Elkhart County, Indiana - Chapter 11: As Towx, \-Illage and City, 1916

Chapter 11: As Towx, \-Illage and City

Goshen Town - Those Who \'oted For Village Government - Two Growing Decades - Fire Department Organized - Birth AS A City - The Mayors of Goshen - Charles B. and George F. Alderman - Dr. Joseph H. Heatwole and Father - The Fire Department Improves - Veteran Fire Fighters - The Present System - Foltnding of the Water Works - Better and Cheaper than a New Engine - Business Men Demand Equal Protection with Manufacturers - Beginning of City Water Works - Steam Power and Artesian Wells - Origin of Municipal Lighting Plant - Extension of Electric System - Later Improvements and Extensions - Private Lighting Companies - The Local Postal Service - Real Public School System Dates from 1857 - First Quarter-Century of School Teachers - Erection of Ward Schools - Miss Emma R. Chandler - The New High School - The City Schools in 1904-05 - The Schools in 1916 - Village Principals AND City Superintendents - Comparative Growth for Thirty-five Years - Increase of Population in Thirty-five Years - The Goshen Carnegie Public Library - Goshen College - Goshen Pliblic Hospital.

Goshen was the first ci\-il corporation to be organized in Elkhart County and its village form of government antedated that of Elkhart by more than four years. The county seat was a town for nearly fifteen years before it became a village, and remained in the city class for about the same length of time.

rapidly for a frontier settlement, and by the fall of 1839 some five or six hundred people had been gathered together on the site platted by Oliver Crane, county agent. The tax payers therefore petitioned the Board of County Commissioners that an election might be called for November 23, 1839. to determine whether the majority desired a more direct form of local government than was authorized under the township system. The election indicated that such was the wish of the majority of voters, who selected John Cook, D. Parrott, A. Stilson, A. Galentine and J. S. Raymer as a board of trustees to look after the interests of the town of Goshen. The town was governed by that board and its successors until 1854, when it was incorporated as a village.

Under a petition to the county commissioners, June 7, 1854, an election was ordered for June 28th, when the question was submitted to the electors and almost unanimously carried. The following names appeared on the list of voters: John Hunt, A. A. Norton, T. L. Wilbarger, C. K. Hoops, George W. Meyers, T. L. Powell,

A. B. Grubb, James Blair, B. A. Grubb, Edwin Vinson, Eb. Raymond, John Gortner, Thomas Todd, L. H. Noble, F. \'oiral, S. E. Davis, James Lauferty, J. D. Devor, Joseph Ashbrook, Michael Weybright, Joseph Silver, W. A. Thomas, C- S. Hascall, Hiram Whittaker, A. L. Hubbell, M. M. Latta, A. C. Jackson, F. M. Denny,

B. G. Crary, Norman Teal, A. P. Frink, S. C. Brainerd, J. W. Irwin, Michael Murray, Sam Bottomfelt, Smith Chamberlain, Elias Gortner, W. L. Bivins, G. W. Richards, G. W. Fosdick, Leander Sherwin, S. Geisinger, Henry Cook, J. L. Crary, W. W. McVitty, Melvin Hascall, F. Jackson, William Bean, John Cook, T. R. Albright, John Keck, P. M. Henkel and J. H. Defrees. The commissioners acknowledged the legality of the vote within three months, and in September declared Goshen an incorporated town.

In 1850 the population of Goshen had reached 780, and was probably 1,400 at the time of village corporation in 1854, as it was 2,053 in i860. The Lake Shore & ^Michigan Southern Railroad had

The same may be said of the decade 1860-70, notwithstanding it covered the Civil war period. The industries were especially stimulated during "war times'' and, with this general growth, came the demand for better fire protection. But, although Reliance Engine Company No. i, with its hand pump and lusty volunteers, was organized in September, 1862, no decided improvement in the fire department was noticeable until Goshen was incorporated as a city

For about fourteen years Goshen was content to remain in the town class. During this period there were additions to the city as to territory as well as in population, and finally the time came for the erection of the town into a city. To test the voice of the people in this matter an election was held on April 18, 1868, at which 391 votes were cast favoring the formation of a city government and 31 opposed the movement. In due time the city received its charter, and on May 5th of the same year the first city election was held, at which the following were chosen as the first to direct the affairs of Goshen City: Henry D. Wilson, mayor; LaPorte Heefner, clerk; Joseph Lauferty, treasurer; H. G. Hale, marshal; J. A. S. Mitchell, city attorney; James Allison, assessor; G. B. Walter, chief fire engineer ; George T. Ager, civil engineer ; Board of Health : M. M. Latta, W. C. Harrington and W. W. Wickman ; Councilmen : A. A. Norton, M. B. Snyder, H. U. Lincoln, Samuel F. Eisenhour, George B. Walter and M. B. Hascall.

