PolyCraft Plus Owners’ Flourishing Business Is Due to Resilience and Innovation
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Owner of Weldy Hill Fur & Hide Tanning Has a Talent for Taxidermy and Much More
When Radio Was King in Lakes Country and Beyond
BILL & BABES
WHERE TRADITION MEETS TASTE ON THE TIPPECANOE
Writer
/ Amy Beaucham
Nestled quietly on the Tippecanoe River, the tradition of Bill & Babes tavern speaks strongly. Friendliness, hospitality and wide-ranging menu choices have all been key to the enduring heritage and success of this long-standing family-owned tavern.
It was 1954 when Bill and Phyllis Reutebuch opened the doors of what would soon become a cornerstone of
their community in Pulaski. Phylis was known as Babe, her preferred name, and she and Bill created a slice of Americana appropriately named Bill & Babes.
In 1999 their son, Dan, assumed ownership of the restaurant with a commitment to the welcoming atmosphere, prized customer service and honored traditions established by his parents. Dan has continued the successful
formula that made Bill & Babes a second home for locals, and a sought-after dining experience for those traveling or finishing a day on the river.
There have only been a few changes within the building, including the addition of a kitchen broaster, remodeling of the restrooms and refurbishment of the tavern’s century-old bar. During the pandemic, Dan began the practice
of having fresh seafood flown in weekly from Boston. The response was significant, with many driving miles for takeout.
The demand for the fresh seafood has continued, with customers traveling impressive lengths for both to-go and dine-in orders of lobster rolls, clam strips, haddock, oysters, whole belly clams, cod, shrimp, calamari and octopus. Dan says adding fresh seafood to the menu has been a “game changer.” Although the menu has expanded, the classics remain. Steak, chicken strips, burgers, broasted pork chops and chicken, sandwiches such as tenderloin, fried bologna and BLTs, as well as various types of pizzas, are all available.
Catfish, walleye, yellow lake perch, smelt, and all-you-can-eat bluegill are among the regional fish to be enjoyed. Appropriate to its tavern setting, there are craft beers, domestic beers and a
selection of wines available. The attached patio affords patrons a beautiful river view while enjoying a drink, socializing or dining outside.
On August 17, the Bill & Babes team celebrated its 70th anniversary with two bands, abundant fresh seafood and all the menu choices that have made the restaurant so popular through the years.
Dan appreciates having his wife, Leslie, and brothers, Tim and Bill, faithfully assist him each day. He also feels so lucky to have the best employees he could ask for supporting him in running a business that requires much time and work. Fortunately, he enjoys every minute of the 15 hours each day he spends as owner, manager and lead cook at his treasured workplace, which is open 365 days per year. On Mondays and Tuesdays, he might even be your server.
Dan says he loves rising early and heading
off to do what he loves. “Getting up, going to work and then going to bed is pretty much it - not much else,” he says. He also expresses that the people make his job worthwhile. He strives to make Bill & Babes a place that makes customers feel like part of the family.
Bill & Babes offers not just a meal, but an experience. One customer was delighted to find a pearl in one of the oyster shells she was served! You may not happen upon an actual pearl, but once you sense the character that fills the historic establishment, once you see the smiles that greet you, and once you take that first bite, you will wonder how you did not know of this somewhat hidden gem lying quietly near the shore of the Tippecanoe, awaiting you.
Bill & Babes is located at 5658 South Main Street in Winamac. You can reach them at 574-595-0536. Payment is cash only.
Bill & Babes Merch & Desert options (selection of Candy)
SEW SAVVY
SANDY BECKER OF SANDY’S SEWING TAKES ON MOST ANY SEWING CHALLENGE
Writer / Matt Keating
Sandy Becker, owner of Sandy’s Sewing, said her love of sewing as a child led her to open her own business.
“It all started when I was only 5 years old,” Becker said. “I used Kleenexes to make my own doll dresses. It was a lot of fun and I spent a lot of time working on them. I really kept wanting to work on them more.”
Becker decided to take her love of sewing a step further in high school.
“My mom asked me, ‘Why don’t you take sewing lessons with our friend Phyllis Forege?’” Becker said. “So, I took sewing lessons from her every Monday. My parents took me every week. I loved it. I really took to it and learned how to just keep getting better.”
Becker said she can do alterations of nearly any kind.
“I can do almost everything when it comes to alterations,” she said. “I opened my own business a little over a year ago and I’ve really enjoyed it. No one can sew like me, and I’ve been able to get more customers to see me, which has been great. I can do all types of embroidery.”
Becker enjoys doing alterations on wedding dresses.
“I think I’ve worked on 30 to 40 wedding dresses,” Becker said. “I can get a lot of quality work done on those.”
Becker enjoys a challenge and meeting new customers.
“I had one bride who came to me who kept losing weight,” she said. “I had to work on her wedding dress many times. I eventually told her she needed to eat a cheeseburger and put some weight on. I had to keep working on her wedding dress, but we eventually got it right.”
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Becker said it takes her about 10 hours to work on a wedding dress.
“Some take more and some take less, but that’s about the right amount of time,” she said. “I can help a bride get ready and have her dress looking great. I enjoy the challenge.”
Becker does many other types of alterations.
“I work on prom/holiday dresses,” Becker said. “I can also work on workwear.”
Becker also works on jeans and coats.
