The Mail-Journal, Volume 23, Number 59, Milford, Kosciusko County, 11 February 1987 — Page 5

"CRUZIN aroundCUSE"

(Continued from page 4) 35 mtn cameras. Ken possessed the art of composition, the younger man did not. On the transom of the Lyman Leader a name was spelled out in three-inch copper letters “G-U-R-G-L-E.” It was inevitable he would meet Martin La vernier Martin knew where to fish and how to catch them. It seemed that whenever he got near the “fishin’ hole” where he caught his first pike under the guidance of Don Rock —a cantankerous old fellow, who he did not know, would shout “What do you want to do, crawl into my boat”! And he had timidly anchored the Lyman “Gurgle” 100 yards away. “Ah”, when Martin was there he would motion and call, “Come over here, son. Line up with the wireless tower at Macy’s Slip, that gabled house west of Eli Lilly’s summer home, and the V in the trees cut by the tornado”. You guessed it I He ended up anchoring between Martin and that other cantankerous soul who never uttered one word. He often wondered what spell Martin could cast over the man in the other boat. There big as life is John Sudlow, anchored at the side of an old sunken cement barge. He is going to raise the barge, and does so, by sinking water proof drums about the barge, — then pumping air into drums. The project was a success. John towed the barge up the lake and placed a drag line bucket on board to dredge out channels. If there was only enough shore line to go around! Kodachrome slides were taken of the project. John “Jack” Hirshman, attorney, and instructor at the Indiana State Police Academy, Indianapolis, was given several slides for his historical presentation of Oakwood Park. Ed Caskey and Virginia come to the front. “What do you think of. our two sons”? “You have a right to be proud, remember a long time ago you were told those two mischievous little fellows would make their mark! What more could you wish for than ‘Jim’ local bank president, and Dan, radio announcer in Goshen?” -t The “Geni” complains, “just one more time.” You are rubbing a hole in kettle and there is so much more to see. You and Eddie Overmeyer, retired superintendent at Epworth Forrest, are far from being equally matched when you get together. Eddie has proof of the big game he shot. Only your integrity must stand when you tell him those fish stories. Never tell him about the pike that got away while on a trip to Manitoba Province, Canada! It is fun to make friends with boys and girls.

Sketches of Syracuse

The late 1920 s and 1930 s were heyday for the railroads. \ > The Baltimore'£nd Ohio station in Syracuse was a hub bub of activity during those years. In 1928 my father purchased the news agency from the Brunjes* and operated the agency delivering four Chicago papers, Chicago Tribune, Herald Examiner, Times, and Daily News. Also, the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, Iri<li\napolis Star, Detroit FreelPress, Cincinnati Inquirer. Deliveries were made daily (including Sunday) in Syracuse all year round and around Lake Wqwasee during the summer months. We picked up all the morning papers at the depot. Herman Buchholtz was manager o the Syracuse station that handled passengers, mail, and freight as well as American Express. We would see him there everyday on the job that lie had held since September 1895. His son Ernest was clerk at the passenger station (present station). Eldred Mabie also helped in passenger office. The freight station was located north of the passenger station. The freight station platform is still there. Herman, better known as “Buck,” was contrary. As an officeholder of various town governmental positions, he was controversial and “kept the pot boiling.” His son Ernest was town clerktreasurer from 1936 until his death in 1961. Young “Buck’’ was easy-going and polite, very wellversed on many subjects. Discussions held while waiting for the trains to come in with papers was an education. There were always “hangers-on” at the station and lively political arguments were daily fare. The passenger waiting room occupants could, hear these discussions, so the rule was no swearing in that area. It was a good place for a young person to be. My first awareness of politics was in 1928 when Al Smith, a Democrat and a Catholic, ran for president against Herbert Hoover, Republican. That bunch at the station — to a man — were Republicans. At one time 14 trains passed through the community (seven westbound and seven eastbound). Two of these trains stopped in Syracuse to deliver mail, passengers and American Express. The railway had its own telephone system. The clerk would call along the lie to find out

