris Daughtry, Superintendent of Central Noble School Corporation, Dr. Sherry Grate, Superintendent of DeKalb County Central U.S.D., Ms. Ann Linson, Superintendent of East Noble School Corporation, Ms. Lori Vaughn, Superintendent of Fremont Community Schools, Mr. Dennis Stockdale, Superintendent of Garrett-KeyserButler C.S.D., Mr. Jon Willman, Superintendent of Hamilton Community Schools, Ms. Risa Herber, Superintendent of Lakeland School Corporation, Dr. Brent Wilson, Superintendent of M.S.D. of Steuben County, Mr. Alan Middleton, Superintendent of Prairie Heights Community Schools, Dr. Randy Zimmerly, Superintendent of Westview School Corporation and Dr. Jeffrey Stephens, Superintendent of SEE BUSINESS HONOR ROLL, PAGE D3

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KENDALLVILLE SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013

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Business Honor Roll The following businesses submitted their history for publication FROM PAGE D2

DeKalb Eastern C.S.D., whose corporation serves as the fiscal agent of FCAVC. Four County Area Vocational Cooperative Administrative Office/Campus Connection is located at 1607 Dowling St., Kendallville. The cooperative also has sites on Fairview Boulevard, Angling Road, 800 block of Dowling Street, 1100 block of Dowling Street, Sawyer Road, Allen Chapel Road, Ida Red Road, all in Kendallville, and LaGrange and Angola Construction Trades programs are held at the sites of the current home projects; currently there is a home nearing completion in Noble County and another in Steuben County.

Adult education classes are offered at various locations in the five-county area.

Tim Holcomb is the cooperative’s director and oversees 73 employees. He can be reached at 349-0250 ext. 246 or tgholcomb@fcavc.org.

The Four County Area Vocational Cooperative has three major roles for the school corporations and communities that it serves.

The first is vocational education that is offered to high school students of member schools. The cooperative supports 14 Coop-administered programs: • Auto Body Collision & Repair Technology • Welding • Precision Machining • Marine Mechanics • Interactive Media • Automotive Technology • Cosmetology • Culinary Arts • Computer Aided Drafting • Criminal Justice • Primary Healthcare • Health Occupations Education • Construction Trades These programs have dual credits attached from various colleges and univer-

sities and are offered at no cost to students. These programs also lead to certifications and/or licensure at the conclusion of the program. Students participate in activities directly related to the business and industry field of choice.

Included in these activities are work-based learning opportunities and externships.

Adult education continues to be a primary focus for the cooperative. Adults seeking to complete a high school diploma or acquire a GED can participate in free classes throughout the five county region. Our service area includes Noble, DeKalb, Steuben, LaGrange and Whitley counties. The cooperative’s partnership with WorkOne Northeast many times allows students to gain occupational training at the conclusion of their GED preparation. FCAVC participates in the WorkIN program that is directly related to skilled training for occupational attainment or advancement.

English as a Second Language is also offered as a part of the adult education services. These services assist non-English speaking adults to learn or enhance their use of the English language.

WAWK

Kendallville’s local radio station, WAWK 1140-AM, and its former sister station, WAWK 93.3-FM, tell a long and interesting history in the community.

In 1957, Fred Manahan and other partners — Weldon and Gertrude “Trudy” Dornell, Paul King, and an unnamed silent partner — purchased Kendallville’s 250-watt radio station, WKTL 1570-AM, which began operations in 1955. They quickly changed the call letters to WAWK, which meant W-Auburn-WKendallville.

In the 1960s, Manahan and his partners successfully applied to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for permission to broadcast on the lower frequency of 1140-AM. That made it possible for the signal from the AM station’s 250-watt transmitter to be received in a 45-50 mile area.

In 1964, Manahan and his partners initiated WAWK 93.3-FM, which had a 37,000 watt transmitter. The new FM station also had the ability to broadcast in stereo.

For 20 years, WAWK 93.3FM broadcast the same programs as WAWK 1140AM, until their frequencies were sold to Paul Ruse’s Empire Communications Inc. Shortly before he sold the stations, Manahan had the call letters of the FM station changed to WBTU. Manahan, the radio stations’ sole owner at that time, threw his efforts into operating the Noble TV Cable Company, of which he was president.

