Whitley County History

Preserving historical and personal memories of Whitley County, Indiana and to make them accessible to all who wish to know it's rich history is our goal. 

Watch Interviews Online...

All Oral History videos are available on YouTube. View and subscribe to our oral history channel here.

Want to be a Part of History?

We feel it is important to preserve history for future generations, to let them know what was here before they came.  Much of the “old” Whitley County has disappeared: downtown businesses, landmark buildings, farms and schools.  We can come to you, or you may be interviewed at the library – wherever you feel the most comfortable. We can do individual or group interviews. The process is really simple and painless; just talk to us the way you would talk to friends or family, passing on “stories”.  Please note that this project is not just for Columbia City; we would like interviews from all over Whitley County – Churubusco, South Whitley, Collins, Laud, Collamer - all are welcome!

Feel free to call us at (260)244-5541 to set up an appointment or if you would like additional information on this project.

...or Select From Below!

Narrator Area Discussed Date Recorded
Anderson, Betty Larwill, Tri-Lakes 10/1/2009
Bailey, Ralph Columbia City, WCCS 9/22/2009
Boardman, Tom Coesse 2/11/2010
Bollinger, Marian South Whitley 11/16/2009
Brittain, Robert Columbia City 3/23/2009
Brown, Frances Thorncreek, Columbia City 5/5/2010
Cassell, Robert Columbia City, Larwill, S. Whitley 8/6/2008
City Hall of Columbia City Told by Mayor Ryan Daniel 12/12/2018
Coyle, Rosie City Clerk of Columbia City, Coesse 12/13/2018
Daniel, Daniel L. Columbia City 10/8/2008
Fleck, Jim Columbia City 11/2/2011
Geist, Joe Tunker, Peabody, Columbia City 1/26/2010
Haworth, Dick Whitley County Agriculture 11/5/2009
Heckman, Gene Tri-Lakes, Thorncreek Township 3/9/2010
Heinley, Elmer & Helen Columbia City 9/17/2009
Hively, Jeanie Columbia City 3/20/2012
Hockemeyer, Gregg Columbia City Legal Community 12/21/2018
Jefferson Home Extension Club Churubusco, Columbia City, Laud 3/5/2009
Johnson, Bonnie Columbia City, Laud 11/19/2008
Klingaman, Lynn Rural Whitley County/Ag Museum 9/8/2009
Mathieu, Chuck Churubusco 12/1/2009
McNagny, Patricia Columbia City 11/12/2009
Metzger, Roger Columbia City Basketball/Newspapers 12/10/2009
Myers, Mary J. Collins, Churubusco 4/29/2010
Oliver, Jayne Columbia City 4/15/2013
Overdeer, Bill Columbia City, County Council 4/15/2010
Parker, Mark Columbia City 12/6/2018
Parliamentary Law & Literary Club Told by Marge Pence 4/5/2010
Passages, Inc Told by Tom O'Neal and Alice Anderson, Columbia City 3/7/2011
Pontzius, Jon Columbia City 12/17/2009
Pugh, Mary Alice Columbia City 8/27/2009
Ramp, Richard & Viola Columbia City 9/25/2008
Reed, Max Columbia City 3/16/2010
Rosenberger, Janice Laud, Jefferson Township 2/16/2010
Rothert, Dulanna Tri-Lakes 7/24/2008
Rush, Mike Whitley County Judicial System 12/7/2018
Schneider, Alice Columbia City 5/16/2016
Schuman, Billie Ormas, Etna, Columbia City 10/8/2009
Sexton, Roy Columbia City 11/24/2012
Sexton, Susie Columbia City 10/4/2012
Smith, C. Taron Smith and Sons Funeral Home 11/19/2018
Smith, Nathan Collamer 3/23/2010
Strouse, Mary Louise Columbia City 10/29/2009
Tawasi Home Extension Club Churubusco, Collins, Columbia City, Etna, Larwill, Tri-Lakes 4/27/2009
Trier, Vernon Columbia City 8/31/2009
Wagner, Scott Donated paintings 5/24/2012
Waterfall, Clark Columbia City 11/12/2008
Whitley County Chamber of Commerce Told by Jennifer Zartman Romano 12/5/2018
Whitley County Community Foundation Told by September McConnell 11/27/2018
Whitley County Courthouse Told by Bev Henley 12/12/2018
Whitley County Economic Development Corporation Told by Jon Myers 12/7/2018
Whitley County Historical Museum Annex (with Dani Tippmann) 11/13/2018
Whitley County Historical Museum Marshall House (with Angie Maley) 3/11/2010
Whitley County Veteran's Marathon Told by Gary Bird 11/29/2018
Wineland, Don Columbia City, Tri-Lakes 10/22/2009