Wakarusa Library Friends of the Library do volunteer work for the library, decorate the library at Christmas, have an annual use book sale and provide recognition luncheon for members and staff each year. Meetings: First Tuesday of every month. Lions Club - Established 1932 - Sponsored by Elkhart Lions Club. The Lions Club of Wakarusa supports projects on the International level, state level and district level. District 25G covers four counties. Projects Lions Club support are: leader dog school, eye program, eye glasses donation collected and given to third world missions, local dollars for scholars, Wakarusa little league baseball, sight and hearing impaired in Wa-Nee school district. The Lions Club has several fund raisers each year: Pancake & Syrup Festival, Steak in the Park etc. Meetings are every 3rd. Monday each month at Miller's Senior Living Community, beginning Information not available at this time. American Legion Post #307 Established October 4, 1920 Club Room and Meeting Room for use by its members. Sponsor Junior League Bowling.
Business Hours : The Wakarusa Historical Society, Inc. was organized Sept. 9, 1975 by Larry Smith, Floyd Drake, Robert Ehret, Helen Klein, and Jack Hess. The goal was to obtain and restore the old Wakarusa Depot that was built in 1892 and used at that time for passenger service and freight. The first train through Wakarusa was in 1873. Passenger service stopped about 1930. Norfolk and Western Railroad purchased the Wabash Railroad in 1964. The depot was closed May 15, 1975. On Sept. 10, 1976 Norfolk and Western Railroad donated the depot and the outside toilet to the Society. The Historical Society, along with the surrounding community of friends, has provided programs in each of the museum buildings to help retrieve some of the lost skills and knowledge. Highlights of the museums' development include:
September 7, 1979 - The Doctors Wagner-Clay Office building was donated by Eric Brown and his sister, Marita Kreps. It was moved to the museum site by a steam engine for the cost of $1,700. Labor and material were donated to place the building on its present foundation. December 27, 1995 - The 200 dolls and display cases were donated by Gladys Klein. Gladys started this unique collection in the early 1900's. This is an interesting display of American dolls. December 20, 1979 - Norfolk and Western Railroad donated a red caboose that was built in 1917. It weights 45,000 pounds and has traveled 2,876,000 miles. The caboose was built at a cost of $1,389. Today it would cost $69,000 to build. The caboose was placed on the old railroad tracks used by the coal yard at the museum site.
August 25, 1983 -Grandma's Haus - The old house donated by Clyde Moore (August 25, 1983) was moved to the museum site needing repairs. Museum members restored the Moore House Windmill - The windmill was donated by Ralph Harter. The Redwood derrick was built by Lewis Hains and John Hahn and is the result of many donated hours from the Historical Society. July 18, 1983 - Norfolk and Western Railroad donated a passenger coach car number 1007 built in 1941 at a cost of $54,686. The car arrived in Wakarusa August 10, 1983 and then placed on the coal yard rails in font of the caboose. |
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Wakarusa Historical Museums
December 1, 1976 - Allied Mills owned the coal yard directly across the street from the depot and since the coal yard was no longer in use, Allied Mills donated the land for the new location of the depot to its present location at the cost of $1,500.
1981-1990 - The Little Red School House brings back the one-room school days. It has alumni class pictures, annuals, trophies, Indian statues, pennants and many other items too numerous to mention.
