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

July 25, 1970 — The president of the Continental Telephone Co., a 1938 Warsaw High School graduate, was killed instantly in a violent explosion, which demolished his car in a parking lot in the St. Louis suburb of Clayton, Mo., Friday.

Forty-nine-year-old Phillip J. Lucier of St. Louis, was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Lucier of Winona Lake. The elder Lucier became president of United Telephone Co. when its headquarters were moved from Indianapolis to Warsaw.

The explosion ripped Lucier’s 1966 Cadillac as he turned on the ignition, shredding the front seat of the car and tearing a hole 18 inches in diameter in the floor of the car in front of the driver’s seat. The windshield and rear window in the auto also were shattered.

July 23, 1970 — A Winona Lake resident who celebrated her 21st birthday Thursday saved the lives of a mother duck and her 3-day-old ducklings when she noted they were saturated with oil.

Sue Howard, of 215 Lakeside Drive, summoned State Rep. Thames Mauzy, who said today he will continue his efforts to stop the pollution of Winona Lake. Mauzy has been concerned about the lake for several years and has been working closely with state and local conservation personnel in studying the situation.

Mauzy was disturbed when he went to Winona Lake and talked with Sue and her brother and sisters, Tom, Sally and Mary, about the number of 3-day-old ducklings covered with oil and unable to swim.

July 23, 1842 — The early settlers of the Eel River community organized the Eel River Christian Church July 23, 1842. It was the first Christian church in Kosciusko County.

Services were held in the Samuel Abbott home and the Cantrel and Dodgertown schools for a number of years. In 1889, the present building was erected.

There were 26 charter members.

– Compiled by InkFreeNews reporter Lasca Randels