The Mail-Journal, Volume 7, Number 49, Milford, Kosciusko County, 6 January 1971 — Page 1

Phones: 658-4111 & 457-3666

VOLUME 7

Plan To Rebuild Pickwick Block In Syracuse

The only good news that came out of the now well known Pickwick Block fire in*uptown Syracuse on New Year’s Day is the fact that the block will be rebuilt.

Speaking for the Pickwick Midwest -Corp.. owners of . the block. Bill Mollenhour said this week the block would be rebuilt, although he was not certain in what fashion This depended somewhat on burned-out store occupants to renew leasing options y The fire, which brought many New Year’s Eve celebrants exit of their beds early on the first day of the new year, swept most’of the block, completely * burning out Jour of the seven occupants of the block. Burned out were: The Pickwick Inn. owned by Tony Guicjone and Gene Thompson Estimated loss: $40,000 # Budget Investments, Inc., whose lease ran out at midnight Dec 31 Most erf their fixtures were moved out. so loss was undetermined W. H Thomas store in the corner building All stock and fixtures on both floors completely 'destroyed Estimate ot loss being Studied Jaycee hall located in. the large one room under the Pickwick Inn. Loss Minimal Saved by firemen were* * Pickwick Theater S & N Plumbing and Heating Co Doc’s Shoe Repair Shop Reported At S a.ta, The early morning fire was reported to Syracuse firemen by two 17-year old boys who first saw smoke coming from the stairwell leading to the Jaycee hall When firemen arrived it appeared the fire had its source at the rear of the Jaycee hall and could quickly be put under control By 8 a m it was apparent the fire could get out of control, and that additional help might be needed. ( According to Syracuse fire xrhief Tom Strickler, fire departments came to Syracuse from Milford. North Webster. Pierceton. Ligonier, Kendallville, Wolf Cake. Goshen city. Elkhart Township < Goshen >, Benton. New Paris. Millersburg and Bremen .An estimated 100 firemen came to the scene of the fire to render assistance. A firewall kept the flames from * getting into the Pickwiek Theater, located on the west end of the block Then it was thought fire would be prevented from getting into the Thomas Variety Store, but chief Strickler said flames got through a firewall through an ill-repaired hole in the firewall to reach the variety store One Os Worst Witness at the New Year s Day fire said they thought the fire to ‘ be one of the worst in Kosciusko county in recent times. perhaps the worst since the fire that , destroyed the Moose hail and other buildings in downtown Warsaw several years ago. The Pickwick Block fire proved a stubborn fire, and as thousands of gallons of water were poured on the flames from the' front, back and top. it refused to be put out "• % On Monday of this week an investigation was being conducted by Willard Clark, in-, vestigator for the state fire marshal’s office in Indianapolis Working with chief Strickler, they were unable to determine a t cause for the fire Also on the scene Monday were fire underwriters who hoped to put a price tag on the loss. Early estimates were that loss to the building would exceed $150,000 Replacement costs are something else Owners of the building had in excess of $200,000 insurance on the building . . Loss of equipment, merchandise and discontinued service lime could reach another $300,000. knowledgabie persons estimated. Firemen of neighboring departments strung fire hose from the channel on South Huntington street to the uptown

Newspaper S action Indiana state library Indianapolis, Ind* 46204

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Consolidation of THE MILFORD MAIL (Est. 1888) and THE SYRACUSE - WAWASEE JOURNAL (Est. 1907)