By RON SHARP

Railway days

if the train was on time. Milk Shake " One of the early trains was the “Milk Shake,” a train that stopped at every station from Garret or Avilla (I don’t remember which) to Chicago. According to the old timers the train would stop and pick up a can of milk along its right-of-way which was placed there by a farmer to be taken to market. Thus the name “Milk Shake.” The Milk Shake became history in 1939. At that time railroad officials converted their locomotives from steam to diesel power. The Milk Shake arrived about 7 a.m. headed west in the morning and returning late in the afternoon headed east. When the westbound train was due to arrive, the clerk would pull the four ironed-wheel truck along the passenger station platform to a place where he guessed the baggage car would stop. The mail bags and other express would be tossed from the train to the cart. In the meantime passengers would get off and on the train. The locomotive would take on water from one of the two water towers, located next to the Huntington Street crossing and next to Seventh Street. In those days the station had well-lighted platforms made of brick both on the north and south side of the tracks. Westbound trains used the north platform and eastbound platform. After the mail arrived, a mail messenger hauled the mail bags from the station to the post office (located where the license bureau is today). The mail messenger was for many years Benjamin Kitson, who was very hard-of-hearing. He used a horse and enclosed cart to do this task. He lost out when his horse was struck by an auto. My father, Fielden Sharp, then secured the position andjjeltf it for a few years. He purchased a new Whippet enclosed van from Fred Hoopingarner (father of Stanley Hoopingarner), who was a local auto dealer. It is hard to understand the enormous amount of activity occurring around the railway station, when one sees little, if any, activity there today. One must remember that there was only one truck line serving Syracuse at that time. Mel Dillen (father of Marise Smith) ran his truck bet ween Fort Wayne and Syracuse. Also, the community was nearUy self-sufficient. We owned our own dairies, raised chickens, and had our own gardens.

young people, people on the threshold of their careers, people established in their careers, and the retired. I never use the word Senior Citizen. I have not been able to find it in the “good boolCUt says in Genesis 5:27 that Methuselah lived to be nine hundred and sixty nine years, and he died. What a sorry track record. What did he do all •that time? • /- Rick Schaekel and Tom Prickett have not offered me a position as salesman for Century “21”, although I have made one sale for them and have another prospect lined up come spring. Owen Cobbum offered me the job of managing his rubber raft department out at his boat works, but I am afraid it is to confining. I could be grill chief at Oswalds’ “Three Flags”, but I prefer to remain keeper of his great horned owls. Jerry Ganshorn has invited me to see his new color printing presses. Dr. Robert Jones has invited me to sing bass in the choir he directs at Calvary United Methodist Church. Someone has misinformed him, — I don’t sing bass. It is a known fact that I spend too much time fishing for bass and sometimes catch a mess. At Christmas time I met two boys while making my daily two-mile hike. The boys, age eight and ten were having the timeof their lives. Between them they shared a Christmas gift, a fawn colored Doberman Pinscher pup. To make conversation I said “You have a beautiful dog, what breed is it?” The reply, “Doberman Pinscher” and then with perfect candor the oldest boy said “Jody meet Mr. Kime”. True to their native characteristic “Jody” ignored me. She playfully circled around her masters. Only as we were about to part “Jody” came over and placed her nose in my hand. I had been accepted. Henry David Thoreau, author of that classic on nature, “Walden Pond”, said in substance, “Some people look at things, other people ‘see’ them.” I believe it applies to persons, some people look at people, others see them. This summer passed, two little girls, brimming full of life came running to catch up with me. The one girl held in her hand two sticks crossed like pincers. Between the two sticks was a large tomato worm. “Mother said you liked to see live things like this”! There is no time to finish the story of this meeting. The “Geni” says “put your cayip kettle back in the box”. I am angry that “Arch”, won’t use your pen name.

