From the Files of the Kosciusko County Historical Society

This is a retrospective article that runs a few times a month on InkFreeNews.

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

Jan. 12, 1981 — Three fires Sunday claimed the life of a Lake Wawasee man, left a Claypool family homeless and temporarily halted the printing presses of a New Paris farm publication.

Robert Glen Baker, 53, Rt. 1, Syracuse, died of smoke inhalation, according to Kosciusko County Coroner Gary Eastlund. He was found in the front bedroom of his home. Other fires destroyed the Michael Fishbaugh home south of Claypool and extensively damaged the Farmer’s Exchange printing press in New Paris.

Jan. 9, 1964 — Burdell Blackburn, 28, of Rt. 2, Warsaw, Wednesday night was named Kosciusko County’s “Outstanding Young Farmer of 1963” at the sixth annual Warsaw Junior Chamber of Commerce “OYF” banquet at Horn’s Restaurant, Warsaw.

Blackburn, who resides with his wife Darlene and two children, Anita Jean, 8, and Cindy Lou, 4, on Crystal Lake Road, west of the city, is Warsaw’s first winner of the event.

Jan. 10, 1958 — Along Ind. 15, 1-1/2 miles north of Silver Lake, the grand opening of a new public dining establishment is now under way, and food is being prepared daily to delight the palate of the most discerning connoisseur.

The new one-half-million-dollar development is known as the Claypool Sales’ Steer Inn.

– Compiled by InkFreeNews reporter Lasca Randels