Warsaw History

Intro

"Each of us lives in the kind of community we deserve, the kind of place we take the time to protect and create; and every community can display both the vision of Jules Verne and the spirit of Mayberry."

History

Even before the boom of the late 1800's due to the crossing of two railroads on the southeast edge of town, the rich history of downtown Warsaw began and is still evident today. The site of the original wood-frame courthouse on the northeast corner of Center and Indiana Streets is marked with a stone noting its construction in 1837. It is included as part of a beautiful downtown park provided by a local business.

The current courthouse, completed in 1884, has been gracefully restored. Its rededication in 1996 celebrated the importance of the structure to downtown Warsaw as a viable part of our past and current county government.

The over century-old Saemann building was the first historic building to be restored in downtown Warsaw. Located on the northeast corner of Center and Buffalo Streets, it was the original home for the Masonic Temple. Further down the revitalized Center Street block is the former Eagles building, old Boice Theater, and the most recently renovated building located near the west end of the block.

Around the corner of this historic district is the Kosciusko County Jail Museum. The original jail was erected in 1870. The Jail Museum contains an actual jail and the largest repository of important genealogical and historical records in northern Indiana.

The old post office located at 120 S. Lake Street, built ca. 1925, has been restored and is being utilized by several local businesses. Many of the original artifacts have been left intact on the interior of the building.

Future

The newly constructed Central Park, located on Ft. Wayne Street, joins Center Lake Park with the new Zimmer complex. The beautifully landscaped eight acre park is home to many new outdoor summer events and festivals. Equipped with a fountain, outside entertainment facilities and easy accessibility, the new Center Park hosted at least one major event per month in its first summer open, drawing from 1,000 to 5,000 spectators per event.

Located in the middle of the Central Business District is one of three locally-based orthopedic companies. Zimmer, one of the largest orthopedics companies in the world, completed construction of its new international headquarters on Main Street, Warsaw in 1992. On the southwest side of the downtown business district Marsh Supermarkets has constructed a new plaza, completed in 1993. Both of these entities have greatly enhanced our downtown.

The expansion of the Warsaw Community Public Library in 1998 doubled its size and increased its services to the public. The Carnegie Library, an art deco structure built in 1926, will be adding a 3500 square feet attached facility complimenting the current architecture. The new space will be dedicated to a new children's reading and activity center.

The design of the Central Business District will continue to improve as the city proceeds with the recently initiated downtown rehabilitation project. The project includes new sewer, storm and sanitary lines; repaving, new curbs, sidewalks, crosswalks, ornamental lighting, benches and trash receptacles. Continued plans to plant more trees, improve our storefronts, and open the second and third stories of our buildings, will encourage added business and new life to an already vital downtown area.

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Warsaw Community Development Corporation.
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