Merry Christmas
and a
Happy New Year
Friday, December 17, 2010
Saturday, December 11, 2010
TELEPHONE PIONEERED IN STEUBEN COUNTY IN 1895
It was in the days when hitching rails encircled the well known square in Angola and horse and buggies transported many of Angola's some 2500 citizens to the popular Croxton Opera House, that the first telephone came to town.
Although Mr A.G. Bell's "talking box" had been making its debut throughout the United States since 1876, it was in 1895 that the idea of taking two people, two telephones and one line to communicated between homes and towns really sparked the interest of persons living in the area.
Edsen A. Wilder and Lorenzo Taylor were the first "Mr Telephones" of that era. Their excitement must have been great that day in the mid 1890's when a line was extended from Wilder's hardware store in Orland to Taylor's farm home one and one-half miles away so that the two men could talk to each other.
Not long after the Wilder-Taylor line made its grand entrance into Steuben County, the two men formed a partnership and the Steuben County Electric Telephone Company came into being with Taylor as president and Wilder as secretary-treasurer. Other persons making up the organization included Floyd Averill, Dr. J.E. Waugh, Doan Somerlott, Sol A Wood and N.W. Gilbert.
The telephone exchange office in Angola was located in the Gillis block in the same building where Bassett's Restaurant now operates (across the street west from the courthouse). Their "night girl" and the "day girl" operators kept the flow of telephone talk running smoothly as possible from their second floor location above Thomas Gillis's grocery store.
A 45 year telephone career for the late John Carson of Angola began in 1898 when he became the company's chief lineman. John Sutton and George Griffith who both had worked for telephone companies in the east, turned to their hometown of Angola and put their knowledge to work with the local company. Telephone lines and poles were beginning to become familiar sights in the town and the surrounding area.
Orville Stevens of the Gooddale Abstract Company reminisces on the two summers he spent, 1902 and 1903, working as a lineman in Angola. "In those days everyone did everything," he laughed, meaning that the work connected with putting up the telephone lines and poles made a very good day's work with variety-plus for all telephone people. Wages for a "beginner" were about $25 a month or $1 a day. But, Stevens recalled, it was possible to work up to a "top" wage of $40.00 a month!
And this money came for the hours he, and undoubtedly others spent in swampy land cutting tamarack trees and preparing them for use as telephone poles - for digging the holes and setting sometimes 35 of them in the 10 to 20 hour working day - stretching the wire over many miles - and, of course, "the trouble-shooting" (trying to find telephone trouble on the lines) sometimes into the darkest hours of the night.
Even though the "newfangled" type of vehicle four wheels instead of four legs began appearing in Angola in the early 1900, Stevens recalls that the telephone company still relied on its horse and wagon combinations to carry plant equipment from here to everywhere. in the area.
In 1911, the company bought a two story house on the corner of North Wayne and Gilmore and although it didn't move to that location until several years later, the barn that accompanied the house was used immediately for housing horses, wagons, and equipment.
Ten o'clock in the evening was "zero" for placing telephone calls, with the exception of emergencies, in teh early days of telephone service. And the operators were on the job again bright and early when the farmers having telephones began their "wee 'o the mornin' calls!"
Edson Wilder's son, Harry, became the company's secretary-treasurer in 1904 and later its general manager. The firm had a healthy and hearty growth during 20 years under his leadership.
Although the company grew, this does not mean its growth was unrivaled. From 1906 until 1912, a firm organized and managed by farmers in the area competed with the Steuben county Electric Company for the telephone customers and this competitor. The Farmers' Telephone Company, was well-represented with lines in exchanges throughout the county.
The two-company competition must have had it humorous episodes-and maybe some annoying ones, too, especially for persons in business who needed both telephones in order to get all the calls from residents. One of these two-telephone owners, Clinton Ernsberger of Orland, can remember well some of the situations caused by the dual system. "When both telephones rang at the same time, I'd answer one, tell them to wait just a moment, answer the other, tell them the same thing, and them take care of them both as fast as I could," he says with a laugh. Apparently he acted as a "middle man." too, between residents who were on one line who wanted to contact undertakers whose telephones were on the "other" company's line. He recalls receiving many such calls and usually during the night.
In 1912, though, the cost of maintenance and service became to much for the Farmers Company and the investment was turned over to the Steuben County Electric Telephone Company. And in 1913, this company, with John Carson as its plant manager, changed its name to the Home telephone Company.