In the foregoing list of those who have been at the head of the Municipality of Goshen, and of whom sketches have not heretofore been published, none were more prominent or generally honored than Charles B. Alderman and Dr. J. H. Heatwole.

Charles B. Alderman, whose death occurred in November, 1887, was a resident of Goshen for thirty-four years, and during the entire period prominent in its business, industrial and public affairs. He was a native of \'ermont and his mother, who became a widow shortly before his birth, married the father of Gen. Milo S. Hascall. Mr. Alderman was twenty-five years of age when he came West and located at Goshen. He had been married a number of years, and had experienced life as a farmer and a merchant.

Soon after settling in Goshen Mr. Alderman became a partner in the mercantile establishment of Hascall, Alderman & Brown, but owing to the confining nature of the business, sold his interest, in 1868, and the year following embarked in the manufacture of woolen goods in association with James E. Winnegar. In 1875 he became half owner of the stock of the Goshen Gas Works, of which, for many years he was president. A democrat in politics, Mr. Alderman began his political career by being elected a member of the City Council, serving as such two years. He was elected mayor of the city in 1875, 1878 and in 1879, serving three full terms, an honor accorded to no other .man occupying that position. As an official his career was above reproach. As a councilman he was instrumental in disposing of the water works bonds at highly satisfactory rates, and the good he accomplished was probably the cause of his elevation and retention to the chair of presiding officer of the city. In July, 1887, he purchased the Hotel Hascall and delegated its management to his son, George F. He was a member of the order of Free and Accepted Masons, in which he had successively passed from the Blue Lodge to the Chapter, Council and Commandery. Mr. Alderman was one of the county's best men.

in public affairs and in business ability. He became best known, bowever, as proprietor of the Alderman House, which was built by General Hascall and known under his name until 1915. In 1893 the hotel was remodeled, and is at present having a splendid improvement in its porches and entrance. This is being done by his widow. Before purchasing the Hotel Hascall, 'Sir. Alderman had been identified with the old X'iolett House, of Goshen ; with the Sherman Hotel, Chicago ; with the Hotel Hascall and various similar concerns in Ohio.

Dr. Joseph FI. Heatwole comes of an old Dutch-Pennsylvania family, which sent out shoots into Virginia. The father of the Doctor w^as born in Rockingham County, that state, and after his marriage in Ohio commenced the practice of medicine in Columbia County. He continued the practice in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, and in 1853 became a resident physician of Waterford, Elkhart County. There, and at Goshen (to which he moved in 1876), Dr. Henry Heatwole became well known as a physician and a citizen. He died in 1888.

Ex-Mayor Heatwole was born in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, and was one month old when his parents settled at Waterford. He was educated at Waterford and Goshen and at Mount Union College, Ohio, before taking up his medical studies, graduating from the Ohio Medical College, Cincinnati, in 1878. After practicing five years at :\Iiddlebury, he located at Goshen. Besides acquiring a substantial standing in his profession, Doctor Heatwole was honored with the mayoralty two terms ; served as health officer of the county for six years and was long a member of the board of pension examiners.

Two weeks after the voters of Goshen expressed their desire to become a city and the day before the election for municipal officers, Rescue Hook and Ladder Company was organized, and shortly afterward a water wheel was erected on the Hydraulic canal, which had recently been completed, and pipes laid to the business center of the city. As far as the actual increase in the fire apparatus of the city is concerned, until the completion of the first water works in 1875 the department appears to have given its attention to the formation of hose companies - Reliance Hose Company No. i, in 1870; Hydraulic Hose Company No. 2, in 1872; and Triumph No. i and Goshen Hose Company, in 1875.

L. H. Noble, the veteran dry goods and hardware merchant, was for many years one of the most ardent supporters of the various fire companies. In every annual parade, for a long period, his familiar figure would be seen upon the seat of a hose cart holding the reins over his beautiful team of white horses. The Noble Engine House was named to honor his faithfulness. The late Christian Hinderer and ex-Chief of Police Self were members of the first engine company. John Snobarger, who has been at the head of the department for thirty years, and with the service, as a whole, for a decade longer, is also its veteran.

