ANGOLA DONS YULETIDE GARB

CHRISTMAS TREES, BRIGHT LIGHTS, FINE WINDOWS

Spread Christmas Spirit with Lavish Hand--Formal Opening Thursday Night

 Angola is being decorated in holiday attire this week, ready for the formal opening of the Christmas shopping season on Thursday evening, Dec 8.  At 7:00 o'clock the lights will be turned on and windows unveiled, it will be seen that the well known reputation of the city for its beautiful holiday decorations has been fully maintained.  New lighting equipment was supplied this year, and the arrangement for lighting the monument with flood lights has been turned to advantage to enhance the beauty of the public square.  Four fine trees have been placed on the mound in the square with four strands of colored lights.  Street lighting posts have been turned into Christmas trees with various colored.  Thursday evening at 7:00 o'clock, the Legion band will come out and lead the procession of happy people who will officially welcome in the Christmas season. All the lights will be turned on, Santa Claus, we are told, will be here, and the Christmas windows will be lighted, and the Old Man Gloom will be routed.  The Psi Iota Xi Sorority  and the High School Girls a Capella Choir will sing.

For the entertainment of the children during the Christmas season, the merchants have arranged for three free matinees on Saturday afternoon, Dec. 10,17,and 24 at the Brokaw Theater.  Parents are invited to leave their children there while doing their Christmas shopping.

Sugar Distribution Saturday

The free distribution of sugar which has been carried on during the past few weeks, will be continued
on Saturday afternoons at 2:00 o'clock with many fine gifts added.

Stores Ready for Season

The stores of Angola are blossoming out in full Christmas attire.  Fine stocks of merchandise are ready and suitable gifts for everyone can be found.  The prices this year run lower than for many years, and the public will be surprised how cheaply Christmas cheer may be provided.  The new lines of Christmas toys are very unique, with a tendency toward the substantial and useful.  Purses, jewelry, man and women's wear, furniture, hardware novelties and electrical equipment are all available at very reasonable prices this year.

Fine programs are being arranged in the schools and churches, opening Sunday afternoon with the College Chapel in the Christian church auditorium to which the public is invited.



Steuben Republican December 7, 1932

MERCHANTS OPEN CHRISTMAS SHOW

CITY GLITTERS WITH COLORED LIGHTS AMONG GREENS

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Stores Open Each Evening Until Christmas - Free Picture Shows Offered Children Saturdays

The merchants of Angola Formally opened the 1929 Christmas trading season Thursday evening by the unveiling of show windows and special lighting of the streets.  Angola certainly presented a handsome appearance on this occasion, and will continue to do so throughout the season.  Each one of the thirty-six lamp posts in the streets has been transformed into a Christmas tree, lighted with brilliantly colored lamps, surmounted by the large street globe.  Four handsome trees adorn the public monument place with strings of lights running from each post to the top of the monument, and a circle enclosing the mound.  Each tree has it's share of colored lights.  All of this has been prepared by the ingenuity of Cleo Gibson, city light superintendent.

Prof. Jackson's carol singers from the high school and David Hughes small band from the county schools discoursed music as the lights were turned on and the show windows unveiled at the signal of the ringing of the court house bell at 7:30 o'clock. The musicians then serenaded various business places, while merry throngs gazed in the beautiful store windows or visited the stores.

How the lights were taken to the top of the monument is a matter of inquiry from many sources.  It was first proposed to shoot an arrow carrying a piece of twine over the monument, and John Estrich was enlisted to do the Willliam Tell act.  John's aim going up was good, but the arrows were not heavy enough and the twine became entangled about the metal work of the statue.  After two arrows were hung up there in this way, the query arose, how to get them down?  This required some expert angling from a tall ladder, which was successful.  Then Virgil Wisner offered to throw a baseball over the statue, and his third attempt was successful, the ball carrying the twine which later pulled a rope over the shoulder of Miss Liberty, which sustains the light wires.

Merchants Ready For Large Trade

A visit through the stores reveals a fine array of Christmas goods brought here by our merchants.  A larger line may be found of course in large cities, but not a better line of the things that our people want.  Local shoppers will do themselves an injustice if they do not look over these stocks.

Many of the merchants are using these newspaper columns freely in carrying the message of their Christmas offerings direct to the home buyer in the home. Look over these advertisements while in the comfort of your home and make out your Christmas list.  More ads will appear next week.  

Stores Open Evenings

The Angola stores will be open evenings on every business day from now until Christmas.  In these comfortable well lighted stores you can do your shopping as conveniently in the evening as well as in the daytime.  Early purchasing is urged as it saves the customer much unnecessary last hour worry.

