History Hike For Fitness Preview

1

#1 FITNESS ACTIVITY - WARMUPS

Watch the video by clicking on the play button. The History Hike for Fitness is a partnership between Ruthmere, Beacon Health System, and the Elkhart City Parks.

2

#2  PHILO MOREHOUSE

Philo Morehouse moved to Elkhart in 1842 and established the first bank in 1854. His house was located where the parking lot of McDonalds restaurant is today, west of the Riverwalk. This bank was known as the Bank of Elkhart, and later the First National Bank of Elkhart.

3

#3  FITNESS ACTIVITY - SHOULDER ROLL

Watch the video by clicking on the play button.

4

#4 EARLY CITY

Elkhart was platted in 1832, encompassing about nine square blocks to the west of Main Street, which runs north and south on the west side of this History Hike. Havilah Beardsley purchased approximately 50 acres of land for $1,500 from Chief Pierre Moran who had been given the land through the Treaty of Chicago in 1812.

5

#5  THE TWO RIVERS

The confluence of the Elkhart River and the St. Joseph River set the stage for Elkharts manufacturing heritage. Dr. Havilah Beardsley, the founder of Elkhart, saw the potential for water-driven power in 1831, establishing many mills including flour, saw, linseed oil, carding and even a paper mill while developing Elkhart until his death in 1856. The History Hike for Fitness is a partnership between Ruthmere, Beacon Health System, and the Elkhart City Parks.

6

#6  FITNESS ACTIVITY - WIND MILLS

Watch the video by clicking on the play button.

7

#7  TEN COMMANDMENTS MEMORIAL  

The U.S. Supreme Court considered discussing this monument. Now located on private property, it was presented to the City of Elkhart in May 1958 by the Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie No 395. This was one of many promotional monuments erected across the nation following the release of the Cecile B. DeMille film The Ten Commandments in 1956. It had been installed outside the city municipal building, until challenged by a series of law suits and counter suits that began in the 1990s. After a 2001 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court on a similar monument, this monument was relocated to this location. Should it have been moved? Leave us your feedback.

8

#8  MEMORIAL BRIDGE

The bridge you are walking on is the fifth bridge to cross the St. Joseph River at this location. This bridge was built in 1927 to honor the military soldiers and sailors who died in battle during World War I. When Havilah Beardsley platted the City of Elkhart in 1832, access across the river was via a series of rope ferries that he operated, charging a toll to cross. The History Hike for Fitness is made possible through a generous grant from the Community Foundation of Elkhart County, our bridge to the future.

9

#9  HAVILAH BEARDSLEY HOUSE

On the northwest corner of Main Street and Beardsley Avenue is the home of Dr. Havilah and Rachel Beardsley, the first brick residence built in Elkhart in 1848. The house underwent a major renovation in 1874 by Havilahs son James Rufus Beardsley and his wife Susie Ray Beardsley. James Rufus Beardsley ran for mayor of Elkhart the following year and won, becoming Elkharts second mayor. The History Hike for Fitness is a partnership between Ruthmere, Beacon Health System, and the Elkhart City Parks.

10

#10  FITNESS ACTIVITY - SIDE LEAN

Watch the video by clicking on the play button.

11

#11  BEARDSLEY PARK

This park on the north side of the St. Joseph River was deeded to the city in 1922 by Albert R. Beardsley and his nephew Andrew Hubble Beardsley. Low-lying and prone to seasonal flooding, Beardsley Park is a favorite family picnic spot and public water access location offering beautiful views to Island Park and Memorial Bridge. The History Hike for Fitness is a partnership between Ruthmere, Beacon Health System, and the Elkhart City Parks.

12

#12  RUTHMERE MANSION

On the north side of Beardsley Avenue across from Beardsley Park is the home of Albert R. and Elizabeth Beardsley, who built this Beaux Arts style home in 1908 to 1910. Albert was the nephew of Havilah and Rachel and was the founding partner of Miles Laboratory with Dr. Franklin Miles. Ruthmere is individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has been open as a private house museum since 1973. The History Hike for Fitness is a partnership between Ruthmere, Beacon Health System, and the Elkhart City Parks.