The Goshen fire department is now on the paid basis, is well organized and has sufficient apparatus, in connection with the fine system of water works and its up-to-date equipment, to insure full protection to the industrial, business and residence districts of the city. The Gamewell fire alarm system is in use. The equipment consists of hose carts, hose, hook and ladder, chemical engines, an auto truck and all the paraphernalia to be found in a volunteer department. The pressure is sufficient for all ordinary occasions, the standpipe being one hundred and fifty feet high and containing about 400,000 gallons of water. One pump is always in operation, and at the signal direct pressure is applied sufficient to force a stream over the highest building in the city. To haul the apparatus to the fire a team is always kept in reserve at a stable convenient to each station, and this feature of the service has been developed to perfection seldom found in the smaller cities.

material interests of the city required better protection against fire than could be provided without a general water pressure, an adequate system of distribution and a standpipe as the crowning feature. While that was the primary and pressing object, it was also seen that a sufficient and pure supply of water was a necessity in the interest of public hygiene.

The history of the founding and development both of the water and lighting system, which have been public utilities for so many years, was fully collated by Wilber L. Stonex. While president of the Elkhart County Historical Society, in 1901, he prepared papers for that society. The facts which follow are taken from one of his papers published in the Goshen Daily News.

On the 8th day of July, 1874, there appeared in the Goshen Democrat the following paragraph: "We call attention of the City Council to the propriety of laying an iron pipe from the hydraulic wheel in \\'hitmer and Yates' shop up Market street to the cistern on the corner of Main and Market streets in preference to any other increase of our fire department. It will be, in our opinion cheaper and of more utility than any other proposed increase in our fire department, as the hydraulic wheel could keep the cistern full of water all the time and would enable the hydraulic hose company to use the east end of the pipe as the basis of operations in any fire within the length of their hose, as well as affording a cistern full of water for the fire engine anywhere within the reach of their hose. It would be far better than a new engine and much cheaper."

To fully understand the meaning of this it must be remembered that at that time the fire department equipment consisted of one hand pumping engine, hook and ladder truck, and two hose carts. The water supply consisted of water stored in cisterns located in various parts of the city. The most important one was that located at the corner of Main Street and Lincoln Avenue, then known as Market Street. There were also in some of the factories on the hydraulic canal force pumps and pipes to which hose could be attached for the protection of the industrial district, and Hydraulic

There had been several fires prior to the summer of 1874 and much property had been destroyed. The chief danger was to the store buildings, in the central part of the city, a majority of which were frame and veritable tinder boxes. There were always two causes for uneasiness when a fire broke out. One was the insufficiency of the engine, and the other was the uncertainty of the water supply. After the factories had provided themselves with pumps and had the entire canal for their water supply it was apparent that they were better protected than was the business part of the city.

The suggestion of the Democrat was that a small iron pipe be laid from one of the factories on the canal to the cistern at the corner of Main and Market streets. This would enable the fire department to fill that important reser\-oir with ease, and this supply pipe would also be available for throwing a stream of water through the hose of Hydraulic Hose Company equally as well as at the mills on the canal. This suggestion was so simple and inexpensive a plan that it was at once taken up and with some modifications put into operation.

The first step toward this was the appointment of a committee to visit South Bend and Mishawaka to investigate the system there in use. This was done on the 3d day of August, 1874. The committee made the investigation and prepared a report to submit to the people. A public meeting was called for that purpose on the 13th of August, and at the meeting, which was presided over by Hon. J. H. Defrees, Judge Wm. A. Woods, presented a resolution as follows: "Resolved, that we favor the system of water works recommended by the report read in -our hearing and respectfully petition the Common Council of the city to proceed at once to carry out the proposed plan ; but, instead of connecting with the Hawks' and Thomas' Mills, we recommend the city to put a wheel of its own." The resolution was unanimously adopted. The committee modified its report in compliance with the resolution and reported to the council on the 17th of the same month. The report of the committee was adopted, the resolution of the citizens' meeting was spread upon the records

The site selected was at the west end of the alley between Market and Clinton streets. \\'ork was vigorously prosecuted. Wooden mains were laid from the pump house up Market Street to Alain Street, and three branches were extended from that point, for a distance of one square each, east, north and south. By January i, 1S75, the work was so far completed that on that day a public exhibition of its capacity was made. The result was satisfactory. The entire cost of the work had only been about $g,ooo and the capacity of the pumps and the wheel supplying the power were sufficient to allow of a considerable extension of the system at small additional expense.

