Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
WINONA LAKE - Four of the former Holderman sisters still try to get together once a year, usually for a month or so. That wouldn't be surprising if it weren't for the fact that the oldest three are in their 90s, the youngest is 79 and they're spread out from Winona Lake to Illinois to California.
Having grown up in Winona Lake during its heyday, they seemed to enjoy sharing their experiences as young women. They worked in the homes of some of the most famous people in Winona Lake, were well-educated and became teachers.
The oldest sister is Florence Birchard, 95, who lives in Lombard, Ill. Helen F. Sellers, 94, still lives in Winona Lake (the sisters gathered at her home this year). Joy Crane, 92, and Louise Bowman, 79, the youngest sister, both live in El Cajon, Calif. All are widows. A fifth sister, Marie Wilden-Johanssen, of Goshen and Albuquerque, N.M., born between Helen and Joy, is deceased, as are the two brothers, Robert and John F. Holderman.
Florence has two children: Charles Birchard, who is retired from the U.S. Army and lives in Oak Park, Ill., is a college graduate and has fought in four wars: Vietnam, Korea, Desert Storm and the Falkland Islands. Her daughter, Charlene Tiknius, Lombard, has three children.
Helen had three children: June Guenin, the oldest, Cordova, Tenn.; Larry Sellers, Warsaw; and the late Jerry Sellers.
Joy has a son, Cary Crane, and a daughter, Gay Adele Crane, who accompanied her mother, both of La Mesa, Calif.
Louise has one daughter, Vicki Van Pelt, Carson City, Nev.
The four oldest sisters, Florence, Helen, Marie and Joy, were known as "The Big Four." Marie, Joy and Helen sang together as "The Holderman Girls" at Warsaw First Methodist Church.
Florence went to college for two years to become a teacher, and was licensed to teach in Indiana. She was a real pioneer when she started teaching in a one-room schoolhouse in Gillette, Wyo. She returned to Indiana to complete her teaching education at Indiana State Teachers' College (now Indiana State University), and returned to Thermopolis, Wyo., to teach in a "city" school. She later got back into teaching in Illinois, where she taught for 15 years.
Florence talked at great length about the Chautauqua in Winona Lake. She worked in the home of Logan Williams, who gave her a "press ticket" so she could attend all the Chautauqua events. She told of all the famous people who came to Winona Lake during that time and how she was fortunate enough to see and meet them.
Helen taught child evangelism for 15-20 years at Oswego Baptist Church. As a young woman, she worked in the home of Homer Rodeheaver. Since he traveled a great deal as Billy Sunday's song leader, his sister, Ruth Rodeheaver-Thomas, and her husband lived in the home. Helen said, "Ruth had a beautiful voice," and even showed some of her original sheet music from that time. Many of the famous visitors to Winona Lake stayed in the Rodeheaver home. Helen knew such greats as Billy Sunday and Billy Graham before he became well-known. She was in the home when Homer Rodeheaver died.
Joy taught for 33 years.
The sisters eagerly talked about the early days in Winona Lake. They told how Winona Lake was a religious center in the summer (very few people lived there in the winter). Various groups held conventions throughout that time, and world-famous singers and preachers visited the Billy Sunday Tabernacle, with its sawdust floor.
Today, Warsaw runs into Winona Lake, but in the early 1900s, there was empty land between the two, and the sisters paid 5 cents to ride the interurban from Warsaw. There was an interurban turnaround at the entrance to Winona, which was more like a large park as there also was a 25-cent charge to get into Winona.
They also explained how, during lean times, Homer Rodeheaver bought up homes and buildings to give money to the town, then let the people buy back the homes when they were able.
The conversation went on and on as they shared stories about their experiences in Winona Lake.
One thing was evident - they are very close. Helen said, "We've always been close, even though we don't live in the same area."
Joy said, "You mean we love each other." And they all nodded in agreement.
