Published: May 30, 2009 09:52 pm      

Weavers make difference on the river

By ROD ROWE

rod.rowe@goshennews.com

Harold Weaver was one of the organizers of the Elkhart River Restoration Association and led the group about 15 years, even though he was not at the first organizational meeting when it was formed in the spring of 1983.

The residents in the area of the dam of the Elkhart River — Weavers lived on Carter Road — had met informally in 1982 and discussed ways to alter the water level in the river and fight the weeds that had developed there.

He was made president at the organizational meeting even though he was not there.

“I was out of town on a work trip but Rosie (his wife) went to the meeting,” Harold said. “No one wanted to be president. Rosie said, ‘My husband would like to be president.’”

That is how his term of service began.

Getting started

Twelve people each pledged $1,000 to get the financing started, he explained.

“I told them to give me five years before we can get anything done,” he explained. “It took four and one-half.”

The group led the rebuilding of the dam in the river.

Weaver said he was very encouraged when he learned state lottery money might be available for the dam project, rather than using state tax money.

He traveled to Indianapolis and met with officials with the Department of Natural Resources.

On one trip, he said, he declared “all I hear is what we can’t do. Please, please tell me what we can do.”

At one point he was told the whole river had to be cleaned up before work could be done at the dam.

Then he learned that he also had to deal with the Army Corps of Engineers, as the river was classified as “navigable.” The Army Corps told local residents they could not remove any dirt, but silt build-up could be removed by raking and allowing the force of the moving water to clear blockages.

The Goshen group did at least one of those projects and people were happy with the results. A couple more little projects followed, he said.

And then there was a state election and control of offices changed, so Weaver lost all his contacts and had to start over again in Indianapolis.

Weaver practically went house-to-house from Ligonier to Waterford to spread the word of the Goshen plans and rally support. He met with officials and engineers in neighboring counties to get them on board, too.

“We had all our paperwork done,” Weaver said. “It worked out to build the new dam. We were the only ones who had the engineering done and approvals.”

The state officials approved giving $2.25 million toward the dam project that didn’t have to be paid back.”

“We got it approved and we got it done,” Weaver said. “I’ll remember it for a long time.”

Weaver proudly shows visitors the key to the city and a proclamation given to him by Mayor Allan Kauffmam.

Grew up near New Paris

Weaver was born on the family farm near New Paris, but when he was 6 months old the family moved to Goshen, above the neighborhood grocery store that was at 1501 S. Main. They later moved to a home on Emerson Street and he attended the Fifth Street School for a time.

After the Parkside School was built, his family moved to 111 W. Lafayette and he attended that new school.

Weaver’s dad began driving a gasoline delivery truck for Indian Refining Co. when the family moved back to New Paris where Weaver graduated in 1939. Indian Refining Co. was purchased by Texaco in the 1920s.

After graduating, Weaver worked for 3 ½ years with New Paris State Bank, which later merged with Salem Bank.

He took the real estate exam and the insurance exam to get the New Paris bank started in insurance, pointing out the possibility of providing full service at the bank.

Weaver enrolled at North Central College for three weeks, but received his draft notice and entered the U.S. Army in 1942. After basic training at Fort Bliss at El Paso, he was assigned to the 362nd anti-aircraft division.

He applied for officer training school, went through that training and graduated in the top 5 percent of his class.

“Several of our group went to Europe and got killed right away,” Harold said.

A colonel told Weaver he had orders for him to go to Europe.

“I told him I don’t want to go,” Weaver said. “I will do anything else.”

Weaver said he turned down his commission to become a second lieutenant, but agreed to go to a secret desert location for a two-month course. He went to northern Texas for an advanced radar school. He later was sent to the Russell Islands and taught the new radar system to Marines.

Weaver was able to finish his service at Camp Atterbury in Indiana base until his release in December, 1945.

After returning from his Army service, Weaver thought he would have a enjoyable Christmas vacation, but instead started his job and career with Liberty Homes at 8 the next morning after an interview.

He continued his education with course work at Goshen College. He worked for Liberty Homes investigating fires and electrical problems for 27 years, then as a consultant the past 30 years.

“I just quit last year,” he said.

Getting a ride

Rose Marie Weaver lived south of Goshen in the area of Carter Road and when she joined the Elkhart County Chorus at age 13, the leader arranged for her to get a ride to practice with Harold, who was three years older.

Because of the age difference, “it took awhile before he took notice of me,” she said.

But through the chorus they became friends and stayed in touch during the war years. They were married in 1946 and have enjoyed 63 years of marriage.

The Weavers raised five children, they have 11 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren, said Rose, who friends know as “Rody.”

Although Harold was a Methodist, Rose has been active in the Catholic church and served 30 years as church choir director. She also taught voice at the church school. Rose also served 25 years with Meals on Wheels and has been a volunteer at the library and with the Cancer Society

“I kept busy, until I got hit” with a heart attack in 1999, she explained.

“We both sang a lot,” she said. “Music was probably our main hobby.”

The couple traveled to Europe several times, have visited Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii.

“We had a lot of wonderful trips,” she said. “We had a busy life.”

The couple moved from their Carter Road home to an apartment at Waterford Crossing about a year ago. Both suffer from vision problems and they don’t drive.

“We’re both trying,” Rose said, “to stay well.”