After a few years, when the city found itself able to incur the expense, the citizens called for a change from water power to steam power so as to allow the use of water for private consumption. This also made it necessary to look for some other source of water supply. A system of artesian wells were decided on. On August 17, 1881, the present site was bought, and work was at once begun. From that time the record has been one of constant expansion over contiguous territory until by 1901 the system embraced more than 203^ miles of street mains; 161 hydrants or fire plugs; 12 public watering troughs, some 1,200 private consumers, and an annual income of $7,416.60 from water rates collected from private consumers. The power station equipment consisted of four boilers of 400 horse power; one pump with a capacity of 2,000,000 gallons for every twenty-four hours; two pumps of 1,000,000 gallon capacity each, a standpipe of 265,000 gallons capacity, with all necessary reservoirs and appliances for the operation of the station.

The lighting of the city streets became a very serious problem. At first oil lamps were used. Then, in 1874, the city contracted for gas. The expense of this was considerable and the result unsatisfactory. In August, 1887, a contract was made with the local electric light company, by which the company agreed to erect towers and furnish arc lights at a minimum price of $2,500 a year, with additional charge for extra lights, but in October, 1889, the company proposed to sell its street lighting equipment and poles to the city for $3,000. The city made the purchase and since that time the streets have been lighted with arc lights from a dynamo operated from the water works station. In 1897 the city installed an incandescent plant for commercial lighting.

That which led to this step at that time was the demand for the extension of the street lighting system. The capacity of the dynamo had been reached and the necessary a;lditional lights could only be put up after providing a larger dynamo, and enlarging the plant accordingly. This was done at a cost of about $15,000 and the cost of the incandescent plant was about $5,000 more. In 1901 the entire lighting plant consisted of one 250 horse power engine; a 125-arc light dynamo, and an incandescent light dynamo with a capacity of 2,000 lights. There was also a 40-arc light dynamo which was kept for the purpose of supplying the business part of the city in case of a temporary shut down of the larger dynamo.

Since Mr. Stonex prepared the history of the founding and growth of the systems which have developed into the municipal plant, the power houses, which are at Fifth Street and the Lake Shore tracks, numerous improvements have been made, chiefly under the active supervision of Mayor S. F. Spohn and Commissioner John B. Cripe, of the Board of Control.

Althought the streets and public buildings are supplied with electric light by the municipal plant the commercial lighting is largely in the hands of the Hawks Electric Company, which is operated in connection with the power plant of the Goshen Milling Company.

Fifth Street, just north of the water works, having been established since 1874. The original gas works were small and crude, but in 1899 the local stockholders disposed of their interests to experienced manufacturers, who soon made radical changes in the plant. The system consists of a complete water gas plant and separate coal works, either of which can be operated, or they may be conducted together.

There is another public utility of a local nature which seems to require mention at this point, although it is not under municipal control ; reference is made to the postal service, conducted by good and efficient Uncle Sam. Until 1870 the location of the postoffice was very uncertain ; since that year it has remained unchanged. The building is convenient and a credit architecturally.

William Bissell, the first postmaster, long since deceased, was appointed July 12, 1832, and delivered mail at a log building located where Mr. W. J. Davis formerly lived. Abner Stilson, the second appointee, November 26, 1832, had his office in the rear of where Twomey's shoe store now stands and near the present postoffice building. Ebenezer M. Chamberlain, who was appointed November 8, 1837, received and delivered the mail on the site of the Brownell property, until March, 1841, when the office was moved to one door south of Darrow's store. Charles L. Murray was fourth postmaster, appointed July 28, 1841.

Then follow: James R. McCord, November 5, 1841, office on Frank Hascall property; Abner Stilson, July 31, 1845; Louis B. Parmalee, May 15, 1847, in Drake's building; Edwin Martin, September 17, 1849, ^nd Shubael M. Pease, January 22, 1850, where the Salem Bank now is; Elbridge G. Chamberlain, June 2, 1853, under opera house in Latta's building ; George T. R. Wadleigh, August 20, i860, in Latta's building; William B. Taylor, March 29, 1861, in Wagner's room; William L. Bivins, December 12, 1862. It was during Postmaster Bivins' long incumbency of some dozen years that the postoffice was moved to the corner of Lincoln Avenue and Fifth Street. A few years ago a Federal building was erected at the corner of Lincoln Avenue and Sixth Street.

E. W. H. Ellis, William R. Ellis (twelve years), AI. E. Starr and Joseph A. Beane, the present incumbent, who also w^as in office from 1893 to 1897.

In August, 1900, the first rural mail route was established in connection with the Goshen office, and four routes were added during the same fall. A large territory is now accommodated, and

Considered as a public system, the schools of Goshen did not commence to be fairly organized until 1857, when the village corporation built its first school house and elected its first principal of schools. Strange as it may seem, although that was an epochal year, and said principal was the pioneer of a school epoch, the pioneers of the city have not been able to furnish a more definite statement that "a Mr. McCloy was elected the first principal of the Goshen schools in the fall of 1857."

