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.

October 1968 — Steve Cumberland won the annual Kosciusko County Cross Country meet for the second straight year to lead Akron to its first meet crown in history while thwarting Pierceton’s unprecedented bid for an eighth consecutive title at the local fairgrounds Friday.

Cumberland held a comfortable lead throughout the entire race and crossed the finish line in a time of 10:26, well ahead of South Whitley’s Eric Swing.

Team members are: Jake Baker, Cumberland, Pete Sanders, Ed Jenkins, Tom Ramsey, Steve Behney, Coach Bob DuBois, Dave Cumberland, Doug Davis and Dan Backus.

Oct. 29, 1964 — The South Shore Inn on Lake Wawasee was destroyed by fire at 3:53 a.m. today. Loss of the 60-room, two-story, 44-year-old structure was estimated at a quarter of a million dollars.

The landmark was owned by Commercial Investments Inc. of Gary and was one of the two remaining hotels on Indiana’s largest natural lake. Johnson’s Hotel, located near the State Fish Hatchery, remains.

Autumn 1881 — Sidney was surveyed and platted by Daniel Snell, John Mowan and Aaron Stumpff in autumn 1881.

Gustavus A. Biltz purchased the first lot and erected a residence and sawmill in December 1881.

Snell erected the first business house in 1881 into which Radcliff, McNamara and company opened a stock of general merchandise.

Fall 1838 — South Whitley, the oldest town in Whitley County, laid out in the fall of 1838, was originally called Springfield. Legally, the name has never been changed, though many attempts have been made to do so.

Joseph Parrett surveyed and platted the town. By 1954, the town had an approximate population of 600.

– Compiled by InkFreeNews reporter Lasca Randels