“I’ve done a lot of work on men’s coats, where I take them in,” she said. “I had one customer recently who was thrilled I was able to work on his coat, and was very happy I had it ready for him to wear again.”
Becker also puts patches on coats, and
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“I also do embroidery work on cushions and memory pillows,” she said. “I’ve had some customers who have really been very happy with the memory pillows, because they are a nice keepsake. I can also make teddy bears and make pillows out of leather coats. They are very nice and look good. I also sell letter jackets.”
Becker noted that sewing is something that relaxes her.
“It’s work that is very soothing and something I absolutely enjoy,” she said. “It’s my relaxation.”
Becker also works at Bill & Babes bar and grill in Winamac. “It’s a great place - a fun place to hang out,” she said.
Becker said both jobs keep her busy.
“I’ve been able to get a very loyal group of customers at both jobs,” she said.
At Sandy’s Sewing, she makes sure customers are satisfied with the sewing work she does.
“I tell people that it doesn’t matter what they are bringing to me,” she said. “I will give it a shot. That’s what I like to tell people. I love a challenge and will get the job done right.”
For more information on Sandy’s Sewing, located at 115 East Pearl Street in Winamac, call 574-595-5160 or email Becker at slyeene@yahoo.com.
Woman Wednesdays: Female Shooters, 1/2 off range time, and rental program
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SET YOUR SIGHTS
OWNERS OF GUN TOWN AIM FOR GREATNESS
Writer / Mike Dikos
Photographer / Jubilee Edgell
With your target sighted, windage and elevation set based on your last grouping, your rifle now zeroed, you take a breath in, exhale a bit, and squeeze the trigger. Your shot hits dead center. Your training, persistence and practice have paid off. Whether you are shooting for sport or the thrill of the hunt, Gun Town in Grovertown has everything you need to keep your target in sight, whether you are an experienced firearm owner or a novice.
When it comes to firearms, proprietors Curt Mordus and Cori Knight are no strangers, as United States Marine Corps (USMC) veterans who joined shortly after the events of 9/11. Having gone on his first hunt with a childhood friend and his father at the age of 14, Mordus became enthralled with shooting sports. A Chicago native, he served tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan training with USMC Reconnaissance, the Army’s Special Warfare
Cori, Curt, Gaise & Jaxsyn Mordus
Center and School, and the USMC Special Operations Command. Furthering his education of firearms while on active duty, Mordus became a certified National Rifle Association (NRA) instructor, as well as an instructor on North Carolina laws governing the use of deadly force. Today he is a United States Concealed Carry Association (USCCA) certified instructor and federal firearms licensed dealer and manufacturer.
Knight was a reserve police officer from California before joining the Marines. She became a close-quarters combat instructor and went on to shoot in division matches. Graduating at the top of her class from North Carolina’s basic law enforcement training, she holds multiple expert ratings in both pistol and rifle shooting, and has broken several state records along the way. Today, as the brains behind the operation of Gun Town, she is the coach for female
shooters and is also the certified Red Cross first aid and CPR instructor.
After the owners settled locally, the topic of Gun Town came up while they were speaking with a client from a previous business. Their first thought was that this was an establishment used by local western reenactors. However, upon closer examination they saw potential, and that much of the infrastructure for a firearms establishment was already in place. After much effort and hard work to bring things up to code, Gun Town was reborn, and on September 1, 2023, they opened it to the public.
Besides being a federal firearms licensed dealer and manufacturer, Gun Town is a full-service shop. Upon entering the establishment, one is greeted with courtesy and respect by a staff member who is either a veteran or first responder, and is
purchase. “I find comfort and satisfaction knowing that when a person leaves, I truly helped to ensure their safety and have answered all of their questions,” Mordus says.
Topics such as budget, hand size and purpose are all discussed before a sale. If one is not certain that the characteristics of a certain firearm will fit their needs, range rentals are available to learn and perform a test fire to better understand its properties.
“This is always worth the conversation,” Mordus says.
Training and education are two necessities that should always accompany a firearm purchase. Being a certified USCCA instructor, Mordus offers various educational programs in a classroom setting, such as Back to Basics as well as more in-depth training programs such
as the Illinois Concealed Carry course. “Without the repetition of training, a person loses the skills that they acquired from past training,” Mordus says.
Gun cleaning and care is the topic of another educational program that Gun Town provides, to ensure your firearm is in safe working order. Firearm owners who become members of the USCCA, the NRA,
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or both, have access to countless training programs that the organizations provide.
Handguns, classified as either pistols or revolvers, along with long guns, classified as either rifles or shotguns, are in stock for purchase. Popular brands such as Ruger, SIG Sauer, Springfield, Smith & Wesson,
and Colt are available. Gun Town also has independent contracts with Geissele Automatics, Bond Arms, Stag Arms and Tippmann, which allows them to sell their firearms and supplies at a savings to the consumer.
Along with firearms, ammunition is also a
Gilsinger family museum will explain the history of the oldest John Deere Dealer in the world at it’s original store location. Since 1899 The Gilsinger family has served farmers in our area.
• Early Household and Farming Tools
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necessity for the sport shooter or hunter. A wide range of ammunition is available, from .22 long rifle ammunition to the powerful .500 Smith &Wesson Magnum.
With the desire to keep as much business as close to home as possible, Gun Town has dealings with many local establishments.
