10 Years Ago There will be an open house Oct. 23 commemorating 90 years of service of the Winona Lake Fire Department. The town realized the need to build a fire station and purchase a fire truck because of the “Great Fire,” April 14, 1914. Men were burning leaves below the Chestnut Street Hill, south of the Winona Hotel, when a gust of wind carried sparks to cottages lining the street. The only firefighting equipment, a hose reel on wheels, was dragged to the scene, but the fire was too advanced by the time the men arrived. The wind picked up and fed the fire, and the path of destruction headed directly for the Winona Hotel. A railroad worker wired Fort Wayne for help; volunteers blew up cottages to keep the fire from the hotel, which was saved but 23 houses and cottages were destroyed. 50 Years Ago The Nursing Department of Grace College honored Deborah Cooley at a reception in the Cooley Science Center, named in honor of her late husband, Chester. Faculty, students and Cooley’s daughter, Patricia Lenke, attended. Dr. John J. Davis, Grace College president, helped her display the plaque. “Christopher Churchmouse” travels around the country promoting books and tapes for Scripture Press Publishers. He recently spent two days at Light and Life Bookstore, talking with manager Amy Burley and customers Priscilla Cooper and Veronica Neff. Triton Junior Miss Woman of the Year contestants were Robyn Askins, Terri Bates, Nicole D’Amico, Sheila Ellinger, Rachael Greenhow, Candy Hayes, Kate Keel, Sue Pearl, Janelle Reed, Kathy Reichart, Blanca Tribalski, Jenny Weirick and Missy Young. 50 Years Ago Warsaw High School Girls Athletic Association officers for 1964-65 are Linda Bird, president; Claudette Himes, vice president; Sandy Sanders, publicity chairman; Susie Sadler, treasurer; and Elaine Munson, secretary. The local organization is the state badminton defending champion. Leesburg’s Norm Dukes set a course record in leading his high school Blue Blazers to a four-way win in cross country action at Shipshewana with a time of 10:07. 4-H members Teresa Pifer, Douglas Long and Marilyn Reiff from the North Webster School are observing 4-H Week, which began Sept. 26. Roy “Doc” Miller, president, presented a plaque to Millard Hire for his part in organizing and directing the Syracuse Drum and Bugle Corps, “Sons of the American Legion.” 75 Years Ago Howard S. Smith, Warsaw, owner of the Air Service field north of Warsaw purchased the old Monoquet schoolhouse at the southwest corner of the field. Reub and Avis Ferns, Warsaw’s comedy team, are providing many laughs with their acts for a huge crowd at the Nappanee fair. The boys at the local cigar store are having quite a time with Claude Elder’s Boston bull puppy. The 3-cent postage stamp commemorating the 25th anniversary of the construction of the Panama Canal has been placed on sale at the Warsaw post office. The stamp is light purple in color with a light background and shows a picture of a ship passing through the canal. President Theodore Roosevelt, founder, is on the left; General George W. Goethels, builder, is on the right.