The first person known to have taught school on the present site of Goshen was Samuel T. Young, who, in 1832, gathered a class in a log house, corner of Washington and Sixth streets. After teaching in that building for several years he left it for another building, also a log one, located on the corner of Fifth and Jefferson streets. Here he was followed by several different men, among them being John Sevey, a I^Ir. Alassey and Thomas G. Harris.

In 1S34 the first Methodist Church was built in Goshen, on a lot adjoining the present Episcopal Church property. The building is still in existence and forms a part of a residence. In 1837 this church began to be used for school purposes, and was so used for a number of years. Messrs. Green, Campbell, Lane and others taught there for longer or shorter periods. In 1837 Mr. H. W. Bissell came to Goshen and taught during the winter of 1837-8 in this same church. Mr. Bissell was for twelve years, beginning with 1838, one of the school examiners of Elkhart County.

In 1840 Nelson Prentiss began teaching school in a building located' on Clinton Street, opposite the Court House square; the building \\as afterwards moved to Pike Street, to be used for a Mission Sunday School.

A log house on West Washington Street and another on Fifth Street were used by different persons for conducting schools. Among the teachers in those buildings were a Mr. Gray, Mr. V\'eed, Aljner Stilson and George Taylor, who afterwards was elected to Congress from Brooklyn, New York.

The first school house was liuilt, by subscription, in the year 1841, on lot No. 54, where the Episcopal rectory now stands. It was a frame structure 20 by 30 feet in size and continued to be used for school purposes until the corporation built its first school house in 1857 on Madison Street, on what had been the county fair grounds. This building was sold in 1857 to John S. Freeman, who soon thereafter resold it to the Swedenborgian society to be used as a church for a number of years, when it was converted into a residence by the late Jesse Fuson who had purchased it. After Mr. Fuson's death the house passed into the hands of D. P. Deardoft' who moved it to Seventh Street, where it, after having been remodeled for a hospital and occupied by Doctor Day, was burned about the year 1887. In this first school house Abram C. Carpenter, Amasa N. Hascall, Milo S. Hascall, Melvin B. Hascall and others were teachers.

In writing to the Daily Times in, 1891 M. B. Hascall said: "In October, 1842, I commenced teaching, having been called from my home in Western New York for that purpose. Forty to fifty pupils were about the average number enrolled. The books used were not uniform but every scholar brought what he happened to have, if he had none, he came without, but Webster's Elementary Spelling book, Daboll's Arithmetic, English Reader and Kirkham's Grammar were in the lead."

During the period from 1S41 to 1857 a number of private schools were started by different individuals. The general plan followed by all was to go from house to house, secure the promise of pupils and then locate quarters and begin work.

Among them George W. Weybum, who came to Goshen in 1853 and opened the "Empire School" in the basement of the then First Methodist Church, stands out prominently. He was more than usually successful and counted among his pupils, during his four years of work in that school, many of the older citizens of Goshen. He had associated with him at different times Miss Martha Stancliff, Miss Valencia Watrous and others. In Alarch, 185S, the school was closed because of the completion of the new public school building.

The real development of the public schools of the city began with the erection of the building above referred to, on the present site of the Emma Chandler Building. The lot was purchased at a cost of $1,000 of John S. Freeman who took, as part payment, the school property on Sixth Street ; the building, begun in the fall of 1856, was a four room brick structure and cost, without furnishings, $11,000.

The rapid growth of the city from i860 to 1870 necessitated building new and larger quarters to replace rooms that had been rented from year to year. In 1862 a frame building on West Pike Street was rented for a period of three years and in 1865 was rented for three years more. In 1868 the Pike Street school was built at a cost of $2,500. It was a one room brick structure 25 by 40 feet and, after being used for sixteen years, was replaced by the present building, in 1884, at a cost of $9,000. This building has four rooms and is one of the best lighted and ventilated buildings in the city.

The first building on the North Fifth school site was a four room frame structure erected in 1862. It was replaced by a brick building in 1882 which now is the larger of the two at North Fifth and contains six rooms. The new four room building on the same site was built in 1895 and is in every way a model primary building.

In 1869 it was found necessary to provide more school room in the south part of town. The board purchased the site and built the main portion of the South Fifth building at a cost of $5,000. About ten years later two additions, containing four rooms, were built so that the building has altogether seven school rooms. In 1899 the board of education reconstructed the entire heating and ventilating system of the building and installed the only fan system for ventilation in the city at a cost of nearly $3,000, but it made of the building a thoroughly comfortable and modern one, in so far as it was possible without tearing down and rebuilding.

