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.

August 1985 — Amtrak service will begin in October at the former Warsaw Depot, Mayor Jeff Plank announced Thursday.

Amtrak officials have confirmed that a station stop can be established at Warsaw on a one-year experimental basis. Plank, who made the announcement at a Kiwanis Club meeting, said the news is a dream come true for the many Kosciusko County residents who petitioned Amtrak to establish passenger train service to Warsaw.

Also, Zimmer Inc. has agreed to pay all expenses for establishing a station stop at the former Conrail station at 212 W. Jefferson St., now the Warsaw Depot Ceramic Store, while the city establishes lease agreements with the depot owner, Conrail and Amtrak.

1880s — In the days before Warsaw had the free mail delivery system, everybody had to go to the post office to get mail, and as no mailing boxes were on the street corners, a trip to the post office was imperative if one desired to post a letter or package.

The lobby of the post office was most of the time during business hours more or less crowded with patrons. The clerks at stamp and delivery windows were kept almost constantly busy. And when school was out —well, the clerks certainly got a workout. The post office used to occupy the room on East Center Street where the Coffin Music Shop was later located. Capt. John N. Runyan was postmaster. The general delivery window was the busiest place in town— every hour was rush hour. 

It was presided over by the inevitable, inimitable, indispensable Eugene (Pete) Williams, everybody’s friend and friend of everybody. Always gentlemanly, courteous, obliging and agreeable, Williams transformed a journey to the post office from a business trip into one of pleasure. There never was, never will be, but one Pete Williams. He knew by name every man, woman and child for miles around.

Aug. 11, 1837 — The town of Syracuse lies adjacent to the lake bearing the same name and is one of the oldest towns in the county.

It was laid out by Samuel Crawson and Henry Ward Aug. 11, 1837. Christopher Lightfoot, one of the first surveyors of the county, surveyed and platted it.

William Kirkpatrick, pioneer merchant, opened a stock of goods in a small frame building built by Crawson in 1836 for this purpose, and was the first business house in the new town.

The school at Syracuse was the only township school in the county in 1890. It was attended by about 150 scholars. The school building was erected by the township in 1868 at a cost of $10,000 and was a handsome two-story brick. Professor J.P. Dolan was principal; Rosa Brown had charge of the intermediate; and Irene Sprague of the primary department. In 1890, the village had a population of 500 inhabitants.

– Compiled by InkFreeNews reporter Lasca Randels