St. Joseph County, Indiana - The City of South Bend, 1907 (part 3 of 11)

"At that time South Bend belonged to the diocese of Vincennes, and regular transfers of the trust were made as follows: At the end of 1847, to the Risht Rev. John S. Bazin ; in 1848, to the Right Rev. Maurice de St. Palais; then in 1857, when the diocese of

Fort Wayne was established, to the Right Rev. J. H. Luers; in 1871, to the Right Rev. Joseph Dwenger; in 1893, to the Right Rev. Joseph Rademacher, and in 1900, to the Right Rev. Herman Joseph Alerding, the present ineninbent, M^ho was consecrated bishop of Fort Wayne on the 30th day of November, the Feast of St. Andrew, 1900.

"Lots 133, 134 and 135 are the premises on which the present St. Joseph's church and parochial residence stand, the southeast corner of Hill street and La Salle avenue.

"In the early forties the village of Lowell was owned by the elder Alexis Coquillard, the uncle of our late Alexis and Benjamin Coquillard, and of the Mesdames Sherland, Miller, Decker, Rupel, Campeau, Beaubien, Meeker and Wills. But in 1847 a large portion thereof had been deeded to Christopher W. Emerick. Coquillard, Emerick and Sorin were considered the enterprising spirits of the time ; and, no doubt, a place for a church was donated by Emerick, though not a Catholic, in a spirit of enterprise.

"The Catholics of South Bend, however, were not as yet numerous enough, and consequently not as yet able to erect a church, and, like their brethren of the neighboringwoods, towns, cities and states, they continued to depend on Notre Dame for their spiritual wants, which were administered by the Rev. Fathers Edward Sorin, Alexis Granger, Francis Cointet, Richard Shortis, Thomas Flynn, B. S. Force, and other fathers of the Congregation of the Holy Cross.

"Father Sorin with his small band of six Brothers arrived here and founded Notre Dame on the 26th day of November, 1842. On hrs arrival he found at Notre Dame a small log chapel which had been erected by Father Stephen Theodore Badin, the first priest ordained in the United States of America.

"Father Badin, it is said, never collected any pew rent, nor did he ever pay a cent for any services rendered to him. To boat captains and to ox-drivers calling for fare he would reply simply, 'I am Father Badin!'

"In this chapel the earliest Catholic settlers joined in divine worship with the Indians who had been civilized, instructed and christianized by such early mssionaries as Father Badin, Father de Seille and Father Petit. The regularly kept records of these early missionaries, as far as they have been secured by Prof. James F. Edwards, the manager of the archives of the Bishops' Memorial hall at Notre Dame, date back to the year 1830.

"The site of the chapel is religiously preserved at Notre Dame. An arbor vitae hedge n]arks the lines of the original foundations and a large stone cross with a suitable inscription tells the visitor that this is a sacred spot.

"It was in a small cell behind the altar of this chapel that the saintly Father de Seille succumbed to his labors in 1837. When he felt the end approaching he longed for the Last Sacraments, those very consolations of religion which he had so many times administered unto others. His nearest brother priests then had stations in Chicago, in Logansport and in New Albany. He knew that even these were for the greater part of the time away from home on missionary fields, and to make sure of receiving the rites of the church at the hands of one of them, he sent three of h' " 'thful Indians for a priest, one to each of the above named posts. Fater Louis Neyron, of New Albany, was the only one that could be found. He followed his guide, through woodland tracts, without any other thought before his mind but the sad duty of ministering, as he thought, at the bed side of a dying brother priest. But when he arrived he found the chapel surrrounded and filled with Indians M^ho, in silent mourning, were praying for the repose of the soul of the departed shepherd of their own souls.

"Father de Seille was dead three days, and the Indians never thought of either touching or disposing of his body. In his last hour he had asked his Indians to carry him to the tabernacle of the altar, whence his own dying hand drew forth the Blessed

Sacrament and administered to himself the Holy Viaticum. Father Neyron made preparations for the burial, and one' of his warmest recollections in favor of the docility of the Indians on the one hand, and the zeal of Father de Seille on the other was the fact that, at the funeral, the Indians sang the Requiem Mass from beginning to end, in a manner which would put to shame many a more pretentious church choir.

''This same Father Neyron had charge of St. Joseph's congregation from 1864 to 1867. A native of France and an attache of Napoleon's army previous to his ordination to the priesthood, he had labored in the American missions under Bishops Brute, de la Hailandi^re, Bazin, De St. Palais, Flaget and other pioneer prelates for thirty years, when in 1862 his health failed and he retired to Notre Dame for rest. But to attend to the little parish of St. Joseph's at the very door of Notre Dame was for him but play.

"On the 14th day of September, the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, in the year 1853, the Very Rev. Father Edward Sorin, then provincial superior of the priests, brothers and sisters of the Order of the Holy Cross in America, bought of Samuel L. Cottrell and Catherine his wife, lots 124, 125 and 126 in the town of Lowell for the consideration of two hundred and fifty dollars. As a part of the consideration the deed provides that the property be used 'For the benefit of the CatJwli'^ School of St. Joseph's County, Indiana.' This property, at present known as the northeast corner of Hill street and La Salle avenue, is now exclusively used for school purposes and is under the management of the Sisters of the Holy Cross, the trust having been transferred to them for the consideration of one dollar.

"The same year. 1853, Father Sorin erected on the above-named property a brick structure, twenty-two by forty feet, to serve as a school and at the same time as a church for the Catholic population of South Bend. The school has long been known as the Assumption School; and the church first as St. Alexis, but now for many years as St. Joseph's. A little addition was made to the rear of the building to serve as a residence for the sisters who taught the school.

"Both church and school were then under the patronage and the title of St. Alexis, which name, however, never belonged to the congregation that worshipped therein and which, even as far as the school ?s concerned, is no longer in existence.

"Mass was said here every Sunday for the peopio^ of South Bend and the Indians of the neighboring woods, and once a week for the sisters of the school and their pupils.

"Thus hand in hand together started school and church, and the wise pioneers appreciated the fact that the school is the more important of the two. The school received from the beginning a full corps of resident teachers, whose kitchen was regularly supplied by the commissioner of Notre Dame.

"In the St. Alexis Church, which wias oi)ened in 1853 and was used for Divine worship until the year 1866, the following reverend fathers have taken charge of the spiritual wants of the congregation : Edward Sorin, Alexis Granger, J. Bourget, E. Leveque, Peter Paul Cooney, Thomas Carroll and other priests of the Holy Cross. But these can scarcely be called pastors. They were not resident priests. They all resided at Notre Dame, taught there all week and then on Sundays did missionary work for St. Joseph's congregation in South Bend, for the Catholic congregations oi Laporte, Logansport, Goshen, Kalamazoo, Niles, Bertrand and other missions, the very names of which would, after this comparatively short time, be lost from the memory of a more prosperous succeeding generation if it were not for the baptismal, marriage and funeral records which they so faithfully kept and which are preserved at Notre Dame. Father Sorin, during this time and for many years to come may be put down as the real pastor, who would on Sundays, and whenever on week

"In the year 1859 the Catholic population of South Bend had largely increased, and the people living- in the western part of the town considered themselves numerous enough to have a church of their own. Father Sorin at once encouraged the enterprise and sent a priest to take the matter in hand.

"This priest was Father Thomas Carroll, then newly ordained and in charge of St. Joseph's congregation, in St. Alexis' chapel. He found a ready ear w^hen he went among the people who were then arriving or passing here, and persuaded them to settle permanently in South Bend. With the unanimous good will of the people, the young priest organized St. Patrick's congregation and built the old St. Patri'k's Church on Division street, one block west of Taylor.

"While engaged in this work Father Carroll taught catechism daily for all the children of South Bend in St. Alexis' school and said mass there every morning. All sick-calls and other demands on the pastor were sent to the sisters of the school, who, as a rule, knew wdiere the reverend father could be reached. Father Thomas Carroll may, therefore, be said to have been the first priest to whom was entrusted the whole charge of South Bend.

"When the old St. Patrick's Church was built, Father Carroll continued to attend to the whole of South Bend on week davs, but gave his time to St. Patrick's Church on Sundays. For Sunday services St. Joseph's congregation then again depended on Notre Dame; and the records show that Fathers A. Granger, William Corby, C. Exel, J. Bourget, J. C. Carrier, L. Neyron, P. Hartlang, A. Lemonnier, S. Daugherty, L. J. L'Etourneau and Julius Frere of Notre Dame conducted services on Sundays. It would appear from this that St. Joseph's Church may rightly be called the mother church of St. Patrick's, St. Hedwage's, St. Mary's, St. Casimir's, St. Stanisla.us ', St. Stephen's and the Sacred Heart Churches, of South Bend."

Tlie first church and the first school had been put up at the expense of Notre Dame. The second church, however, was to be erected on the diocesan property and at the expense of the congregation. Accordingly Father Louis J. L'Etourneau, who succeeded Father Louis Neyron, in Septemberj 1867. started a subscription for the new church.

The contract for building the church was given to Mr. Hodson, for $1,385.76. It was a frame building, 40x60 feet, and was erected on lot 133. the southeast corner of Water and Hill streets, on the site of the present St. Joseph's Church. The church was completed in September of 1868, by wdiich time Father L'Etourneau had been succeeded by the Rev. Julius Frere.

In the year 1862. a frame building, eighteen by twenty-six feet, was erected on Lowell Heights, at the northwest corner of South Bend and Notre Dame avenues, to serve as the first school for larger boys. Here Brothers Raymond, Daniel, Romuald and Philip, surnamed the "Presbyterian" (because he was a lineal descendant of John Knox) taught the school for several years; and the large boys whom they made good still speak, at this late day, with the fondest recollections, of the sehool-masterly abilities and the eccentric methods of these early masters.

