By DENNIS NARTKER
“History is the witness that testifies to the passing of time; it illuminates reality, vitalizes memory, provides guidance in daily life, and brings us tidings of antiquity.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero, 106-43 BC.

It started with an idea inspired by City Council’s decision to preserve the Kendallville City Hall building and the Downtown Business Association’s campaign to preserve the historic downtown business district.
Why not a series of stories of the history of Kendallville’s downtown business district?
Sounds like a lot of work. Maybe The News-Sun’s business editor will help me tackle this project.
The managing editor liked the idea.
A plan was prepared.
The first part should concentrate on the history, including major events since William Mitchell first platted the west side of the 100 block of South Main Street 148 years ago.
The series should include personal memories of the people, places and events.
Interviews were scheduled. A call for submissions of personal remembrances went out through this column four weeks ago.
As many historic Main Street photos as possible were collected.
The series should also feature longtime Main Street merchants.
Bob Klinkenberg, proprietor of the oldest family-run business on Main Street, appropriately called Klinkenberg’s, 201 S. Main St., agreed to an interview.
Dave Christianson, proprietor of Christianson’s Jewelers, 125 S. Main St., also agreed to an interview and photos of his watch-making repair skills and equipment.
Craig Fischer, a second-generation pharmacist and proprietor of Main Street’s only pharmacy, Fischer Family Pharmacy, 114 S. Main St., welcomed the opportunity.
We caught up with John Cazier, owner of Business Service Company of America, 107 N. Main St., whose building is already on the national register as a historic landmark.
Ron Hudson, manager of the Strand Theatre, 221 S. Main St., a one-time opera house, agreed to talk about his business and show our photographer the theater.
The News-Sun’s history was included.
City Councilman Shane Mulholland, who is leading the Downtown Business Association historic preservation campaign, agreed to contribute his family’s history of Main Street business ownership.
More than 40 people responded to my call for downtown Kendallville memories.
Pam Bailey of Kendallville wrote a five-page letter front and back, and Mrs. Esther Owen of Albion sent a four-page letter front and back with notes in the margins.
I was overwhelmed with photographs and historic records from Russell Frehse, Jean Cochard, Pat Carteaux, Sharon Stark, Phil Kaiser, Ed and Marjorie Misselhorn and Burnell Aungst.
Here is a list of those contributing to this series: Russell Frehse, Robert Klinkenberg, Irene Schenher, Gladys K. Gardner, Mrs. Esther Owen, Lauren Smith, Phyllis Smith, Pam Bailey, Ray Kurtz, Burnell Aungst, Arlene Roberts, Dewitt Cochard, Marg Andelin, the late Ken Patterson (video), John Cain (video), Vern Steckley (video), Ken Stark, Sharon Stark, Virginia B. Sigler, Jean Cochard, Carolyn Cox, Ersel Cox III, Mrs. Irene Chilcote, Mrs. Pat Kurtz, June Phillips, Phil Kaiser, Larry McGahen, Pamela Mortimore Bryant, Kathy (Hasselman) Young, Alice Swogger, Mary Parker, Pat Carteaux, Anita Hess, Marianna Reick, Norman Seidel, Shane Mulholland, John Cazier, Ron Hudson, Dave Christianson, Edythe (Franze) Nartker, Cleo Mark of Avilla, Lucille Cazier and the city engineering department.
Thank you folks for your effort. If your contribution is not included in the series, I’ll try to add it to future Inside Comment articles.
The plan for an eight-part series with a special four-page photo section was given the green light.
For Part 1 in the series, research included reviewing “The History of Kendallville and Noble County 1863-1963,” published by The News-Sun with articles by the late Norm Carter; “The History of Kendallville” by Mrs. Henry C. Misselhorn; Arthur Franklin Mapes poetry; “Alvord’s History of Noble County”; “Kendallville Merchants Through the Years” compiled by Maryjane Sawyer Jollief and edited by Jean Stiver Cochard; “In the Beginning: Memories of an Indian Boyhood” by Phil W. Kaufman; “Crimson Trail of the Triple Killer” by N.E. Slagaugh in the December 1939 issue of Daring Detective magazine; and “Get Your Man or Else” by W. Ray Dixon in the Jan. 15, 1938, issue of Official Detective Stories.
Two Kendallville Public Library videos also proved useful.
In 1987, library staff videotaped retired Kendallville business owners John Cain and Vern Steckley and the late Ken Patterson describing their downtown memories.
The library had also converted WANE-TV’s “Vista ’63” TV program from film to videotape on Kendallville’s 1963 Centennial celebration.
I also consulted back copies of The News-Sun and conducted interviews.
Writing the series proved difficult. I often wondered how historians condensed over 200 years of American history into one book with a title like “The History of the U.S.” Condensing over 140 years of Kendallville downtown history wasn’t easy.