Miss Anna Wert of Angola, began her telephone "tour of duty" as an operator in 1916 with the Home Telephone Company and can remember the days when operators pay averaged $3.20 each week.
Angola's doctors, lawyers, merchants, and undertakers relied on the telephone operators in those days to keep their patients, clients and customers advised of their location whenever they were going to be "out." Apparently doubling as secretaries as well as telephone operators was rewarding. Miss Wert, recalls that when working on holidays the "hello girls" were served meals and other delicacies by various companies and professional people. "There was no way to tell when people had finished talking," Miss Wert said, "so we would have to monitor the calls in those days." She added, too, that the job of telephone operators, even though the hours were long, appealed mostly to young girls of high school age. Women older that 45 were not hired.
In 1920, the Home Telephone Company was reorganized and became the Steuben County Telephone Company. Harry Wilder remained it's manager. And in 1932, another change took place when the Steuben County Company was sold to the Indiana Associated Telephone Company, a part of what is now the General Telephone System.
A new exchange office was built on the corner of North Wayne and Gilmore and the company moved from the Gillis Block to 201 North Wayne during the following year. This move also "introduced" more modern telephone equipment to the Angola residents when the very latest common battery manual equipment was installed in the new building.
One of the Steuben first owners of the new telephones was Claude Morse, who became bookkeeper of the company in 1922 and in 1929 was names its manager.
When Indiana Associated took over the company in 1932, the employee who had begun his Angola telephone days "way back in '98" -- John Carson -- was names district manager and held this position until his retirement in 1944. This district included Fremont, Hamilton, Orland, and Pleasant Lake.
In 1952, Indiana Associated was renamed General Telephone Company of Indiana, Inc., and during that year the investment in local telephone plant and equipment was nearly tripled. Where one "hello girl" operator back in the 1890s handled the telephone traffic, it now took 45 operators and work shifts that included every hour of the 24 - hour day. And that $3.20-a-week pay for operators and $40-a-month for plant men had increased considerably, for the company's annual payroll amounted to $221,000.
How times changed from the days when Orville Stevens remembers a solitary telephone line was extended from Angola to his home town of nearby Metz (if Metz could provide it's own telephone poles that is),and
the operators had about 20 or 25 lines to handle calls for!
The 1960 days in Angola's telephone history are finding progress, as well as history, being made in the exchange, Dial telephones, and the million and a quarter dollar investment in the Angola area, which makes their arrival possible, will soon enable Angola customers to dial their own calls.
operators handling calls to locations not accessible as yet to direct distance dialing will "man their posts" at the company's new building on West Broad Street, after the conversion. a far, far, cry from the original "traffic room" on the second floor of the Gillis Building. Customers are already able to order service and pay their bills at this location, and what a change from the early days when receipts were kept in a cigar box in the Gillis Building office!
Telephone history is currently being mad every hour in Angola, but certainly a speical "portion of praise" should go to men such as Carson, the WIlders, Morse, and operators Mary Denny Boots and Cora Sickles, among others, who in their time helped build the "foundation" on which General Telephone is building today.
Steuben Republican March 7, 1962
Although Mr A.G. Bell's "talking box" had been making its debut throughout the United States since 1876, it was in 1895 that the idea of taking two people, two telephones and one line to communicated between homes and towns really sparked the interest of persons living in the area.
Edsen A. Wilder and Lorenzo Taylor were the first "Mr Telephones" of that era. Their excitement must have been great that day in the mid 1890's when a line was extended from Wilder's hardware store in Orland to Taylor's farm home one and one-half miles away so that the two men could talk to each other.
Not long after the Wilder-Taylor line made its grand entrance into Steuben County, the two men formed a partnership and the Steuben County Electric Telephone Company came into being with Taylor as president and Wilder as secretary-treasurer. Other persons making up the organization included Floyd Averill, Dr. J.E. Waugh, Doan Somerlott, Sol A Wood and N.W. Gilbert.
The telephone exchange office in Angola was located in the Gillis block in the same building where Bassett's Restaurant now operates (across the street west from the courthouse). Their "night girl" and the "day girl" operators kept the flow of telephone talk running smoothly as possible from their second floor location above Thomas Gillis's grocery store.
A 45 year telephone career for the late John Carson of Angola began in 1898 when he became the company's chief lineman. John Sutton and George Griffith who both had worked for telephone companies in the east, turned to their hometown of Angola and put their knowledge to work with the local company. Telephone lines and poles were beginning to become familiar sights in the town and the surrounding area.