Tippmann Arms out of Fort Wayne, Precision Cartridge based in Hobart and Fostech located in Seymour are just a few. Again, working with other local businesses helps to assure a lower cost for the consumer.
In addition to sales, Gun Town offers a wide range of services available to the firearm’s owner. When necessary, your firearm can be professionally cleaned to maintain optimal performance. Also, a fullservice gunsmith is on hand to assist you with repair, maintenance or modification. Shooting supplies such as targets, personal protective equipment, and gun cleaning products are accessible. Personal safety materials such as mace, tasers and an assortment of cutlery, along with tactical and bulletproof vests, can also be procured.
Gun Town offers memberships for additional savings. Annual as well as monthly memberships offer the patron
range preference, ordering priority and discounts. With women becoming a growing demographic in the shooting world, female shooters receive a discount on range time and rentals on Wednesdays. In addition, ladies night is the first Friday of every month.
Looking into the future, the owners see expansion and growth for Gun Town. In addition to the static range now available, they plan to develop the adjacent lot into a movement, or tactical, range. This would offer the shooter a more dynamic form of training, and allow him or her to develop a wider set of skills than those developed only by using the static range. As the name implies, the shooter is moving through the range with targets that are also moving, resulting in a very fluid environment, which helps in the development of a whole new set of proficiencies.
If you are in the market to purchase your first firearm, or if you are a seasoned
shooter, set your sights on Gun Town for the knowledge that will get you successfully and safely started, or the necessities to keep you shooting.
Gun Town is located at 10660 Lincoln Highway in Grovertown, and can be reached at 574-867-GUNS. They can also be found at myguntown.com and on Facebook.
PURE ENERGI
MIDDLEBURY-BASED ENERGIHAUS FINDING FAST SUCCESS
Nowadays, when folks hear about business practices that encompass both ecological and economical principles, they are bound to take notice. And when you add in other key factors such as convenience and quality, it all adds up to a winning formula for success.
This is what EnergiHaus, LLC is designed for, as a new business from the established firm of KC Innovations. It was launched in June of this year, and Matt Bontrager, store manager and purchasing agent, explains
what prompted this decision.
“KC Innovations recently went through a company restructure and a rebrand, and is now just doing manufacturing and selling their products strictly wholesale through their dealer network,” he says. “EnergiHaus is now a separate business that focuses primarily on the retail customer base that KC Innovations used to have.”
EnergiHaus is already being recognized for its streamlined, efficient and reputable
implements and services. “EnergiHaus specializes in battery-operated products and quality LED lighting,” Bontrager says. “We stock products from well-established brands such as KC Innovations, Miller Tech, and Creative PowerCell-utions. We primarily focus on products that are compatible with the three major tool brand batteries: Milwaukee, DEWALT and Makita - lights, fans, battery inverters, power supplies, kitchen mixers and much more.”
One might say that EnergiHaus is
Writer / Amy Lant-Wenger Photographer / Kari Lipscomb
continuing to power through by consistently elevating its standards and setting new goals. “Since we have now separated the businesses, we have also focused in adding a lot more products that really fit into our market,” Bontrager explains. “We have added some rechargeable items like MillerTech headlights and flashlights, and some other rechargeable products. We also now have a good line of MillerTech lithium batteries in stock as well. We also have some good, quality lights that are made by Creative PowerCell-utions from Topeka.”
“Our goal is to continue adding more of these unique products, and we are also aiming to get a little into the solar-powered world,” he adds. “Solar-power skylights and solar panel kits and inverters is something that we plan to be getting into more soon.”
While the EnergiHaus name may represent a new phase, the expertise that fuels the fledgling business is not. “Our current employees have been carried over from
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That team includes a group of seasoned professionals who handle differing aspects of what makes EnergiHaus flow. With those combined talents, the business is able to offer a wealth of customer needs and wishes.
“We repair and service most of the products that we sell, and we can fix most battery-powered products that come in for repair,” Bontrager says. “We also do custom projects that involve anything battery powered, or if people need an electronic component for their own project.”
Some recent endeavors that EnergiHaus
was able to successfully undertake include retooling a power scooter to run on either a Milwaukee or DEWALT tool battery, as well as a project in which a child’s power vehicle was converted from a small battery mechanism to one that can be outfitted with DEWALT, Milwaukee or Makita batteries. “We do all kinds of custom products like that,” Bontrager notes. He is currently working with a customer who is planning to install a solar-powered light kit for his chicken house project.
With a bright future on the horizon, Bontrager says that continuing to serve their customers to the best of their capabilities will always be their utmost priority.
“Shipping products across the country is one of our main goals,” he says. “This is one of the things that we strive for, same-day or next-day shipping. Another goal that we have here is to become a destination center for battery and
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GOOD STUFF
OWNER OF WELDY HILL FUR & HIDE TANNING HAS A TALENT FOR TAXIDERMY AND MUCH MORE
Writer / Matt Keating
When Christy Borkholder, co-owner of Weldy Hill Fur & Hide Tanning, sets out to do a quality job, good results follow.
He said it helps that he has been doing taxidermy since he was a kid.
“I learned how to do this when I
was a young child,” Borkholder said. “Taxidermy started out as a hobby, but I was able to get better at it. After I learned how to do this as a kid, I became busy with other things and quit doing it for a long time.”
After several years went by, he decided to
start doing taxidermy again.
