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STORY INDEX Introduction Service still most important product at Ligonier Telephone Co. A black and white sensation: Tiny Screens a big attraction in early years of television A man works from sun to sun, but a woman's work is never done Indiana Extension Homemakers better the lives of families How to be a good wife The show goes on at The Strand: Kendallville theater survives decades of changes in the movie business Some movies forgettable, but not Cleon Point: Memories of colorful, longtime Strand Theatre manager live on Small towns once supported their own movie theaters 'You'd see everyone there': Kendallville residents have lasting memories of teen hangouts old and new Links of land and lakes: County, state officials worked together to establish Chain O' Lakes State Park William Jennings Bryan among among orators at Rome City's Western Chautauqua Dr. David Rogers - Man of mystery, and benevolence DNR restoration programs working: Once abundant wildlife returning to area Rise of girls athletics have changed face of school sports Decades of intramurals: Before the '70s, girls had limited athletic opportunities Ford Frick was reared on Noble county's sandlots: Baseball executive always considered himself a 'lucky fan' Ruth was greatest player ever: Frick Frick's predictions for 2000 not far off Small Wolf Lake big winner in 1942 basketball regional Four in a row: Finally with a gym of their own, KHS cagers went to 'Sweet 16' four straight years Ink to flow into 21st century at county's newspapers Broadcast media: Manahan was pioneer in Noble County broadcasting WAWK's history dates back to 1959 Soundwaves from the past: Ligonier museum has one of the largest collections of antique radios in U.S. Health trends: Changes through the century occurred in medicine, health care Scarlet fever, polio were early health scares From sanitarium to partnership: A century of Noble County's medical care Funeral directors ran ambulance service in county prior to '74 'EMS arrives in time for '74 tornado LaGrange County doctors once made house calls by horseback Country doctor delivered babies in his home and drove a Thunderbird Service to mankind condensed to footnotes of history Lengthy Mier-Straus rivalry ended with bank merger : German-Jewish immigrants had impact on Ligonier's history Who are the people of the Amish faith? A place to live, farm, worship, and raise families: Amish began settling in LaGrange, Elkhart counties in 1840 Two controversial religious sects from the 1970's have impact on Noble County Churches with rich heritages served parishioners in LaOtto, Ege Service still most important product at Ligonier Telephone Co. By BOB BUTTGEN The News-Sun LIGONIER - The Ligonier Telephone Co. was founded in 1896 by Harry Inks. Not only did he serve as the company's first manager, he also manufactured the phones he installed for his customers. Today, Ligonier Telephone Co. customers have enjoyed the benefits of a local utility that has changed with the times, in some respects, but has never lost sight of the main tenant of business Inks established more than a century ago. "Service is our most important product," according to Ruthann Richards, who, as commercial manager, is the hands-on manager of the company. President of Ligonier Telephone Co. is Dr. Robert Schloss of Fort Wayne, who is related, by marriage, to the Inks family. Anymore, residents of Ligonier and the surrounding areas can't think of the company as just "the phone company," according to Richards, who has worked for the company since 1962. "We are a communications company," she said. Over the past decade the company has branched out in two specific areas - satellite TV dishes which can bring hundreds of channels into people's homes without the constraints of cable television - and the Internet. Ligonier Telephone's Internet subsidiary - LigTel Communications - offers Internet service to a four-county area. The phone company's growth into these areas is evident in the size of its customer base, as the phone company, the satellite dish service and the Internet represent 10,000 customers in a company based out of a city with 3,500 residents. The phone company was first located on West Second Street and served approximately 50 customers. One of the earliest accomplishments for Inks was the building of a toll line between Ligonier and Albion, the Noble County seat. Harry's three children became active in the company soon after the turn of the century. His daughter Louise used to deliver phone bills on her bicycle. Harry retired in 1937, and his son Burl became manager, Louise was office manager and Josephine became a partner in the business. The company was incorporated in 1947 when Burl became plant superintendent, Louise became treasurer, and Phil Schloss, husband of Josephine, was made manager. Josephine was corporate secretary. Dr. Robert Schloss is the son of Phil and Josephine Schloss. The company moved to 405 S. Cavin St. and a new common battery switchboard was installed. In 1963, the company once again moved, this time to its present location at 414 Cavin St. New dial switching equipment was installed. In 1988, a modern digital switch was placed in service. This switch allowed the company to offer custom calling features to our subscribers. A fiber toll route has been placed and is now operable. Upon the death of Phil Schloss in 1980, his son Robert Schloss assumed the duties of president. Dr. Schloss' son, Steve Schloss, heads up the company's satellite dish subsidiary - Heartland Satellite Television. Now in its 102nd year as a phone company, Ligonier Telephone has 2,500 access lines and offers custom calling features, long distance through a fiber network and cellular phone service." "We are proud to have served this community for more than 100 years," Richards noted. "We believe that by being a small phone company with a local presence, it allows us to better serve the needs of our customers. It's nice because people know us on a first-name basis." The company is a good neighbor to the community and has given substantial amounts of financial support to projects such as the Ligonier Marshmallow Festival and the Noble County Community Fair, as well as sponsorship of many youth sports teams and other community-based projects.