Small Noble County towns are full of life

BRIMFIELD, located on U.S. 6 about six miles west of Kendallville, has a population of about 165 and is home to several small industrial businesses.

Some of the local businesses and industries include Berkey Machine, Crop Production Services, Frick Lumber Co., Heiman Tool, Plastech Molding and Noble County Disposal.

Some activities in the town include a Lions Club and a senior dinner welcoming all area senior citizens on the second and fourth Wednesday of every month.

The senior dinner event takes place at Brimfield United Methodist Church. Each person brings a covered dish. Lunch is followed by a recreational activity. Food left over is placed in containers and is distributed to disabled elderly people in the area unable to attend.

KIMMELL, along U.S. 33 about three miles southeast of the S.R. 5 intersection, has approximately 250 residents.
It has a stable population center of people who enjoy the small-town lifestyle. Kimmell has a community park that is used throughout the spring, summer and fall months as a place where kids and adults can enjoy basebeall games or even a weekly horseshoe league.

Tornadoes did major damage to the park in October 2001, but fund-raising efforts are under way, led by the Cromwell-Kimmell Lions Club.

Kimmell is home to a vehicle repair and service center, a seed corn operator, a grain elevator, a tavern and a Thermogas facility. The Kimmell Conservation Club has hosted a summer music festival at its grounds along U.S. 33. The Cromwell-Kimmell Lions Club is one of the largest and most active clubs of its kind in the area.

MERRIAM, located at the junction of S.R. 9 and U.S. 33, was once called Noblesville. Some 300 people live in the half-mile radius that is known today as Merriam.

Two churches exist in the town: Christian Chapel and Cornerstone Wesleyan. Merriam also has five factories, a floral shop, a feed mill and two antique shops.

Other businesses include Hoosier Propane gas, Schlotterback Cabinet Inc., Phend’s Garage, Uncle Mike’s Tavern & Grill and Jasper’s Trucking.

Merriam has a small private airport and a cemetery. The Merriam Chapel Cemetery is located off of U.S. 33.

WAWAKA, located on U.S. 6 about five miles east of the Ligonier city limits, has around 200 residents and is home to the corporate offices of Frick Services, a large farm services company that is a generous contributor to various local projects. Also in Wawaka is Metalcraft, a manufacturer of cylinder cages for bottled gas tanks.

Wawaka’s younger residents participate in 4-H and Scouting groups, and the town has one of the best baseball fields in the area, hosting baseball, softball and T-ball games.

WOLF LAKE, located at the intersection of U.S. 33 and S.R. 109, contains about 275 residents and has as its focal points Wolf Lake Elementary School and Wolf Lake Park, where there is a basketball court, community center and gazebo.

Local industries include Wolf Lake Products, which is a manufacturer of vehicle parts, and Boyd’s Machine Shop, while businesses include two restaurants, an antique shop, a hardware and auto parts store, a beauty shop, a feed and farm supply outlet, a bank, a convenience store, an auto repair shop and a sewing and mending shop.

Among Wolf Lake’s civic groups are a Lions Club and branches of the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts organizations, and there is a Veterans of Foreign Wars post.

Based in the town, which celebrates an Onion Days Festival every August, are the Noble Township Fire Department and a unit of the Noble County Emergency Medical Service.