The History of Syracuse – Wawasee 1801-1900

1830s – 1860s

In the 1830s, so many young settlers were attracted to free land in Kosciusko County that there was a land rush.  “Would-be settlers waited on the Elkhart-Kosciusko County border, near the eastern end of Goshen to run for their stakes,” according to Waldo Adams (1899 – 1989) who helped establish the Kosciusko County Historical Society.

In the first few decades of the 19th century, the federal government proclaimed the Indiana Territory to be nearly free of its native inhabitants.

In 1832, Henry Ward and Samuel Crosson[1] came to the township and constructed a dam across Turkey Creek, near the outlet at the site of the Huntington Street bridge, to power a grist-mill in 1833. According to the Combined Atlas Map of Kosciusko County, Indiana, 1879, “About four years later, the creek was swollen by heavy rains, causing a freshet, during which the dam at this mill was washed away, and two pairs of mill-stones fell to the bottom of the creek.” Subsequently, another flouring-mill was built at the lower end of the race, on the site occupied at present (1879) by Nathaniel Crow’s mill. The first saw-mill was built on Turkey Creek in 1836 by Ward and Crosson.

[1] Combined Atlas Map of Kosciusko County, Ind. 1879, published by Kingman Bros. uses the spelling Crawson, but most historians believe Crosson to be the correct spelling

In 1833, near the site of the mill, Samuel Crosson built a small log house – the first house in the township.  Other early settlers were: Estin McClintock, John C. Johnson, Patrick Johnson, William Cassidy, George Phebus, Andrew Guy, Valentine Slate, Henry Madden, Robert Warner, Valentine Fockler, John Angell, John Dillon, George Kirkpatrick, John Beck, David Mohler, Andrew Spangle, Joel Spangle and William Strieby.

In 1834, Huntington Street was created north and south through town. The first store was a small frame structure built by Samuel Crosson in 1836, located at the NE corner of Main & Huntington Streets. The first hotel in the township was kept by George Kirkpatrick in 1836, and it wasn’t long until the community included a school, general store, blacksmith, tannery, shoemaker, carpenter and other merchants.   Dr. Hartshorn located at Syracuse in 1835 and practiced there several years.  Dr. John Shue located in the village about the same time.  The first school in the township was built on the hill at Syracuse in 1836.  A son of Harvey Veneman died in 1836, and was the first person buried in the Syracuse Cemetery, one acre of ground donated by Samuel Crosson. 

The Indiana State Legislature authorized the creation of Kosciusko County on February 7, 1835, and the county government was organized in 1836. Turkey Creek Township was incorporated June 29, 1836.  The name “Syracuse” means “city on a hill.”  Samuel Crosson and Henry Ward, proprietors of the land upon which the original plat is located, named and platted the town of Syracuse in 1837.  The first election was held at the office of Henry Ward, Syracuse, in April 1838, with Samuel Crosson as Inspector.

Many Syracuse residents served in the Civil War.  The Church of God, active in the community as early as 1858, erected a new church building north of the school in 1866 which remains active today.

The “Golden Age” of the Community, 1870 -1929

Syracuse Lodge, No. 454, A., F. & A.M., was organized July 6, 1872, with thirteen charter members.  A charter was granted May 27, 1873, and on the 24th day of June, 1873, the Lodge was duly constituted and its officers installed.

The Chicago Branch of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad was completed to Syracuse in 1874, allowing easier transport of goods and people adding largely to the growth of the village.  One of the many railroad employees to settle here was J.P. Dolan, a timekeeper who contributed his time and talents to Syracuse over the next thirty years. He participated in bringing utility systems to Syracuse and was a pioneer in the educational and library systems.

In the fall of 1874, a brick school-building, housing all grade levels, was completed where the upper parking lot now is located on East Main St.

On September 18, 1875 the official election on whether the town should be incorporated was successfully passed. Syracuse was officially incorporated in October, 1876. The first elected Town Board members were: Amos King, Addison Green, and Evan Miles.  Evan Miles was elected as the first President of the Syracuse Town Board at their first meeting of November 24, 1876.  George Ray was selected as the Marshal, Ed Holloway as the Clerk and Joe Bushong the Treasurer.

In 1879, Syracuse merchants were represented:  Dietrick & Son and G.W. Stetler, general merchandise; Henry Keefer, groceries & notions; Issac Kindig, grocery & bakery; C.W. Knorr and Eli Holloway, drugs; Addison Green and Davis Yaunce, hardware; John Wayer, Henry Mitchell and Frank Leash – cobbler, boot and shoe manufacturers; Ira Widner and William Wallace, harness makers; George W. Worden, tinner; Misses Hardesty & Roberts, milliners and dressmakers; Z. Widner & Son and Young & Basney, carriage and wagonmakers; J.A. Kindig, flouring mill; Samuel Bashone, planing and saw mill, later (C. 1894) sold to Francis Ott; physicians: Drs. D.C. Kelley, F.M. Thrig, C. Knorr, and A.R. Collar.

In December, 1899, the first telephone company was organized in the town of Syracuse.  On Jan. 7, 1901, fire destroyed all of what is now known as the Pickwick Block (north side of first block of West Main Street.)

The area’s natural beauty attracted tourists and eventually seasonal residents, who built homes on the lakes.

1930s to Present

1935 – Syracuse Centennial was celebrated even though Crosson & Ward actually platted Syracuse in 1837.

May, 1937 – Magnolia Blossom festival and parade dedicated the Pickwick Block, the vision of William Edgar “Ed” Long.

Fire Department: The first record of a Syracuse Fire Department – essentially a bucket brigade – dates back to November, 1875.  The first fire station was built in the 1930s, but March 23, 1960, the Syracuse/Turkey Township Fire Department fire station with all its equipment burned to the ground.  The department was moved to the Harkless building on S. Huntington St.  The present fire station was built in 1961/62 in the 400 block of Huntington Street.  In 1986, a second fire station was put into service on the east side of Lake Wawasee.

The Pickwick Block has been visited by fire several times, the most spectacular being Feb. 2, 1946 (reconstructed in 1947) and on Jan. 1, 1971 which destroyed most everything except the Pickwick Theatre. The 1972 reconstruction created a park-like space called Pickwick Place on the northwest corner of Main and Huntington Streets.

In 1986, the town and township officials moved into the new Town Hall.

1987 – Syracuse celebrated its Sesquicentennial

Today the Town of Syracuse, Indiana, has a five-member elected Town Council which is the executive and legislative decision-making body for the town. The elected Clerk Treasurer is the fiscal officer. The appointed Town Manager is the operations officer for the town, with the appointed Town Attorney being the legal advisor for the Town.