My Town: Bremen, Indiana

Bremen Volunteer Fire Department Returning from the Michigan Hose Tournament, 1885. Hose Tournaments or Waterball Competitions, have been a part of Bremen’s history since the mid to late 1800′s. (Courtesy of Don Schneider, Don’s Barber Shop)

Second School Structure, 1907. The second school structure built in Bremen was located in the same place as the first, on the corner of Montgomery and Bike Streets. This one was built in 1907. The school was accredited in 1915 by the North Central Association. This photo is looking northeast. (Courtesy of Don Schneider, Don’s Barber Shop)

The American House Hotel. The hotel, located on the northwest corner of Plymouth and North Center Streets was built in 1867. The door next to the “livery” sign was the hotel office. The double doors to the left was the opening to Frank Walter’s Saloon. The sign on the pole on the corner read, “American House” as well as “Frank Walters’ Crescent Saloon”. The livery stable was connected to the hotel on the north end. It was moved in 1909 to 409 N. Marshall St. and was used for a grocery store by John Beyler and later by Butch Zentz. This photo was taken sometime between 1870 and 1880. (Photo courtesy of Don Schneider, Don’s Barber Shop)

A Walk to Chicago. A highlight of the period before the establishment of the Missouri Synod Lutheran Churches in this area was in April of 1847, when Rev. George K. Schuster walked from Bremen to Chicago with a lay delegate to the organization meeting of the Missouri Synod, which was from April 25 to May 9. Pastor Schuster ministered to congregations in Kosciusko and Marshall Counties, but his post office address was Mishawaka, Indiana. He organized the St. Peter Lutheran Church in Mishawaka in 1847. (Photo courtesy of Frank Ronchetti)

Bremen’s first structure. Built in 1853 by Mr. Christian Seiler, this was the first school structure built in Bremen. It was located on the corner of Montgomery and Bike Streets. This photo is looking Northeast. The first teacher of this school was Mr. George Pomeroy. The building was enlarged several times until a new school was necessary. (Photo courtesy of Don’s Barber Shop)