This structure at the corner of C and First streets in La Porte, still standing, was one of two Civil War hospitals in LaPorte. The other lesser-known facility at the corner of Tipton and Main (Lincoln Way) streets, is no longer standing. (Photo courtesy of LaPorte County Historical Society)
By Fern Eddy Schultz, La Porte County Historian
(Click on photos to enlarge)
We have frequently heard about the Civil War hospital located at First and C streets. (The structure, renovated, still stands.) This house was the first building used as St. Joseph Catholic School and it belonged to Meinrad Rumely. Reportedly, when the 9th
La Porte County Historian Fern Eddy Schultz
Regiment reorganized for three-year service in 1861 at Camp Colfax (corner of Colfax Avenue and West Ind. 2) for a drill of a few weeks and was mustered Aug. 27, this house was used as a hospital. Local women did what they could for the comfort of the soldiers there. The house was visited daily and supplies were furnished to those who were ill.
In August 1861, the 29th Regiment was organized at Camp Jackson, located north of La Porte. On Aug. 24, 1862, the local newspaper reported visiting Camp Jackson and “found the boys all up and doing.” The barracks were nearly all completed and “substantially made” and everything was getting into “working order as fast as possible.” The camping grounds were “truly delightful.” Companies in camp at that time were from Steuben County, Goshen, South Bend and Plymouth. A company from Fulton County was just arriving. Nine companies had been accepted the previous week, and all would be in soon.
Another hospital was established on South Main Street (today’s Lincoln Way). It was situated east of the Richard Hews residence, which was located on the northwest corner of Main and Tipton streets. The building had been occupied by General Jasper Packard for his school in 1857-1858. As of Aug. 31, a newspaper item reported that some nine of about 500 in camp were in the hospital, generally affected with diarrhea.
On Sept. 4, 1861, Col. John F. Miller offered a resolution to the citizens of La Porte for their liberal contributions for Camp Jackson.
Circa 1910: La Porte area Civil War veterans march in a Main Street parade. (Note Interurban streetcar tracks in pavement.) Photo courtesy dunelady.com
Also included was the sincere thanks of the officers and privates to A. Teegarden and L. Sherman for their “patriotism and fidelity to our country in their indefatigable labors in the speedy completion of the barracks.” Not to be forgotten also was the “undiminished gratitude and respect to the ladies of La Porte who kindly administered by blankets, clothing, medicine and food to sick and suffering soldiers.”
The La Porte Daily Herald, Friday, June 17, 1904, reported: “Set Fire to Old Hospital.” The article reported flames were discovered the day before by a passerby and soon extinguished. An effort was made to clean out the old and dilapidated buildings in La Porte and this was apparent as each day passed. A week prior, the structures occupied by the Arcade Saloon and the Thrush & Barnum Market were fired by unknown persons, and one during the current week (“Whiskey Crossing”) was aflame for a time. On the 16th, but for the timely discovery of the fire by persons returning home, the old house used as a hospital east of the Hews house and east of the corner of Main and Tipton streets would have gone up in smoke. It was a late hour on the 16th that a crowd of young men living in the eastern end of the city passed the ramshackle building and noticed that there appeared to be a light in the place. They investigated and found a pile of kindling placed against the wall; in this heap a fire had been started. The flames had already attacked the building.
While some of the men began to stamp out the flames, others rushed into one of the neighboring houses and obtained several pans of water. The building was unoccupied and had long been an eyesore to the neighbors. It was apparent that demolition of some of the older, run-down buildings was not being done fast enough to suit some of the citizenry.
In addition to the number of possible arsons, false alarms were being turned in. Just following the fire at the old Civil War hospital house, one was received from the firebox at D and Fifth streets. Instead of breaking the glass in the little door as instructed, the individual had sprung the lock and turned the key. No one was around when the fire department arrived, and no one was found who might have seen the culprit. Individuals who set off the alarm, as well as who set the fire to burn down the old hospital, were being sought and the fire chief indicated the matters would be investigated and if possible the perpetrators would be brought to justice.
It was not unusual that a house in the vicinity of a camp was utilized as a hospital for soldiers encamped. However, in this case, the one used for Camp Jackson never received much in the way of publicity, so was not generally known to exist.
FERN EDDY SCHULTZ is La Porte County’s official Historian. To learn more about the county’s fascinating history, visit the LaPorte County Historical Society Museum and its website, www.laportecountyhistory.org.