During the summer of 1874 a four room addition was built to the high school building at a cost of $4,500 but the addition had been occupied only a few months when, on the evening of January 18, 1875, the entire building with its contents was burned to the ground. Temporary provision was made in churches and halls for the pupils who had thus suddenly been thrown out of school quarters, and steps were at once taken for rebuilding.

The new building erected was an eight room structure and is known as the Emma Chandler Building. It contained, in addition to the eight school rooms, the superintendent's office and two recitation rooms. It was completed and occupied in the fall of 1875 and cost, without furnishings, $20,000. When the limits of the city were extended to include what is now known as East Goshen and West Goshen the township schools located therein became a part of the city school system. The West Goshen Building thus received was a neat one story brick, containing one school room and the usual hall, cloak and hat rooms. It was replaced a few years ago by a fine modern four room building. The old East Goshen Building was built of wood and was in rather poor condition. In 1898 the board of education erected the present building there and one may safely say of it that there is not a more convenient or better arranged one room building in the state of Indiana. Its cost was in the neighborhood of $4,000.

In the year 1895 the demand for more school room for the grades, as well as better quarters for the rapidly growing high school, became so urgent that plans were laid for the erection of a thoroughly up-to-date high school building, which would represent the best in modem school architecture. The splendidly equipped building that resulted was placed joining the old high school building on the front so that the two building are to all intents and purposes one.

The enrolment of the high school had increased from 150 to 325, very largely through the faithful work and high ideals of two women - Miss Emma R. Chandler and Miss Lillian E. Michael. Miss Chandler is the dean of Goshen teachers, although she retired from active service in 1894. For twenty-three years after the grading of the public schools and the incorporation of the Collegiate Institute into the system, she continued as principal of the high school. She first came to Goshen in the fall of i860 and, after a few months, returned to the famous Mount Holyoke (Massachusetts) Seminary to complete her studies. There she remained for a year, when she taught for a time in Indiana and Illinois. Soon after the Civil war she located permanently at Goshen and from that time until she became principal of the new high school (now known as the Emma Chandler Building), she taught in the public schools, the Collegiate Institute and in a private establishment, of which she was joint proprietress. ]\Iiss Chandler is still living, a good, cultured soul, alert in mind and body, and universally honored. As a testimony to her standing the old high school has been known for some years as the Chandler School.

Buildings No. Pupils No. Teachers

Pre\ious to the incorporation of Goshen as a city, the public schools of the village were in charge of Messrs. AlcCloy and Curtis, \\'. H. Marsh, George Ager, J. J. Brown and George Ager (two terms). Mr. Ager was the last of the principals under village rule, and the first of the superintendents of schools, as they were known under the municipality. Air. Gillis was employed to finish out the school year and set out to properly grade the pupils of the dift'erent departments, but owing to the difficulty of the task, the work was not completed until the following year under the direction of D. D. Luke, who became superintendent in the fall of 1870. Air. Luke was a man of liberal education and fine training and under his direction the establishment of the city schools on a graded basis became a reality. Soon after his coming the high school was

Ambrose Blunt, a graduate of Wesleyan University of Aliddletown, Connecticut, was elected to fill the vacancy and continued in the capacity of superintendent until June, 1885, a period of nine years. Mr. Blunt is well remembered by many people of the city today as a man of scholarly attainments and as one who did very much for the educational advancement of the community. Upon the resignation of Mr. Blunt, W. H. Sims was elected to the superintendency, and remained at the head of the schools for fourteen years, during which many improvements in material and methods were made. He was succeeded in 1899 by J. F. Rieman, to whom we are indebted for much of the data used in this article.

The expansion of all the public utilities and institutions of the city is generally explained by the steady increase of its population. From 1880 to 1890 this was indicated by 3,918 and 6,033, respectively; in 1900 it was 7,810, in 1910, 8,514, and it is now estimated at 10,000.

About 1895 the first steps were taken that resulted in the founding of Goshen's free public library. The idea was originated by the women of the city and actively promoted by the women's clubs, foremost of which were the Beacon Light and Library clubs. Other clubs gave books and money toward the project.

The movement had a very modest beginning in a meeting held at the high school library room in 1897, at which the following were the officers elected: President, ]\Irs. E. C. Rogers; vice president, Airs. J. H. Heatwole; secretary, Miss Emma Chandler; treasurer, Mr. C. G. Garvin. Board of directors : Messrs. E. D. Chipman, F. D. Finney, W. H. Sims ; Mesdames W. J. Davis, H. J. Beyerle, Mary Roach, F. B. Defrees, D. A. Sanders, E. W. Walker, John ( ;ortner, J. M. Latta, F. D. Silverman, W. O. Yallette, C. C. Sparklin, Alisses Mary Biggs, Mary Miller and Mary McVitty.

