Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Genral Reuben Williams founded the Northern Indianian newspaper in 1854. His legacy continues today as the Times-Union newspaper, now is in its fifth generation of family-owned operation.
Genral Reuben Williams founded the Northern Indianian newspaper in 1854. His legacy continues today as the Times-Union newspaper, now is in its fifth generation of family-owned operation
While Warsaw is celebrating its 125th anniversary as a city, some area businesses are even older.
The oldest business in the county in continuous operation since its founding (and operated by the same family that started it) is, of course, the Times-Union.
Founded in 1854 as the Northern Indianian by Gen. Reuben Williams and George Fairbrother, the newspaper merged with the Daily Times and the Union and in 1942 became the Times-Union.
Now in its fifth consecutive generation of ownership by the Williams family, the Times-Union has been in its present building on the corner of Market and Indiana streets since 1923.
Lake City Bank also is older than the city, starting in 1872, and is the third oldest state-chartered bank in Indiana.
Originally on the town square, LCB has been in its current location since 1962.
To make it an even dozen of the oldest businesses in and around Warsaw, the next 10 are, in order of age:
• In 1895 DePuy, founded by Revra DePuy, became the first manufacturer in the world of orthopedic appliances.
When Revra DePuy died in 1921, his wife took over managing the company. She remarried in 1924, and her husband, Herschel Leiter, was executive president until his 1950 death.
DePuy moved to its current building on U.S. 30E in 1975.
• Little Crow Foods was founded in 1903 by Wilbur F. Maish Sr., originally as a flour mill on the courthouse square.
Little Crow moved to its present location in 1924, and is in its fourth generation of family ownership.
• Dalton Foundries Inc., named after its founder, Donald J. Dalton, began in 1910 to produce a home cobbler set for repairing shoes.
In 1923 the company combined all of its businesses - including Sunderland Pump Mfg. Co., Dalton Malleable Casting Co. and Gray Iron Foundry - into The Dalton foundries Inc.
Dalton has been in its current location on Jefferson Street since 1918.
• Warsaw Cut Glass Co. opened its doors in 1911, and still uses the original building and turn-of-the-century equipment that it used when the company began.
One of the few facilities in the country that practices the art of cutting glass, Warsaw Cut Glass Co. is now owned by Randy and Linda Kirkendall.
• Myer Levin and Sons Inc., scrap iron and steel processors, has been in business since 1914.
Originally located near Center Lake, the business in 1980 moved to the intersection of Ind. 15N and U.S. 30, and the city of Warsaw bought the Center Lake property, which is now Warsaw Biblical Gardens.
• Hall and Marose Agency Inc. began in 1920 by W.R. Hall, and was originally named the Hall-Spencer Agency. In 1922 it became the Hall-Anglin Agency, and after Art Marose became a partner in 1964, when the firm moved to its present location on West Market Street, the named changed to the Hall and Marose Agency Inc.
• One of Warsaw's most famous (or infamous) businesses was started in 1920 by Robert Breading Sr. and his son, Lewis "Peanuts" Breading, who started Breadings Cigar Store. The store moved to its current location in 1950.
Burleigh Burgh bought into the store in 1959, and he and Craig Smith bought the majority interest in 1974.
• Warsaw Foundry Co. was founded in 1923 by William Petro Sr. to make aluminum castings. An early product was an aluminum brace for Zimmer.
The company moved from the west end of Winona Avenue to the property on north Detroit Street in 1927.
A fire in 1945 stopped business for 13 months while a new plant was built. The company is in its third generation of ownership.
• Zimmer Manufacturing Co. was started in 1927 by former DePuy employees Justin O. Zimmer and J.J. ettinger. The company began in Ettinger's basement with aluminum splints and other orthopedic equipment, and by 1929 had gone international.
Zimmer died in 1951, and Ettinger became president. The company was acquired in 1972 by Bristol-Myers. Ray Elliott has been president since 1997.
• Topping off the dozen oldest businesses in Warsaw is Anderson greenhouses, on North Detroit Street.
Originally a greenhouse begun in the early 1900s, Leroy G. Anderson bought the business in 1927, and it is still owned by the Anderson family.
Seven of these businesses - Times-Union, Lake City Bank, DePuy, Little Crow Foods, Dalton Corp., Myer Levin and Zimmer - are featured on a commemorative plate that is now being sold at Downtown Days.
The plates are available for $15 each, and all proceeds will go to the Kosciusko County Historical Society.
Only 500 plates were made, and they will be sold during Downtown Days at the Jail Museum, Courthouse Coffee and Le Gourmet Chocolate Shoppe. Any plates remaining after Downtown Days will be available at the gift shop in the Jail Museum.