Orville Stevens of the Gooddale Abstract Company reminisces on the two summers he spent, 1902 and 1903, working as a lineman in Angola. "In those days everyone did everything," he laughed, meaning that the work connected with putting up the telephone lines and poles made a very good day's work with variety-plus for all telephone people. Wages for a "beginner" were about $25 a month or $1 a day. But, Stevens recalled, it was possible to work up to a "top" wage of $40.00 a month!
And this money came for the hours he, and undoubtedly others spent in swampy land cutting tamarack trees and preparing them for use as telephone poles - for digging the holes and setting sometimes 35 of them in the 10 to 20 hour working day - stretching the wire over many miles - and, of course, "the trouble-shooting" (trying to find telephone trouble on the lines) sometimes into the darkest hours of the night.
Even though the "newfangled" type of vehicle four wheels instead of four legs began appearing in Angola in the early 1900, Stevens recalls that the telephone company still relied on its horse and wagon combinations to carry plant equipment from here to everywhere. in the area.
In 1911, the company bought a two story house on the corner of North Wayne and Gilmore and although it didn't move to that location until several years later, the barn that accompanied the house was used immediately for housing horses, wagons, and equipment.
Ten o'clock in the evening was "zero" for placing telephone calls, with the exception of emergencies, in teh early days of telephone service. And the operators were on the job again bright and early when the farmers having telephones began their "wee 'o the mornin' calls!"
Edson Wilder's son, Harry, became the company's secretary-treasurer in 1904 and later its general manager. The firm had a healthy and hearty growth during 20 years under his leadership.
Although the company grew, this does not mean its growth was unrivaled. From 1906 until 1912, a firm organized and managed by farmers in the area competed with the Steuben county Electric Company for the telephone customers and this competitor. The Farmers' Telephone Company, was well-represented with lines in exchanges throughout the county.
The two-company competition must have had it humorous episodes-and maybe some annoying ones, too, especially for persons in business who needed both telephones in order to get all the calls from residents. One of these two-telephone owners, Clinton Ernsberger of Orland, can remember well some of the situations caused by the dual system. "When both telephones rang at the same time, I'd answer one, tell them to wait just a moment, answer the other, tell them the same thing, and them take care of them both as fast as I could," he says with a laugh. Apparently he acted as a "middle man." too, between residents who were on one line who wanted to contact undertakers whose telephones were on the "other" company's line. He recalls receiving many such calls and usually during the night.
In 1912, though, the cost of maintenance and service became to much for the Farmers Company and the investment was turned over to the Steuben County Electric Telephone Company. And in 1913, this company, with John Carson as its plant manager, changed its name to the Home telephone Company.
Miss Anna Wert of Angola, began her telephone "tour of duty" as an operator in 1916 with the Home Telephone Company and can remember the days when operators pay averaged $3.20 each week.
Angola's doctors, lawyers, merchants, and undertakers relied on the telephone operators in those days to keep their patients, clients and customers advised of their location whenever they were going to be "out." Apparently doubling as secretaries as well as telephone operators was rewarding. Miss Wert, recalls that when working on holidays the "hello girls" were served meals and other delicacies by various companies and professional people. "There was no way to tell when people had finished talking," Miss Wert said, "so we would have to monitor the calls in those days." She added, too, that the job of telephone operators, even though the hours were long, appealed mostly to young girls of high school age. Women older that 45 were not hired.
In 1920, the Home Telephone Company was reorganized and became the Steuben County Telephone Company. Harry Wilder remained it's manager. And in 1932, another change took place when the Steuben County Company was sold to the Indiana Associated Telephone Company, a part of what is now the General Telephone System.
A new exchange office was built on the corner of North Wayne and Gilmore and the company moved from the Gillis Block to 201 North Wayne during the following year. This move also "introduced" more modern telephone equipment to the Angola residents when the very latest common battery manual equipment was installed in the new building.
One of the Steuben first owners of the new telephones was Claude Morse, who became bookkeeper of the company in 1922 and in 1929 was names its manager.
When Indiana Associated took over the company in 1932, the employee who had begun his Angola telephone days "way back in '98" -- John Carson -- was names district manager and held this position until his retirement in 1944. This district included Fremont, Hamilton, Orland, and Pleasant Lake.