Ruse later sold both stations and their frequencies to Fort Wayne Media Ltd., which moved WBTU to Fort Wayne in January 1988. In July 1985, WBTU’s signal increased to 50,000 watts.

In 1991, Don Moore, who had managed WAWK in the early 1980s when it was an AM-FM operation, and John Schuster, WAWK’s station manager, purchased WAWK 1140-AM from Fort Wayne Media Ltd. and restored local radio programming to Kendallville.

After a 20-year effort, Moore received FCC approval to put another FM radio station on the air in April 2010 at 95.5 FM. With the addition of 95.5 FM “The Hawk,” they broadcast 24 hours a day and provide local emergency announcements seven days a week.

WAWK covers all of Noble County and has now

expanded into LaGrange and DeKalb counties.

On Jan. 13, 2013, Don Moore died, a day after suffering a heart attack and a fall in his home. He was 60. His death was a shock to the community, leaving a major void. Moore was active in the Kendallville Area Chamber of Commerce, the Kendallville Jaycees, the Noble County Fair Board, and was instrumental in keeping the Fourth of July Bixler Lake fireworks show and the annual downtown Christmas parade viable. He had served on the Kendallville City Council and was the president of the Noble County Council. He was named Kendallville Citizen of the Year in 1998.

The future of WAWK 95.5 FM Classic Hits The HAWK and AM 1140 WAWK is committed to carrying on Don Moore’s legacy to serve this community by providing entertainment, sports, news, weather, 24-hour emergency information and a platform for community organizations. Plans are in place to vastly increase ‘‘The HAWK’s’’ web presence by providing exciting local content and coming soon …

HAWK TV. Don Moore would definitely be proud!

Parkview

Since purchasing the former McCray Memorial Hospital in 2000 and building the new Parkview Noble Hospital on Route 6 west of Kendallville, Parkview has continued to grow the hospital campus at 401 Sawyer Road.

Shortly after building the hospital in 2004, Parkview added a medical office building housing our physical, occupational and speech rehab services, as well as private physician offices. We also opened the EMS headquarters, added a paved health walk around

the lake on the property and created the Parkview Noble Foundation Meditation Garden. Physician medical offices were added for Parkview Physician’s Group (PPG) physicians Dr. Thomas Miller’s OB/GYN, and PPG Family Practice Physicians Dr. Ron Sloan, Dr. Christopher Frazier and Dr. Lilly Bontrager.

Adjacent to the campus, along U.S. 6 are the Parkview Occupational Health Offices; Parkview Noble After Hours Clinic, Parkview EAP offices and Parkview Home Health and Hospice.

In 2008, Parkview Noble Hospital was enlarged by 3,800-square-feet to add a dedicated Endoscopy Center for specialized procedures and colo-rectal cancer screenings.

Most recently, the Parkview Noble Therapy department relocated to a larger building on S.R. 3 and Drake Road. The space they vacated on the hospital campus will be turned into a community health and wellness center.

David Hunter is president of Parkview Noble. He manages 350 full- and parttime employees.

Parkview is proud to be a part of the Kendallville community and plans to continue its mission of providing quality care and improving the health of the residents in Noble County for years to come.

Kendallville Iron & Metal Kendallville Iron & Metal located at 234 E. Lisbon Road, was acquired from Isadore Kleiman in 1964 by Theodore and Shirley Spidel, and remains a local family owned business. Current owners are Gary Spidel, Lynn Spidel

®

Serving commercial and residential markets with quality water pump equipment and innovative water systems.

and Susan Norris.

Steve Taulbee is the company’s general manager, Jeremy Spidel is operations manager and Brody Norris is buyer.

The company has grown from three employees, with one dump truck and one fork lift, to a diverse company with a full-service scrap metal buying and processing facility, waste hauling service with a full fleet of trucks, and recycling of metals, papers, wood, electronics, etc. There are currently 28 persons employed by the company.

They have steadily grown, providing valuable service for the community while providing stable employment to many local residents. They have grown at a steady pace, concentrating on their local community, their employees and their family, rather than growing as large and fast as possible just for the sake of being bigger and more profitable.

They have a fleet of trucks to haul scrap metal or waste into their facility from large commercial generators or from the local individual with small amounts.

They pay cash for all legitimate scrap metals brought in by individuals or companies to their scrap processing facility. They have built a reputation of providing competitive pricing along with unmatched service to their customers. They also operate a state-licensed waste transfer station. This facility allows local waste haulers, contractors and individuals to bring all solid waste and debris here as opposed to driving miles away to the nearest landfill.

