Syracuse-Wawasee Journal, Volume 48, Number 39, Syracuse, Kosciusko County, 7 July 1955 — Page 1

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VOL. 48: No. 39

Seven Mermaid Finalists Pose

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The seven Mermaid princesses, finalists in the Mermaid Queen Contest, are shown above as pictured last Friday night. From left to right, Linda Ellen An-

In The Northeast (Corner By Bill Spurgeon Apparently with the large number of motorboats on lakes around here, and with all A said boats being operated by human beings, it would be hard to have a year pass without an ex-plosion-fire incident such as we had on Wawasee last Sunday night. — People often need reassurance of the safety of boat operation after such affairs, especially when they are that close to home, so when Wales Macy, operator of the Wawasee Slip, came to tow away Sunday night's relic, we talked to him for a minute about safe boat operation. According to Macy, gasoline fumes are usually the culprit in any such explosion, and because of their unique qualities they are hard to "pin down. " We did learn, however, that while it is a very good idea to open the hatch on a speedboat while starting the motor, such a measure does not completely eliminate the possibility of an explosion. “Experts in the insurance ;.idth Macy, " say that gas fume> usually hover tn the bottom five inches of a boat's motor compartment.” -so it can be seen that opening of the hatch does not prevent everything that these fumes might Newer boats, we learned, are ventilated so that the bottom. five inches of the motor compartment are specially ventilated. but many of the older boats do not have this feature. “Gasoline is funny, too." said Macy. “It takes just the right combination of gas and air to cause an explosion.' So a teaspoon of gas with a can of air might, while a cup of gas and the same amount of air might not What can boat owners do to keep their minds at ease, then? Seems simple to us Keep the boat in good repair, with all fuel lines tight. Have only competent mechanics sen ice or repair their boats. And above all. be a good housekeeper. Empty gasoline cans with caps off. stashed away under a closed hatch m 95 degree weather, can cause nothing but disaster, as we witnessed Sunday night.*Be careful! To get off one lake subject and onto another, anyone around here ever hear of the "Three Lights?" Apparently this was a landmark or something similar in the vicinity of the North Side of Wawasee. Stephen Freeman of Wawasee told us the other day that a stranger who had apparently visited here years ago was by and asked him if he remembered such a place, also mentioning more familiar landmarks such as Buttermilk Point. “Three Lights" was a new one on us. too. and we cannot think 'for the hfe of us where it might have been. We are quite familiar with WiU Remy ’s “Three Bells." but no “Three Lights." Can anyone shed some more light on the subject? Then comes one Merle Harkless. also a long time resident around here, asking us to elaborate some day on the “steamboat" era of Wawasee. That we shall do. sir. when time and space allow. and we, shall explore the history of the coming and later demise of such vessels as the famous "Annie Jones" and others.

Bake Sale & Bazaar Old Nsf Otfiae Biildtag Sat. 9 July 11 a. m. 111. LADIES AID

5c a Copy.

I drews. “Miss Northwestern”; Betty Meeks, "Miss Green Township"; Barbara Bender. “Miss North Manchester" and now the I new Queen of the Lakes; Sandra

