Solomon Meir Manor on Cavin Street.

By Loren Shaum
Guest Columnist

LIGONIER — Ligonier was founded in 1835 by Isaac Cavin. He arrived from Ligonier, Pennsylvania to take advantage of the rich farmlands along the current Elkhart River known as Strawberry Valley. He eventually named the settlement after his hometown, and in 1852, the railroad arrived and brought more settlers including Jewish pioneers from Russia. Two of those were Solomon Meir and Joseph Strauss.

Famous four-faced clock is the centerpiece in downtown Ligonier.

By 1900, the town’s Jewish population grew to over 300, and became known as “Little Jerusalem.” Eventually, many moved away to prosper in bigger cities. The last Jewish resident died in the 1980s, but the Jewish community left a legacy of beautifully constructed, three-story Victorian homes, most gracing Main Street.
In 1924, John Cavin, Isaac’s son, donated the four-faced clock sitting at the tip of Triangle Park as you enter downtown. The clock is part of the town’s logo, and with a bubbling fountain, the park is the centerpiece of the town and a venue for special events.

Today, with a population of less than 5,000, Ligonier has a rural aura but those Victorian homes remain. It’s also known for the many skillfully painted murals on downtown buildings. Most buildings are more than a century old, and the murals depict Ligonier’s history.

Just west of downtown on Union Street are the Jennie Thompson Gardens. It’s renewed each spring when multiple flower beds are planted.

Stone’s Trace

Richard Stone is recorded as the second white settler in Noble County, and in 1839, he opened Stone’s Tavern on an intersection with the Fort Wayne–Goshen Trail south of where Ligonier is today. It became a center of activities for the fast-growing community including being a dance hall, a post office, a stagecoach stop, a jail and a rest stop.

Today, Stone’s Trace, at the intersection of US 33 and SR 5, is listed on the Indiana State DNR Historic Register. The weekend after Labor Day, the Stone’s Trace Historical Society holds its Pioneer Festival. The event includes a frontiersman camp, a pioneer area, children’s area, an 1812 military camp, Civil War enactments, demonstrations, exhibits and offers hearth-cooked, pioneer dinners in the historical tavern.

Food Scene

Downtown Ligonier has a coffee shop, an interesting Eastern European bakery, and at least nine Mexican restaurants. On occasion, we’ve visited El Paraiso Grocery, Restaurant and Taqueria. Their produce is always fresh, and you can get unusual canned goods without having to go to Ft. Wayne.

Sadly, a Ligonier milestone for years, Daniel’s American and Ethiopian Café, has closed.

The Stone family log home at Stone’s Trace.

The Charger House south of downtown has remained a constant for the last 40 years. Life-long resident, Tom Janes, named the restaurant after West Noble School’s mascot, and has created a faithful following particularly for breakfast and lunch. Most people come for the fish, and indeed, this fried Icelandic cod is delightful. Other popular choices are salads, burgers, and any of the thirteen other sandwiches. Try their seasonal chicken salad sandwich if you want a real treat!

And, the onion rings aren’t bad either!

A few miles west on old US 33 sits the Fashion Farm. Named from a prized Red Poll cow that the farm’s patriarch, Charles Williams, purchased in 1931. Now, generations later, the complex is still family-run and includes the farm (Fashion Farm, Inc.), the restaurant (Fashion Farm Restaurant) and landscaping (Countryscapes & Gardens).

The original farm encompassed 200 acres, but some land was converted into a residential development. The remaining acreage implements a somewhat unique rotational crop methodology with each field eventually rotated into pumpkins and gourds of all types.

Fried Icelandic cod is the specialty at the Charger House.

Every October, the farm’ Pumpkin Fantasyland attracts as many as 16,000 visitors. The event offers workshops, mazes from corn and straw grown at the farm and wagon rides.

At the restaurant, Russell Becker emphasizes quality, and to maintain that consistency, he has used a trusted restaurant vendor since opening in 1975. The kitchen makes all their salad dressings, pies (The peach pie is awesome!), specialty cakes, donuts and uses Russell’s recipes for Rusty’s Ole Fashion Ice Cream.

Although we usually go for breakfast or lunch, dinner is very popular with locals. Favorites are meat loaf, chicken and noodles, liver and onions and prime rib.

For breakfast, the house made mush is done just like my Old Order Mennonite aunts used to make, but it’s a huge serving. For me, the farmer’s breakfast has been a good choice. This large plate of great grub includes two eggs (done your way), hash browns (order them extra-crispy) and sausage or bacon. I can never finish the plate.

If you go for lunch, the salmon burger is excellent. It has a crispy crust but soft and moist inside. Served with all the condiments, it is as good as any sandwich!

The ice cream from the adjacent country store is, perhaps, the best in all of Lake Country and beyond! Made fresh at least twice a week, Rusty’s ice cream is highly-flavored, and those enjoyed have included black raspberry, strawberry, lemon and, on occasion, some funkier flavors. During Pumpkin Fantasyland, the farm offers pumpkin ice cream, and they make plenty of it because it goes fast!

Ligonier is a short distance from Lake Country and offers many options for eats, and a cruise down Main Street is worth checking out. It will take you back to another time!

If You Go

Charger House: 111 US-6. Hours: 5 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. daily. They do carry-out. Phone is (260) 894-4000.

El Paraiso: 103 S. Cavin St. Hours are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

Fashion Farm: 1800 Lincolnway W. Hours: 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday; 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday; and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.