“In 2004 I decided to get back to it, and between 2013 and 2020 I started getting busier with it,” Borkholder said. “Every year the work picked up. I was very fortunate and was happy to do it. A local taxidermist eventually got hold of me and
said he really liked the work I was doing. He said I could really make a business out of it. I wanted to see what would happen next.”
Borkholder, who co-owns the business with his wife, Lorenna, started out part time, and saw the business grow dramatically.
“By 2020 I decided it was time to go full time with the business,” Borkholder said. “I’m glad I did. The time was right and I was able to make the business grow.’
Borkholder offers fur dressing, decorative hunting items, leather, furs and more. He does fur and tan hiding on just about any animal, but says he stays away from working on pets who have passed away.
“We work on a lot of deer,” he said. “That’s the animal I really get the most. We have had about 800 to 1,000 deer through here. There are a lot of hunters in
the area that want to have taxidermy done on their deer.”
Borkholder works on a lot of other animals at Weldy Hill Fur & Hide Tanning, a business that serves Middlebury, Goshen, Warsaw, Wakarusa, Syracuse, Nappanee, and surrounding areas including Michigan and Ohio.
“I also work on a lot of elk,” he said. “We work on some bears. We also do work on sheep. I get a lot of business from the 4-H groups. They bring me a lot of cowhides to work on. They have been great customers.”
Borkholder is appreciative of his regular customers.
“I have been able to get a lot of customers who have heard of us from their family and friends, as well as from people who call us who saw our website,” he said.
“We have been very fortunate to have had such loyal customers who have highly recommended us. You just can’t ask for more than that.”
Borkholder said some customers have him do fur and hide tanning on foxes and muskrats.
“We also do skunk, possums and almost anything else,” he said. “We also do hairoff tanning, skinning, fleshing, soft tans, and wet tans.”
Borkholder has three part-time employees to help him keep up with the demand. “They do a great job and really help me out when it gets busy,” he said.
Borkholder said many people take the leather from the processing of the animals and make purses and wallets. “They like
leather and are able to do a lot with it,” he said.
Borkholder does have an important request before he takes on a new job.
“If someone shoots an animal, they need to take care of it before they get it to us,” he said. “Don’t leave it laying around for a couple of days. The animal must be fresh so we can work on it. People should put them in a cooler quickly. People come in with animals that I can’t do anything with. I can’t work miracles. If people come in with everything taken care of, we can do a high-quality job.”
To find out more about Weldy Hill Fur & Hide Tanning, located at 71985 County Road 100 in Nappanee, call 574-907-4246 or check out weldyhillfurandhide.com.
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT
LOCAL RESIDENT PENS
COOKBOOK INSPIRED BY SPECIAL MEMORIES
Writer / Tami Hudson
Writing a cookbook, or a book of any kind, was not something that I ever planned to do.
But if you knew my grandma, Vivian Huff, you know that she could be very persuasive - even bossy, if you will. Before she passed away in December 2023, one of her last comments to me was that I needed to write a “real” cookbook. And by that, grandma meant that every recipe needed to have a photo along with it.
My grandma had a vast recipe collection, and while she was still able, I sat next to her bed as we went through her recipe box together, me furiously taking notes as quickly as I could to keep up with what she was sharing with me: memories from cooking with her mom and sisters, dishes served at family get-togethers, meals shared with friends, stories of growing up in North Liberty, Indiana, and then her life in Lakeville, Indiana, once she married my grandpa and they had five children including my mom.
I really never thought I’d actually get around to writing a cookbook, even though I kind of promised my grandma that I would do it. I really just said that I’d do it to make her happy, as I knew that is what she wanted me to say. But as she often did through the years, grandma got her way one last time.
This recipe scrapbook, as I like to affectionately call it, really tells my
grandma’s life story. I don’t know that either of us really intended for that to be part of the book, but it just sort of happened as I started to write. I originally thought that I’d just be sharing grandma’s recipes, but it ended up being so much more.
As I share in the book, grandma lived a large life. She never knew a stranger, and was a great friend to many over the years. I like to think that if I have a tenth of the friends in my lifetime that grandma had in hers, I can count myself as blessed. She loved to play bingo, visit the casino, shop and go out to eat. She also loved her family fiercely, and nothing made her happier than to host a large group of us any time that she could. She loved a party and never minded being the center of attention - she was planning on throwing her own 95th birthday party!
I don’t think that grandma realized what a gift she was actually giving me when
she more or less directed me to write this book. I know that I never imagined what I would learn in just a few months. As I started to do research, read numerous bits of family history and talked to other family members, it became quite clear that there was so much more that needed to be told. Yes, I needed to share grandma’s recipes, but I also needed to tell the story of where she came from and what she did in the 94 years she had here on Earth.
My oldest granddaughter wanted to make a recipe from the book when she was at our house recently. As I guided her through preparing it, she asked a great question: “How come we don’t have dishes like this at our family gettogethers?”
That question brought me full-circle to the real reason that grandma knew that I needed to write this book. Our recipes and memories need to be shared with the
next generation. It is up to us to see that traditions made in the kitchen are carried on for our children and grandchildren. We need to continue to tell the stories and memories from the past in order to allow new ones to be made in the future.
Find Memories from Grandma’s Kitchen @ New Kitchen Store 1100 Roosevelt Road Walkerton IN 46574.