Both of these services provide a place for a legal and cost-effective way to help our citizens keep our community free of unsightly accumulations of rusty scrap and debris from roads and properties.

Employing residents of Kendallville and the surrounding areas since

1866

Congratulations Kendallville on 150 Years!

Kendallville Animal Clinic YOUR PET LIFELONG FRIEND OUR COMMITMENT LIFELONG CARE Medical and Surgical Services for companion animals

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Saturday, June 8 D4

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KENDALLVILLE SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013

Parade promises glimpse of history

BY JAN RICHARDSON janr@kpcnews.net

A grand parade celebrating Kendallville’s 150th birthday will begin at 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 8. ‘‘Celebrate Kendallville 150’’ promises to have all the usual parade elements including music, floats, walking units, old cars and tractors and emergency vehicles.

Sesquicentennial Parade Committee chairman Carleigh Pankop anticipates more than 50 units will participate. ‘‘Interest is really building and more and more people and groups are submitting entries,’’ Pankop said. She is being assisted by Carol Pankop and Debbie Derby in organizing the parade.

East Noble’s Marching Knights will be the featured band.

One of the most unusual units entered in the parade is a 1923 restored Noble Truck made in Kendallville by the Noble Motor Truck Corp. The truck is being entered by Campbell & Fetter Bank.

The Noble Motor Truck Corp. was the only motor vehicle manufacturing facility in Kendallville’s history. The plant turned out Noble Trucks in the 1920s and early 1930s.

The company had only one plant, and it operated in Kendallville on West Ohio Street.

Glenn Marvin Patterson was one of the company’s organizers, according to ‘‘The History of Noble County.’’

The 1922 city directory lists the company, and the 1929 city directory shows C.H. Kimmel as company president, M.K. Jacobs as vice president, G.M. Patterson as secretary-treasurer. The 1931 city directory shows G.M. and

Sarah Patterson residing at 217 W. Rush St., and Mr. Patterson as manager of Noble Motor Truck Corp.

It is not known when the company went out of business.

Pankop said another interesting unit will be two entries from Brown and Sons Fuel Co. Inc. One is a horse-drawn fuel delivery truck dating to the late 1880s. The truck was purchased in 2009 in Minnesota by Ed Brown, cofounder of Brown & Sons.

Brown spent countless hours restoring the unit, according to his son, Jay Brown, who also helped on the project. ‘‘He got some assistance from a retired Amish woodworker in Shipshewana in replacing the wood. It has all new ash wood that looks just great,’’ Jay Brown said. ‘‘Dad had the steel wheels restored, and a buggy top was added.’’

The second Brown and Sons entry is a 1931 Ford Model A jobber truck. The truck is a typical deliveryroute truck, complete with the main oil tank and the fivegallon cans jobbers once used to deliver oil to their customers.

Ed Brown purchased the Model A in 2004 at an auction. It has been completely restored right down to the frame. ‘‘It was nearly complete when it was featured in 2008 in Fueling Indiana, a publication of the Indiana Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Assoc.,’’ said Jay Brown. ‘‘Dad was proud of his restorations and wanted to share them with the community. He would be happy they are going to be a part of the city’s celebration,’’

said Jay Brown. Ed Brown died April 23, 2012.

Pankop also mentioned she is excited about several other entries, including one by the All School Reunion Committee depicting Kendallville High School from the ’30s to the ’60s and the Kendallville Area Chamber of Commerce float, which will honor past Citizens of the Year, she said. ‘‘We want the parade to be the best one ever, so anyone still wanting to enter a unit just needs to let me know,’’ Pankop said. ‘‘I will accept entries as late as June 1.’’

Contact her at 318-2405 or email her at pankopcarleigh@hotmail.com.

The parade will form at the East Noble High School parking lot beginning at 1:30 p.m. It will leave the parking lot by the football field at 3 p.m. and travel north on Sherman Street to Diamond Street, then west on Diamond to Main Street. It will turn north on Main Street and go to Mitchell Street, where units will disband both east and west on Mitchell Street.

The judges’ stage will be in front of the Kendallville Area Chamber of Commerce building at 122 S. Main St. Prizes will be awarded in six categories, and trophies will be given to the Overall Best Decades Float, Overall Best Stage Performance and Overall Best Float.