In 1952, Indiana Associated was renamed General Telephone Company of Indiana, Inc., and during that year the investment in local telephone plant and equipment was nearly tripled. Where one "hello girl" operator back in the 1890s handled the telephone traffic, it now took 45 operators and work shifts that included every hour of the 24 - hour day. And that $3.20-a-week pay for operators and $40-a-month for plant men had increased considerably, for the company's annual payroll amounted to $221,000.
How times changed from the days when Orville Stevens remembers a solitary telephone line was extended from Angola to his home town of nearby Metz (if Metz could provide it's own telephone poles that is),and
the operators had about 20 or 25 lines to handle calls for!
The 1960 days in Angola's telephone history are finding progress, as well as history, being made in the exchange, Dial telephones, and the million and a quarter dollar investment in the Angola area, which makes their arrival possible, will soon enable Angola customers to dial their own calls.
operators handling calls to locations not accessible as yet to direct distance dialing will "man their posts" at the company's new building on West Broad Street, after the conversion. a far, far, cry from the original "traffic room" on the second floor of the Gillis Building. Customers are already able to order service and pay their bills at this location, and what a change from the early days when receipts were kept in a cigar box in the Gillis Building office!
Telephone history is currently being mad every hour in Angola, but certainly a speical "portion of praise" should go to men such as Carson, the WIlders, Morse, and operators Mary Denny Boots and Cora Sickles, among others, who in their time helped build the "foundation" on which General Telephone is building today.
Steuben Republican March 7, 1962
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
POULTRY THROW HERE SATURDAY
Large Flock of Fowls of All Kinds Will Be Released from Tops of Business Houses on Saturday - Yours for the Taking
How about a nice turkey for the Christmas dinner table free? Or how about a nice duck, or a chicken or some other kind of fowl? All free!
Sounds rather unusual, doesn't it, but nevertheless a large number of fowls of every kind will be thrown from the roofs of the business houses in Angola next Saturday afternoon, beginning at 1:00 o'clock, which will be free to anyone who can catch them.
That's easy, isn't it?
To find out how easy it is, just be on hand and enter the turkey and chicken catching contest when these birds are released. You will have no warning, of course, just at what point the fowls will be thrown out, but they will be in the business section and mostly on the public square.
There is no charge for entry. The only thing you need to do is to catch them, tie them up, and put them over your arm and walk away with them.
Why not try salt on their tails? That used to be an old-fashioned recipe for catching birds.
Some folks say a turkey will hop onto a hot pole. Well, you may try any way you wish to catch them.
One thing is certain - that if you are not in Angola next Saturday afternoon, you will miss oodles of fun and perhaps be short a fowl that might fly your way and right into your hands.
In case blizzard weather prevails, the poultry throw will be held on Monday afternoon instead of Saturday.
Free Show for the Children
The free matinees at the opera house for children of fourteen and under will be held on Saturday afternoon, December 21. This feature has proven very popular in the previous Saturday afternoons, the theater being full to capacity. You are invited to leave your children here in safe surroundings while doing your Christmas shopping. Adults will be admitted to the theater at the regular rates.
The Steuben Republican, December 18, 1929
How about a nice turkey for the Christmas dinner table free? Or how about a nice duck, or a chicken or some other kind of fowl? All free!
Sounds rather unusual, doesn't it, but nevertheless a large number of fowls of every kind will be thrown from the roofs of the business houses in Angola next Saturday afternoon, beginning at 1:00 o'clock, which will be free to anyone who can catch them.
That's easy, isn't it?
To find out how easy it is, just be on hand and enter the turkey and chicken catching contest when these birds are released. You will have no warning, of course, just at what point the fowls will be thrown out, but they will be in the business section and mostly on the public square.
There is no charge for entry. The only thing you need to do is to catch them, tie them up, and put them over your arm and walk away with them.
Why not try salt on their tails? That used to be an old-fashioned recipe for catching birds.
Some folks say a turkey will hop onto a hot pole. Well, you may try any way you wish to catch them.
One thing is certain - that if you are not in Angola next Saturday afternoon, you will miss oodles of fun and perhaps be short a fowl that might fly your way and right into your hands.
In case blizzard weather prevails, the poultry throw will be held on Monday afternoon instead of Saturday.
Free Show for the Children
The free matinees at the opera house for children of fourteen and under will be held on Saturday afternoon, December 21. This feature has proven very popular in the previous Saturday afternoons, the theater being full to capacity. You are invited to leave your children here in safe surroundings while doing your Christmas shopping. Adults will be admitted to the theater at the regular rates.
