The Mail-Journal, Volume 26, Number 22, Milford, Kosciusko County, 15 July 1987 — Page 19

Summer

Indians may have been in county as early as 7,000 BC

By CARLA GAFF Staff Writer

Over the years a lot of people have stipulated as to exactly when Kosciusko County was first inhabited by Indians, though most agree it was in the mid-1700s. A number of articles have been written on the subject, stating that the Miami and Pot-

Smith-Walbridge marches on

(By GLEN LONG Staff Writer

Smith-Walbridge Camp, located on 47 acres northeast of Syracuse, is a complete band camp where all facets of marching band activities are taught, including baton twirling, cheerleading, precision marching and playing, drum majoring and rifle/flag drills. It is wellknown nationwide and has had camp groups from Canada, Mexico, Norway and other foreign countries. When Merle and Margaret Smith opened their camp in 1949, it was known as Smith Summer Baton Camp. In the years since then it has grown from the one small cabin which is still on the grounds to include 12 buildings, four large marching practice fields and a large band shell where concerts are played for family and friends of students as they sit on a grassy hillside. Merle Smith had been national baton twirling champion in the mid-19305, so a baton camp was a logical start. His son, Greg, related that the name became Smith-Walbridge when George Walbridge came into the organization as a business partner. The camp was the first baton twirling camp in the country and then the first cheerleading camp in the midwest and the second in the country. About 3,000 students attend camp at Smith-Walbridge each summer, with as many as 700 of these being drum majors. High school bands from Indiana and surrounding states return each year for their summer band camp training, as many as three bands at a time. The camp’s cabins are either log or brick and are well placed

The habit of saying 'y' know'

I By MEL WEBSTER Free Lance Writer

The habit of saying “y’know” every few words is becoming more and more common and it seems especially prevalent among young people and athletes, though by no means limited to such. In fact, some intelligent and educated people of other pursuits have fallen into the habit, which may be a sort of unconscious appeal for approval or agreement on any given point. The real trick seems to be to use “y’know” as many times as possible in any conversation without it becoming too obvious or objectionable. An experienced “y’knower” can slip the phrase in constantly without the listener being aware of it. The vote here for the champ in this regard is actor Tom Cruise. Having learned recently that he was about to be interviewed on TV and being aware of his speaking habits, I latched on to. my digital pocket calculator with built-in timer and clocked Mr. Cruise for four minutes and 48 seconds whilst he answered questions. He said y’know 34 times, or once every eight seconds, not taking into account the few words spoken by the interviewer. This may not be a record, but it has to be close.

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tawatomies were perhaps the first to settle along the Tippecanoe River. Many believe that around 1750 the Miami tribe infiltrated the area. Tribesmen were enticed by the abundance of game, fish and the many lakes. However, after only a few short years the stronger, larger Pottawatomie tribe pushed its way into the

on the rolling terrain of SmithWalbridge. The camp also has sturdy piers in its own swimming lake, which Greg said is looked forward to with great anticipation by students after a warm afternoon marching session.

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BRASS PRACTICE AT SMITH-WALBRIDGE — A large shade tree provides a cool place to practice for these band students and their instructor. The camp, near Syracuse, provides valuable instruction in band activities and also is an enjoyable summer place for students to be.

Proving that campers come from all over, pictured from the left are Cadee Tobin, Oswego, III.; instructor Erin Dieckman, Tucson, Ariz.; Joe Seiner, Troy, Mich.; and Frankie Sprinkle, Oswego, 111. (Photo by Glen Long)

A few years ago, the word “like” was just as habit forming among many “hip” people, beginning, I suspect, with musicians. It was even more meaningless than y’know. “Like I was standing on the corner and this chick was like coming my way,” etc. etc. Let’s be thankful that Abraham Lincoln at Gettysburg didn’t say: “Fourscore and like seven years ago our y’know fathers brought forth upon this like continent a new y’know nation, conceived in liberty, and y’know dedicated to the proposition that all like men are created y’know equal.” You get the idea. While on the subject of annoy-

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more choice areas, - It’s estimated that in the 1800 s, about the time the first*white man came to the area, the Pottawatomie were mainly along the Tippecanoe River and the Miami lived primarily on the lakes in the northwest corner of the county. The Miami settlements were those of Wau-wa-aus-see