On the 13th day of September, 1869, Father Frere. then pastor of the new church on the original church property, had this school house moved from the hill into the middle of the parish, to the site of the present parochial residence, and Brother Raymond taught the boys here until March 3, 1871, when Father Demers, a succeeding pastor, sold "la petite ecole a Cottrell" for one hundred dollars, and the larger boys M^ere returned to the sisters in St. Alexis' school, which had in the meanwhile been called "The Assumption Academy." La petite ecole is now a neat little residence. It stands on East Madison street and may be recognized by the name of Martin Hoban, which this lad en-

In 1866 the original St. Alexis' Church was found to be too small for the congreg-ation, in spite of the comparatively recent exodus of the people who now formed St. Patrick's Church; and a larger church was built on the site of the present church.

On the 26th of December, 1872. at high noon, this church, from some unknown source, took fire and burnt to the ground. The congregation then returned to the old St. Alexis' Chapel across the street, with the Rev. Peter Lauth as their pastor; and Father Sorin bought the block on which St. Joseph's hospital now stands for a new church. Beyond the fact that the insurance money for the old church was used, and that five thousand was paid to William Neddo for the bk)ck now purchased, no one ever knew what the new church cost. Father Sorin drew the plan ; Brother Charles superintended the work; and Brother Edward, treasurer of Notre Dame, paid the bills.

Several pastors succeeded one another in ''the church on the hill," until the year 1880, when the Rev. Michael l*h. Fallize became pastor. Under his pastorate the present beautiful church at the corner of La Salle avenue and Hill street was erected. It was on September 22, 1886, that the stained glass windows on the north side of this church were destroyed by the hail storm, as already related." Father Fallize also built for a school and parish hall the brick building on the south side of the church lots, which has however, until the year 1907, been chiefly used as a pastoral residence.

In the fall of 1888, Father Fallize took his departure for East Bengal, India, where he has since remained as a devoted missionary. The succeeding pastors have been the Rev. James Gleeson, the Rev. Nicholas J. Stoffel, and the present zealoiLS pastor, the Rev. Peter Lauth. During the pastorate of Father Lauth the parish has greatly floura. Chap. 7, Subd. 7, Sec. 2.

The most noted civic and religious demonstration in which St. Joseph's parish ever took part was the commemoration of the discovery of America on the afternoon of Sunday. October 16, 1892. In the parade through the city it required forty-five minutes to pass a given point ; and it is estimated that five thousand persons participated.

The pastors of St. Patrick's Church, after the Rev. Thomas Carroll, the founder of the parish, were the Rev. Peter Paul Cooney, who became a famous chaplain during the Civil war; the Rev. Louis Neyron, a veteran of Napoleon's wars, who was on the retreat from Moscow and at the battle of Waterloo; the Rev. Paul Gillen, the Rev. Joseph C. Carrier and the Rev. William Corby, all chaplains in the Civil war; the Rev. Peter Lauth, now pastor of St. Joseph's; the Rev. Father O'Mahoney, a distinguished pulpit orator; the Rev. Daniel J. Spillard; the Rev. Dennis J. Hagerty; the Rev. Father Clark; and the Rev. John F. De Groote, the present pastor.

Tender the pastorate of the Rev. Father Hagerty the new church on Taylor street, near the head of Wayne, was built. Under the pastorate of the Rev. Father Clark, the parish hall and school on Scott street was erected. These two buildings the church and the hall, have established St. Patrick's parish on a substantial basis ; they are both modern and elegant, as well as convenient and u.seful, structures.

As St. Patrick's is the child of St. Joseph's; so St. Mary's, St. Hedwige's, St. Stephen's and the Church of the Sacred Heart bear the same filial relation to St. Patrick's, having gone forth from the latter; while St. Casimir's and St. Stanislaus' have developed from St. Hedwige's. All the congregations are large, and the parishes prosperous. The pastor of St. Hedwige's is the veteran Rev. Valentine Czyzewski ; the pastor of St. Mary's is the Rev. Joseph Scherer; the pastor of St. Casimir's, the Rev. Anthony Zubowicz; the pastor of St. Stanislaus', the Rev. R. A. Marciniak ; the pastor of St. Stephen's^ the Rev. Michael J. Biro: and the late pastor of the Sacred Heart Church, the Rev. Peter Klein, deceased, his successor not yet being appointed.

Each of the Catholic churches has a llouri.shino- parochial school with teachers under the direction of the pastor. There are. besides, two academic schools of a high order, - the Assumption school, already mentioned, attached to St. Joseph's Church; and St. Joseph's Academy, attached to St. Patrick's

Rev. Peter Johannes, the good priest who founded and built up during the last twenty years of his life the church and school of St. Mary's parish.

Sec. 5. - The Baptist Church. - The first Baptist Church in South Bend was organized September 14, 1836, with the Rev. James M. Johnson a.s pastor.'^ Mr. Johnson served as pastor for about six months, and was succeeded for a time hy the Rev. M. Price, of Cassopolis, Michigan. There was a revival of the organization in ]March, 1842, when the Rev. Alexander Hastings was chosen pastor. The following reverend pastors have served church. The graduates of St. Joseph's Academy rank with those of the best high schools. The foundation of the Assumption school, as we have seen, dates from the year 1853. It was greatly enlarged and improved in 1907, under the administration of Sister Boniface. St. Joseph's Academy dates from 1866. It was built up under the direction of the efficient Sister Ambrose, a sister of the Rev. William Corby, chaplain in the Civil war. and for several years before his death the able provincial of the Order of the Holy Cross in America. The history of the Catholic chiireh in South Bend should not be closed without special commemoration of the the church since 1842: Mr. William L. H. Stoeker: E. T. Manning; S. L. Collins ; D. Thomas : A. S. Ames ; Ira Corwiu ; C. Ager; T. P. Campbell; M. Muleahy; J. L. M. Young; T. E. Egbert; C. D. Chaffee; A. B. Chaffee; Carl D. Case; E. S. Stucker: G. M. Lehigh; David Cooper; and William Kirk Bryce, the present eloquent and energetic pastor.

and Jefferson streets, on the present site of the post office, was burned. This is known in local annals as the Baptist church fire, and was one of the most terrible fire contests that the old volunteer fire department ever experienced. The weather was intensely eold and many of the firemen never recovered from the dreadful exposure then experienced. This building- had been moved from the next lot south in 1864; and was at that tim.e greatly enlarged and improved. After the fire of 1874, the building was repaired and used by the congregation until their removal to the fine stone edifice at the corner of Main and Wayne streets, in January, 1887. The

Mount Zion Baptist Church, 116 North Birdsell street, the Rev. H. M. Stoval, pastor; the Immanuel Baptist Church, 875 South Marietta street, the Rev. W. F. Bostick, pastor: the Quincy Street Baptist Church, the Rev. Henry B. Finch, pastor, organized in 1906; and the First Swedish Baptist Church, corner of Laurel and Napier streets. See. 6. - The Episcopal Church. - St. James' Episcopal Church was organized as a parish July 28, 1868, with the Rev. George P. Schetky. as rector. Through the munificence of Judge Powers Green, a church building was erected in 1869 on the north side of Waj^ne street, a little east of Lafayette; and old frame building was removed to the grounds of the Studebaker wagon factory, where it still continues to do service. The present field stone church, one of the most elegant and commodious in the city, was erected in 1886. but not occupied until 1887.

The Rev. Carl Delos Case came to the church in April, 1895, and remained for four years. He won the admiration of the community as well as of the membera of his own church. The present pastor, the Rev. "William Kirk Bryce, has taken a like high place in public esteem.

was dedicated with appropriate services on September the fifth of that year. In January, 1871, the church was moved to a point a little north of the northwest corner of Lafayette and Jefferson streets. This building was again moved in 1898 ; this time to the northwest part of the city, where it was used as the Westminster Presbyterian Church. The lot on whi:h it had stood was sold at the same time, and the present site, on the west sid'i of Lafayette street, between Washington and Colfax, was purchased. On this lot the present handsome h^v-k church was erected in 1894. The church was solemnly dedicated on

Christmas eve of that year, at a midnight service, by the Right Rev. Bishop of Springfield, George Franklin Seymour. It is one of the finest churches in the city, and is valued at over thirty thoasand dollars. The present rector is the Rev. Francis Milton Banfil, who was installed January 1, 1899.

Sec. 7. - The Lutheran Church. - St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, of South Bend, was organized in 1878 by the Rev. Henry Siek. The original church, built on the southeast corner of Jefferson and William streets, was dedicated August 21, 1878. The Rev. Paul Heid was the second pa.stor. He was succeeded by the present pastor, the Rev. Trangott J. Thieme. The congregation has a large and substantial church building, and is in a flourishing condition. A noteworthy feature of this church is the excellent and largely attended parochial school which is attached to it. The history of this school is coeval with that of the church itself. While the parish was in its infancy, the first pastor, the Rev. Mr. Siek, taught the school himself. Afterwards, when conditions improved, a teacher was employed. And now^^ for several years past, two teachers are constantly engaged.

The Holy Trinity English Lutheran Church is located at the corner of Sherman avenue and Lindsey street. The Rev. William Brenner is the pastor.

The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Gloria Dei Church is located at the southwest corner of Chapin and Kerr streets. The Rev. John F. Borg is the nastor. The congregation, which is very numerous and zealous, has erected a beautiful concrete stone church.

