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 |