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.

Jan. 24, 1968 —Classes have been suspended until Monday at the Beaver Dam Junior High School in southwestern Kosciusko County following a fire last night that destroyed the gymnasium and industrial shop section of the school.

All that remains today of the 39-year-old gym is the skeleton brick walls. However, the main classroom section of the building sustained only minor damage from smoke and fire.

Jan. 21, 1961 — Warsaw’s Chamber of Commerce celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. It was founded in 1911.

President Jack Moltz today announced plans to conduct a year-long Golden Anniversary program, commemorating the founding.

Jan. 27, 1959 —Three well-known local businessmen announced today the purchase of the Phillipson building in downtown Warsaw, corner of Market and Buffalo streets, and plan to perpetuate the location as a men’s clothing store.

New owners are George Bowser and John Widaman, law firm associates, and Max Hull, owner-operator of the Hull House, a men’s apparel shop.

1954 — Seventy-seven years ago, a man by the name of D.D. Morse drew a picture of the town of Warsaw looking toward the northeast. It shows all the buildings that made up the town at that time.

Not much was on Center Street east of the tracks, the most pretentious house being that of Judge Frazier.

The old Center Ward School is shown, with the Episcopal Church northeast of the school.

There were no brick buildings then south of the old Globe room, and the Phillipson corner is shown as a frame with frame awnings out in front. Their building was built by Chapman in 1884-85, and Phillipsons moved to the present site June 1, 1888.

The Wright Hotel and the Kirtley Hotel are shown east of the courthouse and the old Baptist Church to the east. North of the frame courthouse is shown a brick office building.

On south Washington Street is shown the Bung Factory.

Facing Columbia Street just north of the railroad is shown the Lesh Factory, which later extended east to Washington Street.

Many houses are shown north and west of the courthouse. On the Widaman corner, two houses are shown, both facing Buffalo Street.

The depot for the Pittsburgh Railroad is shown on Union Street west of the flour mill. Where the Central School was later built is shown a part of Conrad’s Wagon Factory.

There are ice houses at different points around the south and east sides of Center Lake and a steamer is shown on the lake, together with some sailboats. Before 1886, Warsaw had no parks.

The old Thrall’s brick plant is shown southeast of West Ward School and a factory south of the present Fred McKown home.

North of the mill on Union Street is shown a cooper shop, where barrels were made.

All in all, the picture is an interesting reminiscence of a bygone age and will always be a valuable curio that should end up in a county museum.

– Compiled by InkFreeNews reporter Lasca Randels