Sec. 8. - The Evangelical Church. - St. Peter's Evangelical Church was organized in 1863. The congregation has a handsome brick church at No. 429 West La Salle avenue. The Eev. Charles Koenig is the pastor.

Zion Church, located at No. 231 South St. Peter street, was established in 1888, by the Rev. Martin Goffeney, who has been pastor of the church from the beginning. In 1892 a school was established in connection with the chui'ch; and in 1895 a neat parsonage was l)ui]t. Both church and school are in a flourishing condition.

The First Church Evangelical Association is located at the northwest corner of Lafayette and Monroe streets. The pastor is the Rev. Fred Rausch. The congregation has a beautiful new brick church.

The South Bend Evangelical Hungarian Protestant Church is located at No. 1422 West Washington street. The pastor is the Rev. Stephen Csepke.

Sec. 9. - The Christian Church. - The Christian Church of South Bend was first organized on Portage prairie, at a point about four miles north of the city limits. The Rev. W. Mcllvaine, a zealous minister, was the first pastor. In the spring of 1851, Elder Mcllvaine secured the old seminary on West Washington, where services were held for a year. The lot on which the present church stands, on the east side of Main street, between Wayne and Division, was purchased ^in 1852, and a church erected that year. In !!878 a larger building was erected on the same lot. This church building has been materially enlarged and improved since that time.

The membership of this church has embraced many of the best citizens of the city. Among the pastors after the Rev. Mr. Mcllvaine have been, - John Martindale, Reuben Wilson, Gideon Drapier, Frederick J. Thomas, W. J. Homer, J. Belton, H. N. Lord, W. B. Hendrix, William P. Ailsworth, J. Hurd, George W. Sweeney, J. H. Stover. The present pastor is the Rev. G. W. Henry.

principally through the zeal and eloquence of the Rev. P. J. Rice. The present pastor is the Rev. Arthur C. McHenry. There is also the Linden Avenue Christian Church, located on Lincoln street.

Sec. 10. - Other Churches. - Other prominent churches in the city are the following: The First Brethren Church, located at No. 1212 South ^lichigan street, the Rev. David Eikenberry, pastor; the First United Brethren in Christ Church, No. 522 South Michigan street, the Rev. R. J. Parrett, pastor; the German Baptist Brethren, corner of Cushing and Van Buren streets, the Rev. S. F. Sanger, pastor; the First Church of Christ, Scientist, corner of IMadison and ]\Iain streets; the German Baptist Brethren Church, corner of Indiana avenue and Miami street, the Rev. Hiram W. Kreighbaum, pastor; the Beulah Chapel Evangelical Association, corner of Brick and Euclid avenues, the Rev. Noah F. Platz, pastor; the Sons «*-f Israel, No. 420 South William street, the Rev. ]\Ia.x E. Altfield, pastor ; the Temple Bethel, corner of La Salle avenue and Taylor street, the Rev. Abraham Cronbach, pastor; the Mennonite Brethren in Christ Church, corner of Lindsey street and Harrison avenue. Miss , Kate Bredemus, pastor.

Sec 11. - The Young Men 's Christian Association. - On November 27, 1906, the cornerstone of the 4-story and basement brick building, with stone trimmings, at the northeast corner of Main and Wayne streets, which is to be the house of the Y. M. C. A. of South Bend, was laid, with impressive ceremonies. In the copper box inserted in the cornerstone were placed various articles and documents which may be of rare historic interest to some future generation, when, perhaps, this then venerable structure shall give place to another edifice. Amongst the documents placed in the box were a history of the Young Men 's Christian Association, prepared by Mr. Miller Guy, an officer of the local association ; a history, by Mr. Charles Arthur Carlisle, of the Studebaker Brothers' Manufacturing Company, through whose munificence the building is to be erected, and a history of the city of South Bend, by the writer. Through the courtesy of Mr. Guy the following sketch of the local association is taken from the general history deposited by him in the copper box then sealed up in the cornerstone of the Y. M. C. A. building :

The local Young Men's Christian Association of the city of South Bend dates from the ninth day of March, 1882. It was born of the great series of union revival meetings then being held under the leadership of Dr. L. W. Munhall, of Indianapolis, and who was at that time state secretary of the Young Men s Christion Association of the state of Indiana. This first meeting was preliminary, and record of it has been preserved as follows :

"In compliance with a call made by Dr. L. W. Munhall, state secretary of the Young Men's Christian Association of Indiana, a large number of people met in the lecture room of the First M. E. Church, at the close of a revival service.

"The meeting was called to order by Dr. Munhall, who proceeded to state the object and aim of association work, and to urge the organization of a Y. M. C. A. in South Bend.

"The sense of the meeting was then taken and on motion Marvin Campbell was made secretary pro tem., after which it was moved and seconded that we proceed with the organization at once.

"On motion the various pastors of the city churches were then appointed a Committee on Constitution, and directed to report at the next meeting.

"After a general discussion of the favorable auspices under which we are about to organize and the bright prospects of success, an adjournment was had until Friday night at the close of service.

The meeting was called in the basement of the First JNIethodist Church at the corner of Main and Jefferson streets, to hear the reports of the committees on organization. Sixtythree names were subscribed as charter members. The membership fee was fixed at one dollar per year. The official minutes of this first regular meeting of the association are as follows :

"Pursuant to adjournment, a meeting of those interested in the organization of a Young Men's Christian Association was called to order by Dr. L. W. i\Iunhall, in the lecture room of the First M. E. church, at the close of a revival service.

"Sixty-three names were then attached to the instrument, after which the committee on permanent organization made a report, which was accepted and confirmed by the unanimous election of the following officers for the ensuing year.

Board Of Trustees

Doubtless by few institutions of its kind can the claim be made and substantiated that their first officers and governing bodies were superior to or equal in ability to those who consented to act and work for the good of the local association. The records of the proceeding's of the board of trustees, executive committee and directors, disclose the fact that the Hon. Clement Studebaker held the office of president for two years, presided personally over its meetings, and was rarely absent from its business sessions, and that the Hon. Schuyler Colfax, its first distinguished vice president, assumed the duties of the office given him, and continued in touch with its affairs until his death.

Among the first officers chosen was Mr. Elmer Crockett, who has since given continuous service as, and still is, a member of the board of directors. Myron Campbell, who was an active charter member, and elected a director during the first few months after the organization, has since continuously served in that capacity and is now treasurer of the association. Marvin Campbell and Willis A. Bugbee are still members of the board of trustees.

On account of the interest which attaches to it, in the light of recent developments in our local work, a report of a meeting held at the home of President Clement Studebaker is given in full, and is as follows :

"Upon invitation of the president, a meeting of the association was held at his residence, to which a number of the business men of the city were invited, that they might hear the objects and aims of association work discussed by several Y. M. C. A. workers from abroad. Order was called by the president, who requested Dr. L. W. INIunhall, state secretary, to open the meeting and state the object of it.

"He was followed by Mr. Haiighey, chairman of the executive committee of the Indianapolis association ; S. A. Kean, a prominent banker of Chicago and treasurer of the association in that city; J. V. Farwell, the 'Merchant Prince' of the same city; J. E. Deffenbaugh, former general secretary of the association at Burlington, Iowa, and Hon. Schuyler Colfax, of South Bend.

"Each of the speakers presented the interest of the South Bend Association, and they spoke of the work of the Y. M. C. A. in general in forcible, plain and practical terms, urging those present to make large contributions of time and money to the organization in South Bend.

"0. H. Palmer, "Rec. and Genl Secretary." The executive committee at a meeting held on the ninth day of April, 1882, elected Mr. Orlando H. Palmer general secretary, to take charge of the work for one year from the fifteenth day of April, following, at salary of $1,000 per year.

Steps were taken immediately to secure suitable quarters in which to carry forward the work. The executive committee entered into negotiations with the South Bend National Bank for the use of the second and third stories of its building at 129 and 131 North INIichigan street, known at the time as the ' ' Old Price Theater, ' ' and leased the same for three years at $400 per year. The first regular meeting of the society was held in that place on May 17th, 1882, and was called to order and presided over by the Hon. Clement Studeba.ker. Reports of the progress of the work at that gathering showed a total membership of 177 young men at the time. Under the secretaryship of Mr. Palmer the work was ably and vigorously pushed. Religious and social meetings were held regularly ; the membership reached 250 ; a library of several hundred volumes was secured, and his reeog-nized ability gave the movement a good standing in the community. He received a call to the general secretaryship of the Indianapolis association, and left this field January 30, 1884. to begin work at that place.

Immediately after the retirement of Mr. Palmer from the local work Mr. J. C. Stephens was engaofed to fill the position temporarily, and held it until the following fall.

On the twenty-fifth day of September, 1884, the board of directors extended a call to George S. Fisher, of Anderson, Indiana, to take the position of general secretary in this city. The offer was accepted and Mr. Fisher took up the work soon after. He held the position for about one and one-half years.

In the spring and summer of 1885 Mr. Fisher organized and conducted the canvass for funds ^\dth which to purchase a home. Under his direction subscriptions to the amount of $8,000 were secured, for the purpose of purchasing and eqviipping the "Old Hotel Bristol," at 122 and 124 South Main street. The property was owned by Dr. Robert Harris and Warren Irwin, and was ottered for $11,000. The owners executed an agreement to convey the same for that amount on the second day of May, 1885. The requisite amount for the cash payment of $5,000 and repairs estimated at $3,000 being secured m the meantime, the deeds were executed for the same to the association on the eleventh day of August, 1885, and the work of repairing and renovating the building was taken up forthwith by the secretary.

