The Mail-Journal, Volume 26, Number 20, Milford, Kosciusko County, 1 July 1987 — Page 39

'Milk Shakes' delivered the mail

Through rain, sleet, and snow the Syracuse Post Office has always managed to deliver its mail. While the days of “mail by rail” have passed, post office personnel take the same care that has marked the office since the 1930 s — when the most famous mail trains served the tyDaily “Mail Shakes” were taken from service by Baltimore and Ohio train throughout the mid-30s, with a westbound train in the morning and eastbound in the evening. The train ran between Garrett and Chicago, and provided local express, passenger, and farm-to-market milk (thus the name “Mail Shakes”) service for all communities between. That era in postal service and local railroad history ended on June 30, 1967, when the last regular mail arrived and

Syracuse has its own song

"It is a very personal song,” said Naomi R. McFarland, when asked to comment on the song about Syracuse she wrote in 1965. "But I am very pleased to share my feelings with others.” Her song, “Syracuse (or Where the Fast Pace Ends)," is a statement of her intent to some day retire to the pleasant environment of the Syracuse-Wawasee area she knew so well as a child. She said bits and pieces of the song were on her mind for some time and she started writing it in 1982. “I had written a geneology book on my family," she said. "The song began coming together late one night as I awoke

Masonic Lodge was 3-years old when Syracuse was incorporated

By JACK ELAM Syracuse Mason Syracuse Lodge No. 454 Free & Accepted Masons was three years old when the village of Syracuse was incorporated in 1876. The charter of the lodge is dated May 27, 1873. Membership at that time was 19, which included the names of John Wayer, worshipful master: S.L. Ketering, senior warden, and Preston Miles as junior warden. Syracuse Lodge held meetings in concurrence with the time of month that the moon was full. This was done so members could find their way home through the wilderness. As transportation and road improved, the importance of whether the moon was light or dark was less of a concern and this tradition soon faded from the scene. t The furniture of the lodge in use today was purchased in 1899 at a cost of $96.75. In 1970 this same furniture was refinished for SIOO.

We Salute You, Syracuse During Your Sesquicentennial Year 625 last Shore Drive - Syracuse 457-3134

departed Syracuse, via B & O railway. Avon Bushong, a fixture at the post office from 1946 to i 960, remembers the days when mail bags would be suspended from steel arms — allowing the post office to receive mail without having the traih stop. “Gandy dancers” were also common during the days of the rail. “The railroad would pick men up off of skid row and employ them,” he remembers, noting, “They would put their money in postal savings on a Friday and by Monday morning they’d be waiting to withdraw it.” Several other memorable vignettes remain with Bushong, the first postmaster to be named under the merit system. Avon took over duties in 1973, replacing Ernest Bushong, a 20-year postmaster who died in January of 1972. Tony Rudasics, current

and was moved to review notes which I had placed in my bedside stand drawer at various times.” Naomi said she had been fortunate to be able to come to Oakwood Park as a camper in the 1940 s and return as a resident while her husband, Rev. John McFarland, was pastor at the Church of the Brethren in Syracuse from 1978 to 1986. The McFarlands now reside in Camden, near Flora, but as the end of the third stanza of “Syracuse” states, “My idle days of age will be spent in that place of memory. In Syracuse, my Syracuse; all love you, dear old Syracuse.” She said she was greatly pleas-

With the introduction of electricity to Syracuse, the lodge voted to install electric lights in January, 1904. One month later a "magic lantern” (slide projector) was bought so that slides could be used to aid lectures. For many years, Syracuse Lodge No. 454 met in an upstairs room on the south side of East Maip Street. In October, 19®. it was decided to move the lodge across the street to the old Thornburg building. On January 2, 1946, permission was granted by the Grand Lodge to move to the new location. The Thornburg building was purchased by the lodge in April, 1964, and a complete remodeling job began. Many members offered materials at a reduced cost or donated them. At a special dinner meeting in April, 1972, a mortgage burning ceremony was held and Syracuse Lodge owned its own temple for the first time in its history. One year later the lodge

postmaster, was appointed in May, 1980. While the post office has rested on its current 1.2-acre tract between SR 13 and Harrison Street since April 21, 1979, a long list of locations preceded it; including the Huntington Building and the building that Leisure Pools & Spas currently occupies on East Main Street. Relay boxes, saving mailcarriers the burden of carrying large amounts of mail throughout town, were frequently used; while many old-timers recount the days of the Wawasee Post Office, which operated during summer months, until 1953, from its location at the Sargeant Hotel (near the present-day Spinks Condominiums). The Blizzard of 1978 is believed to be the only time mail was halted, with service being discontinued Thursday through Saturday, Jan. 26-28, of that year.

ed when Steve Bailey, music teacher at Wawasee High School, gave her a recorded tape of the “Varsity Singers” group at the high school singing her song. Jeanne Gardiner, member of the Sesquicentennial Executive Committee, has a tape of “Syracuse,” which she said she enjoys yery much. “It is a gentle description of our lovely lakes area. The song states the feelings many of us have for our town and its lakes, she said. The words and music of the song are on page one of the Syracuse Sesquicentennial brochure which is available from the Chamber of Commerce.

celebrated its 100th birthday, with a rededication ceremony being held for several visitors, including many dignitaries from Grand Lodge. The lodge is in the same location today, operating on the second floor. The Masonic Lodge building ( formerly Thornburg building) was built by S.L. Ketering — the same man that was the first senior warden of the lodge 114 years ago.

Wishing Syracuse . . . Happy 150th Birthday Happy To Be Serving Yom For The Past Nine Years lU™\ Your Hosts gßEjk. BBml I Mike & Darlene Calobrace I sr 13s. symcu« I

ed., July 1,1987 — THE MAIL-JOURNAL

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