Free Picture Show Saturday

Angola merchants have arranged for free picture show matinees for the children commencing at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday afternoons, at the Angola Opera House.  The theater was filled last Saturday afternoon with happy, merry children who greatly enjoyed this courtesy of the merchants and Mr. Brokaw.  Every child of fourteen or under will be admitted free again next Saturday afternoon.  The show will be "The Avenging Rider" with sound news.  Any adult who wished to attend will be admitted at the regular admission charges.

Free Poultry on Saturday Dec. 21 

The merchants committee is arranging for free distribution of poultry on Saturday afternoon Dec. 21 at 1:30 o'clock.  You may have your choice of turkey, geese, ducks, chickens, guineas, all free of charge except you must catch them youself.  They will be released on the streets - be here and get them and watch the fun if you don't get a bird.  There will be plenty of chances.

It will be to your interest to do your Christmas trading at home.

Steuben Republican December 11, 1929

72 Years In Angola

Frank Cary Reached That Distinction Yesterday

Has Seen A Great Many Changes - Made Three trips To California Since That Time

Seventy-two years in Angola, is the record attained by Frank Cary, the Gale street hardware man, on Tuesday July 3, for that many years ago on that date he was brought to Angola, a boy 13 years old, by his father and since that time he has claimed this city as his home. No other person living within the confines of Angola can claim such a record, although there may be others older that Mr Cary's 85 years, but none other has lived in this city that long.  Mr Cary's father, Abel Cary, came to Angola before that time and built a home where Dr. T. F. Wood's office now stands.  In 1845 he returned to his former home at Bucyrus, where he had been a toll gate keeper, and brought his son to Angola.  Two brothers had also preceded the youth, and one William Cary, built the brick house on the corner of Maumee and Superior streets, which Wm Helm is now converting into a modern residence.  The brick for this house was made by Wm Cary and his brother John Cary burned the lime for it in pits near Silver Lake, still rich in marl deposits.

Frank Cary, then being a well developed youth, still retains vivid impressions of early scenes about this locality.  The public square, instead of being paved and ornamented with lights, a lawn and a monument, contained two pond holes, a stump, and a clump of hazel brushes.  The old court house stood at the southeast corner of the square.  Jesse Mugg was a tavern keeper and Elisha Sears kept a store where Williamson's hardware store is now located.  This building was built with hewn timbers, even the studding, and the upper part was used for a hall and lodge room and was home in time of both the Odd Fellow and Masonic lodges.  Mr Cary was one of the charter members of the Masonic lodge and kept his membership unbroken to this day, and his son and grandson are both members of the same body.  Mr Cary has been zealous in his attendance on the order, and his work in the ceremonies has made a decided hit with all the later members.

Mr Cary has visited California three times since living here, the first time in 1862, by wagon train, when he was in charge of 12 horses, and was five months on journey.  He returned by water, crossing the Isthmus of Panama and resuming his journey to New York.  A brother accompanied him, returned by way of the horn.  He also went once by water, starting from New York.

Mr Cary remembers well the men of the early days, including Judge Gale, Cornelius Gilmore, A. W. Hendry and others who had much to do with shaping Angola's early history.  He recalls with ease the time when this vicinity was an ideal hunting place, abounding in squirrel, wild turkeys, duck, and other small game and has seen the erection of nearly all the homes, the city now being more than 10 times as large as when he came here. 

Herald Republican July 4, 1917

Santa And His Reindeer Will Be Here This Weekend

Jolly Old St Nick will be here for sure this weekend, according to the latest reports from the North Pole by way of Jud Essenberg, head of the Angola Merchants Christmas Committee.

Santa has been spending a large amount of time and money to make his sleigh and eight reindeer headed by the red-nosed Rudolph, a sight to behold.  The jolly old fellow will arrive at 7 p.m., Friday night, December 4, and will bring his large sleigh and reindeer up to the spot in front of the court house. More than a thousand lights will illuminate Santa and his sleigh.  And to be sure he has enough current, Santa has installed his own generator to feed current to this beautiful display.

All good girls and boys are invited to come up to see Santa.  He will have candy gifts for them and also will have many many gift certificated donated by various Angola merchants.  These certificates will be good for a large variety of gifts both for youngsters and the oldsters.

Santa will be on hand again Saturday to see the children and learn what they want him to bring them on Christmas.  He will be at his sleigh in front of the court house on Saturday afternoon, December 5, wo give out candy and gift certificates again.