A few books were accumulated from a fund raised by the sale of library tickets, and were placed in the room over the W. H. Hawks & Company dry goods store, donated by that firm. In 1890 the library was moved to the second story of the German Block, over Kolb & Gross' grocery store on South Main Street, and thence taken to the high school building in the library room, to await the completion of the public library.

On January 25th, 1900, the enterprise was incorporated under the name of the Goshen Library Association, with the following officers : President, F. D. Finney, vice president, Mrs. E. C. Rogers ; secretary, Mrs. C. C. Sparklin ; treasurer, C. J. Garvin. Board of directors : Mesdames J. A. S. Mitchell, D. A. Sanders, C. C. Sparklin, W. J. Davis, F. B. Defrees, C. E. Rogers, E. W. Walker, F. B. Learning, J. H. Gortner; Miss Mary Biggs; Messrs. I. O. Wood, C. J. Garvin, D. W. Neidig, F. D. Finney and E. E. Mummert. Mr. Finney was president of the board of directors for several years before the incorporation, and is entitled to much credit for directing its affairs and promoting the growth of the organization, which finally resulted in the acquisition of the handsome public library building.

In the general assembly of the State of Indiana, session of 1901, Representative E. E. Mummert was successful in procuring the passage of a general library law that enabled the Goshen library to maintain and perpetuate a public library, for years to come. Under the new law the following library board was appointed : I. O. Wood, E. E. Mummert and Mrs. J. A. S. Mitchell. The appointments were made by Judge J. D. Farrell of the Circuit Court. D. A. Sanders and Mrs. Amelia Thomas were appointed by the City Council ; George B. Slate and Mrs. F. P. Abbott by the School Board. Of this number I. O. Wood was elected president ; E. E. Mummert, vice president ; G. B. Slate, secretary, and D. A. Sanders, treasurer. To the above board there was added the following building committee : H. H. Gortner, Joseph Smith and D. W. Xeidig.

Through the courtesy of George H. Phillips of Pittsburgh, sonin-law of Commissioner C. A. Davis of this city, the board learned that Andrew Carnegie was beginning to make donations to various cities for the erection of library buildings. Upon the suggestion of Mr. Phillips the Board of Directors sent a committee in the persons of I. O. Wood and E. E. Mummert, December 20, 1900, to visit Mr. Carnegie and present their claims for consideration. The result of the visit was that upon certain conditions, which were easy to comply with, Mr. Carnegie agreed to donate $2,500 for the construction of a building; this making Goshen the first city of its size in the United States to secure a donation from him for library purposes. The site for the library' was procured through popular subscription. Citizens contributed freely and within a week $5,000 was subscribed under the direction of Hon. C. \\'. Miller, who was made chairman of the finance committee.

The Goshen Carnegie Public Library is located at the corner of Fifth and Washington streets. The building is of Bedford stone, in the French style of architecture, with the French Renaissance entrance. It is finished throughout with the exception of the office and the auditorium, in mahogany. Patton & Miller of Chicago were the architects, and ^^'. T. Lockwood & Company of Lafayette were the decorators. The rotunda has a dome with art glass top, and in the dome the decorator did his most artistic work, the names of many noted men in literature appearing in the decorative plan.

The librarian's desk is directly in front of the entrance door, and between the rotunda and stack room, where the librarian has full view of both the general reading room on the north and the children's room on the south ; also the stack room, providing the best possible administrative arrangement. The auditorium, or assembly room, covers the main part of the basement floor.

the formal opening of the lihrary, January 15, 1903, and many valuable donations have been made both in books and money. President I. O. Wood of the first library board made the address of formal opening and gave an historical statement of the library movement from its inception to the realization of the present building. Judge James S. Drake spoke for the professions ; Mayor George F. Alderman made the response in behalf of the city; Edwin W. Hawks responded for the business men and maufacturers of Goshen ; and Superintendent W. P.. Hedgepeth of the city schools spoke for the educational and literar\- interests, which have been and always

In March, 1902, Mrs. Ella R. Heatwole was selected by the board of directors as librarian, in which capacity she served long and faithfully. Much credit is due Mrs. Heatwole for her ceaseless efforts in endeavoring to make the library a success. In September, act as apprentices, to help in the cataloguing of books under Miss Eleanor AI. Edwards, the Xew York expert. Later one of the three was to be selected as permanent assistant. In August, 1902, Aliss Elizabeth Rockwell was made assistant librarian and served thus until the resignation of Mrs. Heatwole. At that time Aliss Rockwell was appointed librarian with Miss Mary Stemm as assistant. Miss Katherine Harper served as second assistant for one year, June. 1913 - June, 1914. At the expiration of that time Miss Harper took a six months' leave of absence and did not return. Miss Grace Rockwell was chosen by the board to act in her place. For a number of years Mrs. Emma Dewey served as substitute librarian.

