By: Stan Jordan
We had a bad windstorm back on Thursday, April 6th. The wind was gusting up to 60 mph 
and in one of these blasts, our eagles’ nest blew down for the second time. It was raining hard then and the water in the river was out of the banks. I don’t know if the female was sitting on the eggs or if they had already hatched. Whatever it was, it was a disaster, as that ground under the nest was all flooded with water. But from my reading, I would say, she was sitting on the eggs.
This is Monday morning, April 10th, and as of yet, I haven’t seen any action by the eagles in that area.
See ya!
More Wild Animals Reported
By: Stan Jordan
For the second time in the last few months it has been reported to me that there are beavers at work along the Maumee. Evidently they have migrated south out of Michigan, but they are here.
They are at work, all the way from the Koenn Boys west to Mike Culler’s and the state line.
Mike Culler has shown me three pictures on his phone where the little rascals are at work cutting down some good sized saplings, but the photos are not good enough to print.
A fellow asked me if the beavers would cause a problem here. Well, I don’t think so, unless they would dam up a drainage ditch and it would cover some farmer’s field with water.
This is Friday a.m., March 31st and I have picked up a lot of talk about beavers in the Maumee. Kenny Keating said they have been a problem for years in down town Ft. Wayne. The beavers are killing too many trees and the park board has to ring the trees with wire.
See ya!
2016 Progress in Antwerp
By: Stan Jordan
I wrote a column on this subject a few months ago, but I am going to do it again, because we accomplished a lot last year, moving Antwerp forward.
The new dental office was built down on South Main Street and the old office was demolished.
The local Rotary International finished up remodeling the tennis courts. The A.C.D.C. made an entrance to the Maumee River at the east end of the park so it is a lot easier to put in a canoe, kayak or boat.
They moved the bleachers at the football field across to the other side where the fans wanted them. They installed the new lights at the football field.
The new solar field at the school is moving along. The new sidewalks on East Canal all the way to Harmann Road and then south to the high school have been finished.
There is a new hair salon called Small Town Bliss on West River Street across from West Bend News. Mrs. Mabis and the high school have installed a garden for native plants and birds along with a picnic area. The high school has built a new boys baseball field that will be more accessible for older folks.
The picture of the 1938 Antwerp Football team was hung in the entrance to the Antwerp High School. This team was unbeaten, untied and un-scored up on the whole season of 1938.
The Genesis House, north of Town Hall is now open.
See Ya!
The Marathon Drive-Thru
By: Stan Jordan
The northeast corner of East River Street and North Main is buried deep in the history of Antwerp. As long as I can remember there has been a filling station on that corner lot.
In 1929 and 1930 I can remember coming to town to the sale of the John Foster Clothing Store, where now stands the West Bend News. I remember right across the street to the east was a gasoline filling station. It was owned by Art Rogers and managed by Harry Carr. It sold Johnson’s Gasoline, about six gallons for a dollar. You didn’t get rich owning a gas station.
Sometime in the 1930’s, Mr. Roger retired and Harry Carr owned the station. I think it stayed like that until the 1940’s, when Dale Johnson bought it and it became a Hi-Speed station.
Robert Johnson came home from WWII in 1946 having spent many months in Europe. He started to work for his father, then in 1947 he bought into the business. Along about that time Robert was a good fast ball pitcher and softball was going good here in Antwerp at that time.
Bob and The Schilb Reds was very major in getting the lights onto the ball field back in 47 & 48. That has blossomed into a fine city ball park.
Bob and Virg Meyer bought the bowling alley, called Pen-A-Rama Lanes in 1957 and sold it in 1992.
Dale and Bob bought the Oasis in 1958 from Albert Guysinger. They operated the big “O” until 1968. Then they sold the Oasis to Gene Hughes and Noah Slusher who operated the “O” until 1988.
The Hi-Speed station became the Pure Oil station and has had a number of owners.
I can’t come up with all of the fellows who owned and operated that station but Dick McCalla, Andy Lichty, Jim Hunt and a couple other people. Mr. Bruick made it the Pop and Brew Drive Thru and it has been a very busy corner for years. Then it was taken over by Slattery Oil.
See ya!
Sam Rivers, Indian Agent Chapter 28: White Elk & more gardening
By: Stan Jordan
I haven’t written for several days. The passing of White Elk has played on my mind for a while. He was a good man and good leader of a different kind of people, and of a different era, and I’m sorry to say, a bygone era.
The Indians were very special and enjoyed life in their own way. But all is changing and they must change also.
Well, the gardening is all done and it went well, all we need now is a good rain.
We are loading up the plow and tools and we are leaving in the morning to go to the Calamus River Village.
It will take the better part of two days. We should get there in middle of the afternoon. That will give us time to get reaquainted again.
Well, we got here as planned. We have worked hard on plowing and the gardening is all finished. These natives are very appreciative of all we have done for them: the new bridge, the community building, and the cookout area and the chores also.
The chief here is Soaring Eagle and when we told him about the passing of White Elk he was very sad, but not surprised. He said, “Last fall White Elk and I spoke and we discussed our age and infirmities.”
Everything here is in good shape and we are going back to the agency here in the morning. Well, this is the first part of May 1853. The garden here is doing great! We had an all day spring rain.
Rooster left the other day on his horse, Rocket, to report to General Kearney to tell all about White Elk’s passing and all the work we have done at both villages.
The soldier, Hunter, shot a small dear the other day and we have fresh meat, Slim cuts and hauls wood everyday and works in the garden too.
I haven’t written for a few days and here is the reason why: We were resting under a shade tree and we saw a rider and a team and wagon coming from the south. It was General Kearney and Lieutenant Morgan of the Engineers Company on the horses. The mess sergeant and a driver were in the wagon.
Boy, what a good time. General Kearney wanted to see all that we had done. It is sort of a vacation for him, to get out of the office and out in the field again.
He said a couple of times, “Don’t mind me. You folks carry on as if I wasn’t here.”
We had Rooster to bring Callie’s rocking chair out for the general. He really enjoyed seeing all that went on. At this time he wasn’t a general, he just watched and asked questions.
One morning he went with Hunter to get some game. He missed a shot at a small bear, but they got a small deer later. “I’m not as good a shot as I once was,” the general said. “It’s good to get out and not be a leader sometimes.”
After a day’s rest and talking out in the check out area, General Kearney stated, “Sam, I’m really enjoying myself here, but I must move along to Limping Buffalo’s village.”
Then he said for me to make all the plans, and he would be just another soldier. Just show me what you have done and how you do it.
The natives were glad to have visitors, and after they found out that he was the most important white man in the whole area, they were very surprised. He wore part of his army uniform and it was hared for them to believe he was just another person.
He visited the grave of White Elk. He talked to the new chief a number of times and gave his blessing to the new Shaman.
The natives can speak pretty good English now. It has been well over a year since the Indian Agency has been established. Both sides have come along way. They respect and trust each other.
The general just sits and talks and he is not in charge of anything. I think he will stay a few more days and observe all that we have accomplished.
I bet that is just the way he planned it.
See ya!