Papake&chian's Rights Still Seem to be Problem

Exactly who can do what on Papakeechie Lake still seems to be a problem, according to information gathered by the Journal during the past week. Officers of the Papakeechie Protective Association, which holds title to the lake and one foot of land around it. contend that lake privileges can be ob- ! tamed only by dues paying members of their croup. They further ' contend that this was set out in deeds transferring property and I anyone with property abutting j theirs who fails to pay dues thus i forfeits any "lake rights" he ’ might have. Grounds of Protestors Several property owners in the arva have pretested, payment of on numerous grounds. Some have stated that they do not like the method the Association uses to kill the weeds in the lake. This method uses fertilizer lor sodium arsenic. Others of the protesting group I contend that the protective association has no right to collect i past dues for use of the lake, j Several of this group have not paid their dues for three or four years and have stated that this j year was the first year they were • billed for past dues. Still others protesting have said that rights given them,with ■ their land, such as fishing per’mits. were marked, "permanent when given them and contain no provision for either payment Crash at 13 and 33 Kills Two Saturday An Ohio couple, apparently en route north for the Fourth of July weekend, were killed instantly early last Saturday when their car and a semi-trailer outfit collided several miles north of here. Billy Schewmaker. 27, and his wife, Ina. 32. were fatally injured when the right front corner of their car hit the left front corner of the semi cab. Their 1953 Chevrolet was completely demolished. 7 Tried To Swerve j Vern Abel, driver ®f the semi, apparently swerved tn an unsuccessful attempt to avoid the crash. His truck, owned by the Norwalk Trucking Company, of Norwalk. Ohio, overturned in- a cornfield after the impact Contents of the truck were strewn along the highway. Abel, of Fort Wayne, was taken to the Goshen Hospital in the Carr Ambulance from here and was in fair condition after the accident. He was thrown out of his truck cab. . Bodies of the two victims were removed to the Carr Funeral Home here and later taken to Cm ’. I: • .. id w.u- investigated by State Trooper Henry Cripe and Elkhart County Deputy Sheriff C. D. Smith.

Three Fined Here On Traffic, Other Counts "Robert Lester Meister. 17. 1422 Spring St.. Ft. Wayne, was arrested by Cpl. Robert Clevenger last week end for reckless driving. Meister was fined $19.75 by Fred Nolan. Justice of the Peace. Robert L. Stendahl. 32. R. R. 1. was arrested by Henry Cripe Jr.. State Policeman, for disregarding a stop sign on south of Syracuse at an intersection of a county road and road 13. He was fined $15.75. Michael Sullivan was arrested by Claude Lane for reckless driving and fined $5 and costs totaling $19.75. (Details elsewhere in the paper.' Stephen Bryan. R. R. 2 was discharged from Goshen General Hospital Tuesday. Mrs. Jean Todd. Hkmmond. is confined to the home of her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Brower. suffering from virus pneumonia Mr. and Mrs. Stephenson were in St. Louis for Fourth of July weekend.

SYRACUSE. INDIANA. THURSDAY. 7 July 1955

Ballenger. “Miss Beaver Dam Lake"; Terry Hamsher. “Miss ■ Nappanee”: Sandra Stephens. ■ “Miss Barbee Lake"; and SanI dra Brubaker. “Miss Pierceton”,

of past or present association ) dues as a restrictive part of their j use. l*reparing "Friendly" Suit The Protective Association is said to be preparing a suit to be filed in the Kosciusko Circuit Court during the next term to set out the rights of both the association and the protesting and other property owners with ‘regard to payment of dues and use of the lake. According to a spokesman for the association, the persons who are behind in dues payments are to be named as trespassers, and action will be taken accordingly in a test case. One protesting property owner stated that he could hardly see how all persons behind in their | dues could be named as trespassers unless they were all proved to have used the lake. He added that he did not see how any deed to property’ he received could contain any provision for payment of association dues since deeds are necessary unilateral agreements. Wawasee Post Wins; Others Place Friday Wawasee Post 223 was selected as the best drum and bugle corps) lin the Mermaid Parade, Friday ) night. Other awards to Syracus- • ans went to the Smith Wal- ' bridge Camp which won fifth for j the best decorated car carrying Miss Syracuse Lake," Hilda Maudlen.. and third in the float' competition. Both Miss Susan Darr. “Miss Syracuse", and Miss Maudlen, from S. Carolina. were among 120 finalists in the Queen contest, i PURCHASE AMUSEMENT PARK Mr. and Mrs. Lee Fischer,) Kale Island, have purchased the ■ north five acres of what was formerly’ -he Hunnicutt Amusement Park on old road 13 across ) from the Oakwood Park en-. | trance. Present plans are to add to existing playground facilities. Mr. Fischer is personnel manager at the Weatherhead Co., i and Mrs. Fischer is employed at • the office of the Journal. Driver Crashes On Ogden Island Curve Michael Francis Sullivan. 20,! 4229 Centeral Ave.. Indianapolis was arrested and charged with i reckless driving when he lost control of his car while round-1 mg a curve on Ogden Island and » hit a tree about 12:15 a m.. Sun- > day morning. ‘ Damage to the 1953 Plymouth ; owned by Edwin F. Sullivan was j estimated at about S3OO

