Mishawaka History Timeline

Mishawaka History Timeline

1679

First settler, LaSalle, arrives in the area.

1800

Native American wars begin involving the Shawnees, Potowatomi and Ottawa tribes; Princess Mishawaka was involved in these wars.

1820

Site of Native American village Mish-a-wa-ka at the rapids.

1833

Saint Joseph Iron Works is established as a village.

1838

February 7: The Indiana General Assembly combines all four plats/villages under the name of Mishawaka.

1839

First brewery opens. Later in 1887, the brewery becomes Kamm & Schellinger Brewery.

1859

June 27: Great Mishawaka Train Wreck, in which 32 people are killed near the present-day intersection of Ironwood and Lincoln Way West.

1872

September 5: Mishawaka Fire destroys 42 buildings between First and Third streets and Spring and Race streets.

1878

William and Wallace Dodge form the “Magic Jack Company,” which later evolved into the Dodge Manufacturing Company, a maker of power transmissions.

1878

Adolphus Eberhart and Martin Van Beiger create the all-knit woolen boot, causing growth of the Mishawaka Woolen Company, which later became Ball Band.

1880

The Battell family gives Battell Park to the city. Battell Park is the city’s oldest park.

1884

City dedicates Civil War statue in Battell Park.    

1899

The village of Mishawaka votes to incorporate into a city; Manuel M. Fisher elected the first mayor (May 8)

1903

Mishawaka Public Utilities Company organized

1904

Simplex Motor Car Company was incorporated. In 1909, the name was changed to Amplex Motor Car Company. In 1911, two Amplex autos were entered into the first Indianapolis 500. One car crashed, killing its driver and causing the first race fatality, and the other car finished seventh and the driver won $800.00.

1928

World War I Memorial Band Shelter dedicated in Battell Park on Memorial Day

1930

Eberhart Golf Course opens. Petro Park added included into the golf course in 1949

1947

Normain Heights, a subdivision for WW II veterans, begins development north of McKinley Avenue

1952

City’s first Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) begins operation, treating sewage before returning it to the river.

1972

Sister City Declaration with Shiojiri, Japan

1979

University Park Mall opens

1993

Main Street Bridge over I-80/90 opens connecting Main Street from downtown to State Road #23

1987

Shiojiri Garden dedicated

1999

Mishawaka begins development of the Mishawaka River Center, the former site of the Uniroyal complex in downtown Mishawaka

2005

Robert C. Beutter Riverfront Park opens at River Center

2008

Saint Joseph Health Systems opened a $355 million dollar, 658,000 square foot hospital on Holy Cross Parkway

2015

City of Mishawaka becomes debt free after carrying continuous General Obligation Bond Debt for over 100 years;

Central Park renovated to include a series of shelters, play equipment and a programmable fountain

en_USEnglish