An easy way to find Smith Walbridge Camp is to drive north of Syracuse on SR 13. Turn east on County Line Road and go to CR 625E. The camp entrance is one-quarter mile south.

ing habits, have you noticed how many products are sold these days because they represent the “state of the art?" According to Roy Copperud’s book, “American Usage and Style,” which concerns our version of the English language, the expression comes from the terminology associated with granting patents and has to do with the level of development of technology in any field. Now, pompous advertising agency copy writers have taken it for their own and use it indiscriminately to laud any product, thus rendering the term meaningless. It ought to be stopped before everything is “state of the art,” though it might be y ’know, too late.

(Wawasee or Waubee) and his brother Chief Flat Belly (Papakeechie) and the summer camps of the Eel River Miamis along the southern Kosciusko County boundaries. ~ While the Pottawatomie lived, in part, on the south bank of the Tippecanoe River just north of

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MIDDLE ARCHAIC INDIAN RELICS — The historic Indians of the 1700 s were possibly not the first Indians in Kosciusko County, as many area collectors believe the Indian was here as early as 7,000 BC. These Indians did not have bow and arrows, but used a type of spear to catch prey and to do other chores. Shown are a number of the heads off of such weapons, most of which were found in low marsh areas throughout the county. (Photo by Carla Gaff) _

New course for "mature driver"

Senior citizens in the Warsaw area will soon be able to attend a driving course especially developed for their age group, according to Michael M. Packard, commissioner of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. The new course, “Coaching the Mature Driver,” will be offered through the bureau’s defensive driving department, Indiana is one of the first states to offer the program, aimed at increasing safety awareness in motorists over the age of 55 years. The course has been adopted as a pilot program, offering enrollment at no cost to the first 2,000 participants. Four (4) points will be credited on Indiana driving records to those receiving complete instructions through the class. Films, slides and workbooks have been designed to stress the importance of recognizing and compensating for changes in the mature driver. Physical changes Illness benefit The Senate Finance Committee unanimously approved a catastrophic illness Medicare benefit that would cover all hospital and most doctor bills for the elderly after a $1,700 annual deductible is met.

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the Village of Oswego in Plain Township. Only two of the principle chiefs of the Miami tribe, Papakeecha and Wawasee were in this section when their lands were ceded to the U.S. Government in 1834. But the most important treaty was negotiated by Colonel Pepper,

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and signed by the Pottawatomies on the south bank of the Tippecanoe River near the spot where the Michigan road crosses the stream. This document was signed in October of 1832 and ratified early in 1833. Snatches of historical recordings inform us that the Miamis

state. Arrangements may also be made to participate in the course at private facilities for groups of 25 to 30. For information on the course in the Warsaw area, contact Phil Krieg at 269-2895.

Wed., July 15,1987 — THE MAIL-JOURNAL

were more hostile than the Pottawatomies towards the pioneers. This may have been due to the fact that they believed they were entitled to more land than they received. It has also been noted that Chief Waubee’s house was never built as stipulated in the original treaty. Here in 7,000 BC However, there are those in the county who believe the Indian lived in the area long before the historical Miami and PotThis belief is Postered by the finding of many Indian relics in Kosciusko County These relics include a type of arrowhead known as a head off of a ladlehead or spear. “The biggest majority of this type of arrowhead, were used during the middle archaic, or approximately 7,000 BC,” explained Indian relics collector Dean Ryan. Ryan has been collecting relics for over 17 years, and stated that

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you get an eye for it like anything else and that old lake and manh lands are good places to start looking. He reported that he has found 40-50 campsites and has uncovered pewter spoons and buttons, blown glass, ornamental stone, banner stones, butterfly banners and a number of other relics. “We re right in the heart of the ceremonial slate stone area,” commented Ryan. [He went on to say, “Most people associate Indians with the historic Indians. But Indians actually lived in Kosciusko County as early as 1 * 7.000 BC” It must be noted at this point, that Indian lore in Kosciusko County is an ongoing process of accumulating knowledge and one that may continue for a good many years, as the study of Indians, prehistoric and historic, is something that must be learned through continuous study, as facts, relics and documents are uncovered.

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