City of New Carlisle history

The site of New Carlisle, and also the beautiful Terre Coupee Prairie it overlooks, was included in the lands ceded to the United States by the treaty made the Pottawatomie Indians on October 16, 1826.

The Post Office has been operational since 1828.

They met at the house of Alexis Coquillard in what is now South Bend, on the fourth Monday of May, 1830 and appointed the following county officers - A treasurer, required to post a bond of $1,000.00, an assessor, a tax collector, two constables, two overseers of the poor, and two fence viewers.

As early as 1833, the village known first as Lake Port, then later changed to Hudson, began to be recognized as a place of importance.

And so it was that early in 1834, Richard Risley Carlisle, a relative of the Egberts, came to Olive Township from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

For it was true that soon after George Matthews arrived in New Carlisle, he opened a post office and was duly appointed postmaster Feb.25, 1837.

Frank Hunt opened a dry goods store in 1839, but the next year he moved to Valparaiso,Indiana.

Mathews and Schuyler taught and maintained this Sunday School until 1841, when the family moved to South Bend.

In 1844, Doctor John Davis, Sam Bates, Lew Mowry, George (Shorty) Vincent, Burr Casaday, Lewis Trowbridge, and Jim and Bert Hooten organized the Seymore ball club.

Typical of them is the beautiful home of Jeremiah Service built about 1850.

The first Methodist parsonage was built in 1854.

The first harness shop was started by Hiram Barrett in 1856.

A letter dated September 7, 1859, was sent to the merchants of the New York City soliciting funds for a bell for the church.

The first term commenced September 24, 1861.

In 1862, he sold his store and home to E.C. Taylor who continued this business until his death.

In 1863, at the public meeting of the citizens of New Carlisle, the New Carlisle Cemetery Association was organized and the following officers were duly elected, Isaac Borden, Adam Mell, and F.D. Warner, Trustee.

The five wards of the town were established December 19, 1866.

The building was finished during the winter of 1870, at a cost of $2,500.00.

His son, Francis D. Warner bought it and in 1874, it was replaced by a two story brick building.

Who planted the beautiful maple trees on either side of the main street is unknown to present day residents, but the trees came from Newton Miller’s woods, south of town, in 1877.As the town grew, many business firms took shape.

In 1880, the first fire department on record was formed, known as the New Carlisle Hose Company.

15, 1881, and the school building was moved up on Michigan street.

About 1890, William Brummitt retired and Arthur Brummitt went into the business with his brother Mark.

On March 1898, sealed proposals were received at the town clerk’s office for installation of an electrical light plant.

Through the efforts of the original members, the New Carlisle and Olive Township Public Library came into existence. (See public library). The Woman’s Literary Club was organized in April 1901, for the purpose of studying Shakespeare and other great authors.

Taken from a paper written by Mrs. (Dot) White "New Carlisle can boast of a fine Public Library which was founded in 1902.

The town of New Carlisle then bought the building and until 1903, the same brick building housed the elementary grades and high school of the town school.

At the end of 1906, Moffitt was sold by South Bend to the Toronto team in the international league and a couple of years later pitched one of the most remarkable games ever recorded in minor league history.

Student Sage Sch. of Philosophy; D.D.., DePauw, 1907, Baldwin U., 1907; m.

In 1917, a group of farmers established a Farmers State Bank in a building on the south west corner of Michigan and Arch streets.

Doctor Hugh Shedd of LaPorte County came to New Carlisle in 1920, remaining a few years and then went on to South Bend where he practiced for sometime.

Beginning in 1922, electrical power was purchased from the Indiana and Michigan Electrical Company.

The completion of the viaduct in 1927, marked the culmination of efforts begun more than ten years before by New Carlisle residents to eliminate the already famed "death crossing" over the New York Central tracks.

The old pump repair-shop building was found to be a nuisance and detriment to public health and ordered torn down June 1, 1931.

Later he sold this mill to O.H.Massey, who in 1933 sold out to Carl and Alma Zahl, after operating the forty barrel flour mill for 26 years.

Doctor Walter Scherer came from South Bend in 1939, and is still practicing here.

Soldofsky took over in 1941, for one year.

An educational program for cancer control began in 1943, under the direction of the following committee: Mr.

In 1946, Arthur Brummitt Sr., received a 50 year pin from the Indiana Banker’s Association.

On October 8, 1947, the Post had purchased a tract of land known as Lot 1 and 2 of the New Carlisle Lumber and Coal Co.

In June, 1949, Glen and Winnie Watson of LaCrosse, Indiana purchased the building and the business.

Edwin A. Penick was transferred to New Carlisle on July 13, 1950, from the Walkerton Lumber Company, a Hass owned organization.

In 1952, the congregation purchased a $15,000 parsonage, climaxing 25 years of service to the community.

A special election was held on the 25th day of August, 1953, on the question of establishing a sewage treatment works and the issuance of revenue bonds to finance the cost.