South Bend Off The Beaten Path

gotta love Murphy's Backyard 3601 Mishawaka Ave.
Sure its sort of a Biker Bar.. BUt what a NICE crowd.. Sort of a Cheers.. with a great juke box and a nice motorcycle crowd.. I hope they never do away with the free hotdogs on Sat. afternoon. Almost ALWAYS something "neat" to see there..
Don't be shy, they are ONLY BIKERS.. they won't bite.. usually.

Indiana Historical Bureau: ID#: 71.1963.1
County: St. Joseph
Title: Camp Rose

Marker Text: Civil War Training camp for then 9th Congressional District was located at the old fairgrounds. The 99th, 73rd and 87th Indiana Volunteer infantry regiments were organized and trained here in 1802.

Credit Line: Erected by the Indiana Civil War Centennial Commission 1963
Directions: Leland & Portage & Notre Dame Avenues, South Bend.

Indiana Historical Bureau: ID#: 71.1966.1
County: St. Joseph
Title: Indiana Territorial Line (east-west boundary at this point)

Marker Text: The boundaries between Indiana and Michigan territories was established on June 30, 1805. Just before Indiana became a state in 1816, the line was moved ten miles north to provide frontage on Lake Michigan.

Credit Line: Erected by Indiana Sesquicentennial Commission, 1966
Directions: US 31 & Johnson Road, south edge of South Bend.

Indiana Historical Bureau: ID#: 71.1966.2
County: St. Joseph
Title: Site of Home of Schuyler Colfax March 23, 1823-January 1, 1885

Marker Text: Prominent newspaperman and political leader; member of Congress, 1855-1869; Speaker, House of Representatives, 1863-1869; and Vice-President of the United States, 1869-1873.

Credit Line: Erected by Indiana Sesquicentennial Commission, 1966
Directions: Colfax & Taylor Streets, South Bend.

Indiana Historical Bureau: ID#: 71.1998.1
County: St. Joseph
Title: Huggart Settlement

Marker Text: First land purchased by Huggart brothers in 1834; area settled and farmed by their families and several other African-American households circa 1850-1890s. Settlement families attended nearby schools and churches and worked with neighbors in surrounding areas. Many residents were buried in nearby Porter-Rea Cemetery now in Potato Creek State Park.

Credit Line: Erected 1998 Indiana Historical Bureau and Huggart Settlement Task Force
Directions: NW corner at junction of SR 4 & Mulberry Road east of Potato Creek State Park, Union Township.

Indiana Historical Bureau: ID#: 71.19??.1
County: St. Joseph
Title: La Salle's Camp 1 Mile West

Marker Text: Site of La Salle's camp, 1679, on portage between St. Joseph and Kankakee rivers. La Salle was the first white man to enter Indiana, passing here again in 1681.

Credit Line: National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of Indiana
Directions: SR 933/Dixie Highway & Darden Road, South Bend.

Take a drive down the Kankakee River. After all, it's a part of the reason that South Bend is located where it's at. The directions used to be, Follow Lake Michigan's eastern shore south to the St. Joseph. You'll know it by the high bluffs and the shore starting to turn westward. Follow the St. Joe upstream to the 'south bend'. Here you'll find a village of Miami and Potawatomi's. Travel southwest over the portage 'til you reach the Kankakee. Follow the Kankakee downstream for 15 days (okay, I don't really know how many days), until you reach the Mississippi. St. Louis is just south pass the entrance of the Missouri.'

Visit my Kouts page for information on the Kankakee River and the Grand Kankakee Marsh.

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New Carlisle lies west of South Bend on U.S. 20. Don't be fooled into taking U.S. 12, which is the bigger road, it's a narrow 2 lane road that winds westward out of South Bend. It's worth the trip. In New Carlisle, you'll find the Village Shops, a collection historic street front buildings filled with holiday home furnishings and gifts. If all you spend is an hour, you'll find it well worth the trip.

See my New Carlisle page (web site listed below) for more information on the shops and restaurants in New Carlisle.