Along Wawasee’s Waco Drive

The Syracuse-Wawasee Historical Museum will present a Centennial Homes program at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 27, in the Syracuse Community Center, featuring 100-year-old houses on Waco Drive (formerly old SR 13), which includes the South Park neighborhood. The homes featured have “seen” the heyday of Wawasee Amusement Company, Mock’s Marina, the Lake View Hotel, Winters’ Sandwich Shop and Emerson’s Grocery to name a few.

Brief information on each of these former landmarks will set the stage for presentations featuring two Centennial Home families. Not only are the homes fascinating, but you’ll learn about one homeowner, the late Ralph Teetor, whose invention of the cruise control made long distance driving more comfortable.

Mark your calendar now for “Along Wawasee’s Waco Drive,” at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 27, in the Syracuse Community Center. Take time also to visit the Syracuse-Wawasee Historical Museum (open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday) and view the new exhibit, “The Dawn of Indiana Archaeology — the J.P. Dolan, Eli Lilly Connection.”

The second Centennial Homes presentation will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 17, in the Syracuse Community Center on Long Drive across from Lakeside Park. It will center around a family farm that became Leeland Addition. You’ll be amazed to find out how many locations and families around the lake are tied to this family. The stories of the original farmhouse and barn (turned house) will also be shared. Join in to discover the stories these century old homes and their present owners have to share.