A podcast about the history of South Bend. News articles from the city’s past by Jacob Titus, co-host of South Bend on Purpose. New episodes release each weekday morning.
On this day in 1895, the South Bend Tribune published an article about the rising number of women interested in public affairs, and anticipated the "honesty and purity of thought and purpose" that women might bring to local government.
On this day in 1968, the Tribune began a series of articles on the reasons and problems of annexation as the Mayor Allen raised it as a way for the city to keep growing.
On this day in 1915, five thousand people visited Springbrook Park to dance in the new pavilion, ride the new merry-go-round, jockey on live ponies, and scream on its new roller coaster The Big Dip.
On this day in 1933, Samuel Spiro & Co., merchandisers of quality clothing for men and boys, announced the opening of their new storefront on Michigan Street in downtown South Bend.
On this day in 1914, the Oliver family estate leased its famous downtown South Bend hotel to two Chicago men for a reported sum of $400,000.
On this day in 1902, a local druggist told the unfortunate tale of a local man's health problems to sell kidney pills.
On this day in 2003, the bells of St. Stephen welcomed Hungarian and Hispanic parishioners for the last time after nearly a century on South Bend's Westside.
On this day in 1931, federal investigators raided the headquarters of the secretive North Side club on suspicion that the 21-member club was brewing and selling alcohol.
On this day in 1878, news broke that two of the finest billiards players in the country would soon play an exhibition at the opera house in South Bend.
Today, we turn to May 20, 1950 for news that a country snake had gone missing in downtown South Bend and was later found in the entrance of a jewelry store.
On this day in 1890, two downtown businessmen expressed opposition to the installation of electric railway poles in front of their shops by chopping the poles down.
On this day in 1908, Samuel J. Unger announced the closure of his downtown South Bend pawn shop, an enterprise that helped the city become metropolitan.
On this day in 1971, the University of Notre Dame and St. Mary's College announced a plan to unify as one co-ed institution by the coming Fall. The plan failed.
On this day in 1895, a group of prominent women, including Mrs. Mary Stull Studebaker and Ms. Olive Tarbell Birdsell, met in a home on Colfax Avenue to form the Progress Club.
On this day in 1885, a group of Presbyterian ladies hosted a "mum social" at the home of Mr. and Mrs. F.H. Badet, wherein guests who wanted to speak had to pay for it in cash.
On this day in 1981, the South Bend Tribune broke the discouraging news that Storyland Zoo, a once-popular park attraction on the city's Southside, would soon shut its doors.
Today, we turn to May 11, 1912, for a brief fight between fellow workmen at the South Bend Brewing Association over the planting of a corn field between their homes.
Today, we turn to May 8, 1990, for a local man's warm memories of growing up in South Bend's Little Italy neighborhood.
Today, we turn to Saturday May 7, 1887, for news that South Bend Toy had acquired a large plot of land on the city's Southeast side with plans to build an immense factory.
Today, we turn to May 6, 1881, for James Oliver’s purchase of the Chess Mansion, a massive, stone house built by one of South Bend’s early settlers.
Today, we turn to May 5, 1921, for a story about Alex Czalo, a local entrepreneur who was caught hiding 1,500 barrels of homemade wine in a secret cellar during prohibition.
Today, we turn to May 4, 1915, for a brief South Bend News-Times report about clean-up week, a time when all residents of the city were encouraged to make visible improvements to their properties.
Today, we turn to May 1, 1882, for another round of bickering between South Bend's two leading papers, The Tribune and the News-Times.
Today, we turn to April 30, 1888, for the Tribune's forceful rebuke of a local politician's dispatch in the Chicago Herald in which he called South Bend "wicked" and decried its gambling and houses of ill repute.
Today, we turn to April 29, 1921, for one part of a Tribune editorial series about the advantages and disadvantages of South Bend moving from our strong mayor system to that of a city manager.
Today, we turn to April 28, 1892, for a Tribune report aiming to convince residents to resist high taxes by voting Republican in an upcoming city election.
Today, we turn to April 27, 1900, for a report from the police station where officers exposed to a man with smallpox were quarantined with activities including old maid and fumigation.
Today, we turn to April 24, 1927, for the results of The Tribune's straw poll testing sentiment on a daylight saving proposal in the city council.
Today, we turn to April 23, 1927, for a remarkable radio address in which a local businessman sells South Bend to the people of America with a simple, yet profound, message: the people make the city.
Today, we turn to April 22, 1930, for the announcement of a popular girl contest hosted by The South Bend Tribune and The Colfax Theatre with the grand prize of a trip to Hollywood to meet with movie executives and stars.
Today, we turn to April 21, 1920, for an article about an evening gathering of state and local officials, including A.R. Erskine and Richard Elbel, to discuss the city budget and future plans.
Today, we turn to April 20, 1920, for an article about the old clothes and overalls club, a movement among white collar workers to protest the rising cost of work clothes.
Today, we turn to April 17, 1922, for A.R. Erksine's announcement that, due to booming business in countries such as Italy, Brazil, and England, Studebaker planned to build a new shipping facility on Lafayette.
Today, we turn to April 16, 1944, for a breaking report about Notre Dame Football head coach Frank Leahy's decision to temporarily leave the university and join the Navy.
Today, we turn to April 15, 1899, for a news brief about J.M. Studebaker's purchase of a one-seated horseless carriage, the first of such seen in South Bend.
Today, we turn to April 14, 1875, for a string of front-page news briefs about the assassination of President Lincoln, the growth of South Bend's Croquet Factory, and a requiem for the Studebaker's first wood shop.
Today, we turn to Friday, April 13, 1979 for an article about Dyngus Day, a Polish holiday special to the life of South Bend, which is effectively cancelled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Today, we turn to Monday, April 10, 1882 for a blunt recounting of the tragic death of Fred Dutch, a well-loved downtown South Bend saloon owner.
Today, we turn to Monday, April 9, 1962, for an impassioned 'Voice of the People' letter to the Tribune signed Anne Axtagrind.
Today, we turn to Monday, April 8, 1912, for what is perhaps the early-20th century version of Tinder: a wife-seeking letter written by an Oregon cowboy to the Mayor of South Bend. And you should know, this was on the front page.
Today, we turn to Friday, April 7, 1933, when President Franklin Roosevelt repealed the Volstead Act, and 3.2% percent beer returned to South Bend after over a decade of prohibition.
Today, we turn to Tuesday, April 6, 1954, for The Tribune's announcement of their plan to build a new, modern building in downtown South Bend exclusively for radio and television service.
Today, we turn to two articles published in the South Bend Tribune on Thursday, April 5, 1917, following the United States’ entrance to World War One, and Friday, April 5, 1968, in the days after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Two tragic moments that, for a time, brought our interdependence to the surface.
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