The building had been used for a number of years as an old hotel, without rating, a.nd as a cheap boarding house. Previous to its occupation by the Y. M. C. A. there are no traditions or prior history connected with it, that the association desires to perpetuate. The boys never ceased calling it the "Old Joint," and it appears that the name had come down from the time whereof "the memory of man runneth not to the contrary. ' ' On the sixteenth day of December, 1885, Secretary Fisher reported to the board of directors that the building had been formally opened to the public for association purposes.

Mr. Fisher thus securely placed the local work upon a final and lasting foundation. He was a bright, active, energetic young man, with executive ability, and a genuine hustler. The membership reached 310 during his term. He left South Bend early in the year 1886, and became state secretary of the Young Men's Christian Associations of Kansas.

The year following the retirement of Secretary Fisher from this field may be appropriately termed the "Dark Ages" of our local history. The movement suffered a dangerous relapse and it almost proved fatal. The secretaryship went begging, and the canvass for a building fund had apparently exhausted the generosity of many of its supporters. The

1886. Public meetings were abandoned ; debts for current expenses accumulated and remained unpaid ; interest on the mortgage notes was not paid; the membership scattered and the members failed to renew upon expiration, and the directors talked of disbanding. F. J. Lewis Meyer, who was secretary of the board of directors, as a volunteer worker gave much time and attention to the work and held it together until the next secretary was secured, in the early spring of 1887.

Leslie C. Whitcomb will always be remembered as one of the bright particular stars in our local firmament, and was one of the best secretaries the state of Indiana has ever had. As a young man he came to South Bend to sell life insurance, and incidentally became interested in the work of the association. The directors asked him to take the position as general secretary for two or three months on trial. He took up the work under discouraging circumstances. The fully paid membersnip had decreased to less than 100 and an indebtedness for current expenses to the amount of $2,000 had remained unpaid. The work had become disorganized and the workers discouraged. The old building soon became a scene of general activity under his guidance. The membership was increased to 255 on May lOtli,

1887, and on February 8th, 1888, before the end of his first year, reached a total of 334, 163 of whom were active, and 171 associate members. The average number of men taking gymnasium work was about one hundred, and in the educational classes about fifty. A staff of committee men and helpers }iumbering about seventy-five was organized. Every department of the work, religious, social, educational and physical was set in motion. An entertainment course was provided ; a free employment bureau was maintained, and capable physical directors were employed.

It was during the secretaryship of Mr. Whitcomb that an eventful meeting was held, which should be remembered as one of our historical landmarks.

Mrs. J. M. Studebaker, always a warm friend and faithful worker of the association, extended a special invitation to all the committees to meet at her residence on "Sunnyside. ' ' About seventy-five were present. Reports of all the different lines of activity were read and commented upon, and Mr. J. M.

Studebaker, Sr., made a short talk, in which he said that he was surprised and delighted to learn that such effective work was being done in our community, and that it had given h'lm new light on the scope and importance of the Y. M. C. A. work.

Pondering these words anew after a lap»se of one and a half decades, and in the light t {i subsequent developments, this event may 'oe ' ' remembered with the things that were amoi ig the high tides of the calendar." Mr. Whitcomb held the position until January 1, 18P;2. Mr. Logan succeeded him as acting secretary until July 30, following, when W. F. Car-ey was called to the field.

Mr. Carey was a hard Avorking conscientious official and did efficient service, maintain inr a good average for the six years of his term. All the departments were kept going. The membership averaged about 275. He resigned May 5, 1898, and became general secretary of the association at Potts ville. Pa. He, too, will be remembered as one of the builders of our work.

On June 30, 1898, Mr. Paul H. Metcalf became general secretary and held the position until July 31, 1899. He resigned for the purpose of accepting the assistant pastorate of an institutional church in Elyria, Ohio. Mr. Metcalf revived the entertainment course idea which had been abandoned some years before, and was so successful that the first series netted profits to the amount of $527.57 for the association.

From August 1, 1899, to May 15, 1902, the association was without the services of a regular general secretary. The writer of this sketch and Prof. Calvin 0. Davis of the city high school, as members of the board of directors, gave considerable time to the work, but were unable to prevent a serious falling off in membership and interest. It was exceedingly difficult to secure a leader with the meagre equipment on hand. Mr. Guy was acting secretary until January 1, 190i, and ]\Ir. Davis followed until May* 15, 1902.

On May 21, 1902, Eugene S. Willis, of Brooklyn, N. Y., was called at a salary of $1,200 per year, and on September 1 of the same year Francis A. Messier was engaged as a&sistant general secretary. When Willis and Messier began the work it soon reached its normal standing, and it was during the period of their associate work that the great event of our association life transpired.

men of tlie eity. was given in honor of the three Willis brothers, who were prominent Y. M. C. A. workers, and were here visiting their brother. The banquet was held in the New Oliver hotel on Saturday evening, December 20, 1902. The day following a large Sunday afternoon meeting was held in the First Presbyterian Church, in charge of the four AVillis brothers. About four hundred men were in attendance, and its influence was far-reaching. It was then that Mr. J. M. Studebaker, Sr., president of the Studebaker Bros.' Manufacturing Company, decided to make a Christmas gift to the local association, and addressed a communication to its directors to that effect. But the gift was to be a greater one than eveu Air. Studebaker himself then contemplated.

On December 31st, 1902, the Studebaker Bros.' Manufacturing Company closed the first semi-centennial period of its history, and to' commemorate the founding of the great enterprise, and its growth from a small shop, to the greatest manufacturing plant of its kind in the world, and in memory oi the five brothers who had founded it, and built it up, the company resolved upon a monumental work in behalf of the Young Men's Christian Association of South Bend, and pursuant to the resolution addressed a communication to the board of directors, as follows :

"At a meeting of the board of directors of Studebaker Brothers' Manufacturing Company this morning action was taken of interest to your association in South Bend, which is best expressed in the words of the resolution itself, as follows :

" 'Resolved, That on this 31st day of December, 1902, making the closing of the fiftieth year since the founding of the business of Studebaker Brothers' Manufacturing Company, this board, desirous of carrying out the oft-expressed wish of each of the five Studebaker brothers that some day this company would in the city of South Bend, where their business was founded and grown to its present proportion, erect some building which should be devoted to philanthropic puiposes, and which should be in the nature of a memorial and thank offering; believing that a gift to the Young Men 's Christian Association of a permanent home will best serve this purpose, we do hereby decide that this company will erect and present to the Young Men's Christian Association of South Bend a building for its use as a permanent home; this to be done at the earliest opportunity, as speedily as possible, and that this intention be communicated to the association and their disposition thereon be obtained. '

"You will kindly bring the foregoing to the attention of your board of directors as early as practicable and transmit to us their conclusions with respect to the offer. Anticipating your prompt action we are, with a Happy New Year for yourself and the Y. M. C. A. of South Bend, Truly yours,

"At a special meeting of the board of directors of the South Bend Young Men 's Christian Association, held on New Years Eve, 1902, your committee consisting of Col. George M. Studebaker, J. M. Studebaker, Jr., and Clement Studebaker, Jr., brought to us your letter and a copy of the resolution passed by your board of directors, proposing to erect and prasent to this association a permanent home for its work.

"Immediately upon receipt of your generous oft'er our board with one voice voted to accept the same. From the remarlis of each present we can assure you that their gratitude was profound and they were unable to express the joy and thankfulness they felt in their hearts. At their request the undersigned committee hereby tenders a formal acceptance of your proposition on behalf of the directors and trustees of the South Bend Young Men's Christian Association and on behalf of the young men of this community who are to be the beneficiaries of this sacred trust.

"It seems eminently fitting to us that such a monument as you propose should be erected here in memory of the five brothers who came to this city as young men, grew with its growth, contributed so largely to its prosperitv and here met with such abundant success.

We rejoice and feel thankful that the future association work in our beautiful city will always be linked with a name that is as dear at home as it is well known and honored abroad. "Trusting that this gift of the New Year will also reward the donors with the same full measure of joy that we have experienced, we beg to remain,

"Marvin Campbell, "W. 0. Davies, "F. A. Park, "Miller Guy, "Eugene S.Willis." The Young Men's Christian Associations of the world have been the recipients of many magnificent gifts and subscriptions from the great merchants, bankers and captains of industry, but the foregoing undertaking of the Studebaker Brothers' Manufacturing Company eclipsed all former records in behalf of this movement, and stands today as the greatest instance and example of the vitality, strength and prosperity of this brotherhood of young men, now over seven hundred thousand strong. This single gift, made unconditionally by a single corporation, involves the exDenditure of over three hundred thousand dollars, in the purchase of real estate and the erection of the building.

Mr. Willis resigned at the end of his first year, and on June 1st, 1903, Assistant Secretary Francis A. Messier, was elected to succeed him at a salary of $1,200 per year.

On August 14, 1903, the association sold its property at 122-124 South Main street for $17,000, but continued to occupy the building under a lease until July 1st, 1905, when it moved to No. 222 South Main street, into the building now owned by the Studebaker Bros. ' Mfg. Co., which they generously repaired and fitted up for a temporary home of the association until the new building will be ready.

Mr. Messier had charge of the work until July 1, 1906, when he took up the work as general secretary of the association at Battle Creek, Michigan. He has been assigned a place in the front line of our secretaries. He was capable and efficient and an indefatigable worker. The association w^as prosperous under his management. When he first came into the field as assistant secretary there were but 125 members on the records : he saw it reach its high water mark at the end of the great contest in the spring of 1906, with 700 young men enrolled as members. At the close of the contest a splendid banquet was given to the new members in Place Hall, at 226-230 South Lafayette street, and was attended by about four hundred men and bo3^s. He first organized a canoe club and tennis club, in addition to carrying on the general workin the other departments.