AH the meat was butchered locally. Farmers shipped cattle through the local stockyard that was operated by Klinks. It was much easier to get on a train and ride to Chicago rather than drive. The roads and the auto were not as reliable as they are today. I remember the Purdums (Charles Purdum’s parents) made a trip to Quebec. Before their departure, this trip was the major topic of conversation around the station for a number of weeks. Unemployment was common during the depression years. Some people broke the monotony by coming to the station and watching who got off and on the trains. I remember seeing Margaret Freeman getting on the train on Monday morning after spending the weekend with her parents. She lived and worked in Chicago at that time. Wawasee residents used to travel on the trains and could stop one of the fast trains (except the Capital Limited). The traveler would light the lantern sitting outside the passenger door and stand in the middle of the tracks swinging the lantern back and forth. If the lantern didn’t work, the person would set fire to a newspaper and swing it back and forth. The prospective passenger would hear a toot from the engine, which would signify the engineer saw him. (If traveler didn’t hear a toot, he could run like . „ . to catch his train or preserve his life. Fortunately, no one ever got hit.) Crossing Guard Perry Foster, who resided at 742 South Huntington, was the guard at the Huntington Street crossing. He has a small shanty located on the northwest side of Huntington street. He was on duty from early morning until dusk. (There were no gates or lights in those days at the South Huntington crossing.) Perry would take his sign out when a train was coming and stand in the middle of the tracks to stop pedestrians and vehicles. Inside of his shanty was a little pot-bellied stove that was used for heat in the dead of winter. Perry was brushed by an auto one time while on duty in May 1936. The accident injured him but it was not fatal. The crossing guard was later superceded by automatic light signals. Mixed air Low-running ceiling fans will help mix the warm air near the ceiling with colder air below.

Senate Bill 45 on Wetland Preservation Senate Bill 45, commonly referred to as the Wetland Preservation Act, will be heard by the Senate Natural Resources Committee February 18, according to State Senator John Augsburger (R-Syracuse). The hearing will be held at 9 a m. in Room 401 of the State Capitol Building in Indianapolis. Anyone wishing to testify either for or against the proposal is in- ' vited to attend the meeting. Augsburger explained he received many TdJters and telephone calls concerning the Wetlands proposal and wanted to be sure the citizens of District 13 were aware of the hearing date. The committee hearing is the stage in the legislative process which presents the best opportunity for persons wishing to testify on a bill to make their feelings known. “The authors of SB 45, Senator Server of Evansville and Senator Simpson of Bloomington, are not attempting to regulate productive farmland or the dredging of ditches,” Augsburger stated. “Their intent is purely the protection and preservation of one of our important natural resources.” Quayle mobile office to be in area ; The mobile office of US Senator Dan Quayle (R-Ind.) will visit Kosciusko County on Wednesday, Feb. 11, to give constituents an opportunity to discuss problems they are encountering with the federal government. Constituents will also be able to comment on legislative issues under consideration by Congress. The mobile office is schedule to arrive in Warsaw at 2 p.m- A member of Senator Quayle’s staff will be available to meet with constituents in the county courtroom, third floor of the county courthouse from 2-3 p.m. Senator Quayle and members of his staff use his mobile office as a means to expand his ability to provide constituent services to Hoosiers. The office visits communities throughout the state, providing greater accessibility to the senator and the services through his office. It should be noted that Senator Quayle will not be present on this schedule. Letter to the editor Smoking restrictions, urged Dear Editor: Cigarette smoking is one of the most important public health problems we face today. The Surgeon General has determined that secondhand smoke, the smoke from the burning end of a cigarette, can have adverse effects on health, especially among children and adults with chronic lung and heart disease. The American Lung Association of North Central Indiana, committed to the prevention and control of lung disease, supports mandatory restriction of smoking in public places and , recognizes the right of those with lung disease and nonsmokers to breathe air free of cigarette smoke. A recent Gallup Poll indicated that 62 percent of adults believe that smokers should refrain from smoking in public places. The Indiana General Assembly has the opportunity this session to protect nonsmokers from secondhand smoke in the state of Indiana. Thirty-Six states have already addressed this serious health hazard with legislation to protect nonsmokers. You can help Indiana become thirty-seven by asking your state senator and represenative to support a restriction of smoking in public places. The toll-free telephone number for the House of Representatives is 1-800-382-9841, and for the Senate, 1-800-382-9467. Sincerely, Jon Kubley, M.D. • President Court news (Continued from page 4) City Court The following fines have been levied and paid in the Goshen City Court: Speeding — Randall D. Hoover, 25, Syracuse, $50.50; JohnC. Kincaid, 30, Syracuse, $75.50; Jerry S. Slone, 20, Milford, $70.50, ordered to attend Defensive Driver’s School; Joy L. Lockhart, 20, Milford, $50.50; Linda S. Sheline, 32, Syracuse, $50.50; William L. Gilson, 28, Syracuse, $50.50; Floyd W. Harper, 80, Syracuse, $55.50