When the library opened in January, 1903, it contained less than 3.000 volumes. According to the yearly report of 1915 it contained 14,000 volumes, not including 500 public documents not yet accessioned or catalogued. The total number of patrons registered to January i, 1916, was 9,244. While the number of active patrons was 4,939. Over half the population of Goshen are library patrons. In June, 1909, library privileges were extended to Elkhart Township and greatly appreciated.

The circulation of books has more than doubled since the opening of the libj-ary. The first yearly circulation was 27.757 volumes, while in 1915 the number had increased to 58,521 volumes. The total increase for the years 1914 and 1915 has been 15,069 volumes, or 31 per cent. The classed circulation of books which includes all but fiction, showed an increase of 61 per cent during the corresponding years, while the fiction in the same length of time has increased but 20 per cent. This speaks well of Goshen's reading public, showing that it is a real literary center and testifying to its culture.

Although the Goshen College is controlled by the Alennonite Board of Education, it "is open on ecjual terms to all persons of good moral character who have an aim in life and who enter their work with seriousness." To the extent indicated, it is a public institution of higher learning and is well patronized. The institution embraces a college of liberal arts, a normal school, an academy and schools of music, business, agriculture and theology. Summer courses are given in the normal department, in which are especially taken up domestic science and agriculture for public school teaching. Goshen College had its beginning in the Elkhart (Indiana) Institute, the first sessions of which were held in the Grand Army of the Republic Hall during 1895. Before the end of the first year the Elkhart Institute Association was organized and a building erected on Prairie Street, Elkhart. An incorporation was effected in i8g8 and the management of the institute placed with nine directors. In 1901 the board was increased to twenty-five members, and in

The first building of the structures now comprising the plant of Goshen College which was opened to the public was the woman's dormitory, first occupied in September, 1903. In 1904 the administration building, a four-story brick structure, was completed at a cost of $25,000. Science Hall was opened to students in 191 5, its completion involving a cost of $40,000. The laboratories provide for scientific experiments and investigations, as well as for practical demonstrations in agriculture and home economics.

Kulp Hall, one of the four college buildings erected since 1904, is a three-story brick and stone structure, and contains dining and reception rooms, studio and women's dormitories. The old East Hall for men comprises the college library of 6,000 volumes, especially rich in JMennonite historical literature.

In November, 1905, the Mennonite Church organized its board of education and since Februan,', 1906, the college has been under its control, although from the first it has been under the management of the church itself.

had been the president since the beginning. President Hartzler received liis education in Elkhart Institute, Goshen College and Columbia University, and was pastor of the Prairie Street Mennonite Church, of Elkhart, before he became its head. He has held the presidency since 1913.

The above named is an institution only three years old, but already recognized as of great public benefit. It was opened on the first of December, 1913, and has had for its model the Mayo

Hospital at Rochester, Minnesota. It supports no regular staft' of physicians and surgeons; each patient has his own special attendant, professionally, the nursing being done by resident graduates of a standard training school. The hospital, entirely non-sectarian, is managed largely by women, as the following ofificers of the association for 1916 will testify: Haines Egbert, president; Mrs. I. O. Wood, vice president ; Mrs. J. S. Drake, treasurer ; Mrs. Dwight H. Hawks, secretary. Mrs. Laura Fell White is superintendent. Frank E. C. Hawks was the first president of the Goshen Hospital after its incorporation in December, 1909, and Mrs. Dwight W. Hawks, vice president. In January of the new year Mrs. George W. Hay was chosen treasurer and E. E. Mummert secretary. Mr. Hawks remained president until 1913, when Mrs. H. W. Whitmer, who had been vice president since 191 1, succeeded him, and continued to thus serve until Mr. Egbert's election in IQ16. Mrs. Dwight 11. Hawks, the first \-ice president, has been secretary since 1912, her immediate predecessor in that office having been ]Mrs. W. L. Stonex. The treasurers have been : Mrs. George W. Hay, Charles J. Garvin, John W. Egbert and Mrs. J. S. Drake.

The management of the Goshen Hospital is public, its board of directors being elected by the people. The property which it represents is valued at about $30,000.