Published: September 05, 2008 11:53 am         

Sesquicentennials: A tale of two cities

Elkhart residents are celebrating their city’s sesquicentennial, an event that recognizes 150 years of history.

The celebration is occurring 27 years after Goshen residents kicked off a similar observance.

However, Elkhart’s incorporation in 1858 is being recognized, while the platting of the Elkhart County seat in 1831 was acknowledged by Goshen residents in 1981. Goshen was the first civil corporation to be organized in the county in 1854.

There has been some antipathy between the communities that dates back to those early years. In fact, it began with naming the county seat.

The county was created by an act of the state Legislature in 1830, but the selection of a county seat in Dunlap was unpopular with almost all county residents. So another commission was appointed to consider the issue.

But instead of five members appearing, only three arrived. But because there was a quorum, they proceeded with the fact-finding mission in March 1831. Coincidentally, two of the men were acquainted with the prairie settlers — an area which is now Goshen — while the third was a Dunkard, as were prairie settlers Weybright and Cripe.

So it is no surprise that the commissioners unanimously agreed to relocate the county seat to the site recommended by the prairie settlers. This, no doubt, irked those living in the northwest quadrant of the county.

Some animosity resurfaced at the turn of the 20th century when county officials proposed enlarging the courthouse. Elkhart residents didn’t want to spend the money, while Goshen supporters charged the county “had been impoverished building bridges to boom isolated sections of Elkhart.” The $50,000 expansion was approved by a 4-3 County Council vote.

But the modern connection between the two cities is U.S. 33. There is nearly a seamless transition from Elkhart to Goshen in the area formerly known as Dunlap. Ironically, the county Public Services Building in northwest Goshen was constructed on property that is likely very near the first site recommended for the county seat.

County officials have created an auxiliary county seat with many county offices in Elkhart, including the county prosecutor’s office, the main health department office and three courts. Even the sheriff’s department will soon be moving closer to Elkhart.

Goshen remains the actual county seat, a designation retained ever since the first 180 residents lived in the newly platted town. But there is plenty of history shared with Elkhart.