area, using this inexhaustible supply of water as city water ran low , j Fred Stedman, manager of the . W R Thomas Store, said, after the fire had been estinguished. that his store had “water half way up the stairs.” Phil Spear, president of the W R Thomas 11-store chain, was returning from a trip to Hawaii when he heard the news of the Pickwick block fire on his car radio He was driving from Fort Wayne to his Warsaw home at the time, and turned at roads 30 and 13 to go to the scene of the fire immediately The company has stores in Indiana. Ohio and Michigan. No estimate of their . loss was forthcoming, nor no idea as to whether they would con- , tinue a store m Syracuse or not. Then Came Food Syracuse chamber of commerce president John R. Walker and Lihdal Caldwell of the Syracuse Case made the rounds with a hot thermos of coffee and sandwiches donated by Anchor Bar. and Frog Tavern Food was also donated by Klink s Grocery, Augsburger’s IGA and Burger’s Dairy store Exhausted firemen were most appreciative Authorities said there was considerable smoke and some water damage id the Pickwick Theater, but that it could re-open soon. (Ironically, the marquee on the theater read. “THAT’S THE WAY IT IS,” heralding a new Elvis Presley movie running at the time of the fire.) While the fire spread in the main part of the building owners of the S & N Plumbing and Doc’s Shoe Repair store were busy moving their equipment onto the street, later hauling it away to safe storage Rooms occupied by these two businesses, “on ' the hill,” received considerable smoke/ damage The practically new gas boiler that heats these two rooms was being repaired early this week. and otherwise the two rooms were being readied for re-occupancy It was learned on Monday that S & N Plumbing will occupy both rooms m the future, and that Doc’s Shoe Repair is seeking a new location. About To Move Another interesting aspect of the fire was the fact that Budget Investments; Inc., was closing out its business m Syracuse, moving to North Manchester Its terminal time was midnight Dec. 31. However, it still, had its records in a large safe in the building The safe, records and all. fell through the floor and rests at the bottom of the basement , Ready to occupy the room was First Charter Insurance Co., following some redecorating. 1 First Charter had purchased the safe and a large sign in front of the building The sign was pulled down when firemen considered it a safety hazard First Charter hopes to salvage the sign, however Other Pickwick Fires The Pickwick Block is thought by some natives to be under a •’jinx.” having suffered three fires before. Old timers recall a fire “around 1900 or 1901” when a series of frame buildings burned out on the same site. In 1939 fire destroyed the block again But the real big one came Feb 2, 1940. when the block was destroyed, including the English facade that extended two stories high on the west end of the block. The two stories were never replaced. Owners of the block emphasized this week that they were not certain how the block would be rebuilt, but that some plan would be worked out that the Hock, in its present condition, would not remain a blight on the* Syracuse uptown area.

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PICKWICK BLOCK FIRE — This panoramic view of the Pickwick Block, located in uptown Syracuse, was taken last Friday — New Year’s Day — in early hours of the fire that swept the popular business block, totally destroying the Pickwick Inn. the

Unpaid Water Bills Present Problems For Milford Officials

Clerk-treasurer Edith I. Baumgartner told members of the Milford town board Monday night a total of 17 water bills are still unpaid. Water bills in Milford are sent out every quarter with the town’s residents having the present bills since December 11 At the close erf the collection period duplicate statements are mailed to those who have not paid their bills. This part quarter an additional 72 notices were mailed with late fees charged The next step is to add $2 to each bill with a five day payment allotment?'Following this all persons with unpaid bills may have their water shut off. The question in point at the board meeting was what to do with the 17 bills in question It is an expensive and time consuming process to keep sending statements and to tie up the street and water superintendent •to either make the collection or shut water off at the various homes where bills have not been paid. After considerable discussion

Steven Hearn To Talk At Milford PTO Meeting Tuesday, Jan. 12

The, Milford elementary and junioQ high school PayentTeaehers Organization will have its first meeting of 1971 on Tuesday evening, Jan. 12. at the Milford elementary school Junior high school music contest participants will furnish music and Steven Hearn, prosecuting attorney for Kosciusko county, will talk about

