Mishawaka Historical Museum coming to downtown area
MISHAWAKA — Coming soon, Mishawaka will have a historical museum.
The Mishawaka Historical Museum Corporation just closed on their purchase of a downtown building.
It will be located at 121 Main Street in the heart of downtown.
A lot of history has happened on this block. Soon, you will be able to come and learn about it yourself.
“It is in a very historic location. This is the heart of Mishawaka and has been a developed area since the 1830’s,” said Mishawaka Historian, Pete DeKever.
The museum will be a place to tell the story of this proud city.
“We want to promote an understanding, an appreciation of Mishawaka’s past and Mishawaka’s history,” said DeKever.
DeKever will become the museum curator. He has already started gathering exhibit pieces.
He says the museum will be a place where people can come see artifacts like this.
Photographs offer a glimpse at a rich past and texts share information few remember.
“There was an enormous factory where Central Park was today. It is a rubber regeneration plant. It was the largest rubber regenerating plant in the world in the 1920s. and it went out of business in the late 20’s,” said DeKever.
There is still a lot of work to do before the museum is able to open.
DeKever hopes this will soon become a destination for people interested in learning more about what came before.
“If we don't tell Mishawaka’s story, who will,” asks DeKever.
Funds to purchase the building were donated by a former resident. No tax dollars will be used to fund this.
There is no set opening day yet. DeKever estimated between six months to a year.
They still have to do renovations and create the exhibit space.
If you have any questions or artifacts to donate you can contact the Mishawaka Historical Museum Corporation below:
Address: 2112 Linden Avenue Mishawaka, IN 46544
Phone: 574-255-2708
Email: d.heirman@ieee.org , jdekever@sbcglobal.net , pjdekever@cs.com