Ed Brown, co-founder of Brown & Sons Fuel Co., restored this 1800s horse-drawn fuel delivery truck. It will be featured in the city’s sesquicentennial parade June 8.

Events Parade on Main Street, 3 p.m.; Salute To Kendallville Show, 6 and 8:30 p.m., Cole Auditorium.

This restored 1923 Noble Truck was manufactured in Kendallville by the Noble Motor Truck Corp. It will be among the units in the ‘‘Celebrate Kendallville 150’’ parade on June 8.

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Saturday, June 8

East Noble Theatre’s history filled with highs

BY DENNIS NARTKER dennisn@kpcnews.net

KENDALLVILLE — East Noble Theatre recently completed its 47th season with performances of “Disney’s The Little Mermaid,” “Grease,” “Moon Over Buffalo,” “Breakfast With Santa,” and “Jungle Book.”

One constant through all but two of those years has been Craig Munk, who recently completed his 45th year as East Noble Theatre director. He is the face and, many East Noble Theatre alumni would say, the “voice” of one of the most successful high school theater programs in Indiana. The program’s history could not be told without his input.

The theater has seen numerous changes over its history, but the tradition of quality has never changed.

“Act well your part for there all honor lies” has been the motto of Thespian Troupe 1106 since it was formed at Kendallville High School more than 60 years ago.

Larry Newton was the first East Noble director of theater, 1966-67, and served as the head director until the spring of 1969. Already on the scene was a new assistant director, Craig Munk, who had started teaching at East Noble High School in the fall of 1968 and was later to become head director in the fall of 1969.

Munk attended Rome City High School from 1961-1963 and joined in that school’s productions of “Oklahoma” and “Brigadoon.” He moved to Kendallville High School his last two years, joined Thespian Troupe 1106 and played a prince in the production of the musical “The King and I.” The late Bill Savage was the director. Munk graduated from Kendallville High School in 1964 and went on to Ball State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in art with a minor in theater. He later received a master’s degree in theater from Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne.

With the new theater program having been formed, many changes took place.

One was the introduction of the Homecoming Variety Show in the fall of 1970. The show featured many performing groups of high school students and even high

school faculty. Later called the Variety Show, it continued until the fall of 1984, with the last show titled “Break Through.”

The theater season went from a three-show season to a four-show season in 1972 with the addition of dinner theater. The East Noble High School cafeteria was turned into an elegant and intimate dinner theater. The first show was “The Fantasticks.” Dinner theater was new for high school and became very popular with the community, according to Munk.

The dinner theater concept was moved to the Cole Auditorium backstage in 1982 and ran until the fall of 1988.

“This intimate setting allowed the theater to present shows that would not have been presented on the main stage,” said Munk. Such shows as “Stop the World,” “Gypsy” and “Applause” were among the Broadway favorites.

“Quilters” was the last dinner theater production the winter of 1992. The production on the main stage still included a ham-and-bean supper for patrons, Munk recalled.

Now with a four-show season running quite smoothly it was time to expand the program. “It was always my goal to have a year-long theater season,” he said. In the winter of 1975, An Evening of Theatre was added, and the talents of an additional director, Bob Avery, were evident. He has directed every Evening of Theatre production since that time except for one. “He continues to bring fine drama to the East Noble stage and give the school and community a well-rounded theater season,” said Munk.

In the summer of 1975, a summer theater season was added, and audiences enjoyed “Harvey” and “Brigadoon.”

The summer program later became Kendallville Summer Theatre and eventually Gaslight Playhouse Theatre.

In the spring of 1981, East Noble Theatre said farewell to its home in Central Auditorium (now the East Noble Middle School Auditorium) with a production of “The Wiz” and a special farewell presentation. Five months later in the fall of 1981, East Noble Theatre moved to its new home, Cole Auditorium.

Central Auditorium could seat about 350, and the new Cole

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A gala opening celebration called “Overtures of a Celebration” featured community, alumni and high school talent. The new auditorium allowed Munk to introduce Stagecraft into the high school curriculum.

“Kids in our shows today are so spoiled. They can walk from their classrooms into a beautiful auditorium with the sets waiting for them,” Munk said. Before Cole Auditorium, students had to go to the Central Auditorium for auditions and rehearsals and work on weekends on the sets and costumes.