14

#14  PULASKI VILLAGE PARK

Near the sight of this marker was the village of Pulaski, named in honor of the Polish General who aided in the Revolutionary War. The post office serving the early trade post and group of settlers homes was established in 1829. After the establishment of Elkhart in the 1830s, Pulaski Village soon became a memory of the past. The History Hike for Fitness is a partnership between Ruthmere, Beacon Health System, and the Elkhart City Parks.

15

#15  FITNESS ACTIVITY – BUTT KICKS

Watch the video by clicking on the play button. The History Hike for Fitness is made possible through a generous grant from the Community Foundation of Elkhart County, our bridge to the future.

16

#16  ELKHART & WESTERN RAILROAD BRIDGE

To the east of the walking bridge connecting Pulaski Park to Island Park is the Elkhart and Western Railroad Company bridge. The railroad was founded by Dr. Herbert Bucklen in 1890 with construction completed in 1893. This line of the railroad travelled a route from Elkhart to Mishawaka. It later became a part of the New York Central line in 1912 and has since changed hands several times. It is currently owned and operated by Pioneer Lines. The History Hike for Fitness is made possible through a generous grant from the Community Foundation of Elkhart County, our bridge to the future.

17

#17 JOHNSON STREET DAM

Beyond the Railroad bridge and current Johnson Street Bridge is the St. Joseph River dam known to locals as the Johnson Street Dam, built in 1912 to power the hydroelectric plant in 1913. This dam replaced an earlier dam built there in 1868.

18

#18  BANDSTAND IN ISLAND PARK

The bandstand in the park was built in 1905 and moved to the park in 1980 from its original location at the C.G. Conn Band Instrument Factory on East Beardsley Avenue. The stone drinking fountain was constructed around the original artesian well. It predates the bandstand and was built in the 1930s. The History Hike for Fitness is a partnership between Ruthmere, Beacon Health System, and the Elkhart City Parks.

19

#19  FITNESS ACTIVITY – KNEE BEND

Watch the video by clicking on the play button. The History Hike for Fitness is made possible through a generous grant from the Community Foundation of Elkhart County, our bridge to the future.

20

#20  HISTORIC ISLAND PARK

Island Park was originally owned by Havilah Beardsley and was deeded to the City for a park in 1887 by the children of Havilah and Rachel Beardsley. The folklore legend of the shape of the island resembling an elks heart has led to one of the many origin stories for the Citys name of Elkhart. Island Park serves as a host site for summer concerts and festivals. The History Hike for Fitness is a patnership between Ruthmere, Beacon Health System, and the Elkhart City Parks.

21

#21  WPA PICNIC SHELTER

The picnic shelter was moved to its present location on the south side of the park by the WPA and expanded to its present day T shape. The WPA provided paid jobs to the unemployed during the Great Depression in the United States, while building up the public infrastructure of the U.S., such as parks, schools and roads. The drinking fountain at the band stand was a second project of the WPA on Island Park.

22

#22  FITNESS ACTIVITY – BAR PULL

Watch the video by clicking on the play button.

23

#23  ISLAND PARK SOUTH BRIDGE

Local troops trained and mobilized for World War I at encampments in Island Park. It was the headquarters for Battery E, Indiana State Militia. The History Hike for Fitness is made possible through a generous grant from the Community Foundation of Elkhart County, our bridge to the future.

24

#24 ELKHART’S ORIGINAL HOSPITAL

Close to Elkhart Health and Aquatics Center is the location of the original hospital to serve the residents of Elkhart. The Clark Homeopathic Hospital opened in 1899 on Clark Street. It was sold for $3,315 in 1912 to fund the Elkhart General Hospital building fund. The brick structure formerly known as the Clark Homeopathic Hospital was razed in 2019 in preparation for building the Elkhart Health and Aquatics Center. The History Hike for Fitness is a partnership between Ruthmere, Beacon Health System, and the Elkhart City Parks.

25

#25  FITNESS ACTIVITY – SIDE SHUFFLE

Watch the video by clicking on the play button.

26

#26 TOURIST FEEDBACK AND PRIZES - AQUATIC CENTER FRONT PLAZA

WIN A CHANCE AT CASH PRIZES by filling out the feeback form after your tour. Every month, Ruthmere randomly draws the names of CASH PRIZE WINNERS for doing nothing more than telling us what you like and where we can improve! The History Hike for Fitness is made possible through a generous grant from the Community Foundation of Elkhart County, our bridge to the future. Feedback Form