On September 1st, 1906, Mr. F. W. Lillie, the physical director, was engaged to take up the secretarial work in addition to the conducting of the physical department, and is now acting general secretary of the association.

During the year 1907 the beautiful building, the gift of the Studebaker brothers to the Young Men's Christian Association, was enclosed. When completed, as it will be early in the year 1908, the South Bend association will have one of the most complete edifices of the kind in the world. All the pursuits sanctioned by the history and customs of the Y. M. C. A., physical, mental and moral, will be amply and elegantly provided for. It is in the doing of such work as the Studebaker brothers have here done that men of wealth and public spirit endear themselves to the people.

Manufacturing- Company has done for the Young Men's Christian Association by the erection of the building referred to in the preceding section that Mr. George Wyman and his wife, Mrs. Clara L. Wyman, have done for the Young Women's Christian Association, by the erection of the beautiful association building on the west side of Lafayette street, between Washington street and Colfax avenue, just north of St. James' Episcopal church. This is a three-story building with a basement, and is constructed of pressed brick with stone trimmings. As might be expected, the structure is modern and complete throughout, and altogether suited to the taste, health and comfort of young ladies. The accommodations are the most liberal, providing, as they do, for the physical, intellectual and moral welfare of the young women of the city, who seek to partake of its advantages. The building was constructed during the year 1906, and early in 1907 Mr. and Mrs. Wyman turned it over to the association, furnished and complete.

Sec. 13. - Hospitals. - In 1873, after the burning of St. Joseph 's old church, as related in section four of this subdivision, the Rev. Edward Sorin purchased as the site for a new church large lot, or square, number nine in Cottrell's First Addition, bounded by Cedar, Notre Dame, Madison and St. Peter's streets. It was believed that this site would be more central than the former location. It proved, however, that lot number nine was not so desirable a place for a church as had been anticipated. When, therefore, in 1880, the Rev. Michael Ph. Fallize became pastor of St. Joseph's and concluded that a new church building was needed, he determined to return to the grounds at the corner of Hill street and La Salle avenue. Some other use must therefore be made of large lot number nine, and the little brick church building. It was then that this square was purchased by St. Mary's Academy, to be used as the site for a hospital. The old building was accordingly prepared for its new use, and the hospital was opened in the year 1882. The people were not at that time accustomed to hospital service, and there was for a few years even a repugnance on the part of many sick persons to enter a hospital. The facilities for caring for the sick and injured became so apparent, however, and the good words spoken by the patients who had been nursed by the sisters were so generous and hearty that patients increased in number year after year ; and after ten years ' experience it was determined that more room and a better building were needed. The new St. Joseph's Hospital was then planned, and on April 26, 1903, the cornerstone was laid with elaborate ceremonies and in the presence of a large concourse of people. The building, as now completed and furnished, is one of the most complete hospitals in the country. It is admirably adapted to its purposes, located on high grounds overlooking the city, with large and pleasant rooms and with complete modern appliances and all conveniences for the careful nursing of its patients. This hospital is in charge of the Sisters of the Holy Cross. The Epworth Hospital, whose handsome building is located at the northeast corner of Main and Navarre streets, originated in 1892. . It was at first intended as a home for unfortunates, and was in charge of the Woman 's Home Missionary societies of the Methodist church and the Dorcas society of Milburn Chapel. Since that time the hospital has steadily grown in public favor, and is one of the best constructed hospital buildings in the state. Mrs. Clara A. Carr is the superintendent. The board of lady managers is : President, Mrs. George M. Studebaker; vice-presidents; first, Mrs. C. H. Myers ; second, Mrs. F. P. Eastman, third. Mrs. J. B. Stoll; fourth, Mrs. Martha Hillier; secretary, Mrs. K. C. De Rhodes; treasurer, Mrs. Charles Haecke; finance committee, Mrs. Charles Arthur Carlisle, Mrs. Charles Krieghbaum, Mrs. F. J. Lewis Meyer, Mrs. Charles Russ and Mrs. M. M. Stull. The board of trustees is: President, Marvin Camphell; vice-president, William R. Boyd; secretary, John Roth; treas-

There is a unique custom established in the city, designed to secure contributions for the support of both city hospitals. It is called Tag Day, and was instituted chiefly through the efforts of Mr. Charles Arthur Carlisle. The day is observed at some fixed time in the pleasant weather in May or June, when an active and eager host of ladies place themselves at conspicuous points in the city and distribute hospital tags to every comer. It is not considered in good form on those anniversaries to be without a hospital tag pinned upon the breast. Those who are thus tagged contribute what they feel disposed to the good ladies, who thus toil from six o'clock in the morning until six o'clock in the evening in their sweet work of charity. The contributions are divided equally between the two hospitals.

Sec. 14. - ^HoTELS. - David Rohrer Leeper was born near the intersection of McCartney's creek with the Michigan road, now Michigan avenue, just beyond the present city limits, January 12, 1832, and died at his home, on the Hights north of the St. Joseph river, in this city, November 27, 1900. He was identified with the growth of this city from his infancy, and had, especially during his later years, given a great deal of his time and attention to our early history. Of this history, did his modesty permit, he might truthfully say with Virgil's hero: "All of which I saw, and a great part of which I was. ' ' As representative and senator in the general assembly of the state, and still more as mayor of his city, , he won the admiration of his fellow citizens; yet his tastes were literary rather than political. He v/as fond of gathering up the facts of the early history of the city and county and then writing them out in an interesting story, in the simple and elegant style of which he was so consummate a master. In March, April and May, 1900, a few months before his untimely death, Mr. Leeper wrote for the South Bend Times a series of gossipy papers on the early hotels of the city. Incidentally, these sketches contain much historical matter and personal reminiscences. From them the greater part of this history of our hotels is taken, almost word for word -^

The history of the hotels of South Bend has in several instances been given more or less attention through the local newspapers and otherwise. If the present effort in the same direction should show in some particulars more detail and closer approach to accuracy, it will be owing solely to the fact that more time and patience have here been given to the matter than would be practicable in the rush of ordinary newspaper work. Yet the writer did not flatter himself that his narrative was exhaustive or free from error.

Within its first decade there were, altogether, eleven taverns operated in the town. Just when the first two of these were opened may not at present be easily determined. The earliest documentary evidence on the subject known to the writer is to be found in the records of the county commissioners' court, where, at their first session, September, 1831, Calvin Lilly, Benjamin Coquillard and Peter Johnson were each granted a license for this purpose. On November 23, following, the advertisements of Lilly and Coquillard appeared in the North- Western Pioneer, this being the second number of that newspaper; the first number is missing from the preserved file. Lilly's place is said to have been the first and Coquillard 's the second, both dating back to 1830. These claims appear to be based solely upon tradition and cannot now be verified. Both Lilly and Coquillard boarded some of Brookfield's men when he was surveying the town plat in the spring of 1831, which may signify, as far as it goes, that they wer<^, keeping tavern at that date.

"Has opened a House of public Entertainment on St. Joseph Street. His table is furnished with the best the country will afford - his Bar is supplied with the choicest of Liquors - and his stable with provender.

a. Acknowledgments are due to Mr. H. S. K. Bartholomew, of Goshen, Indiana, for the use of these papers. Mr. Bartholomew is himself an enthusiastic student of our early history. He is president of the Elkhart County Historical Society.

This building stood on the northeast corner of lot 37, which is the irregular tract lying southwest of Vistula avenue and west of St. Joseph street. The property seems to have belonged to Edmund Pitts Taylor, who advertises the same for sale, April 17, 1832, possession to be given May 1, and described it as " a good frame house, two stories high, with a brick cellar - likewise a two-story hewed log house and kitchen, well calculated for a public stand and situated in as beautiful and pleasant part of town, as any other. The lox is 200 feet front on Pearl street. ' '

May 22, 1832, the North-Western Pioneer makes the following announcement: "The Printing Office has been removed to the second story of the house formerly occupied as a tavern by Mr. Lill}', on the corner of St. Joseph and Pearl streets. ' ' St. Joseph street is here mentioned first, which may have some significance, indicating that this was then the principal street, the Michigan road not having been constructed, and the ' ' dragoon trace ' ' between Fort Wayne and Chicago at that time crossing Bowman's creek near the present Henry Studebaker's barn, intersecting St. Joseph street at about Wayne, and then following the former down to Pearl. The place was now certainly vacated as a hotel. It has not been possible to find out anything of its subsequent history. If part of the building was a frame, as is stated, it was most likely the first of the kind in the state north of Logansport. E. P. Taylor, the owner, as is well known, was a brother of Latrop M. Taylor, one of the founders of the town, and came to this locality not long after his brother. Most people of today remember "Pitts" Taylor best as the owner and operator of a sawmill on the West Race, and his immense log piles on and about the present site of the standpipe and over the adjacent bluff.

