New town hall highlight’s Rome City’s year

The new Rome City Town Hall opened in 2002, marking a highlight for the town.

The new hall sits on S.R. 9 and boasts greatly expanded offices for the town’s clerk-treasurer and manager and the Rome City town marshal’s office. The new marshal’s office includes an interview room.

The chambers of the Rome City Town Council are also expanded in the new facility.

There is also an office to be shared by the Rome City Conservancy District and the Chautauqua Days Festival, and a small kitchenette for workers in the building.

A major feature of the town hall is its basement, most of which is intended for use as an emergency shelter in the event of tornadoes. Plans call for it to be open to the public during tornado warnings.

One of the Rome City area’s best-known landmarks, the former Kneipp Springs sanitorium, continued the process of being converted into a sports complex this winter.

ACTGG Partnership LLP bought the property Nov. 2, 2000.

ACTGG’s Larry Young has announced plans to build a baseball and softball tournament venue on the property’s fields, and to preserve the historic buildings for commercial and other uses. Some elements of the property will reflect its beginnings as a Catholic mission, he said.

Young said he expects Sylvan Springs to be open in its new form in June 2003. That was about a year later than plans originally called for, but tournaments at the site for the United States Specialty Sports Association seem likely for 2003.

The Chautauqua Days Committee continued its recent tradition of holding events for the Great Days of Chautauqua over a period of several weeks, although most events were packed into one weekend.

Another celebration is held annually in memory of naturalist-author Gene Stratton-Porter, whose former home along Sylvan Lake is now a state historic site.

HISTORY: The town was officially laid out and named in 1839 by John Mather and Ebenezer Pierce. The town’s name comes from a job foreman who was trying to convince Irish laborers to get along with French laborers working on the dike that stretches from near Northport to Rome City. He reportedly told them they must cooperate and “do as the Romans do.” The name stuck and “City” was added later by the post office to avoid confusion with another town of Rome in the southern part of the state.

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the town became famous as a weekend and summer resort.

POPULATION: 1,580.

GOVERNMENT: A three-member council — made up of president Dave Abbott and council members Bill Creigh and John Schlegel — meets the second Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the City Building.

SERVICES: Sewage service is provided. Water and garbage service are not provided. A town manager, Leigh Pranger, whom the council hired in 1993, oversees the street, sewer and police departments.

EDUCATION: Rome City School, 400 Jefferson St., provides classes for students from the kindergarten level through the eighth grade. “The Romans” is the school’s nickname. The school is a part of East Noble School Corp. High school students attend East Noble High School in Kendallville. Principal Dave Pine may be contacted at 854-3241 for further information.

RECREATION: Rome City encourages both residents and visitors to use its four parks, which are Kelly Park, Gaff Park, Lakeside Park and Sycamore Park. Also, Rome City has its own golf course, Limberlost Country Club. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources operates a public access site to Sylvan Lake, which is particularly popular during Chautauqua Days.

SHOPPING: Limited shopping services include several speciality stores and a grocery store.

ACCESS: S.R. 9.

TAXES: The property tax rate used by the town during 2001 is $1.63 per $100 of assessed valuation. This is based on an assessed valuation of $10,865,970.

POLICE: Rome City Town Marshal Steve Heltzel, 854-3113, or off hours, emergency only, 911.

FIRE: Station located on Weston Avenue. Emergencies only, 911. The non-emergency number is 854-3875. Stan Loos is the fire chief and Pat Fox is the assistant fire chief.

SEWER: The sewage treatment plant may be reached by calling 854-3212. In an emergency, call 854-2175.

TOWN CLERK-TREASURER: Clara Crozier, Town Hall on S.R. 9. Hours, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 854-2412.

LIBRARY: The Limberlost Public Library, located at the intersection of S.R. 9 and Washington Street, is a branch of the Kendallville Public Library. It is under the direction of Jenny Draper and is managed by Linda Leighty. Phone number is 854-2775. It is open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Mondays and Wednesdays 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

POST OFFICE: Steve Randol is postmaster of the Rome City Post Office that is located at 125 Kerr Ave. He may be reached by calling 854-3700. The post office’s lobby is open from 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday. Counter service is available from 8:30-11 a.m. and 1-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m.-noon Saturday.