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Ingredients
• 5 cups Golden Grahams cereal divided
• 4 cups Chex cereal
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup Nutella or peanut butter
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 cups mini marshmallows divided
Directions
1. Pour the powdered sugar into a gallon freezer bag and set aside
2. In a medium bowl, combine the chocolate chips and Nutella (or peanut butter). Stir and microwave for 30 seconds. Stir again, and put back into the microwave for 30 seconds. Stir again and put in
microwave for another 20 seconds
3. In a large bowl, combine 4 cups of the Golden Grahams and all the Chex cereal
4. Mix 1 cup of marshmallows in the chocolate and Nutella mix.
5. Pour the chocolate mix over Golden Grahams and Chex. Mix well until the cereal is coated in the chocolate mix.
6. Pour the cereal mix into the freezer bag, close, and shake until the powdered sugar coats the cereal.
7. Fold in the remaining Golden Grahams and marshmallows
8. Spread the mixture onto a lined baking sheet and allow to cool 5-10 minutes.
CRAFTING SUCCESS
Writer / Amy Beaucham
Behind every business, there’s a story worth knowing. Ernie Mishler’s story is one of faith, fortitude and, intriguingly…fiber.
In January of 2024, Mishler and his wife, Velma, began PolyCraft Plus, offering skillfully completed home improvement products and projects using a revolutionary wood alternative made from rice hulls. This versatile, sustainable replacement for wood, which is known as ACRE in the U.S., can be used for both interior and exterior applications. Mishler explained that due to its rice husk fiber base, ACRE is 100% waterproof. He added that it also has low heat retention, accepts paint and stain without primer, is easily cut, fastened and drilled using regular
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tools, has a natural-looking grain that feels and looks like wood, is formaldehyde free, and has a zero-waste manufacturing process.
Mishler purchases his sheets of ACRE from a manufacturer in Mississippi and, as an experienced carpenter, believes that the product is unmatched in workability, durability and beauty. “After working with wood, the switch did take some getting
used to, but I’ve transitioned completely to ACRE now and am most proud of this product,” he said. Their services now include custom orders, home improvement remodeling and new builds.
Two years ago Mishler was forced to face a different kind of transition with his personal health. At that time, in addition to being a master carpenter, Mishler had also developed expertise as a horse trainer with 20 years of experience. During a training session he received a powerful kick resulting in severe blunt force trauma to his face and head. His injuries were so severe that titanium plates had to be inserted. Since the accident he has struggled with complete numbness of the entire left side of his face, as well as some double vision. His attempt to return to factory work as a carpenter was overwhelming and difficult. He said he is very thankful that his right eye, which is his “good eye,” and the slow but noticeable decrease of double vision in his left eye, are allowing him to continue pursuing his love of carpentry through his home-based business, PolyCraft Plus. He said he is able to manage this new exciting
business venture “just fine.”
Mishler is also very appreciative that he and Velma are a team that delights in sharing the work of growing a business together. She helps him in the shop, building drawers by his side, and is very efficient at taking care of the office work. Having his beloved children be a part of the teamwork is also gratifying to him. “All but the youngest assist too,” he said.
With reliance on his faith, family support and medical intervention, Mishler has resiliently persevered through the hardship that blindsided him in 2022. He says that although it’s a different way of life for him, his strength is good. Mishler was warned that head injuries as severe as his are typically slow to heal, with limited improvement. His doctor is amazed at his progress. Although Mishler no longer trains horses, he still raises foals. He said working with horses is “still in his blood.”
Ernie and Velma made a very courageous decision when they decided to place a bid in response to a call from an auctioneer selling a poly furniture business. From that purchase, they have developed into the most successful seller of home improvement products made with ACRE in their area.
PolyCraft Plus is located at 7580 West 050 South in Shipshewana.. For more info, call 260-768-4188, email pcp@ emyprinter.net, or go to polycraftplusllc.com.
September 6 & 7
Friday Doors open 12 noon to 9 p.m.
Demo starts at 3pm Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Please no golf carts
Located in Rentown
- 3 Miles East of Bremen, Indiana(2640 Birch Road) 46506
ON THE AIR IN INDIANA
WHEN RADIO WAS KING IN LAKES COUNTRY AND BEYOND
Writer / Jeff Kenney
Readers of a certain vintage will remember a time nearly unfathomable to younger connoisseurs of digital downloads, streaming services and the like - that is, when access to entertainment was an unpredictable and sporadic affair, whether one sought to catch a favorite song over the radio airwaves or favorite television show on the family set, all of it broadcast in real time in the air via glorious analog technology.
The original access “game changer” in many ways, however, was the invention and widespread availability of radio.
Of course, recorded music had been widely available following Edison’s invention of the phonograph machine in 1877, allowing within a decade or so for the average
consumer to purchase recordings to listen to at their leisure in their own home. But the advent of radio ushered in an era of widespread mass-media broadcasting that has only grown, of course, in the century since.
PIONEERING DAYS
It’s difficult for most of us today to grasp the marvel that was radio broadcasting when it hit the scene, not so many years removed from pre-electricity days, and in an era when print was the prime means of communication for most of society.
The technology behind radio was initially developed in the 1890s with the first wireless transmissions, engineered by Guglielmo Marconi in Europe. Interestingly, the first
such transmissions in the U.S. took place in the Lakes area’s backyard, at the University of Notre Dame, facilitated in 1899 by a professor there named Jerome Green.