The Union Hall, a "House of Public Entertainment," in the language of that day, was ow^ned by Benjamin Coquillard, brother of the elder Alexis, and father of the late Alexis, the well known capitalist and wagon manufacturer. The building stood on the site of the L. F. Baker rooms attached to the rear of the present Citizens' National Bank. Some say the location was on the point across the alley; but that is hardly probable, for Mr. Coquillard did not own any ground there and it is not likely that he would have built on ground belonging to somebody else, especially as his brother was half owner of the whole town plat. The frame that preceded the present brick and that was long known as the Harris corner, was built in 1838 by Wm. H. Patteson; and now, modified in external appearance, stands on the northeast corner of Jefferson and St. Joseph streets. Mr. Patteson was long a merchant in South Bend, was recorder of the county, and always a staunch pillar of the Baptist church. The late ' ' Deacon ' ' Hatch called him "Praying Billy." The two were partners. They did business, as Hatch was wont to say, according to the scripture; they watched and prayed, Billy doing the praying and Hatch the watching. Humble as the Union Hall was in itself, it was nevertheless ([uite ambitious in its pretentions. The proprietor, in his advertisement, "hopes, by his long experience in the business, to give general satisfaction to those who may favor him with a call. His table is furnished with the best the country affords. His bar is supplied with the choicest of liquors." His advertisement appears in the same issue of the paper as Lilly's, and his license also bears the same date as Lilly 's ; though it has been claimed^ on what authority is not known - that the South Bend Inn was the first to begin business. It is not probable that his career as mine host was long continued. At any rate his last license was issued in September, 1832, and on November 10, following, the title passed to his brother Alexis, he having held it exactly one year.

Calvin Lilly in 1831 purchased of the original proprietors lots 28, 29 and 30, which comprise the block lying on the west side of Michigan street between Jefferson and the first alley north, being 198 by 165 feet, or three-fourths of an acre. On this property he erected a one-and-a-half -story frame house, which was known as Lillij's Tavern. The proprietor took out a tavern license for this stand at the September term. It was in the bar room of this establishment that the first circuit court of the county was held on October 29, 1832, with Hon. John R. Porter as the president judge. The session lasted but a single day. The first case was a divorce suit and was successful, thus establishing a reputation for the state in this line which it has since zealously sustained. The second case was for libel, and the third the prosecution of a woman for selling liquor to the Indians.

A son of this defendant learned his trade as a tanner with Mr. Bugbee, and is now. if living, a respected citizen of one of the flourishing county seats of northern Indiana, having represented the county in the legislature for one or more sessions. Mr. Lilly appeared at the commissioners' court for a tavern license the last time at the May term. 1834. March 9, 1835, he sold to John Fowler, and went his way to swell the tide setting as the star of Empire takes its way. From a rather cursory examination of the record, Mr. Fowler appears to have held but one license as tavern-keeper, this having been issued at the September term. 1835. Wliat happened here for several yeare succeeding this date, cannot now be learned. But in 1837, Mr. Almond Bugbee. to whom the writer was indebted for much of the information used in this article, boarded at the place, the location being indicated by a large swinging sign, which bore in sharp relief the. at that day. anomalous legend, "Temperance House. "^ By the way, in passing, it may be remarked that while drinking may have been quite as common in those days as at present, the cause of temperance was then perhaps given much more serious attention. Early in this very year the Rev. Alfred Bryant was at the head of a temperance movement which received 156 signatures, among which were those of the father, mother, two uncles and an aunt of the writer. These, indeed, needed no such formality for self-protection ; for not one of them touched, tasted, or handled. Some reader may think that this laudable trait might have been better sustained among some of the very few descendants now living. Of those 156 whose names were thus enrolled, but one remains to tell the story. He had been in the village but a few weeks. The letters 1. 1. a. follow his signature, meaning teetotal abstinence, a designation he has ever since maintained, in letter and in spirit. It goes without saying, remarks ]\Ir. Leeper, that I refer to our well-preserved and highly esteemed octogenarian. Almond Bugbee. I do not know how long ]\Ir. Fowler kept the Temperance House. The last occupant of the place in the Forties was James Doan, who was a blacksmith at the end of the West Race, and made the first steel plow known in Northern Indiana. He crossed the plains in 1849, the entire distance on foot. A year or two later his body, still warm, was found on the trail between Carson valley and Placerville, a. See Chap. 13.

where he had been murdered and robbed. In 18 - Mr. Fowler sold all his real estate to David Stover, and moved to California. To the latter gentleman I am also indebted for much old-time data. Hale and hearty at four score and four, he now resides at his cosy semicountry home near Springbrook. ]\Ir. Fowler had several sons and one or more daughters. One of the daughters was the mother of the Listenberger brothers, Albert and ]Miner. Alexander, the second son, was a ^Mexican war veteran, and lost a thumb at the storming of the Heights of Cerro Gordo. He also made an honorable record as a colonel of infantry in the war for the Union.

The building, so long known as Lillj^'s Tavern, according to Judge Turner in his Gazetteer of the St. Joseph Valley, was moved to Jett'erson street, and used as a warehouse for the Studebaker Wagon Works. I know not what became of it afterward, but believe it to be a part of the livery stable on West Jefferson street.

The Michigan Hotel was situated on the southwest corner of ^Michigan and Washington streets, now knoTSTi as the Coonley drug store corner. It was erected by Peter Johnson, father of Ex-City Councilman Johnson, grandfather of Thad. S. Taylor, and, several 3^ears later, an associate judge. Mr. Johnson moved with his family to South Bend from Logan.sport early in 1831. Ice was still in the Tippecanoe and in Yellow river, but was too rotten for safe crossing ; so that Indian canoes -had to be obtained with which to ferry. The trail from tlie south then swung to the westward through what is now Liberty and Greene townships, this county, to avoid the lakes, marshes and heavy timber on the direct route, afterward taken by the ^Michigan road. ]\Ir. Johnson was a practical carpenter and builder, and began at once the erection of his hotel and stable, the latter on the alley at the west end of the lot. The main building was a twostory structure, and may still be seen at 215 West Navarre. There was also a wing attached, which fronted on Washington street. The license was granted to commence August 1. that year. The same season Mr. Johnson built the Fairplay, which Avas the first keel boat to gladden the waters of the St. Joseph. Washington street between ^Michigan and ]\Iain was his shipyard. Here he erected the necessary scaffolding upon which he mounted the largest pirogue available. This he split in two with a whip-saw. Then oak plank of the proper leiioth were ripped out in like manner and bent to match the contour of boat along- the line of its clearage. Now, with the knees, beams, calking, pitching-, runningboard, enclosing, pike-poles, and ruddersweep, the boat was launched for service. Mr. Johnson was also the contractor and builder of our first court house.

In 1834, the license for this house was issued in the name of i\Ir. Wm. L. Earl, father of Mrs. A. B. Merritt, of this city, and Wm. L. and Daniel Earl, of California. Mr. Earl was previously a partner with Alauson M. Hurd in the iron works and town plat of Mishawaka, and was keeping tavern there, says Mrs. Merritt. at the time of the great meteoric shower, in 1833. He alleged that Hurd swindled him out of his interests in that locality. In 1835, when the United States land office was opened at Laporte, the ^licliigan Hotel did a thriving business. At the September term, 1836, Mr. Earl took out license for Earl's Tavern, a stand which he erected that season at the present site of Lakeville, he having purchased for this purpose a 40 acre tract of Jacob Rector, grandfather of our Attorney J. D. Henderson. In the same year Mr. Johnson sold the ^Michigan Hotel property to one Charles Thrasher, and built a sawmill on the edge of the bluff at the rear of the present residence of Hon. J. B. Stoll. This was the first attempt to employ steam power for manufacturing purposes in St. Joseph county and the experiment proved a dismal failul-e. It cost more for fuel than the mill could earn. Daniel Gephart appears to have kept the hotel for a short time, having taken out license at the September term, 1836. Levi Wills followed; then John Mowry and Isaac M. Baldwin, September, 1837 ; several months after Levi Wills again, in January. 1838. Mr. Wills, it may here be stated, afterward kept ''Our House" at Mt. Pleasant, this countv. In 1850, he crossed the plains to California. He there engaged in supplying some of the Hangtown markets with beef cattle, and soon after was killed by .a wild steer. The hotel property was sold December 12. 1837, by Mr. Thrasher to Abram R. and John H. Harper and John N. Smith. On February 27, 1838, a permit was granted these proprietors to occupy for 120 days a part of Michigan street opposite this lot and the one adjoining on the south for making improvements on this property. What these improvements were does not appear; perhaps the erection of the wing to the west was one of them. It was the Harpers, probably, that changed the name to American Hotel, a name borne on its large swinging sign to the close of its career. In 1838, Renatus N. Koehler came to South Bend from Pennsylvania, and clerked in Harper's store for awhile. In January, 1839, he and Thomas Duey, having formed a partnership, rented the hotel and ran it till November, 1840. Now the Harper brothers themselves carried on the business, and later Abram alone took charge. In January, 1845, the smallpox broke out in the village and spread to an alarming extent. From first to last there were about 75 victims and the percentage of fatalities was very great. Some of the patients were quartered in this hotel and Harper, rather than have these taken to the pest house, had the doors closed.