“In those days, mothers of cast members did the sewing and fitting of costumes in their homes,” said Munk.

“That’s not true today.” Cole Auditorium storage areas are full of costumes and stage sets and props, and Munk orders costumes for his shows.

The new theater brought another change to the theater season with the introduction of children’s theater.

“Lemonade Joe Rides Again” was the first production in the fall of 1982.

Munk’s theater classes created the very popular “Breakfast With Santa” in the winter of 1983. For 30 years the show has served nearly 500 guests each year before Christmas with a breakfast, a visit from Santa, costumed waiters and waitresses, a live stage show and the tradition of a live Nativity.

In the fall of 1989, the theater teamed up with the high school’s vocal music department to create “Raise A Ruckus.” This country-style variety show is now part of the Apple Festival of Kendallville. “Raise A Ruckus” has been presented throughout the state and featured at state and national conventions. Since 1992, the reigning Miss Indiana has been a special guest each year.

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East Noble Theatre celebrates a milestone. Their support is a major reason for East Noble Theatre’s success.

Although East Noble Children’s Theatre started in 1982, it wasn’t until 1996 that this family-friendly production was performed for all East Noble second- and thirdgraders during the school day, and now all second- and thirdgraders from Noble County

East Noble Theatre director Craig Munk speaks with former East Noble High School English teacher Karen Horn at the opening of Cole Auditorium in 1981.

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In the spring of 1991, East Noble Theatre celebrated 25 years of theater with a gala production featuring students and alumni from all 25 years, according to Munk. A special, permanent theater photo exhibit was made possible by the Olive B. Cole Foundation, and has been enjoyed by theater patrons for the past 22 years. Munk said he is extremely proud of the response from alumni when

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KENDALLVILLE SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2013

Saturday, June 8 THEATRE FROM PAGE D5

attend the show.

East Noble Theatre over the years has been giving award-winning performances at state thespian conferences throughout Indiana and Indiana Association of High School Workshops. During the Indiana Farm Bureau’s Project XL from 1997 to 2009, East Noble Theatre was named the 1997 Outstanding State Champion and State Performance champions in 2000 and 2001 and first runner-up in 2003.

In 2000, East Noble Theatre presented the musical “Titanic,” one of the first amateur theater productions in the U.S. complete with a hydraulic stage. Munk calls it one of his greatest accomplishments. “Titanic” broke all attendance records at that time. Record-breaking crowds had also attended “Grease,” “Peter Pan,”

“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” and “The Wizard of Oz” to name just a few. “We’ve always had tremendous support from the community,” said Munk.

On May 25, 2005, a cast of more than 200 helped East Noble Theatre celebrate 35 years. The celebration ended with a party and cabaret at the Kendallville Event Center attended by nearly 500 guests.

With the 21st century came numerous new and challenging shows such as “Footloose,” “Honk,” “Into the Woods” and “Seussical,” along with old favorites including “The Sound of Music,” “Peter Pan,” “Brigadoon,” “The Miracle Worker” and “The Diary of Ann Frank.” In the spring of 2005 East Noble Theatre again set the community buzzing with an elaborate $50,000 production of

“Disney’s Beauty and the, Beast.” The show played to two sold-out weekends.

Television personality Kathie Lee Gifford and David Friedman, renowned composer and lyricist with Disney and Broadway experience attended East Noble Theatre’s production of “Key.Pin.It Real,” the first performance of Gifford’s musical. They attended a postproduction party with cast members and members of the community.

East Noble Theatre has never lost money on a Munkdirected show. Profits go into future productions. East Noble School Corp. provides no budget and no funding for East Noble Theatre except for paying the auditorium utility bills. Shows are financed through the support of theater patrons, alumni, local and area businesses and sponsors.

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The 2006 theater season closed with a 40th anniversary show. Alumni from across the U.S. returned for “A Family Affair.” Since then, East Noble Theatre has produced memorable shows such as “Les Miserables,” “Aida,” “Private Lives,” “Hello, Dolly!” “Disney’s High School Musical,” “Crimes of the Heart,” “Lend Me a Tenor.” “West Side Story,” and “Thoroughly Modern Millie.” Munk considers “Hello, Dolly!” his trademark show, because he has directed it eight times, including excerpts for anniversary shows.

In 2011, East Noble Theatre once again ended the season with an anniversary show and party for 45 years.