All of the merchants of Angola will have their stores decorated for the Christmas Opening Friday night and will be open for customers just to browse around and see what new gift ideas are available.  Their stores wull be open Friday night and Saturday night and many will also remain opened evenings until Christmas.

The streets of Angola will be decorated, also in the Christmas motif, with the mound and its manger scene the center of attention.  The bands of lights and greens running from the edges of the mound up the monument will add to the decoration.

The arrangements for Santa and his sleigh have been made through Santa's helper, Charles Rodebaugh of Angola.  He has spent a large amount of time and effort to see that Santa arrives in all his splendor aboard a modern style sleigh with the glossiest reindeer available.

Herald Republican December 2, 1959

Cyclone at Angola

Territory in Steuben County Swept By Destructive Storm
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 Buildings Are Lifted From Foundations, Roofs Are Swept From their Holdings

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 (BY KIST NEWS BUREAU)

ANGOLA,Ind. July 16 - At about 2 O'clock this afternoon a small sized cyclone struck Angola blowing down dozens of shade trees, wrecking buildings and doing considerable damage to property.  The course of the storm was from the southwest to northeast, but it was not to exceed a quarter to half a mile in width.  It had been threatening and rained once or twice during the afternoon.  About 1 0'clock the clouds began to thicken and a storm threatened.  Rain began to fall and there was a heavy downpour, when it grew still darker and the wind began to blow increasing until it became a veritable cyclone.  Persons in a position to observe the gathering tempest describe it as a black funnel shaped cloud which approached the city from the southwest.  There was a roaring sound and the air filled with leaves, twigs and small branches of trees.  The storm struck the city some distance south of the college, passing through Cambridge Addition and reaching the business portion in the vicinity of the courthouse park.  It went nearly north to Dolly Varden Street, thence east.

Before reaching the city a barn and a house on the Menges farm were blown down, also a barn belong to Dr. JE Waugh, of near Fox Lake, was blown from it's foundation and the bank barn of S.A. Mose, of near the Leavittsburg Ward School was totally demolished.  The residence of Vinde Ball near the college had a narrow escape, as a large oak tree fell near enough to break the cornice and crush the porch at the kitchen door and the top of another tree damaged the front porch.  Near here a number of       chimneys were blown from houses, two or three barns were wrecked, a porch from the Gilbert residence and out hothouses picked up and scattered about promiscuously.  Jacob Mountz's chicken house was carried across the road and against JG Chasey's residence breaking two windows. Many fruit and shade trees in the path of the storm were blown down and in a dozen or more places the street were blockaded with the fallen trees.  In Court House Park seven or eight of the huge maple trees were broken down.  The Hendry Hotel hack, which was going to the 2:04 pm train , was caught in the storm and turned over, the driver Ellis Obetholtzer escaping with some serious bruises.  Harry K Scott who was on the street was struck by a piece of board and slightly injured. Fortunately there were no fatalities so far as learned.

The residence of William Miller on Dolly Varden street was blown four feet from its foundation and badly wrecked.  A portion of the foundation was also broken. The barn of William Paske in Scott Township was uprooted by the wind.



Fort Wayne Journal Gazette July 16, 1907

Early Settlers of Angola Faced Wolves and Indians told by Louisa Gale Hendry

Mr. and Mrs. A.W. Hendry built one of the most pretentious homes in Angola, which was purchase by Dr. Don Cameron and remodeled to become the present Cameron Hospital.  Mrs. Hendry (Louisa Gale)  in her advanced years gave a fine account of early life in Angola.

"When we moved to Indiana, " said Mrs. Hendry, "I was ten years old.  We had a team of horses and moved in wagons.  We came through what is known as the Black Swamp and located where the town of Lima (now Howe) stands.  Father laid out the town".

"We came from Lima to Griswold's sawmill, now called Flint.  Mr Stealy lived here (Angola) before we came.  When we came to Angola no one but Cornelius Gilmore's family and ourselves lived here".

"Most of the public square was then timberland.  It was not heavy timber, but more of a thicket.  There was one large walnut tree tree standing just east of where Hotel Hendry (southwest corner of W. Maumee and Elizabeth St)  now stands.  It was sawed down and the stump was large enough for a table.  Walnut timber was very plentiful, and there was a number of trees in our field.  There was a large pond just northwest of the where the public square is now".

"We young people did not have any amusements then.  We had to work and assist our parents all we could in cleaning land and making a home.  We could sometimes wander in the woods, but it was not safe to go on account of snakes, wolves, Indians, etc. What amusements we had consisted of  of spelling and singing schools and amusements of a very mild type".