The Steuben Republican, December 18, 1929
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Fire Does Much Damage To Methodist Church
Pipe Organ, Furniture, Windows and Woodwork All Badly Damaged
Early Estimates Fix Loss Near $75,000
________________________________________________________________________
Bulletin
The Angola Fire Department was called again to the Methodist Church at 11:45 Thursday
because of fire breaking out in the high roof of the church, The outcome of the third
outbreak cannot be determines at the hour of publishing this paper, but in all probability the latest
outbreak will cause almost complete loss of the inner structure and contents of the church.
__________________________________________________________________________
Fire which apparently originated above the heating plant in the First Methodist church wrought heavy damage throughout the entire structure and contents at an early hour on Thursday morning. Various early estimates of the probable damage range from $40,000 to as high as $100,000.
The fire was discovered at about 1;30 o'clock, although an electric wall clock stopped at 1:05, which would indicate the fire had made much progress inside the church before it was discovered. Exact cause of the fire cannot yet be determined, and it may have originated in the coal stoked heating plant or in overloaded electric wiring. The floor in the sanctuary of the church above the heating plant was completely burned and the interior of the church was charred by the intense heat although damage to the overhead structural construction
is probably confined to the seared finish of the woodwork. The large pipe organ in the church is probably a total loss, and replacement at present values will probably cost in excess of $10,000. Some of the fine art glass windows, particularly the circular top windows were completely destroyed, and these are probably irreplaceable. The entire woodwork and furniture, including the pews, within the church will require complete refinishing. The fine carpeting was also badly damaged by smoke and water and actual burning in places.
The church had but recently put in many improvements, particularly in the basement rooms, with new tile floors and redecorating and the full extent of the damage in all of the departments of church cannot yet be fully determined.
The Angola fire department was again called to the church at 8:15 on Thursday because of fire having again broken out about the large chimney in the upper part of the church. This damage however, was relatively insignificant. The point of actual beginning of the fire cannot be determined. No meeting had been held in the church during the evening, but slow fire had been maintained in the heating plant as was the usual practice. Rev. J.W. Borders, the minister of the church, states that he had been accustomed to going into the church nightly to see that everything was in order, and that in his usual visit he detected nothing wrong about the church.
The loss and inconvenience to the congregation of Methodists is especially severe at this time, because of the extra heavy program of church activities. The board of stewards of the church announced a meeting at 10:00 o'clock Thursday forenoon to plan action both as regards to the church meetings and reconstruction problems. The First Christian Church and the First Congregational church through their ministers and the official boards promptly tendered use of their church properties to the Methodist congregation for their services. The board tentatively arranged for regular sessions of the Sunday School and church service in the Angola High School building. Sunday School classes will be held in the school class rooms and the church worship service will be held in the auditorium.
Herald Republican Friday February 13, 1948
The fire was discovered at about 1;30 o'clock, although an electric wall clock stopped at 1:05, which would indicate the fire had made much progress inside the church before it was discovered. Exact cause of the fire cannot yet be determined, and it may have originated in the coal stoked heating plant or in overloaded electric wiring. The floor in the sanctuary of the church above the heating plant was completely burned and the interior of the church was charred by the intense heat although damage to the overhead structural construction
is probably confined to the seared finish of the woodwork. The large pipe organ in the church is probably a total loss, and replacement at present values will probably cost in excess of $10,000. Some of the fine art glass windows, particularly the circular top windows were completely destroyed, and these are probably irreplaceable. The entire woodwork and furniture, including the pews, within the church will require complete refinishing. The fine carpeting was also badly damaged by smoke and water and actual burning in places.
The church had but recently put in many improvements, particularly in the basement rooms, with new tile floors and redecorating and the full extent of the damage in all of the departments of church cannot yet be fully determined.The Angola fire department was again called to the church at 8:15 on Thursday because of fire having again broken out about the large chimney in the upper part of the church. This damage however, was relatively insignificant. The point of actual beginning of the fire cannot be determined. No meeting had been held in the church during the evening, but slow fire had been maintained in the heating plant as was the usual practice. Rev. J.W. Borders, the minister of the church, states that he had been accustomed to going into the church nightly to see that everything was in order, and that in his usual visit he detected nothing wrong about the church.