NO INJURIES IN GOSHEN MISHAP Authorities listed damages at $250 to each vehicle in a two car accident at 10:23 p m. Saturday at the comer of Main and Purl streets. Goshen. No jme was injured in the mishap. Rodney K. Wood. 18. of Bremen, was cited for failure to vield the right-of-way following the collision of his 1962 Chevrolet with a 1970 Mercury being operated by Wilma A. Cox, 34. Syracuse.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 1971

and a study of names on delinquent list members of the* board decided the clerk should wait a few days then send the final notice. Letter From Engineer Attorney William I. Gerrani read a letter received from Baxter and Woodman, civil and sanitaty engineers of Crystal Lake. Ill.; in regards to the town’s dismissing the firm. The letter was from Mr. Woodman who stated he was “shocked” that after keeping Milford “out of trouble with the state health department” the firm was being dismissed. He requested a meeting with the board and stated monies were still owed his firm. Discussion followed the reading of the letter on its contents and on the work the firm has done, or has not done, for the town during the past years. The attorney was instructed to write to the Illinois firm requesting a break-down of monies thought to be due since all bills received by the town have been paid. ) Mrs Baumgartner reported $2,379 36 remains in the Felkner

the problems of law enforcement. There will be a question and answer period Officers of the PTO for 1970-71 ve William Bess, Robert Hoerr. vice president Mrs. Donald kinney. secretary; and Mrs. Robert Wise, treasurer, German L. Miller is principal at the junior school and Lewis S Immel is principal at the elementary school

MINOR DAMAGE IN WEEK END ACCIDENT A car driven by Glen R. Miller, 19, r 2 Milford, hit a no parking sign in Goshen over the week end. Mr Miller was attempting a left turn when his 1966 Oldsmobile skidded on slippery pavement. Damage was estimated at less than SIOO. - Marriage License Issued • Howard Eugene Slabaugh. 22. r 1 Syracuse factory employee.* and Brenda Kay Steele. 21. New Paris, clerk.

building occupied by Budget Investments. Inc., and the W. R. Thomas Variety Store. Announcement was forthcoming this week that the block would be rebuilt.

fund She also stated a balance of $4,645 12 was left in the civic improvement fund with $4,000 to $5,000 to be received in 1971 for use in said fund. Board members agreed to transfer $4,000 of this amount to the town’s general fund. This money comes from cigarette taxes. Mrs. Baumgartner also told board members she had $254.70 in the operating cash fund of the water department, $16,240.39 in the bond and interest fund. $736.68 in the depreciation fund and $1,365 in the meter deposit fund. She also stated she had a bill amounting to $1,603.75 due Layne Northern from the depreciation fund for work on the town's wells and would need monies in the operating cash fund to pay bills and salaries until the March collection. Board members transferred SI,OOO from the bond and interest fund into the depreciation fund and SI,OOO from said fund into the operating cash fund. President Carl Duncan stated the standpipe had been drained and some work done on it. however, it is still dripping.

Mrs. McLeod Heads Primary Mothers Club Mrs. Terry McLeod was elected president of the Syracuse Primary Mothers club at their Monday night carry-in dinner meeting at the Milford home of Mrs. Frederick Graff. Mrs. Lowell Ensinger and Mrs. Larry Clodfelter were guests Other new officers are Mrs. James Zimmerman, vice president and social chairman; Mri Graff, secretary; and Mrs. James Thornburg, treasurer. Other routine business was completed and plans discussed for the annual spring party. WRC INSTALLATION TO BE FEBRUARY 1 The Syracuse Women’s Relief Corps installation scheduled for Monday night was canceled and has been rescheduled for Monday evening. Feb. 1, at the Syracuse American Legion home.

NO TICKETS AVAILABLE There will be no adult tickets available to the public for the Plymouth game Fridaynight. Only 147 tickets were received from the Plymouth school. These will be sold to students only. No tickets will be available at the door. Elkhartan Arrested At Milford Last Week 'Milford police chief Don Drake reports one arrest was made in Milford last week. Jerry Kerns, 22. Elkhart, was arrested for disorderly conduct on Friday. He was fined $45 by justice of the peace Milo Clase. ACCIDENT INVOLVES TWO FROM LEESBURG At 5 pm Saturday, a car driven by Billy Poe. 21. of Leesburg bumped another car driven by Eva Sullivan. 33. also of ‘Leesburg The incident occurred at the intersection of Base Line and Levi Lee roads, five miles northeast of Warsaw. Total damages were listed at $325 by deputy sheriff Roger Fellows.

