From the Files of the Kosciusko County Historical Society

Editor’s note: This is a retrospective article that runs a few times a month on InkFreeNews.

Feb. 6, 1979 — A two-story brick building remembered by many as the headquarters of an auto dealership and clothing factory in downtown Warsaw will come to an end of an era under a wrecking ball next month.

Information for this retrospective series is courtesy of the Kosciusko County Historical Society.

Kosciusko County Commissioners Maurice Dorsey, Gerald Smalley and Fredrick Gilliam opened three bids and awarded a contract Monday for the demolition of the Blue Bell-Hartsock building at the corner of Lake and Main streets.

Feb. 6, 1974 — Two Warsaw industries have shut down, idling approximately 445 workers due to a national truck driver strike. As a result, the Warsaw Chamber of Commerce Industrial Division is urging the assembly of the Indiana National Guard to assure peaceful truck transportation.

In October 1973, a coalition led by Syria and Egypt launched a joint surprise attack on Israel. An oil embargo, levied by the Middle Eastern petroleum-producing cartel OPEC against the United States for its support of Israel, caused an oil shortage in the United States.

Responding to the crisis, the U.S. federal government began to ration oil and gas and imposed a nationwide 55 mph speed limit on all highways and interstates to promote fuel conservancy. The crisis and subsequent rationing caused gas prices to skyrocket. With increased fuel prices and the crackdown on highway speed limits, independent trucker drivers struggled to make ends meet. 

Tuesday afternoon the industrial division sent a telegram to U.S. Senators Birch Bayh (D.-Ind.) and Vance Hartke (D.-Ind.) and to Gov. Otis R. Bowen seeking an immediate call-out of the National Guard.

Industries closed by the strike so far are Korth Furniture, which employs about 270 persons in two Warsaw plants, and Sun Metal Products, with approximately 175 employees.

Gatke Corp. of Warsaw also is slowing production due to the strike.

Feb. 6, 1964 — A large crowd dotted the Grace College gym at Winona Lake Wednesday night as former Leesburg High School star Glenn “Chet” Kammerer set a new Indiana intercollegiate four-year scoring record in leading the Lancers to a 90-82 basketball victory over arch-rival Goshen College.

Many persons from Leesburg and Warsaw joined with the Grace well-wishers in watching Kammerer hit a free throw in the second half –his 15th point of the game –to eclipse the mark of 2,268 points established by Bailey Robertson, of Indiana Central College. Kammerer went on to hit a total of 28 in the game, 20 in the last half, giving him 2,282 in his career.

– Compiled by InkFreeNews reporter Lasca Randels