The Mail-Journal, Volume 23, Number 22, Milford, Kosciusko County, 28 May 1986 — Page 44
THE MAILJOURNAL —Wed., May 28,1986
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Masons observed 100th anniversary in 1968
Members of Kosciusko Lodge 418 F & AM celebrated their 100th birthday on August 1,1970. At the request of 23 petitioners residing in the Milford community, and upon recommendation of Leesburg Lodge No. 181, on September 30, 1868; through the Grand Master of the Indiana Grand Lodge, Martin H. Rice and Grand Secretary John M. Bramwell, the Grand Lodge of Indiana appointed Elisha Miller, worshipful master; C. D. Felkner senior warder; and Edwin Barlow, junior warder. These officers had the authority to organize a Lodge of York Masons by the title of Turkey Creek Lodge Under Dispensation.
• Televisions w • Bearcat Scanners I ?/ La -OIIMI )§ n MHHi j|| -MiiU '—• 13 ' Diagonal System 3 25" Diagonal System 3 ~- u/ MODEL 581327 W MODEL 582569 K MILLER’S TV Downtown New Paris Phone 831-2727 Cong/tatu&tfions ■ ©n QJouft 150th QJeoft I I Arrow I | Van CORP. B *Custom Van Conversion* Buy Factory Direct At Dealer Cost And SAVE 658-4813 St. Rd. 15 South— MILFORD Announcing Big Boulder's SESQUICENTENNIAL S C R A M B L E June 1-7 Week-Long 18-Hole Golf Tournament • Play Any Time • 2 Person Teams, Played In Foursomes Only • If You Shoot Under 40 - Choose Flight A • If You Shoot 40 Or Over — Choose Flight B • $lO Registration Fee Plus Greens Fee • SI.OO Os Each Registration Goes To The Sesquicentennial Fund • Prizes Are Golf Merchandise And Gift Certificates • Teams May Play Again To Improve Score By Paying SI.OO Sesquicentennial Donation And Greens Fee • Last Round To Be Completed By Noon On June 7 • Winners Announced And Prizes Awarded After The Parade, June 7 rBiB— i fWl||||l!l] SR 15 North | IJ MILFORD “Happy Birthday, Milford”
According to the minutes written by J. A. Smith, secretary, these brothers met on January 2, 1869, in a hall owned by William Felkner. This appears to be the rooms now occupied by the advertising department of Hie Papers Incorporated on South Main Street. Others present for this meeting were E. S. Higbee, W. C. Brown, T. S. Smith, J. H. Hoffman, T. B. Felkner, Robert McCoy, F. H. Stephenson, James Ashbrook, S. S. Bradbury, J. A. Weaver. Officers chosen to act while working under dispensation were as follows: T. B. Felkner, senior deacon; F. H. Stephenson, junior deacon; W. C. Brown, treasurer; J. A. Smith,
secretary; Robert McCoy, Tyler; T. S. Smith and E. S. Higbee, stewards. A committee, appointed for that purpose, obtained some basic lodge furniture from Goshen. Stated meetings were held on the first Wednesday after the fiill moon in each month and the Wednesday two weeks after that. It wasn’t until 60 years later, January 1,1930, that the bylaws were changed to provide the stated meeting be the first Tuesday of each month, excepting July and August. The first three petitions for initiation were received on February 3, 1869, from Charles Hunter, John Whetton and Edward Shelmedine. The latter being the first to be initiated on February 17,1869. At the Grand Lodge meeting on May 24, 1870, a charter was granted to Kosciusko Lodge 418 to replace the dispensation to Turkey Creek Lodge, which notice was presented at the meeting on June 15, 1870. The first stated meeting of the new
Catholic Church established 1972
The Catholic Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe was established in Milford in 1972. It serves about 80 families at its location at the corner of Fourth and Main Streets. The church is a witness to the abiding faith of the Spanish-speaking people of the area. It is one of the three Catholic Churches for Hispanic people in the Fort Wayne-South Bend Catholic diocese. It is a tribute to the Hispanic peoples of Milford and the surrounding communities, including Goshen, Warsaw, Leesburg, New Paris, Ligonier, Nappanee, Wakarusa, Winona Lake and North Manchester. The existence of the small, by Catholic standards, 80 family parish, is a direct result of a deeply religious people making their needs known to those charged with responsibility for their spiritual welfare. The building which houses Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church was remodeled in 1978-79
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OUR LADY OF QUADALUPE — A statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Virgin Mary, was purchased by the people and stands in the Catholic Church in Milford.