Hex Grange Meets Tuesday Worthy Master Herbert Blue opened the Hex Grange meeting Tuesday night. 5 July with 12 officers present. Only routine ; business was transacted May > and June birthdays had the proI gram and served refreshments of of ice cream and cake. 31 mem- ; bers were present. Local News. . . Mrs. Catherine Connolly and son James, and Mrs. John Connolly. visited in North Judson, over the weekend, with Mrs. Catherine Connolly’s mother. Mrs. J. W. Shenberger Mrs. Harriett Blocker. Syracuse Lake, has house guests, her son Joe and family of Salina. Kansas, for 3 weeks. Mrs. Sarah Rex had Fourth of July guests, her niece. Mrs. Robert Bechtel. Mr. Bechtel, and their daughter Miss Jane Bechtel. and her friend. Miss Roberta Yoder, all of Wakarusa. Mr. and Mrs. Albert Penn of Nordyke Park had as Independence Day guests. Mr. and Mrs. Jack Black and children. Penn and Leslie, and Miss Lois Penn of Des Moines.

< An Editorial i Will the voters of Syracuse have the opportunity to vote for town officials in an election this November? They should. We sincerely hope so. Good government, they say. always starts at the ‘ grass roots.” and town government is the basic element of this good government. In the past two elections, voters had only the change to pass>approval on previously selected nominees for the town board positions. A slate of town board candidates selected by Republican cancus in July of 1947 was elected without opposition in November of that year, with only the race for Town Clerk-Treasurer providing any contest. In November of 1951. the same condition prevailed-with the exception that there was no contest for any local office. On the face of it. this does not seem to be a healthy condition. Indiana's constitution and laws provide-for a town election every four years, and this certainly seems reasonable enough. It would only seem logical that the citizens of a town should show some interest in such elections. Does it sound like interest in local government that there was an unopposed slate of town officials elected in 1951? Dues it sound like interest to state that only 26 voters turned out for the 1951 town tions. out of a possible 250 ot so? Has it ever been pointed out that of three persons elected to the town board in 1951. only one remains on the board, with the other two positions being held by interim appointees? * We hold no complaint with the present town government of Syracuse. It’s economical. It is apparently efficient. It apparently has rhe best interest of the community at heart. But we will point out that running the town is running a 25 thousand dollar a year business. It is a business upon which the health and future of Syracuse and its surrounding area must depend. Why then, can’t some interest be shown in local government?

Postoffice Finally Flies U. S. Flag After being rather conspicuously absent on Independence Day. the United States Flag began to fl/ over the U. S. Post- , office here sometime Tuesday. Reason for the flag’s absence Monday, July 4, was simple, ac- | cording to Postmaster Ernest E. : Bushong. There just wasn’t any flagstaff on the new buildins. first occupied last fall. Syracuse may now consider , the postoffice complete. Bush- ; ong added, since it is flying the flag—a new one—on a newly installed flagstaff at the front | of the structure. Daughter Barn 2 July Announcement is made of the birth Saturday 2 July, ot Kittredge. 7 pounds 13 ounces, in : Gaston Hospital. Memphis. )Tenn. to Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Gregory’ Anderson, formerly of Wawasee. Mrs. Anderson is the former Dianne Warren, North Shore, Wawasee Lake, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Truman Warren. Mrs. Anderson and son “Kitt”, returned home to Memphis on Sunday. Mrs. Warren flew to Memphis on Tuesday.

Fireworks Rained Out, Will Try Again 8 July Originally scheduled to be most appropriately held last Monday, the annual fireworks display sponsored by the Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce will be held at the Lakeside City Park Friday night. July 8. Starting time for the spectacle will remain at dusk. Midafternoon thundershowers, accompanied by high winds, and doubtful weather conditions as time neared for the display to start on the Fourth, made postponement of the annual affair inevitable. Barring another “curve” from the weather. Syracuse and Wawasee will officially celebrate Independence Day this year on July 8.

