This week’s group, from left, Shari Benyousky, Builder Charlie, Retired Guy Jack Brunetto, First Source Paul Finley, REMAX Jeff Owens, Parks Board Mike Cusick and Attorney Tony Garza.

Text and Photos
By Shari Benyousky
Guest Columnist

Column Note: This is the sixth column in the Dives and Diners series in which a small group of Warsaw Breakfast Optimist Club members and their guests road trip to explore the diners and dives of Kosciusko and the surrounding area.

WARSAW — The U.S. Census says that 384 people live in Claypool. Most of them know each other by sight, so when we drove down Main Street under the Claypool water tower and parked in front of the Someplace Else Saloon, people noticed. Co-Owner Jamie Archer greeted us at the door with open arms. A welcome InkFreeNews sign greeted us at a large round top. Someplace Else didn’t feel like a bar; it felt like coming home.

Owner Jamie welcomes us in.

Co-Owner Kenny Archer gave us a single welcome nod as he moved tables around. He jerked one thumb at a petite lady sitting at the bar with the opening salvo. “Meet Ruthie. It’s because of her we own the joint.”

Jamie laughed. “It’s true. When the last owners boarded up, Ruthie called and told me we could have a great shuffleboard place if we just came to Claypool and bought the bar. I said, ‘I’m not buying a bar!”

Ruthie chuckled. “And how long before you called me and said, ‘I bought a bar?!’”

“Yeah, two days later.” Jamie shook her head with an affectionate smile. “We love Ruthie. She always helps us. Her husband says everyone’s a friend to her.”

What Should The Wildcards Be Called?

Menus appeared in front of the seven of us. Ruthie wanted to know our drink orders. She wrote down various soda, tea, and beer orders, but Wildcard Jack Brunetto, Builder Charlie Wagner’s guest, asked if they had chardonnay. There was a brief silence. But Ruthie smiled and brought out a wine glass with chardonnay sure enough. We bantered about Jack’s moniker.

Builder Charlie shrugged. “We used to work together. But now he’s retired.”

Jack drank his chardonnay with a flourish. He offered with one hand, “I can be Retired Jack.”

RE/MAX Jeff Owens introduced his wildcard. “This is Mike Cusick. He does all kinds of things. Tech company, software, parks board president, Kosciusko County Velo Club…”

Cusick folded his arms. “Just call me Bike Mike. Although if you want to give a plug to the parks department, we are doing this cool survey to find out how to promote more active transportation methods.”

The Food Arrives

Ruthie and Kenny brought out enormous, steaming plates of food. I heard Retired Jack murmur, “I see that it’s a no silverware day for me.”

Banker Paul Finley handed him a package of silverware. “It’s a saloon! Use your hands.”

Front door.

Chef Jamie reemerged from the kitchen and wiped her hands on her apron. Owner Kenny informed us proudly. “She did all of that on her own you know. She does all the cooking.”

We looked at our seven bulging plates and gaped at her. She shrugged. “Sometimes there’s a line. But people don’t mind waiting. I’ve tried hiring chefs, but I can just manage the kitchen better by myself.”

I bit into my pulled pork sub. This was local hand-done pulled pork. And it was delicious. Bike Mike had the pulled pork on a hamburger. I could see his eyes glaze over too.

The Amazing Claypool Community

RE/MAX Owens looked up from studying the many plaques and signs on the walls. “I’ve heard you have some real interesting auctions here.”

“Indeed yes!” Co-owner Kenny called from behind the bar. “We all work together around here. The school, the bar, and the church help each other raise money. We raised $1,300 by selling that TV up on the wall there.” He pointed at the big screen. “Someone bought it but they kindly left It there for everyone. We’ve raised money for the boomerang backpacks for schools, you name it. We even helped Avery sell 1,300 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies for her troop.”

Jamie added, “This is one of the hearts of this community. We’ve got cowboy hats that belonged to deceased family members on the wall, and Tim Ellis brought us an old Key to the city in a shadowbox. We helped with the Claypool Days Sesquicentennial Parade too. You’ve seen that old restored one-room schoolhouse down the way, right?”

Retired Jack ordered another chardonnay. Banker Paul smiled at hot pizza. We had amazing food and great stories. What more could a dive offer?

“Funny story about that old schoolhouse.” Kenny settled into a good story. “I’ll take over here Jamie.” He paused to stage whisper at us. “Some people’s ears don’t work when their mouth runs eh….” Jamie swatted him. He went on, “There’s an old portrait of President Lincoln in there. Once some young crazies shot out the windows for a prank. The next day Ruthie was down there helping clean up. She came back and told me, ‘Oh my God, they shot Lincoln again!”

Town water tower.

We laughed. Kenny wiped down a beer mug. “That’s a rarity. Most people around here are friendly as the day is long. And we’ve a wonderful group of unruly farmers. They keep everything running ‘round here. Make sure every kid at field day has a candy bar too. We don’t want anyone going hungry.” He settled the mugs in a row carefully. “Dinner gets real busy like.”

I wanted to lick my empty plate. The breaded mushrooms had been amazing. Attorney Tony Garza nodded. “The mushroom Swiss burger was amazing too. I’ve no idea how she made everything and had it all ready at the same time.”

“You still cook everything and play shuffleboard too?” REMAX Owens noticed Jamie’s name on the wall next to last week’s shuffleboard champions.

“Well, you’ll have to come and find out, won’t you?” called Jamie from the kitchen. “We play on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6 p.m. C’mon back.”

Kenny smiled proudly. “Jamie and I. We spend most all our hours together. We’re a good team. Just like Claypool. Everyone works together.”

Jamie returned to put her arm around Kenny’s waist. “Kenny has worked in other places where he’s needed to get tough. ‘Round here he says there’s no need. He says Claypool is a place where his normal personality works just fine.” She laughed her lovely laugh. We crunched our house-made chips. The world felt just fine.

IMPORTANT TIPS FOR VISITING — Smoking is allowed at the Saloon. Someplace Else only takes cash, so come prepared. Tuesday through Thursdays there are meat specials and Friday is more upscale with dessert.

Know of an interesting place, board, nonprofit, or person which you’d like to see featured behind the scenes someday? Send SB Communications LLC an email at [email protected].

Builder Charlie shows off his breaded tenderloin and house-made chips.