The loss and inconvenience to the congregation of Methodists is especially severe at this time, because of the extra heavy program of church activities. The board of stewards of the church announced a meeting at 10:00 o'clock Thursday forenoon to plan action both as regards to the church meetings and reconstruction problems. The First Christian Church and the First Congregational church through their ministers and the official boards promptly tendered use of their church properties to the Methodist congregation for their services. The board tentatively arranged for regular sessions of the Sunday School and church service in the Angola High School building. Sunday School classes will be held in the school class rooms and the church worship service will be held in the auditorium.
Herald Republican Friday February 13, 1948
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Fire at Scott Township School
On Tuesday Evening of last week while Sadie Showalter, teacher of school district No 1, Scott township, was sweeping the school room after the scholars had left for home, she heard a noise at the door and on opening it was met by a middle aged man whom she took for a tramp. The man asked her if she was the teacher of the school and how long she intended to teach. She told him that she was the teacher and that there were eight weeks more of the term. The man than said: "I will bet $50.00 that you will not teach the balance of the term," and then left the school house. Miss Showalter was very much frightened, as there are no houses near the school grounds, and after securely locking the door went to her boarding place. About seven o'clock of the same evening the school house was discovered to be on fire by two men who were passing, who giving the alarm succeeded in saving the building after but little damage had been done. The tramp evidently got in through the window and started the fire in the wood box, and then made good his escape. The school was dismissed for one week until the building could be repaired.
Herald Republican Wednesday May 7, 1890
Herald Republican Wednesday May 7, 1890
Monday, October 25, 2010
Cyclone at Angola
Territory in Steuben County Swept By Destructive Storm
----------------------------------------------------------
Buildings Are Lifted From Foundations, Roofs Are Swept From their Holdings
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Buildings Are Lifted From Foundations, Roofs Are Swept From their Holdings
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(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.
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
Friday, October 22, 2010
Scenic Tower New Attraction
FOR THE VISITORS OF STEUBEN COUNTY LAKES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TO BE ERECTED ON HIGHEST HILL, THREE AND A HALF MILES NORTH OF ANGOLA
READY FOR THE 1927 SEASON
A new attraction for the visitors to Steuben County and one which promises to afford great pleasure and draw people for many miles, will be the scenic observatory now in course of construction three and a half miles north of Angola on the state road at the point formerly known as Buck Mountain where the old house now stands visible for many miles. The promoters of the project are Dr S.C. Wolfe, Otis Gilmore and J Ed Wolfe. Their plans call for a tower rising eighty-five feet from the ground and sloping from a 24 X 24 foundation to a 12 x 12 top at 72 feet, and a balcony at this point four feet wide around the tower. The top will rise 13 feet higher and will have a platform on top from which observations can be made, at least fifteen miles in every direction. The tower will be sided, and there will be floors every 12 feet, accessible by an easy stairway. At each floor will be windows from which a view may be had. The tower will be equipped with field glasses and telescopes to give aid to the vision. At the base of the tower will be developed refreshment stands and other features attractive to visitors.
Towers if this type have proven very popular with tourist in the mountainous country and high points on main roads, and there is every reason to believe that this will add much to the popularity of Steuben County. In fact, it will do much to advertise the county, for there is no doubt of the beauty of the view that will be obtainable from such a height.
The location of this tower is at the highest point in this vicinity, and several higher than Hell's Point, according to measurements taken when the promoters were looking for a site. The proximity of the tour to Federal Road 27 will also be attractive to the large numbers of people passing by.
It is also located at the corner where the road turns to the main entrance of the new Lake James Golf Course, and on the highway leading to the new state park. The view from the tower will overlook the park.
"Hoosier Hills" is the name which this new attraction to Steuben County's features will bear.
Steuben Republican October 6, 1926
Pictures : Carnegie Public Library of Steuben County
Towers if this type have proven very popular with tourist in the mountainous country and high points on main roads, and there is every reason to believe that this will add much to the popularity of Steuben County. In fact, it will do much to advertise the county, for there is no doubt of the beauty of the view that will be obtainable from such a height.
The location of this tower is at the highest point in this vicinity, and several higher than Hell's Point, according to measurements taken when the promoters were looking for a site. The proximity of the tour to Federal Road 27 will also be attractive to the large numbers of people passing by.
It is also located at the corner where the road turns to the main entrance of the new Lake James Golf Course, and on the highway leading to the new state park. The view from the tower will overlook the park."Hoosier Hills" is the name which this new attraction to Steuben County's features will bear.
Steuben Republican October 6, 1926
Pictures : Carnegie Public Library of Steuben County
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