Entered as second class matter at the postoffice at Syracuse, Indiana

Weatherhead Offices Moved to Ft. Wayne Main offices of.the Weather- ' head Company moved from CleI veland to Fort Wayne this week. A staff of 125 took, over offices ) in the Gaskins Building TuesI day. The Fort Wayne Division i includes three plants, employing 1.200 persons, and two warehouse operations. This division is considered the world’s largest manufacturer of tube fittings and flexible fuel lines. Syracuse’s plant, at the south edge of town, manufactures principally industrial products. Approximately 370 people are employed in the plant here. The other two plants, at Angola and Columbia City, manufactures automotive products. Divisions of the compand in addition tQ the one in Pt. Wayne are in Cleveland. Antwerp. Ohio, and St. Thomas. Ontario. Miss Carolyn Mulholland. Harrison St., is home for a three week vacation with her parents. Mr. and Mrs. “Monte" Mulholland. She has been at nurses’s training at Memorial Hospital in South Bend.

Bridge, Shelter Are Town Board Topics Some concern over the demolition of the city's shelte® house at the foot of Main Street and Syracuse Lake, by the public j pier, was voiced by Syracuse ; Town Board members at their Tuesday night meeting. It was agreed that the buildI ing which was destroyed would I hardly stand rebuilding and , Buchholz advised the board that sufficient funds probably existed' to build a new and more . sturdy shelter. The rebuilding ' problem was taken under further. advisement with nothing | decided except that" the shelter i would definitely be rebuilt. Asks About Bridge H. R. Anglemyer, representing Lthe Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber 'of Commerce, asked the body ■ about the reconstruction of the : damaged Boston Street bridge. Frevert said that County Com- ) missioner Millard Stooky had j told him the county would enI large the bridge culvert if the I town would build the railings and sidewalks. Frevert added j this would be done some time > soon this summer. Routine claims were also al- | lowed and the board heard a reI port from water foreman James | ■ Gilbert that work would be: I started soon, on a 6 inch water main extension in South Huntington Street from Pittsburgh to . Chicago Streets-. / Board members J. B. Cpx and ( Ray R. Frevert were along with Town Clerk-Treasur- > er Ernest O. Buchholz. The only I spectators present besides Angle- j myer were representatives from the Warsaw Times-Union and the Journal. Vacationer Drowns In Sawmill Lake Tuesday Robert Kellogg. 26. who re- j sided south of Hartford City, 1 where he was employed, drown-1 ed in Sawmill Lake, south west ' of North Webster Tuesday after-1 noon when he fell from a boat. j Kellogg and Edward L Mealey. Hartford City, were riding in a boat equipped with an outboard motor. Mealey heard Kellogg fall and immediately stopped the motor and started diving to locate Kellogg who was I a non-swimmer. The body was ) recovered approximately an I hour later. Kellogg and Mealey, aocompained by their families i had gone to Barbee Lakes Sun-) day for a vacation. He is survived by his widow, two children and his parents.

Mrs. Harry Coy New Auxiliary President Officers for 1955-56 were elect- • ed at the June 29 meeting of the I American Legion Auxiliary Unit 223. | Mrs. Harry Coy was elected j president; Mrs. Marshall Coy, first vice president; Mrs. Floyd Brower., second vice president; Mrs. Delbert Brown, third vice president; Mrs. O. P. Davis, secretary; Mrs. Roy Sarjent. treasurer; Mrs. Max Ganshom. corresponding secretary: Mrs. Blanch Kline. chaplain:Mrs. Edward Coy. historian; and ser-geant-at-arms. Mrs. Raymond Fuller assisted by Mrs. Gaylord Jones. Mrs. Marion Darr and Mrs. Harold Kline were appointed to the "executive committee. During the meeting. Mrs. Roy Sarjent told of the Second District meeting which she and the former president, Mrs. Russell Kistler, attended in Wolcott. Mrs. Kistler asked that the Unit help to secure educational aid for children of men who lost their lives in service to their [country. A bill to provide a modi' est program of scholarship assistance for such children has been I introduced in Congress. The annual Auxiliary picnic will precede the July 26 meeting. [ Miss Susan Darr. Girls’ State Rej presentative. will be a guest. Hot Holiday Weekend Heavy thundershowers, accompanied by high wind gusts and plenty of thunder and lightning, brought but temporary relief late Monday afternoon to the hottest Independence Day holiday remembered here in some years. High winds were responsible for power being off in several Wawasee areas for upwards of three hours as the Northern Indiana Public Service Company sent in extra crews, from the Goshen Division to help check and repair damaged lines. Most cleanup work was accomplished by late evening, however. Mr. and Mrs. Harry Porter of Elizabethtown. Illinois, former owners of the Journal, visited here last Friday afternoon with Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kroh. Roscoe Howard, and Mrs. A. W. Francis. Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Blakesley had as guests Wednesday. Mr. and Mrs. George Bartlett of Rochester, New York. Mr. and Mrs. Benwood Field of Texter. N. M. are visiting for _a few days with her parents Mr. and Mrs. Roy Riddle.