The growth from those early endeavors to radio broadcasting as we know it today was gradual and involved a series of technological improvements, though an important figure in moving the process forward was Lee de Forest, who was convinced of the possibility of widespread, entertainment-based broadcasting and worked to improve existing technology to facilitate its occurrence, starting in 1907.
California’s Charles “Doc” Herrold is credited as the first in the U.S. to actually broadcast regular entertainment-based radio
programs, starting in 1909 (San Francisco’s KCBS carries on today as the long-term result of Herrold’s radio legacy).
By 1916 de Forest was back on the scene utilizing the recently developed vacuum tube transmitters to set up an early radio station in New York City. News and entertainment broadcasts were underway in the fall of 1916, though World War I restrictions put a halt to most radio broadcasting development across the country for the following few years.
While irregular broadcasts in 1920 from the Precision Equipment Company in Cincinnati caught national attention, Pittsburgh’s KDKA (which started out in November of 1920 as 8ZZ) stands as home to the world’s first regularly scheduled broadcast in radio. Creation of the station was tied directly to the manufacture of radios out of Westinghouse’s East Pittsburgh plant, and by the following year the company created
8093 N Tippecanoe Dr, Walkerton, IN 46574
three similar stations in the areas of New York City, Chicago and Boston. The growth of radio became explosive during this period. By December 1, 1921, the U.S. Department of Commerce created regulations denoting a broadcast (as opposed to an amateur, localized) station. One month later, 29 recognized broadcast stations were populating the airwaves, and by the end of 1922, the year of the radio craze, more than 500 stations were reaching hundreds of thousands of listeners (the first radio broadcast by a U.S. president took place in May of that year, when Warren G. Harding’s speech to the Washington, D.C., Chamber of Commerce was broadcast).
In 1921 there were fewer than 50,000 radios in use in the U.S., but by 1922 there were between 600,000 and one million, reflecting the rapid and ubiquitous growth of the medium and its impact in the everyday lives of Americans. Access to radio was also enhanced by the availability
of “crystal” sets, which could be purchased inexpensively and built using simple household items like oat boxes. Radio changed the world in a myriad of ways, not least of which was its unprecedented accessibility of information and entertainment to residents of even the smallest, most remote communities. As the Indiana Historical Society wrote, “Radio gave everyone, rural and urban alike, access to a broader world and new ideas. Beyond providing entertainment, radio had the ability to alert people to important news faster than newspapers could. During natural disasters, broadcasters organized relief efforts, provided vital information, and calmed fears.”
THE HOOSIER AIRWAVES
According to the Indiana Broadcasters Association, the first commercial radio broadcast in Indiana took place on New Year’s Eve in 1921, in a garage that served as the headquarters for radio station 9ZJ.
There, as the association website notes, “Indianapolis Mayor Lew Shank posed his immortal question, ‘Do you mean to tell me that people can actually hear me over that damn dingus?’”
The South Bend Tribune company actually launched the state’s first radio station, WSBT, in 1922, according to the Indiana Historical Radio Society, while Indiana’s first campus radio station began the same year at Purdue University (WBAA). Both stations are still on the air today.
Among other Hoosier state “firsts”:
-The first cities in Indiana to have FM radio stations were Elkhart, Terre Haute, New Castle and Muncie, all in 1947.
-The first radio station to broadcast the Indiana state high school basketball tournament finals was WOWO in Fort Wayne, in 1924.
-The first police department in Indiana (and third in the world) to obtain a radio license was the Indianapolis Police Department in 1928 (though the station didn’t go on the air until 1935). The first (and only) radio station operated by prison inmates was WIRP, at Pendleton. The station’s call letters were derived from the institution and town: the Indiana Reformatory, in Pendleton.
-Indiana not only pioneered numerous facets of the automobile industry in general, but the first push-button car radio was also produced in 1938 by the Delco radio division of the General Motors Corporation in Kokomo. The same plant also produced the very first all-transistor car radio, reflecting the latest innovation in the medium at the time, in 1957.
Enjoy a weekend of artists painting “en plein air” on the shores of beautiful Lake Maxinkuckee in Culver, Indiana, at the bi-annual Culver Paint Out! Stay the weekend to watch artists painting works featuring waterfront, downtown, lake properties, and rural agricultural locations.
Sunday will feature an award show and public art sale of all the artist’s work over the weekend Take home a one of a kind art piece that you watched painted live!
Meet ‘plein air’ artists from all over the country
Watch artists paint live outdoors
Attend an art award show
Purchase original art
Vintage postcard showing the studios of radio and television station WSBT. The radio station was the first broadcast station in Indiana
In September of 1927, the aforementioned Fort Wayne station WOWO was one of 16 others nationally to become a pioneer station for the CBS network, even as other stations would become affiliates of rival network NBC around the same period.
Closer to home in the lakes region, of course broadcast radio reached portions of northwest Indiana with the advent of Chicago’s first radio station, KYW, in 1921. But Miller, Indiana, holds claim as the site of the region’s first locally based station, WJKS (“Where Joy Kills Sorrow”).
