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.

Information for this retrospective series is courtesy of the Kosciusko County Historical Society. For more history of Kosciusko County in the news visit yesteryear.clunette.com

June 2, 1977 — The Warsaw Community High School baseball team used its basic “win-a-sectional” recipe here Wednesday, but was missing one ingredient.

Head coach Hugh Ressler, who molded the team into a cohesive, hard-working unit, was unable to watch the Tigers win their first-ever sectional title because of the death of his mother. But he will have a chance to return to the Columbia City Joint High School diamond June 11 when Warsaw battles either Fort Wayne Wayne or Fort Wayne Harding in the regional.

Warsaw baseball team members are Dave Johnston, Brent Grubbs, Steve Sittler, Jeff Hohman, Aaron Rovenstine, Randy Sarber, Steve Bradford, Tim Howard, Roger Pryor, acting assistant coach Bob Huffman, manager Alan Barnes, Randy Reneker, Tim Wilson, Sam Hartle, Phil DeGaetano, Stacy Thomas, Jeff Pound, Scott Charlton, Jim Coplen, Al Denney and acting head coach Jim Miller.

May 31, 1952 —  With a large wreath on the front of its giant engine, presented by the Retail Merchants division of the Warsaw Chamber of Commerce as a fitting farewell to an institution that served the community for nearly a half century, the last train of the Winona Railway at 11 a.m. started its “sentimental journey” to New Paris and back.

The huge propane electric locomotive, with Ralph Justus, veteran engineman, at the controls, pulled two gondola cars loaded with former officials and employees of the railroad and interested citizens. The group making the final run numbered about 60.

June 29, 1836 —  Turkey Creek Township abounds with lakes, some of which are more than 100 feet deep.

Syracuse Lake, one mile long and three-fourths of a mile wide, lies directly east of the village, and Nine-Mile Lake (Wawasee), about five miles long and one mile wide, is a beautiful body of water.

Turkey Creek was organized as a township June 29, 1836, and prior to 1838 comprised the territory which afterward formed the townships of Van Buren, Jefferson and Scott.

The first settlers were Henry Ward and Samuel Crawson, who, in 1832, constructed a dam across Turkey Creek, intending to erect a mill as soon as the lands were open for settlement.

The mill was completed in 1833 and in 1836, the same parties built a sawmill. A post office was established at Turkey Creek in 1852, and remained in operation until it was discontinued in 1900.

— Compiled by InkFreeNews reporter Lasca Randels