Elderly Webster Man Fleeced of $15,000 Tuesday

Additional information had not been received at deadline time this morning concerning three gypsies who reportedly fleeced Ed Henwood. 82 year old North Webster man, out of $15,890. Tuesday afternoon. Henwood, who had returned to North Webster recently after living for many years in the south, told police he was working in his yard a block west of the North Webster business district when a man and two women drove up in an old-model dark car with Illinois plates. Snatch Envelope They engaged him in a conversation* and one of them apparently snatched an envelope containing the money from his pocket. Hen wood told officers he did not notice the money was gone, until several minutes later. Henwood said SII,OOO of the money was in 11 one-thousand dollar bills and the remainder in 50 and 100 dollar bills. His niece , had been keeping his SII,OOO in ) a strong box, but he obtained I the money from her three weeks ■ ago and had been carrying it ano more then $4,000 in bills with him ever since. One of the women was described by Henwood as being short and stocky while the other was slender and tall. The man was described as having a dark complexion. Skiers Home Again This week’s ski show will be held at 7 pm. Saturday in front of the South Shore Hotel, again under the auspices of the Wawasee Ski j Club. It will be the third show i of the series which will con- * tinue through July. Services Held For Carl Stetler Tuesday Funeral services were held Tuesday at the Rohrer Funeral Chapel. New Paris, for Carl Hiram Stetler. 74. who died Saturday noon in his home six miles northeast of here after an illness of six years. The Rev, Chester Carpenter j officiated and burial was in) Jackson Cemetery, west of Ben- i ton. Mr. Stetler was bom Feb, 15.1 1881 in the same house in which i he died. His first wife, the for- i mer Mary Bortz, preceded Mr. i Stetler in death. In 1920 he j married the former Bilqie Hap-1 ner. who survives. Also surviving are a son, Roy, Syracuse: three daughters, Mrs. Harvey Rink. Goshen, and Mrs. Don Nyce and Mrs. William Eyer, Syracuse ; 6 and seven grandchildren. Chicks Perish In Heat Gaylord Jones, owner of the Jones Hatchery on old road 13 reports that about 1500 head of poultry were killed over the ■ week end due to heat. Markley's Have Son A son was bom to Mr. and | Mrs. Paul Junior Markley, R. R. ■3, Saturday afternoon in Goshen ; •hospital. Mrs. Markley and son were later discharged. A 1c Arlen Bobeck arrived ; here from Seward Airforce Base : in Nashville Friday 1 July. He will be here 20 days with his par- , ents, Mr. and Mrs. Virgil Bobeck R D. 2.