Louis Comparet, brother of Mrs. Alexis Coquillard, and long a noted Avit of the town, had a very severe attack of varioloid among the earliest of the attacked. He recovered in season to be of much service in attending other patients, among these our ex-mayor, William ^filler, who was at the American. Jacob N. Massey, happening to meet Louis on the street, inquired as to Miller's condition, and was told the case was very serious. Jacob was very pious; and his thoughts turning beyond things of earth, earthy, he asked Comparet whether he thought Miller would like to see a preacher. "Oh. yes! Oh. yes!" said Louis, seizing heartily upon the opportunity to perpetrate a joke. Jacob soon found the Rev. Mr. Pratt, the Baptist minister here, and brother of United States Senator Daniel D. Pratt, of Logansport. Both the preacher and the senator were men of giant frames and stentorian lungs. Preacher Pratt consented to serve without hesitation, though he may have wondered why Mr. Massey did not see his owTi preacher, Alfred Bryant, long the Presbyterian pastor here. Well, Mr. Pratt prepared himself for the ordeal as well as he could, covering his face with a bandanna handkerchief. As he opened the door of the scourged ' chamber, Louis, now happening to be in and expecting a scene, slipped out. Pratt approached the bedside and asked Miller as to whether his services were desired, and was told that no such request had been made. He then inquired whether he should come again, with the reply that there was no necessity for him to thus expose himself. Nor did he. This story with many variations, was for many years retailed as the stock joke of the town. I have given Mr. Miller's version of the incident, as he related it to me a few days ago. In 1847, August 25, Koehler & Duey again became the landlords, and now the owners as well. j\Ir. Koehler was the actual head, as Mr. Duey, for his part, took charge of the farming interests of the firm

Another storj' was current about the town for many years, happening during this management. One James McGogg>% a carpenter, who had a terrible impediment of speech from a bad case of hare-lip, came into the bar room one day, in a state, seemingly, of considerable excitement. Elmer Rose w^as with him. Addressing ]\Ir. Koehler, McG-oggy went on to detail that Rose and he had just bet the drinks on a certain dispute between them, and asked whether they could get the grog and pay for it when the wager was decided. Mr. Koehler, with his usual suavity, but by no means his usual sagacity, set out the jug. Both quaffed down a generous potation. McGoggj" now proceeded to explain. "Well, Mr. Koehler," said he. "Elmer and I were looking at your sign post out there and wondering which way it would fall when it rotted off at the bottom. We got to disputing about it and finally made the bet. I bet it would fall south, and Elmer, the fool, bet it would fall north." Of such, it appears were the wit and humor when the bar room was the social resort of the town. In 1850, Koehler & Duey sold the property to Capt. Samuel L. CotTrell and the furnishings to Col. Adam S. Baker, our now venerable townsman, of 908 South Michigan street. ^Ir. Baker kept the hotel till the Michigan Southern and Northern Indiana railroad was completed, which I think was in 1851. Daniel Haight and George Clark, his brother-in-law, next became the proprietors. They remained as such only about six months. Sylvanus G. Gaylord then operated it, probably till he and Lot Day, Jr., succeeded to the proprietorship of the St. Joseph hotel, which was on December 28, 1858. This seems to have been the last use made of the so-called American corner as a hotel. Indeed, the lower floor had for some time prior been used for merchandising by Ezekiel French and a Mr. Adams, and perhaps after them others. It was the longest-lived hotel known to South Bend, running as such for about a quarter of a century. The present three-story brick was erected in 1866 by Ex-Sheriff Solomon W. Palmer, Dr. George F. Nevius and James

Bonney, the latter our veteran photographer. Next in order seems to come the Eagle Hotel. I do not know much of this hostelry. It is one of the three hotels manned on the first map of South Bend, made, as would seem from some of its data, early in 1837. It was a story and a half frame that stood on the southeast corner of Lafavette and Washington streets, across from the present First Presbyterian church. The lot was purchased of Samuel Hanna by Levi Barnes and Samuel C. Russ, jointly, on November 16, 1835. Both were carpenters and joiners, and doubtless put up the building. Samuel C. Russ was licensed to keep tavern here at the May term,

1836. and again at the September term, 1837. Russ was succeeded by John A. Prestana, who became owner of the property August 24, 1841. Prestana sold to Amable M. Lapierre, April 26, 1843, and moved from here to Chicago. ]Mr. Willis A. Bugbee remembers the family well and visited them in that city, they having a son about his age. Mr. Lapierre was a Frenchman, and withal an ardent Methodist, although brought up a Catholic. He was a bricklayer and plasterer by trade, and was the head mason on the first college building put up at Notre Dame. The smallpox here in 1845 marked him as one of its victims, and he carried a badly pitted face to his grave. He was also involved in the noted Norris fugitive slave case, and I think, as a consequence, lost his property through process of the United States court at Indianapolis. Later, he removed to Niles, where he was gathered to his fathere some years ago. John A. M. Lapierre, of 113 East Navarre street, is his nephew. ]\Ir. Bugbee boarded with Russ a while in

1837. His bedchamber was the loft with nothing between him and the star-bespangled firmament save the shingle roof, through which the snow often filtered with a liberality that did not always evoke joyous apostrophes to "the beautiful." There were flush times then. The Kankakee canal* wa.s in course of construction, so was the East race. Judge Garrett V. Denniston, who, with "Prince" John Van Buren, Gen. Wm. J. Worth, of Mexican war renown, and others, was pushing the lastnamed enterprise, was one of the boarders. There were about twenty in all. The current rate was $3.00 for board and lodging; cheap enough, in all conscience, -one would think, since most supplies were at that time as high or higher than at the present day. But, nevertheless, a dollar looked much larger than it does to our vision. Benj. R. Hall was running the Exchange at the same time. He had syndicate ideas in his head, and organized a combination among the craft to advance the rate to $3.50. At once there arose a loud protest. The hotel patrons of the several establishments held a meeting and vigorous resolutions were adopted. Mr. Bugbee, backed by those of the Eagle Hotel, presented a series of these fulminations to his landlord. John ]\Iilligan, of The Free Press, got out fiery "dodgers" headed "Insurrection," and had them scattered about the streets. The big twostory Collmer building on Vistula avenue, built by Robert Wickersham, was rented and a man named Laribee engaged to take charge of it as a community boaixling house for the irate "insurrectionists," as they were pleased to call themselves. The upshot was a backdown on the part of the hotel keepers, a restoration of the old rate and the abandonment of the boarding house project. The Eagle Hotel building burned down a few years ago and the site is now graced with the elegant Kizer & Woolverton block occupied by the Eliel drug store.

The Washington Block was the pride of the town in its day. The site was on lot 19, which lies on the north side of Washington street from Main to the first alley east. The lot was purchased February 5, 1833, from State Senator Samuel Hauna, of Fort Wayne, by Samuel Studebaker, who was the original owner of the Martin L. Wenger farm, now embraced within the city limits. March 1, 1836, Mr. Studebaker sold the same to Hiram Rush; but there being some deferred payments the deed was not made till 1840. Mr. Studebaker, dying meantime, the conveyance was executed by the late Judge Thomas S. Stanfield. as commissioner in chancery. Mr. Rush, immediately after the purchase in 1836, subdivided the lot into blocks fronting upon Washington street, about if not exactly, as marked off by the several buildings that occupy the ground today. The purchasers were James and Wm. Wickersham, Charles Egbert. F. J. and E. Townsend, and Wm. M. and John Parker. The building was a frame, 60 feet deep by 145 feet long, the whole three stories above the ground with a basement. Thus extending from Main street east on Washington to within 20 feet of the alley, it was for that day and for so small a village a quite imposing structure, as its front elevation appeared' in its white paint varied with window shutters in green. The two Wickershams owned three of the blocks and were the prime movers in the enterprise. Both were carpenters and joiners, as was also their brother Robert, and these three did the bulk of the work. William superintending and doing the laying out. Ralph Staples arrived in the village just as the rafters were being placed, and thereafter was a conspicuous figure on the job. From that time forward for many years there were few buildings requiring carpenter work, hereabouts, either in town or county, that Ralph did not have a hand in their construction. Sixty-two feet of the west end of the building in question was planned and fitted up for a hotel and took the name WasJmigton House, which it bore to the end. It was owned by the two Wickerehams, James and William. The first license for the tavern, as such called in the official records, was taken out by William and Robert Gephart at the September term, 1837 ; but the establishment was opened August 1, the previous month.

Andrew Simmons succeeded the Gepharts, taking out the county license in his name at the ^larch term, 1838, while the town incorporation license was issued to Alva Simmons, his wife. May 15, following. Simmons was keeping the place as early as February 3, that year, at which date David Scott took breakfast there and had his horse fed, after having foully murdered and robbed his friend Joshua Copeland on Rolling Prairie. Mr. Bugbee at the same time did some repairing on Scott's bridle. Scott was overhauled at Edwardsburg, taken back to Laporte, tried, convicted, and hanged in the presence of an immense concoui^e of people. Gephart and Richmond were the next proprietors, their license being dated September, 1838. The next license was issued to Robert Gephart at the May term, 1839. The widow of Robert, I may here state, is still living in Niles, at the age of 73. On December 12, the same year, Mary Gephart, widow of Daniel and mother of Robert and William, figures as the proprietress through an advertisement of the hotel furniture and fixtures for sale. From the spring of 1840 for several years the stand seems not to have been occupied. At least, definite data are not at present known. Chauncey S. Fassett and John Hooper each took the station as mine host here for awhile, but exactly when or how long have not been ascertained. I interviewed a lad}' in this city ou the subject. She was married in 1844, and at once took rooms in the Washington House, occupying them for a year or more. Mr. Fassett, she said, kept the hotel during that time. From Mr. Bugbee 's abstracts of titles, which he kindly allowed me to consult, we learn that Mr. Hooper purchased an interest in the property February 13, 1845, and that he sold this interest to Stephen Fields, December 18, 1847. If this period of part ownership affords any clue to Mr. Hooper's occupancy, it is about all I have been able to find, except that the lady to whom I have just referred stated that he was living there at the time of the death of his motherin-law, Mrs. Jane Smith. Mr. Defrees, the accommodating sexton of the city cemetery, at my request, found the proper inscription on Mrs. Smith's tombstone in the Hooper lot, M^hich gave her death as on May 1, 1845.

