10 Years Ago Excerpt from Warsaw Daily Times Nov. 2. 1901 written by Reuben Williams, editor and publisher: The Pittsburgh and Ohio Railroad was about to be completed to Fort Wayne and a new company, the Fort Wayne and Chicago, was organized to carry the line through to Chicago. The line would pass through Warsaw. Money was raised for construction and the work of grading the line west of Fort Wayne began. The road was graded to Chicago, track was completed, furnished with rails late in the fall of 1856 and the first train of cars passed over the road and into Chicago. From that time until after the close of the Civil War few towns along the line did a larger business than Warsaw, and for a number of years it was the biggest wheat market between Chicago and Pittsburgh. 25 Years Ago Merl Poling, Warsaw, will be retiring from United Telephone Company March 31. He has been with the company since 1956, starting as an installation and repair worker in Denver. Loyal Hathaway, Warsaw, has retired from UTS after nearly 35 years, starting as a cable splicer assistant in November 1954. Harry E. Purcell Jr. has been with the company for 35 years, beginning with Southern Indiana Telephone Company (later purchased by United) in 1954. His retirement is effective April 1. Reynold Swanson, Warsaw, has been promoted to senior information analyst. He began his employment as a lineworker on Jan. 30, 1974. Warsaw Christian School held its annual science fair with more than 100 projects from students. Julianne Tucker won the Grand Prize. Jeannine Bowdler, Andrew Plank and Joshua Hicks were the other three winners. 50 Years Ago Mike Klondaris, son of Mr. and Mrs. Terry Klondaris, and Randy Underhill, son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Underhill, work on their project for the Warsaw Community School Science Fair March 13 and 14. The project comes under the heading of Soil Conservation and depicts soil erosion; the boys are constructing it from wire screen and plaster. Both are pupils at Washington Elementary School. Sunday’s spring-like weather and breezes brought these youngsters from Ramar Drive out to try their hand at kite-flying: Roger Cook, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Cook; Steve, Karen and Lynn Nichols, children of Mr. and Mrs. Donald Nichols; and Melissa Bell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Bell. 75 Years Ago Rovenstine’s General Store has been an Atwood institution for 62 years, providing groceries and supplies. The store was founded in 1878 by C. A. “Cash” Rovenstine’s father; at age 7 he began working with his father, and at 18 purchased the business. Mrs. Rovenstine took the Times reporter and cameraman through her damaged house. A new store will open Friday in the empty bank building across the street.
