Wakarusa High School - Waka Memories Yearbook (Wakarusa, IN)

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History Wa arusa During the first ten years after the organization of Olive Township, there were no centers of population besides the log school houses. ln 1849 the Mt. Olive Post Office was established, two and one half miles north of the present site of Wararusa. At nearly the same time, William Moon settled where the fish pond used to be, in the present site of Wakarusa. He was the first settler. After some time others had settled near him and in 1852 they platted the village and called it Salem. The Mt. Olive Post Office was moved to Salem. At once difficulties arose, there being another Salem in Indiana. After a time of confusion in postal matters, the citizens assembled in a town meeting and voted a new name. After some argument, Mr. Woolverton proposed the name of Wakarusa which was the name of the town in Kansas from which he came. This name re- ceived the general favor because the meaning is knee deep in mud. This was characteristic of the boggy soil on which the town was located. Thomas Inks and Jackson Wollverton were the first merchants in Wak- arusa. The Lutherans built the first church. The first public school was erected about 1856. Wakarusa has for a half century been the principal center of Olive Township. During the greater part of this period it has not had railroad advantages but has simply existed as the country town The twentieth century Wakarusa affords attractions as a place of residence or a place of business. Q A Wakarusa has many business places today. It has three banks, one of which is a First National Bank with a capital of 9525,000. The farmers in the near vicinity have organized a Corporative Creamery. 315,000 worth of stock were sold at S10 each. Both corporations are a remark- able success and a boost to the city. Among the other business places are, two drug stores, three general merchandise stores, three harness and buggy shops, two hardware stores, two shoe shops, one electric shop, one bakery, two millinery shops, two blackmith shops, one cafe, four garages two furniture stores, one printing shop, one machine shop, one pool room one fiour mill, ladder factory and saw mill. 3 9 Wakarusa has a third class Post Office. The postmaster being Mr. Vern Hahn. There are three rural delivery routes from Wakarusa. Wakarusa is a religious town, having five churches. The Brethern on Wabash Ave., is under Rev. Metzler, the M. B. C., on West Waterford, is under Rev. Fleicher, the Christian on East Waterford, under Rev. Fraiz- er, the Methodist, on South Elkhart, under Rev. Smith, and Beulah Chapel under Rev. Kauffman. 1 7 Seven

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WARD DOERING VIRGIL STAUFFER FRANK WlSE BLAINE RHEUBOTTOM . LE ROY GARBERICH CLIFFORD PLETCHER EDWARD STROPE HUGH BERKEY RAYMOND SCHRYER OLEN EICHER QTransport Servicej CLEM HAHN ELMER LEHMAN MERL YODER - The following boys were in the S. A. T. C.: Ray Brown Clyde Eshleman Devon Frash Worth Yoder Chester Albin Dewey Lienhart Loyal Stewart Charles McDonough Ralph Culp Winfred Wagner W. H. S. has done her part of furnishing men in the late war by send- ing thirty-four of her Alumni. 0 The Boys' Working Reserve In the Spring of 1918 a Boys' Working Reserve was organized. .All boys over sixteen years of age were allowed to join. Two kinds of Medals were given as prizes, a Badge for thirty-six days labor and a Bar for one hundred days labor. The following received Badges and Bars: John Birk Glen Roeder Elmer Metzler Albert Herrington Ernest Chokey Huber Yoder Edward Chokey Paul Christner Joyce Lehman Emmert Roose Herbert Sailor Nelson Holdeman Norris Shirck Walter Lechlitner Hermit Eby ..-.-0 The Victory Boys and Girls Two Victory Clubs were organized, one by the boys and the other by the girls of 1921. Each club paid the fee of tive dollars. The members of the Clubs were as follows: Girls Boys Hattie Yoder Edward Chokey Mildred Hahn Keith Frash Bernita Morris Paul Christner Cora Null Walter Lechlitner Elsie Weldy Orley Wilson Gleta Schwalm Huber Yoder 1 Hermit Eby Six

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oar Education BOYD STAUFFER J. B. LEONARD CALVIN LEINHART President Treasurer Secretary Eight