From the Files of the Kosciusko County Historical Society

Editor’s note: This is a retrospective article that runs a few times a month on InkFreeNews.

Information for this retrospective series is courtesy of the Kosciusko County Historical Society.

Aug. 26, 1961 — Twenty-one new teachers have been employed for Warsaw for the ensuing year, including William Koos, junior high; William Brenneman, junior high; and George Plew, junior high.

The following is information from a 1932 article:

Remember When...

• Wilbur F. Maish, Sr. built the first auto ever in Warsaw? A stationary engine was mounted on a light frame. It made about 3 miles per hour. This was years before autos were anything more than a curiosity, probably about the year 1900. The Maish “invention” attracted much attention here as it chugged about town on its few trial runs.
• Earl Conrad won the Fourth of July bicycle race from Warsaw to Goshen and return, pedaling some 50 miles or more over the bicycle paths which in those days could be found along the edge of the dirt highways.
• Joe Campfield operated the cracker-jack and soft drink concession at Lakeside park on Pike Lake.
• Bob Ettinger used to spit fire. Sprayed gasoline through his teeth and lit it with a match, as a special Saturday night entertainment on the courthouse corner.
• Warsaw had 11 saloons. Then the town voted dry, and there were nightly trips via bus to Pierceton and later to Columbia City. Rev. Billy Sunday led the dry campaign here, speaking from a store box or back end of a cart at Shane’s grocer corner.
• Wade Harris was game warden and a pretty brave one too. But the new game laws brought revolt from the fishermen. Harris carried a six shooter and a shotgun in his buggy. At night, he would drive to the lakes and lay in wait for the fishermen. Fishermen sent warning to Harris to lay off of Ridinger Lake. So Harris, with his artillery, went to the lake with handcuffs and all. About dark, he started down to the boat landing when five fishermen jumped him, took his gun, handcuffed him and tied his feet together, then put him in a boat and rowed to the center of the lake after tying a large stone to his neck. Three men follow in another boat to the deepest part of the lake. Harris was then lowered over the side of the boat, the fishermen still holding him. “Have you anything to say?” asked the leader. “For God’s sake, boys, let me go. I’ll never give you any more trouble. You can fish all you want to and I’ll resign tonight if you let me go home.” The fishermen were not fooling. Harris resigned. James Stoneburner took his place. Previously Game Warden Rigney, of Goshen, had been shot by a Warsaw fisherman. In those days, 35 years ago, it was open season on game wardens.

– Compiled by InkFreeNews reporter Lasca Randels