Wakarusa is located on the west side of Elkhart County, in rural Olive Township. When formed in 1836, this Township was composed of the normal 36 sections. But around 1840 the western half was given to St. Joseph County.

The Township grew rapidly as settlers came west to this new area to clear the thick forest and start farming. Before the settlers had time to think about starting a village, in 1849 the "Mt. Olive" mail station was opened in Harvey Bly's log cabin located three and a half miles north of the present Wakarusa. It is probably that Bly's strong religious views influenced the naming this station Mt. Olive. The "post office" was surely just a "box" for each township family. Regardless however crude these were, it was surely better than going to Goshen or Elkhart's post offices when a notice was published in the newspaper stating a letter arrived for a person. Mt Olive was hardly the beginning of a village.

The influx of settlers created the need for a commercial center. Elkhart and Goshen were simply too far away to take care of the farming actives. In 1852 "Salem" was layout located at the present corners of County Road 40 (Waterford Street) and 3 (Elkhart Street). This village owns it start to three young farmers who saw the need for it, and plotted the corners of their farms to form it. In October, 1852, Block 1 (NE corner) was plotted by John Smeltzer, Block 2 (NW corner) by John Holderman and Block 3 (SW corner) by Jacob Pletcher, Jr. In December 1854, Block 4 (SE corner) was plotted by Henry Myers. At the time of Salem formation, none of the rural businesses were located on any of this land. In just a few years almost all the lots were sold. Most lot prices ranged from $11 to $70.

The post office was relocated to Salem, but kept it original Mt. Olive name. The first merchants were Thomas Inks and Jackson Woolverton started a dry goods store. Inks also built the first house. Since there was a Salem in southern part of the state, the name was changed in 1859 to Wakarusa. The Mt. Olive post office name was to Wakarusa on March 15, 1860.

A stave and heading factory was built in 186_. Loucks, Werntz & Co. built a saw and planning mill in 1866. In 1875 the newspaper was started. In 1881 there were two wagon and carriage factories, two harness shops, two drug stores, two dry good stores, one hardware and implement store, one furniture store, one grist mill, two blacksmith shops, one meat market, one hotel, on millinery store, one barber shop, one saloon, two physicians, one veterinary surgeon exited in the thriving town (History of Elkhart County, 1881). The population was around 400.

Wakarusa tried hard to get a railroad to their town. It wasn't until December 1892 the Wabash Railroad delivered its first freight. The first train passed through on April 30. 1893. This was well after the first train arrived in Elkhart in September 1851. The Wabash made Wakarusa a real town.

The Wakarusa's Sesquicentennial Celebration is August 24, 2002.

EARLY PICTURES

Downtown Buildings

Southeast corner of the square, looking at the new side walks being installed.

Looking down on a full street.

Early Street Scene with men and buildings.

Chicago Drugs Store and a team driven buggy.

Lushers Department Store

Fink Building

John L. Fink Store and a loaded wagon.

Downtown Street Scenes

Southwest side of Main Street looking north before 1899.

Northwest side of Main Street (Elkhart St.) looking south. The postcard was marked April 7, 1914.

Main Street (Elkhart St.) before 1899, with little room for more wagon/buggy parking.

Waterford Street , looking west.

Southeast side of Main Street looking north around 1930.

South Main (Elkhart) Street, around 1890's.

West Waterford St - early 1900's

East Waterford St looking west. Early 1900's.

South Side of Waterford St around 1914.

Other Street Views

Broad walk on Wabash Avenue, 1900.

Parades

July 4th down town, early 1910's.

July 4th olds car parade Early 1910's.

Ladies in the Millinery Float

The Leonard Hardware store float

The Leonard Hardware 1910 float

The Doering's store float, 1908

Several Ladies on a Float

Log Haulers Contest

Home Coming Day Parade Wagons .

Bauer Bros. Harness Booth, Sept 19, 1912.

Maple Syrup Festival 1963.

Transportation

Steam Train coming into the Wabash Station, with a young boy on the next tract.

Passenger Train at the Depot.http://wakarusa.org/.html

John H. Doering automobile dealership around 1910.

Inside the Doering Store showing two Ford Model T's.

Main Street (Elkhart St.) around the mid-1920's covered with snow and cars.

Two Fords on a cold snowy day, around 1930's.

Winter Scene on Elkhart Street, around 1930's.

Northeast Waterford on a cold snowy day, around 1930's.

An early Truck Mounted Snow Plow, around 1930's.

SE Elkhart Street snow scene in the mid-1920's.

Cars parked on SW Elkhart Street 1949.

Factories, Mills, etc.

Cars parked on SW Elkhart Street 1940.

Trisinger and Walter Lumber.

Wakarusa Milling Company.

Wakarusa Staves Factory.

County Scenes

Frost, Woods and Muddy Road Scene.

1920-22 George Esenwein's Perkins Powered Saw Mill

Read a small town newspaper Serving The Wakarusa Community Since 1892,







Subscription rates: Elkhart, Marshall, St. Joseph, Kosciusko Counties One year $20.00. All other US rates $22.80. To order or for more information e-mail William Nich, the Editor, or call 574-862-2179.
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