In 2012 East Noble Theatre presented one of the first high school productions of “Legally Blonde the Musical.” After the Saturday night production, East Noble Theatre alumni Dr. Jim Jansen and Pam Younce announced the Cole Auditorium stage will forever be called The Munk Stage, and Kendallville Mayor Suzanne Handshoe proclaimed it an official landmark of Kendallville.

Together, Munk and his wife, Karen Munk, who has been assistant director, have produced 190 shows. Avery has directed since 1973, and Robert Smith has served as musical director since 1994.

Munk credits the support of

DENNIS NARTKER

East Noble Theatre director Craig Munk recently completed his 45th season of East Noble Theatre shows. This photo was taken when he was named East Noble Teacher of the Year in 2005.

parents of cast members, especially the dads who help build the sets, for the the theater’s success over the years.

He has demanded excellence, and the students who perform in his shows know that, but sometimes they need his booming voice during rehearsals to remind them. “There is a level of professionalism we all want, and I want the shows to be special,” he said.

Rumors about Munk’s

retirement have been circulating for the last few years, but that’s all they are — rumors.

“I absolutely love what I’m doing. I think I’ve done my best work the past five years,” he said, while preparing to direct Kendallville’s sesquicentennial show “A Salute to Kendallville,” and helping build an East Noble Theatre float for the sesquicentennial parade. “You haven’t seen the last of Craig Munk.”

Show salutes Kendallville KENDALLVILLE — East Noble Theatre and East Noble Theatre alumni will present “A Salute to Kendallville” variety show and musical revue Saturday, June 8, with two shows at Cole Auditorium.

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Created by East Noble Theatre director Craig Munk, the show features outstanding local talent and a humorous look at Kendallville’s past 150 years. “A Salute to Kendallville” concludes a week of events and activities celebrating Kendallville’s sesquicentennial.

The box office opens Monday, June 3. Reservations can be made by calling the box office at 347-7167 Monday through Friday from 4 to 6 p.m.

A video preview of the show, including an interview with Munk, is online at kpcnews.com.

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Business Honor Roll The following businesses submitted their history for publication

Strand Theatre The Strand Theater at 221 S. Main St., has run continuously for more than a century since opening as the Spencer Opera House.

In 1890, E.B. Spencer opened the Spencer Opera House in Kendallville at a cost of more than $25,000.

The ornately-decorated opera house could seat around 750 people in its auditorium on the ground floor and balcony. It hosted opera, legitimate theater and minstrel shows.

By the turn of the century, it was sold to Al Boyer, who renamed the Opera House for himself. In addition to the programming of the previous ownership, it also featured vaudeville acts.

Briefly run by the Deardorf family during the 1920s, it was sold to the Hudson family in 1929, who had named it the Strand Theatre.

The Hudsons, at the time, also owned two other Kendallville movie houses — the Colonial Theater and the Princess Theater — both since vanished from the downtown scene.

In the 1930s and 1940s, the owners increased seating to 953, and added a new screen and modern sound system. Also, it began to offer serials and double features on Saturdays.

In 1952, a 33-foot tall CinemaScope screen and stereophonic sound equipment were installed.

It was also around this time that candy and popcorn were sold for the first time at the Strand Theatre. To woo audiences away from their TV sets in the late

1950s and first half of the ’60s, the Strand Theatre began to feature long runs of Hollywood epics like ‘‘Cleopatra,’’ “Bridge on the River Kwai’’ and ‘‘Lawrence of Arabia.’’ The 1959 showing of ‘‘Ben Hur’’ remains the all-time highest attended movie at the Strand Theatre.

In 1980, the Hudsons twinned the Strand Theatre, with about 400 seats in each auditorium. They also increased the lobby and office space and the outside ticket booth was removed.

The Strand’s fantastic 1960s-era ‘‘Space Age’’ style marquee, somewhat altered when the theater became a twin, remains the highlight of its exterior.

Despite ever-increasing competition from nearby multiplexes, the Strand Theater remains an integral and popular part of downtown Kendallville.

The theater is currently owned and operated by Cinema Associates. There are seven employees.

Kendallville Area Chamber of Commerce The Kendallville Area Chamber of Commerce became a duly-elected organization member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Oct. 6, 1925. The Certificate of Organization membership reads as follows: Certification No. 1896, ‘‘This Certifies That Kendallville Chamber of Commerce Having Been

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Duly Elected on October 6, 1925, an Organization Member of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America is Entitled to all the Privileges Prescribed by the by-laws.’’