This despite the fact that Hammond’s WWAE (today’s WJOB) was first licensed in 1923. The Hammond station did not actually begin transmitting until nearly a year after WJKS (today WIND) in Miller, where, according to the Gary Post-Tribune of August 29 1927, dozens wearing evening attire converged on the town’s Gay Mill Gardens for the station’s first broadcast. WWAE in Hammond began broadcasting in July 1928.
According to an article on the history of the
Miller area at spicerweb.org, two short-lived stations operated in the area in the 1920s. WRBC (“World Redeemed by Christ”), owned by Immanuel Lutheran church in Valparaiso, was on the air from 1925 to 1929.
WLBT (“Where Lovers Become Tied”), based in Crown Point, broadcast from 1926 to 1928. Writes spicerweb.org: “Put together by radio enthusiast Bud Wendel from spare and homemade parts attached to windmill towers it broadcast at 100 watts of power news, public service programs, and music. The call sign reflected Crown Point’s reputation as a ‘marriage mill,’ where couples from outside Indiana could come to get married as Indiana had no marriage laws governing anything, least of all a waiting period.”
Various schools through the years have created their own radio stations, but Culver Military Academy’s venture into the world of radio was quite early. WHBH radio began broadcasting from the second-floor balcony of the school’s Recreation Building (still in use today), utilizing 150-foot towers. Much of the
remarkable geographic breadth of the station’s signal was owed to the capacity of AM radio wave frequencies to travel much farther than the FM signals of today, combined with the relatively low amount of interference from competing signals at the time.
In 1926 the station changed its call letters to reflect the name of the school (WCMA) and, after its broadcasting equipment was upgraded, congratulations came in from listeners (who were treated to, among other programming, a guest broadcast from Hollywood legend Will Rogers, whose son attended the school) on both coasts, Alaska, Colorado and even New Zealand, among other far-flung locations.
With difficulty maintaining consistent broadcasts while continuing the busy operation of the military academy, WCMA’s final broadcast took place in 1932 and the equipment was donated to the Indiana State Police.
It’s worth adding a recollection of Indianarelated radio notable Jean Shepherd. Raised in Hammond, Shepherd is considered by some to be the father of free-form talk radio, and spent decades on the air in Cincinnati and New York where he gained fame and popularity for his humor and wit. Most recognizable to many today were his broadcasted recollections of his Hammond childhood, some of which made up the contents of his several books and formed the basis of the classic film “A Christmas Story” (which Shepherd himself narrates and in which radio plays a significant role).
ON THE DIAL TODAY
The growth of clearer, sharper (though not as far-reaching) FM (for frequency modulation) radio, especially in the 1960s
and into the ‘70s, brought new stations and listening experiences to the fore. Even more significantly, the rise of television in the 1950s radically shifted the role of radio in the lives of most Americans.
While music and some news remained relevant to listeners on driving commutes or in situations (such as workplaces) where radio was utilized as television couldn’t be, the years of families gathered around a large radio set in the living room, engaging a sort of theater of the imagination in listening to comedy programs from Jack Benny or George Burns, adventures like “Little Orphan Annie” or “The Shadow,” and an array of variety shows, religious programming, westerns and more, were at an end, as the household TV set took their place.
Most of the radio stations currently in operation in the lakes area came into existence in the more recent decades of the medium and oriented primarily towards music and localized talk and news. Michigan City, Indiana, radio station WIMS got its start
in 1947, and WEFM in 1966. WKVI radio of Knox began broadcasting in 1969, and WTCA in Plymouth in 1963. Rochester’s WROI went on the air in 1971, and WSAL of Logansport dates to 1949.
That said, for many listeners in the lakes readership area, the more powerful signals from larger cities such as South Bend or Chicago for many years have made up a portion of the radio listening experience and continue to do so today, even if access to music and news via the World Wide Web has put a dent in the medium’s audience as a whole.
The internet notwithstanding, radio is far from dead, even after more than a century from its Indiana debut, and its legacy lives on as an important part of the culture and memory of Hoosiers across the state.
EXPLORE FALL FESTIVALS IN THE LAKES AREA
Northern Indiana hosts a variety of festivals that celebrate the region’s culture, history and natural beauty. These festivals offer a wide array of activities and experiences, making them ideal for locals and visitors alike. Here are some of the most notable late August and September festivals in northern Indiana:
Marshall County Blueberry Festival
Held in Plymouth over Labor Day weekend, the Marshall County Blueberry Festival is one of the largest festivals in the Midwest. This family-friendly event features a range of activities including a parade, fireworks, a classic car show, and numerous food vendors offering blueberry-themed treats.
The festival also includes carnival rides, arts and crafts booths, and a variety of live entertainment. August 30-September 2
Nappanee Apple Festival
The Nappanee Apple Festival is another popular event, held in mid-September in the small town of Nappanee. This festival celebrates the apple harvest with applethemed foods, including the famous 600-pound apple pie. The festival features a parade, an antique tractor and car show, a carnival, live music, and various contests such as pie eating and apple peeling. It’s a great way to experience the charm of a small-town festival with a strong community feel. September 19-22
Valparaiso Popcorn Festival
The Valparaiso Popcorn Festival, held in early September, honors the legacy of Orville Redenbacher, the famed popcorn maker who lived in Valparaiso. The festival includes a parade, a 5K Popcorn Panic race, and live entertainment across multiple
and
and
stages. Attendees can enjoy a variety of popcorn flavors and other fair food while browsing the arts and crafts booths. The festival also has a special area for children with games and activities. September 7
Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival
This classic car festival, held over Labor Day weekend in Auburn, celebrates the heritage of the Auburn, Cord, and Duesenberg automobiles. The festival includes a classic car parade, car shows and a swap meet. It also features a variety of entertainment options including concerts, a beer garden and a 5K run. Car enthusiasts from around the world come to admire the beautifully restored vehicles and participate in the various events. August 29-31
Johnny Appleseed Festival
Held in Fort Wayne in mid-September, the Johnny Appleseed Festival commemorates the life and times of John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed. This festival takes place in a park named after Chapman,
MCKESSON TITLE CORP.