"What did we have to eat?  Well not very much.  Our principal eatables were bread, pork, and potatoes; we had plenty of this but could nor sell pork and potatoes, as there was no market for them.  We bought berries of the Indians when we could get them.  I was quite a girl before I ever saw a peach.  Sugar was very hard to get.  If our sugar or tea began to get low or run short we just had to make it last until we would be able to get more,  We would drive to Detroit and Monroe where we bought goods.  It was a better harbor than Toledo, which was a small place then.  We went to a little place called Union Mills (now Mongo) to get flour.  When we went to mill, two or three families would go and put two or three yoke of oxen to one wagon".

"James Gale and his mother came here from Crawford county, Ohio in 1837, and entered land south of town.  One night Jesse Gale's mother wanted to go to church, some of us went to stay with Jesse and the younger children, and we were all much frightened because of the barking of wolves.  We found the wolves more attracted by a pen of sheep.  The men were usually good marksmen and carried their guns with them for protection when they went to work.  As the county became more settled the wolves disappeared".

"The first school we had was taught right in our home, which stood where Hotel Hendry now stands.  Soon after this we rolled logs together and built a school house a short distance west of our house".

"When we moved here it was father's intention to start a county seat.  He had helped about locating the county seat in Lima (Howe), and several other county seats.  He was a great hand to get something started.  We had engineers come and lay out the town.  After Mr. Gilmore's and our house, Louisa Orten's was the next building built, and after that a house was built which is now Dr. T.F. Wood's office."  This house stood just west of Hotel Hendry".

"The first field that was plowed was a little north and east of what is now the public square.  The first death that I remember was a child of Mr Gilmore, he was a year or two old.  It was right in the middle of winter and the ground was covered with snow.  The best place we could find for a grave was what is now the old cemetery.  Two acres were donated for a graveyard, and this was our first burying ground".

"When we first moved here this was the Indians camping ground; but the Indians did not stay long after the country was settled.  The government soon sent them away"

"Frank Sowle had the first saloon here. He began by keeping a restaurant, selling pies and cakes, and later began selling liquor".

Angola

Street running west to depot showing the old Morse house to the right and the old Cramer house to the the left, where Collins Moss house now stands, the Cap Sowle house and Miller house. The Patterson home is in the foreground, the Andy Young and later known as the Latson home.  To the right the old Woolen mill later laundry and feed store.  To the east Frank Sowle home, the Danale home, H.O. Merry now Clines home, and Joseph Sowle property.

Description written on the back of photo donated to the library.  

Angola Circa 1870

Showing M.E. parsonage, now Fred Richardson and A.E.Morse house in the distance.  Mr Rice home showing evergreen in front yard.  Empire Store moved from site of the IOOF bldg. and used as annex to the Eagle Hotel.  Later moved to N. Wayne St and at present (1924) occupied by Greenwood Body as a plumbing shop.

Property of Carnegie Public Library

Street running west to depot (Maumee) showing the old Morse house to the right and the old Carmer house to the left, where Collin Moss house now stands.  The Cap Sowle house and Miller house.  The Patterson home in the foreground, the andy young and later known as the Latson home.  To the right, the old Woolen Mill later laundry and feed store.  To the east Frank Sowle home, the Danale home, H.O. Merry home, now Clines home and Jospeh Sowle property.

Angola Circa 1870

Property of Carnegie Public Library

                       Looking South
 "Old schoolhouse (Angola Academy), showing Snider house in the distance. Over the roof of the courthouse you see the Darling home and Brownfield home.  To the right nothing until you come to the Vandz home."

Description written on the back of photo donated to the library.

Angola Circa 1870

Property of Carnegie Public Library

 
SE corner Public Square:   "Old schoolhouse in the distance.   Thomas Gale and Cornelius Gilmore donated the site for the original courthouse which was a frame building.  This was replaced by the present brick building, built in 1868, in the style of Faneriel Hall in Boston."


Description written on the back of photo donated to the library.                                  

Angola circa 1870

                                                                         
       

Property of Carnegie Public Library

Looking Northeast from Courthouse  

"Showing M.E. parsonage, now Fred Richardson and A.E.Morse house in the distance.  Mr Rice home showing evergreen in front yard.  Empire Store moved from site of the IOOF bldg. and used as annex to the Eagle Hotel.  Later moved to N. Wayne St and at present (1924) occupied by Greenwood Body as a plumbing shop."

Description written on the back of photo
donated to the library.