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STORY INDEX Introduction Population of Indiana's northeast counties grew by 81 percent this century Tracking railroads: Since 1900, number of local lines reduced from five to two Longtime area auto dealers have 'seen it all' Amish continue long-held traditions - except on safety issues Cars accelerate lives of Noble County residents The price of cars: How much did it cost to drive one off the lot? Electric Interurban connected area to Fort Wayne, beyond LaGrange residents rally to save historic brick streets U.S. 6, Ind. 3: Kendallville's routes to growth Agriculture ever-changing, advancing in Noble County Comparisons: How far did the dollar stretch? Growing onions, peppermint made 'scents' in early 1900s The Gaby farm: Family-owned and celebrating over 150 years A changing culture impacts 4-H County fair continues to be a big social event Thriving through the times: Downtown Kendallville adapts to a century of changes Dekko's philanthropy remains a 'valuable resource' Rinkel family still at the wheel of Greenfield Hills Commerce nothing new to Shipshewana: Town thrives as one of fastest-growing tourist areas in state Making do during the Great Depression: Retired hatchery owner recalls tough times, bright moments Mill a 'Star' business in Ligonier: Firm has been grinding wheat into flour for 113 years Elmer E. McCray had a major impact on Kendallville Richard R. Cole has long legacy Female executive has seen many changes in workforce Working women: From assisting war effort to competing in global markets Wolcottville a center of commerce, industry in 1800s Mongoquinong area was early LaGrange County commercial center 'The cheapest hired hand we ever had.' Electricity made life brighter, easier down on the farm Monument company's history set in stone Historic Corn School dates back to 1906 Electric Interurban connected area to Fort Wayne, beyond By DAVE KNOPP The News-Sun KENDALLVILLE - Talk of futuristic transportation often involves electricity, but in Noble County electrically-powered travel is also part of the past. From 1907 to 1937 electric railroad cars traveled between Avilla and Kendallville as part of a network of interurban railways out of Fort Wayne, carrying passengers and some freight. Passengers who boarded at the Kendallville terminal, near where Max Platt Ford Lincoln Mercury is today, were able to connect as far as Louisville, Ky., in what was considered a convenient, comfortable, modern way to travel. Local history buff Russell Frehse rode the Interurban many times, including visits to see his parents in Kendallville while he was working in Muncie. When asked if it was a pleasant ride, Frehse said, "You didn't know anything different at that age; it was the best and the worst because there was no other comparison. It beat the automobiles, because most automobiles in those days had to be cranked." Frehse described old three- and four-sentence newspaper reports of groups having "an 'Interurban party' last Thursday night or whatever it was, riding over to Garrett or Auburn, spending an hour there and then coming back on the Interurban, just the same as people today go out to the golf course or play cards for a couple hours." The Avilla-to-Kendallville link had a station and siding in Avilla, a siding in Lisbon and a station, power house and car barn in Kendall-ville. The link was the top left part of a Y-shaped route extending north from Fort Wayne and then splitting at Garrett, where the top right part of the Y extended to Waterloo. The route was built as the Toledo & Chicago Interurban Railway, since the promoters planned to connect it with other proposed routes to ultimately link Fort Wayne with a Toledo-Chicago main line, although that plan never materialized. Construction of the Noble County portion began in 1906 and was completed in the fall of 1907. About 1913 the company was reorganized as the Fort Wayne and Northwestern Railway, and later came under the control of the Indiana Service Corporation. The Indiana Service Corporation itself evolved in 1920 from a consolidation of lines built by an assortment of companies and first called the Fort Wayne & Wabash Valley Traction Company, then reorganized in 1911 as the Fort Wayne & Northern Indiana Traction Company. In 1937 the Indiana Service Corporation ended its passenger business north of Fort Wayne, for reasons specified in that year's Feb. 15 issue of The News-Sun. "A quarter century ago the company enjoyed a splendid business, but the automobile and truck brought about a change in transportation which eventually resulted in the suspension of the business," stated the newspaper, adding the Interurban could not be maintained "except at a heavy loss." Once World War II was under way "it was a regret of many people that the (Interurban) service had been discontinued, because of the gasoline shortage during the war," said Frehse.