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This four room, brick structure was built during the administration of township trustee Joseph Kindig. It was the seat of learning for area students for 34 years. The Syracuse School was built in 1874 and was located across from the Church of God with a long sloping yard extending to Main Street. * In 1908 a new school replaced this one. It was built in front of the old building. In later years the second story of the old building was used for home basketball games.

Officers elected .

At a recent meeting of the North Central Indiana Chapter of the National Health Federation, a board of directors was elected to serve for 1987. Those members are: Carmen Acton, Milford; Cynthia Appleby, Warsaw; Mitch Appleby, Warsaw; J:F. Carmack, Winona Lake; John Dailey, Warsaw; and Wendell Whitman, Warsaw. National Health Federation is a non-profit consumer

When senior citizens budget their bills A/ ... A- - r wl / L iK vw/z V / v *9 yr I ■< f 1 / I I ' WefreHereTo —HELP—...with the Senior Citizen Payment Plan The Senior Citizen Payment Plan helps simply mail us copies verifying Social those on fixed incomes by making sure Security status, NIPSCO account Social Security checks arrive before number, age, address and telephone NIPSCO service bills are due Citizen is With this plan, due dates between the another program designed to offer our first and fourth of the month can be customers the best possible service extended to the sixth. Due dates from the Whatever your energy concerns are... 21st or after be extended to the sixth at NIPSCO, we’re here to help of the next month. These extensions allow & time for Social Security checks to arrive. jjPjJRk Customers 60 years of age and older who jfaSßs B are receiving Social Security benefits S and with a current NIPSCO account can apply at any customer service office WIiWW Ifyou are unable to apply in person, There when you need US. KPgMMt

Sesquicentennial Memories

Scene of learning for 34 years

oriented organization devoted exclusively to health matters. It acts on behalf of consumers of health service and products. The North Central Indiana Chapter of the National Health Federation holds public, educational meetings on the fourth Monday of every month at 7 p.m. in the basement of the Warsaw Community Public Library. For further information, call 269-4385.

Wed., February 11,1987 — THE MAIL-JOURNAL

In the far right of the picture is an earlier school built of logs that was located on the southeast corner of Harrison and Washington Streets. The log school was moved to the northeast coiner and incorporated into a residence that is still in use today. Anyone who can give us a date for this photo and some of the students who attended the school at that time should call The Mail-Journal office at Syracuse (457-3666) between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.

NEW DEADLINES New deadlines hove been established for persons submitting news at The Mail-Journal offices in Milford or Syracuse. They follow:-A News For Commmunity Corner Pages (Club Reports, Weddings, Engagements, Etc.).. .5 P.M. Monday Church News .... 12 Noon Tuesday Letters To The Editor .3 P.M. Tuesday School News 12 Noon Tuesday Sports News 3 P.M. Tuesday Obituaries, Births, Hospital Notes 9 A.M. Wednesday NO If Events taking place on Tuesday night may be submitted at either office pnot to 9A.M. on Wednesday *

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