Conservation Department Adopts/Get Tough' Policy

Apparently’ resulting from a ) new “get tough” policy on the ; part of the Indiana Department of Conservations Enforcement Division, state conservation officers have been patrolling local lakes in an effort to rid the water of careless and reckless boat operators. Several local arrests on Wawasee have resulted from the new flurry of law enforcement, and numerous other boat operators received warnings over the past “long weekend” to be more careful while on the water. Import Officers » Enforcement division officers from Southern Indiana Counties. many of which have no lakes to patrol during the summer. have boosted the number of officers available here for such a patrol. Several such “relief" officers are understood to have been on Wawasee over the weekend. This same policy of heavy patrolling will probably be continued through the summer. , It is understood that the Enforcement Division’s policy is not one of “wholesale arrest" or

Shelter Gives Up Ghost •• 4 y .. ■

Wreckage of the shelterhouse at the public pier after a giant willow tree crushed it late Mon-‘

Local Lions Install Officers Last Niaht ■ The Lions Club met at Howard’s restaurant last evening to install new officers. New president is Deloss Wea- . ver. First vice president is Paul . Lantz and second and third presidents are Chris Koher and Max . Brower. Fred Kirkpatrick i&jsec- ■ retary and Jack Kimpel is treasurer. Bud Carpenter is Tail twister and Bud Smith is Lion Tamer. Owen Keim and George Thornburg are the two newjflirectors. Outgoing president Ws “Bud" Kline. Plans were made to sponsor a basket, ball game October 19. starring the Zpllner Pistons'in the new high school gym. Proceeds will be used for lights at the new outside basketball courts and play ground. Yacht Club Racers Survive Weekend Calm Wawasee Yacht Club members sailed their Lightnings Sunday in light and uncertain winds, in “very, very hot weather.” as put by Merle Shanklin, secretary of the Club. i The 10:30 am. race ’was won by Paul Penn Jr. of Goshen. Dr. Wellington. Goshen, came, in 2nd, and Paul Hess, Fort Wayne, was 3rd. Paul Taylor. Huntington. was 4th; Bruce Baiden, South Bend, sth; Jack Shanklin. Goshen, 6th: and Marta Bender, South Bend, 7th. Paul Taylor won Ist in the 2:30 p.m. race: Paul Hess, 2nd; Paul Penn Jr.. 3rd: Jack Shanklin. 4th: Bruce Baiden sth: Dr. Wellington. 6th: and Marta Bender. 7th. Cancel 4 July Race Monday 4 July, after the Lightning sailors tried by fits and starts, with very little wind, the race was cancelled for lack of wind. Paul Penn Jr. who won the Series last year, is in first place in this year’s Series, so far. A 14 Race Series is planned for this season through Labor Day. each race figured on points, for computation of final standing. . ‘ • ) Trample Your Tins’ ) It was noted at Tuesday’s | town board meeting that taxj payers can save themselves i money if they flatten tin cans before they are picked up by trash collector. Wawasee Lake Mr. and Mrs. Harold A. Schrock and family of South Eight St.. Goshen are staying in the Claude French home on near Waco for the month bl July. ; Mrs. Murray Miller and son" ; Kim. of South Bend are vaca- | tioning this week at the Lake ! Wawasee home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Truman Warren. ! Mr. Miller will be here some of ; the time. Mr. Jack Maldonaldo of Chi- ) cago and Mr. and Mrs. Joe Mayer of Miami.Tlorida visited Mr. ) and Mrs. Wayne Blakesley Friday. Joe Mayer is'One of the NovI Elites who appeared on the Godifrey Show’ on Wednesday night, 129 June.

, temporary crackdown but is part of' a concerted drive to make boat operators more conscious of Indiana’s boating laws and water safety practices in general. .Arrest Four Four arrests were made this past week end by conservation officers. D. Frank Romine. 1325 W. First St.. Anderson, was arrested by Billy Davis, for throwing beer cans into Big Barbee Lake. He was fined $25 and costs totaling S3B by’ Justice of Peace Fred Nolan. William Helt, 50. IF2I E. Market St., Indianapolis, was arrested by Ned Gerard for speeding in a motor boat on Wawasee after sundown. He plead not guilty and is scheduled to appear before the Justice 13 July. Harold Spry. 44, 139 Cumberland Dr., Ft. Wayne was arrested by Ned Germ’d for speeding on Wawasee after sundown. He was fined $24.75. Ralph W. Reed. 37, 1900 W. 12th St., Muncie, was arrested ? for speeding in a motor boat on Kuhn Lake and was fined $23.

day afternoon during a severe storm. ?