JON
P.O. Box 369
407 N. CENTER STREET
PLYMOUTH, INDIANA 46563
Phone: (574) 936-2555
S. HEATON
KNOX, INDIANA 46534
Phone: (574) 772-2720
Region 1-800-261-8437
Email: titlemac@mckessontitle.com
and features historical reenactments, pioneer crafts and period-appropriate foods. Visitors can explore a wide array of artisan booths, enjoy live music and participate in educational demonstrations. The festival provides a glimpse into 19th-century life and celebrates the contributions of a folk hero to American history. September 21- 22
Michiana Renaissance Festival
Taking place in South Bend, the Michiana Renaissance Festival transports visitors back to the Renaissance era with its elaborate costumes, jousting tournaments and medieval-themed entertainment. Held in early September, this festival features a marketplace with artisans selling handmade goods, as well as food vendors offering traditional fare like turkey legs and mead. The festival also includes live performances such as comedy shows, musical acts, and demonstrations of ancient crafts and skills. August 24-25
Late August through September is a vibrant time in northern Indiana, filled with festivals that offer a diverse range of experiences. From celebrating local agriculture and historical figures to enjoying classic cars and medieval fun, these festivals provide a unique way to explore and appreciate the rich cultural heritage of the region. Whether you’re a local resident or a visitor, there’s something for everyone to enjoy during this festive time of year.
Monday 9:00am - 4:00pm
Tuesday 9:00am - 4:00pm
Wednesday 9:00am - 4:00pm
Thursday 9:00am - 4:00pm
Friday 9:00am - 4:00pm
Saturday by Appointment
Sunday CLOSED
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
SEPTEMBER
KOONTZ LAKE/WALKERTON/ GROVERTOWN
ALL Times Listed Are Central
Every Monday BINGO
Doors open at 5 p.m., early bird starts at 6 p.m., and regular games start at 6:30 p.m. at the Koontz Lake Association (KLA) community building.
Every Thursday
NEW KITCHEN STORE FARMERS MARKET
4p.m. – 6p.m.
Every Saturday
PICKLEBALL AT LION’S PARK (May-Oct) – 9a.m. – Noon
1
LABOR DAY PANCAKE BREAKFAST
Bring your appetite and come out to the Koontz Lake Fire Station located at 7784 IN-23, Walkerton, IN.
3
KOONTZ LAKE CONSERVANCY DISTRICT
MONTHLY BOARD MEETING.
6p.m. - The meeting will be held at the Sewer District building located at 10625 E Prairie Ave in Koontz Lake. Interested parties may join remotely by calling (240) 591-0378 and entering the code 385729# when prompted.
20
TYNER ODD FELLOWS FALL FISH FRY
3:30p – 7p or until sold out - Tyner Odd Fellows Fall Fish Fry at the Sacred Heart Church located at 63568 US 31 S South Bend, IN 46614.
21
TYNER ODD FELLOWS FALL FISH FRY
4p – 8p or until sold out – Tyner Odd Fellows Fish Fry at the John Glenn High School Fall-O-Ween located at 101 John Glenn Drive, Walkerton, IN.
Rent the Koontz Lake Clubhouse for your next party! The rental fee is $100 for non-members, $75 for members with a $65 deposit that is refunded if no damage occurs to the clubhouse.
PULASKI
COUNTY
ALL Times listed are Eastern Time
2
Monterey American Legion post 399 Labor Day Festival
BREMEN/LAKE OF THE WOODS
ALL Times listed are Eastern.
7
9am – LOWPOA General Meeting at the BCC Building.
21
9am – BCC Monthly meeting at the BCC Building.
LAKE
MAXINKUCKEE/CULVER/
MARSHALL COUNTY
ALL Times Listed Are Eastern
7 & 8
MYC FALL REGATTA
13
CULVER LIONS TENDERLOIN DINNER
4:30pm – 7pm or until supplies last – Culver Lions Tenderloin Dinner at the Culver Depot 615 E Lake Shore Drive. Presale tickets are $12 or $15 at the door. Both sit-down and carry-out out available, but the best dessert comes with sit-down! Watch our Facebook page for presale tickets to become available.
27 & 28
Culver Town-Wide Garage Sales.
Bi-Annual Culver Paint Out
27
TYNER ODD FELLOWS FALL FISH FRY
4p – 7p or until sold out - Tyner Odd Fellows Fall Fish Fry at Knights of Columbus Plymouth, located at 901 E Jefferson St. Plymouth, IN.
28
TYNER ODD FELLOWS FALL FISH FRY
5p -7p or until sold out – Tyner Odd Fellows Fall Fish Fry at the American Legion Plymouth, located at 1040 E. Jefferson St. Plymouth, IN.
