The Mail-Journal, Volume 29, Number 7, Milford, Kosciusko County, 28 March 1990 — Page 72

PROGRESS EDITION — Wed., March 28, 1990

Leesburg: A community on the move

By SCOTT DAVIDSON Staff Writer Leesburg, the oldest town in Kosciusko County, is showing definite signs of life and revitalization. The town, located between Warsaw and Milford in the northern part of the county, is on the upswing according to several local business owners. The Leesburg downtown business area will be receiving a new addition in the near future as a hardware store will open up by the first of May. The store, Leesburg Hardware, will be located on Main Street in the building that housed the former town hardware store which closed a couple of years ago. “I realized how much I missed the store after it closed and I think that most people in town also missed it,” said Tom Moore, owner of the new hardware establishment. Moore, who owns and operates Climate Control in Leesburg, said that the store will be affiliated with the HWI chain of hardware -stores.

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LEESBURG TOWN HALL — Shown above is the Leesburg Town Hall which was built in 1836, shortly after the town was founded in 1833. Leesburg, which is the oldest town in the county, is showing signs of growth and revitalization as the small community between Warsaw and Milford moves into the 19905.

■ ggggggiSvji Visit Our FULL Or SELF Service Car Wash v.* »Full & Self Service K-l Kerosene & Diesel Fuel, Propane Mini-Mart WAWASEE SERVICE CENTER SR 13 457-3287 SYRACUSE

Moore, who has resided in Leesburg for the past 13 years, said that he believes the town is on the upswing and will continue to be so in the future. “The population of the town has shown slow but steady growth over the last several years and it seems to me like all of the smaller towns across the cbunty are on the upswing,” stated Moore. The downtown business section of Leesburg saw an addition back in late December when the Guys and Gals Hair Styling Salon opened its doors for business. “I have a large number of clientele from the northside of Warsaw and a location in Leesburg was a good idea for the convenience of my customers,” said Judy Haywood, owner of the salon. Haywood, who also owns and operates a salon in Claypool, remarked that the Leesburg location was doing well after a couple of months of operation. “We’re off to a real good start here and we’re getting ready to start having morning hours for the shop in addition to tne afternoon and evening hours,” commented Haywood.

,h ; Au■L & »■ MJ DOWNTOWN LEESBURG — The business area of Leesburg, the oldest town in Kosciusko County, is shown above. The downtown area will be seeing a new addition in the near future as a hardware store will be opening by the first of May.

Describing Leesburg as a “nice, quiet little town” Moore said that he hopes his hardware store fits into the scope of the town's progress. "The store will hopefully make it easier for residents since they won’t have to travel to another town anymore to find a hardware store. I also hope the store adds to the revitalization of the downtown area

48 churches open their doors to visitors

The Lakeland area communities are served by 48 different churches of various denominations. Although different, the goal of each is to give the gospel message to those who attend. Welcome is extended to all who visit or move into the area. Boaters and shoreside worshipers can attend special outdoor boat-in services that are conducted during the summer months on Wawasee and Dewart Lakes. Sponsored by the Syracuse-Wawasee Ministerial Association, the boat-in services on Wawasee Lake are held at Oakwood Park. Dewart Lake services are held at Quaker Haven Friends Church. A church directory of all Lakeland area churches is printed weekly in “The MailJournal,” giving times of services and names of pastors. Listed by areas, the churches are as follows: Syracuse-Lake Wawasee Area Wawasee Heights Baptist Church, Jerry Walden, pastor Church of the Brethren. D. Arnold Naff, pastor . ' Saint Martin de Porres Catholic Church, Father Richard Urbine Syracuse Church of God. Ron Bruce, pastor All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Rev. David L. Hyndman, vicar Grace Bible Church. Dr. David R. Haifley, pastor

Service is priority at Wawasee Service Center

Continuing to strive to please its customers, Wawasee Service Center, located on SR 13 across from Wawasee Bowl, keeps “service” as its top priority. Owned by Gill Combs, who was a coowner since July 1982 before taking over sole ownership last year, is well acquainted with the Syracuse-Wawasee Lake area. A resident of Enchanted Hills, he takes pride in offering reliable service to his ty“Wawasee Service Center has been successful by being competitive on price as well as service, ’ ’ Combs said. The business features a convenience store, with everything from pop to hot foods, and three pump islands. Premium unleaded and unleaded are available at two self-serve and one full-serve islands. Also available are LP gas, Kl Kerosene and diesel fuel.

since the town has shown its committment with new sidewalks and new streetlights," said Moore. “I’m a positive person and I really do think that there is a lot of life in the little towns like Leesburg and I believe that Leesburg will continue to show growth in the future." said Moore.

Jehovah’s Witness Kingdom Hall Grace Lutheran Church, Richard Dunning. pastor Wawasee Community Church of the Nazarene, Ron Blake, pastor Freedom Chapel, non-denominational, Ray Shanklin, pastor The Rock Church, interdenominational. Rev. Sarah M. Tuttle and Dr. Gary M. Tuttle, pastors Calvary United Methodist Church, Dr. James J. Babbitt, pastor Saint Andrew's United Methodist Church, Rev. Richard Bunnell, pastor Solomon’s Creek United Methodist Church, Harold North, pastor Syracuse United Pentecostal Church. Ronald Cox, pastor Wawasee Lakeside Chapel, Harlan Steffen, pastor Milford Area Apostolic Christian Church, Jesse Beer. Nelson Beer. Will Schieler and Walter Steffen, ministers Filadelfia Evangelical Spanish Assembly of God, Albert Jimenez, pastor Bethel Church of the Brethren, Verne H. Leininger, pastor New Salem Church of the Brethren, Robert Rice Jr., pastor Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church,’ 9 (Continued on page 21)

A canopy, added last July, keeps customers dry when the weather isn’t. A four-bay car wash makes the one-stop service center complete, while an automatic wash provides a wash, including underbody spray and wax, in two minutes. Ron’s Lube & Shine, located next door, offers lube, oil and filter changes and various other services. Because customer services is so important to Combs, expanded hours are offered throughout the week. Wawasee Service Center is open from 6 a m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, from 8 a m. to midnight Friday and Saturday and from 8 to 10 p.m. on Sunday. “We believe we should be here when our customers want to stop,” Combs said, adding, “When we stop operating this way the word ‘service’ comes out of our name.”'