Signed, John W. O’Leary, President.

This certificate hangs in the Chamber of Commerce office at 122 S. Main St. Here are some highlights in the history of the Kendallville Area Chamber of Commerce: • On March 5, 1958, the Chamber of Commerce reorganized and on April 1, 1958, businessman Charles Hosler assumed the role of secretary. The Chamber office was established in the Hosler Real Estate office located at 101 N. Main St. • In July 1966, the office was moved to City Hall.

• On June 11, 1973, the Chamber moved back to Hosler Real Estate.

• In 1980 the Chamber was moved back to City Hall.

• On Jan. 1, 1984, the Chamber office was moved to the Levin House located at 112 S. Orchard St. • In May 1986, the Chamber office was moved to 228 S. Main St. At that time the executive secretary’s title was changed to executive director.

• In 1998, the Chamber purchased a permanent home at 122 S. Main St. The Chamber office also houses the Noble County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.

The Chamber currently has three employees — Executive Director Mike Walton; Officer Manager Lisa Wolf; and Administrative Assistant Sara Fisher.

Kendallville City Hall The original City Hall at 234 S. Main St. was built in 1907. A large crowd attended the dedication of the original two-story brick building.

City Hall housed elaborate office space for the mayor, said to be unequaled in northern Indiana. There was also office space for the superintendent of the electric and water departments.

Space for the city’s clerk and treasurer were described as spacious, with a steel vault to protect the city’s records. The marshal and street commissioner also had office space on the ground floor.

The building also contained quarters for the city’s fire department on its north side and the city’s jail.

At the west end of the building was a barn containing grain bins, watering troughs and a tool shed and plenty of room for the team of horses used to pull the fire wagon and ambulance.

The second floor held the city council assembly room and a committee room.

Other rooms were used by the school board and the city engineer.

Living quarters for firefighters were also on the second floor, with a brass pole for the firefighters to use to get to the fire wagon below.

After being used less than seven years, crossed electrical wiring started a fire in the basement that destroyed the building on March 21, 1914.

The estimated loss was nearly $25,000. Insurance on

the building totaled $20,500.

City officials immediately began the rebuilding process.

A new City Hall was dedicated on July 3, 1915, as part of the city’s Independence Day celebration. A parade of more than 40 decorated automobiles traveled to neighboring cities welcoming everyone to come to Kendallville for the huge festival.

Activities that day included a parade of bands, a band concert, a demonstration and water fight by the Kendallville Fire Company, an open air vaudeville show and athletic games.

The Honorable William L. Taylor of Indianapolis, former state attorney general, was the guest speaker. A bust of President Abraham Lincoln was unveiled — a gift from Louis J. Keller, a director of the Kendallville Trust and Savings Co., and the son of Jacob Keller.

Others who spoke at the event were Mayor Clinton Case and former mayors Rufus Marcy, James Graves and Forrest Field.

Today’s City Hall houses the office of Mayor Suzanne Handshoe, the city’s first female mayor. She was elected in 2004 and reelected in 2011 on the Republican ticket.

It is also home to the offices the city engineer and building department, the police department, the city’s jail, and the Kendallville City Council chambers.

Kendallville Manor Kendallville Manor,

located at 1802 E. Dowling St., is a 45-bed skilled-care nursing facility offering topquality rehabilitative care as well as excellent long-term care. Manager Mark Ide of Ide Management Group oversees a staff of 50.

We have recently remodeled our facility, including beautiful updates to all of our private and semi-private rooms, all public areas, and new landscaping.

We recognize how important it is to select the right health care option to meet your individual needs.

Kendallville Manor has the programs and support services to assist you and your loved ones as their care needs increase or decrease.

Here at Kendallville Manor you will find the comforts of home. The environment is clean, caring and friendly. We encourage you to decorate just like you would at home. A nice patio area invites times of fellowship and friendship. You will not find a more dedicated team of professionals in town — the needs of our residents come first.

It is our goal to meet the needs of each resident while maintaining their privacy, dignity and integrity. That’s why our philosophy at Kendallville Manor is “Residents First.’’ This philosophy affects everything we do; from caring for our residents to the manner in which we conduct the business and operations of our company.

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