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lodge was held June 19,1870. In the early years of the lodge the tendency seemed to be to retain a worshipful master in office for several years. Whether this was due to the qualities of leadership or the lack of desire of others to serve one can only guess. Thomas Cammack, the charter secretary of 1870, served the next 23 years. An important meeting was held on May 15, 1914, when the lodge officially laid the cornerstone of the hew Van Buren Township High School. Music was furnished by the Milford Band and the young Ladies’ Chorus from the high school. When the school was torn down and the cornerstone opened, names of all students in school at that time were found. Forty years later, on December 15,1954, the lodge was invited to lay the cornerstone for Van Buren Township Elementary School. Inside the stone are a Bible, an American flag, a 1954 silver dollar, a copy of The Milford Mail, members and officers of the Masonic lodge and
by members of the church. In 1979 the members put up a sign with the church’s name and times of services listed. Brother James Linscott is the church administrator and Sunday Mass is at 10:30a.m. The Catholic tradition of assisting migrant peoples in their new homelands is borne out in the history of the United States which witnessed the advent of the Irish, Germans, Italians, Poles and many other groups. The original response of the Fort Wayne-South Bend diocese to the spiritual needs of the concentration of Hispanics in the area was the establishment of the Department
Historica homes homes to be open
An old idiom states, “If walls could talk, what tales they’d tell.” While homes on the historical home tour may not be doing any speaking Sunday, June 1, visitors will be afforded the opportunity to hear residents brag of past history and lore of eight houses on the tour, as they open their doors for others to examine. The fee charged for the tour, which will be entrusted to the sesquicentennial fund, is well worth it, with refreshments being served at the Baumgartner residence, 102 N. James St. Tickets are available from any of the homeowners on the tour or at The Mail-Journal office. Those homeowners who will welcome visitors to the interiors of their historic homes include: — Arch and Della Baumgartner. Baumgartners have been housed in this Milford home since April, 1917, when Emil Baumgartner arrested the house from its builder, Henry Gibson, who constructed the home in 1890. The house was remodeled in 1974 by Arch and Della. — Gregory and Janet Bowser.
)rder of the Eastern Star, the Van Buren Township firemen, Ute township churches and ministers, the trustee and eachers and the officers of the own of Milford. On October 17, 1875, a new hall /as dedicated with only the seond floor and the south half of he present hall. In 1951 the lodge Hirchased the downstairs part of he building. All of the meetings »f the lodge were held in the luilding during the extensive emodeling, some by climbing a adder to the unheated and inlighted loft. The dedication of he new building took place on torch 17,1956. Current officers of the lodge are: Bob Turner, worshipful master; Bobby Richardson, senior warden; Alan Zerkel, junior warden; Karl Keiper, secretary; Allen Brunjes, reasurer; Bob Hurd, chaplain; Terry Hollar, senior deacon; dike Prater, junior deacon; Bill Bess, senior stewart; Silas Howard, junior stewart; and Steve Stokes, tyler.
of the Spanish Speaking. Through the efforts of the people themselves and the labors of t le first priests of the diocese and tien priests of the Holy Cross' congregation Our Lady Guadalupe Church acquired a regular pastor. The church title, “Our Lady of Guadalupe,” reflects the predominance of Hispanics of Mexican heritage in the congregation. Since the appearance of the ‘dark virgin’ mother of (hrist to the Indian, Juan Diego, in the vicinity of Mexico City in t!ie 16th century, the Mexican people have been a Catholic nat on.
Built in 1897 by George Bettz, who v> as the town’s blacksmith, this Louse 4s located at 412 W. Imeline Street. — William and Dorothy Burgett. Located at 601 W. Imeline St., this home was consructed by Jacob Felkner in 1366. — Robert and Georgia Fisher. This 608 E. Emeline St. home was built in 1921 by James Shepherd. — Helene Lentz. Isaac I .odibaugh designed this home in 1160, laying the foundation at 103 East St. — Richard and Lois McMillen. Originally built by Dr. Edwin Higbee in the early 1860 s, this home is thought to have been built as a hospital during the Civil War, when Dr. Higbee feared that the fighting would reach northern Indiana. The home, located at 301 S. Main St., features 12 rooms, two fireplaces, and 12 and < ne-half feet high ceilings. — Priscilla Myers. This home has been renovated several times over the years, perhaps lending to the reason an original builder is unlisted. Myers is a long time resident of the home, running a 1 eauty parlor from 1925 to 1950 in c ne of the present bedrooms. The < riginal structure was built in the 1370 s at what is now 104 S. Henry St. — Robert and Maxine Pifer. Built in 1859 by Thomas and Elizabeth Parker, this home was c (instructed in three stages over the years — looking nothing like it now appears. Finished in 1881, tie structure served as a guest house for the Depot across the s treet. Located at 202 E. Fourth St., it also once served as a tea louse and place to eat.