I have a distinct personal recollection of seeing Mr. Fassett then. We lived on a farm three to four miles distant from town. He was the customer for the butter we had to spare, paying 10 cents per pound by the year whatever the current price. I was attending school in town, living at home and walking back and fourth for the sake of muscular development. I sometimes had to carry the dairy product to boot. But I do not recall the date. Nor do I remember even having seen Mr. Hooper about that place. In 1848, "Black" John Rush succeeded to the proprietorship, his advent as such being duly heralded in The Register, in which, under date of February 18, he announces that he has rented the hotel, "refurnished and refitted it up in the most convenient style. ' ' This was the first instance after 1832 that any direct reference to any "hotel" in South Bend had been fomid, and afforded much relief, as the musty pages of The Register and of the few stray copies of The Free Press were being eagerly searched. Mr. Rush kept the place till March 3, 1849, when the ownership passed to John Grannis and John Hammond. Mr. Rush, wife and two daughters crossed the plains to California in 1850, the two former dying of cholera in Sacramento shortly after their arrival. The oldest daughter, Julia, married William L. Earle and now lives in Jolon, California. Mr. Hammond became the active manager of the hotel and became its sole owner till it went into "innocuous desuetude," as Grover Cleveland would say. This was probably in about 1856, when the first St. Joseph

Hotel was opened. The three story brick on the alley east of the hotel, now occupying part of the site, was erected by Joseph G. Bartlett in 1865, T. Wilke Defrees and Elias V. Clark, contractors.

In 1837, Benjamin Wall began tavern keeping on the southeast corner of Michigan and Jefferson streets. Upon the great swinging sign, in conspicuous letters, was the alluring scroll, "Traveler's Rest." The license was issued at the November term. Mr. Bugbee was a guest at the opening spread. Mr. Wall kept the place a number of years. The writer well remembers the guide-board on the tall sign post that, with its index finger, so long pointed the wayfarer to the south, advertising him that it was "65 miles to Logansport. "

The property was purchased by Mr. Wall of the writer's father, and, it is believed, did not prove satisfactory as a hotel venture. The building was removed by Alex. Staples to 1221 Laurel street, where it may still be seen.

The Franklin House, on the south side of Washington street, stood on lot 36, on the first alley corner east of Odd Fellows Hall. An oval signboard mounted upon a high post, and inscribed with the name of the house, invited such as were hungered and athirst. It was the property of Henry and Margaret Diehl, both immigrants from Germany. The former was the maternal uncle of Charles Vinson, Sr., of this city, and jMargaret was the sister of John Bert (or Beard, as generally called), who for many years kept a similar house in Mishawaka. He was the father of Henry Bert, the well-known meat market man, of this city. The first record we have of Henry Diehl in South Bend is that of a license to retail liquor, taken out at the September term, 1837. He then occupied a log house on the east side of Michigan street somewhere between Washington and Colfax avenue. The same kind of license was issued to him a year after that date, and also at the May term, 1839. At the September term, 1840, he received his first license for tavern keeping. January 15, 1838, he purchased the corner referred to, with 29^2 feet fronting on Washington street and extending back 118 feet along the alley. The building was a two-story frame, covering the Washington street frontage, and extending back 70 feet. His barn was on the rear end of lot 33, on which Edward Fredrickson is now doing business. He could not pay for this lot, and it reverted to the grantor, Samuel Leeper. Mr. Diehl was a baker by trade and the fame of his ginger-bread soon became known far and wide. The writer remembers distinctly how tempting- it looked, dark-brown from the Orleans molasses, and the top crust deftly corrugated. A kind of root beer of his make also drew many customers;. But his greatest attraction, perhaps was his musical clock. Set in motion, a number of automatic musicians would file out in front and at the signal of the leader the instruments were properly adjusted and the melody began to pour forth. At the end to the right was a clown whose antics kept time to the cadence. Mr. Bert had the same kind of a clock at Mishawaka. The writer acknowledges his profound indebtedness to each of these instruments for sundry free entertainments. The Diehl clock was sold by Mr. Charles Vinson in the settlement of the estate to Edward Buysee, the jeweler, for $20, and ]Mr. Buysee, in turn, sold it to some Chicago party ; so the mock orchestra may still be amusing the unsophisticated somewhere.

Mr. Diehl died Novembei- 19, 1841, at the age of about 35 years, and the funeral services were held at the Presbyterian church. He is said to have been quite intelligent and comely of person. His wife survived him many years, and, for some time - I do not know how long - continued the business. There were three children, Mrs. Catharine Schreck, Malinda, widow J. George Vinson, and John H., all of whom are still living and residents of this city.

The Lafayette Hotel, afterwards named the Xational, then the St. James, and now the Windsor Hotel, is situated at the southeast corner of Lafayette and South streets. On Julv 13, 1865, "writes Mr. Leeper, President Whitten, father of William M. Whitten, for many years city civil engineer and county surveyor, purchased of the late George Knoblock the Lafaijette Hotel, a one-story frame on the southeast corner of Lafayette and South streets. He enlarged the building by putting on another story and adding other improvements. In the following December, the place was opened as the National Hotel, with Mr. Whitten and Thomas J. Slick, his son-in-law, proprietors. July 28. 1868, Sarah A. Matthews, widow of Daniel Matthews, deceased, and daughter of Mr. Whitten, purchased part of the property, at $5,000, and Mr. Slick retired. The business was continued in the firm name of AVhitten & Matthews till 1874, when L. H. Packard took charge. In 1877, we find

R. Wansbrough thus acting. This is the year the building was partially destroyed by fire ; but was soon rehabilitated, making it a threestory, as you see it today^ when it was rechristened the St. James. Mrs. Matthews had now become the sole owner.

We shall now have to run over the succeeding proprietorships hastily as details would be tedious. L. H. Packard, 1879; Matthews & Crawford, 1880 ; INIatthias M. Faulknor, 1881- 2-3-4-5 ; Clem Crawford, 1885 ; Byron J. Mc- Elrath till May 18, 1888, when the irrepressible Louis Pfeiffer stepped upon the scene, purchasing the property, refurnishing the hotel, making certain improvements, and in general iiLstilling new life and a thrifty air into the place. Louis seems to be there to stay, whoever else in that business may come and go as the years roll on.

The Grand Central Hotel, on South Michigan street, 114-116, was built and owned by Daniel M. Shively. Henry C. Knill was the first proprietor, opening in 1875. M. L.. Dennis succeeded Mr. Knill in 1882. Frank Knill, Thomas Ragan, Henry C. Needham, A. K. Price, George W. Reynolds, S. H. Rice, Warner B. Titus and Mrs. S. J. Junkin followed in order as the lessees. Under Mr. Reynold's regime the name was changed to Reynold's House; under Mr. Titus' to TiY/^s i7o((se; and now it is the Columbia. It was the first house in South Bend to introduce the passenger elevator, having put in one of these in ]May, 1879, and was the only hotel in the city with such a convenience till the opening of the new Oliver.

The European Hotel,^ afterwards used as the Y. M. C. A. hall, 122-124 South Main street, was erected by Dr. Robert Harris and Edward M. Irvin in 1880, and was opened by L. II. Packard the following year. In 1883, Mrs. Anna R. Smith became the proprietress, and changed the name to Hotel Bristol, under whose management the establishment eked out a precarious existence for about two years, when it was finally closed as a hotel!

The Grand View Hotel, on the northeast corner of St. Jaseph street and Vistula avenue, was built by Christopher Muessel in 1892-3, and opened Augiist 11, 1893, by John Ober. Then came, in order, Byron L. McElrath, September 28, 1896; Godfrey E. Knight, March, 1897 ; Mrs. Ida Powell, Jnne, 1898 ; T. M. Morrison, March, 1899, who changed the name to The Morrison. It is now called the

Avenue Hotel. The building is a substantial and sightly four stoiy brick and the view from the location is one of the most picturesque in the city. It is the property of the heirs of the original projector, as above stated.

The Exchange Hotel, now known as the Sheridan House, was erected in 1840 by William L. Earl, who was its first landlord. It is located on the southwest corner of Michigan street and La Salle avenue, formerly Water street. This was originally the heart of the little town. On the northeast corner of the same streets was the Indian trading post of the American Fur Company, in charge of Alexis Coquillard, which he called the "Big St. Joseph's Station." At this point, too, was the firet ferry across the St. Joseph. Naturally enough, therefore, was the place selected for the Exchange Hotel, which, under different names, has prospered to this day. It was for a time managed by Mr. Gibbs, and known as the Gihhs House. D wight Deming also had charge of it for a long time, when it was known as the Dwight House. Samuel Ragan owned it for a time and called it the Sheridan House, after the great Union general. On being enlarged and improved a few years ago it received its present name, the New Sheridan. Other proprietors have been. Captain Mills, Jeremiah H. Knight, George Horn, William Mason, John F. Kirby. In 1895, it came into the hands of Bird Bickford who managed it until his death, since when it has been in charge of his family. It is, and has always been, an excellent hotel.

The Hotel Johnson, now the Lafayette Hotel, situated adjacent to the Grand Trunk passenger station on the north side, was built by Johnson & May, in 1895. It was badly damaged before its completion by the burning of John R. Shank's livery barn, and was purchased by Charles L. Goetz and the late Louis Benz and leased by them, June 1, 1896, to Alexander Curtis, who at once won a liberal patronage and has since maintained the stand as a favorite r&sort for the local and transient public. Mr. Curtis was by no means a novice in the hotel business, having, previously, long and acceptably filled that station at the Milburn House, Mishawaka. He also, by the way, belongs to one of Penn township's earliest pioneer families, being himself a native of that section, not of yesterday, either. He bears vivid recollections of the luxuries of the round-log cabin, the country schoolmaster's hickory sprout, and corn-hoeing barefoot