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Fill Turkey Creek Twp. Post

Assuming new positions the first of the year at the Turkey Creek township trustee’s office in Syracuse are Duane Kline, trustee Joe D. Shewmon and Mrs. James (Cynthia) Fry. The appointments of Kline and Fry were made by the new trustee who was elected in. November and replaces Harold Kuhn in this position.

Employ Professional Fund-Raising Firm

The board of directors of Kosciusko Community Hospital. Inc,. last night voted unanimously to hire Ketchum, Inc., a professional fund-raising fund firm to assist in its voluntary’ fund-raising program. It was this firm that assisted this year’s Kosciusko county United Fund drive to raise $165,356. besting its $157,000 goal* by five per-cent. ’ Appearing at the meeting at the Cardinal Learning Center last night was William R. Darragh. vice president of Ketchum. Inc., which has offices in Pittsburgh. New York. Chicago. Charlotte. N. C., and Dalits. The 51-year-old firm is a charter member in the American Association ' Fund Raising Council, and is considered one of the largest professional fundraising firms in the United States. Goal: Uh Million Tom Lemon, a member of the KCH executive committee, told the group hiring Ketchum. Inc.,

NEW JP — Ralph Gansert of Milford has been sworn in as the new justice of the peace for Van Buren township. He replaces Harry Dale Doty, a Republican, who did not seek re-election last November. Gansert .is a Democrat. Gansert stated Monday he may be reached from 7 a.m. until 11 a.m. at the Rainbow Inn in Syracuse then at his home near Milford until 8 ; p.m. in the evening. Friday and Saturday from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. and

Kline, a carpenter, and his wife reside at 501 south Lake street, Syracuse, along with a son. Philip. The Klines also have a daughter, Mrs. Lawrence (Judy) Vultaggioof Germany, where her career serviceman husband has several more years to serve, with 19 years of service # in at the present time. Kline will be assisting Shewmon in township

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hinged on the successful outcome of the January 18th meeting with the state health advisory council at Indianapolis. Murphy Medical Center officials have ’asked the advisory council for a hearing after the council ha<j recommended granting coveted Hill-Burton federal £unds to KCH in a surprise move. Lemon appeared highly confident that the January 18th meeting would not overturn previous decision of the advisory council. This confidence was supported by Dr William Parks and others who have been in close touch <vith the state advisory council. < Mr. Darragh told KCH board of directors his firm had good knowledge of Kosciusko county based on the work they did for United Fund. He said Kosciusko county is a “wealthy county.” and that there would be ' no difficulty in raising from $1.2 to $1.5 million toward a newcommunity hospital.

Four Area Men Escape Serious Injury Sunday Four area men escaped serious injury at'll a.m. Sunday when the car they were riding in collided with a snow plow on a Wisconsin highway near Baraboo. Involved in the accident were Bill Speicher and Steve Kaiser of Milford. Roger Hunsberger of Elkhart and Bill Trbup of r 2 Leesburg. Speicher was the only one injured. He was taken to an area hospital and treated for mouth injuries. Speicher was released on Monday and the four returned home. The accident occurred when theroen did not see the snow plow through the swirling snow in the heavy storm ,that hit the Wisconsin area over the holidays. They had been fishing at Devil’s Lake near Webster. Wis., and report they had good hick fishing. , from 7 a.m. until 1 p.m. he will be .at the Syracuse restaurant.

assessing. First deputy assessor will be Mrs. Fry who previously held this position for two years until last June. Mrs. Fry, her husband James and sons Kevin. Marc, Matt and David, reside at 300 south Lake street, Syracuse.. A. A. Pfingst, a previous assessor for 10 years, has retired.