A Bend in Time

Series 07-01: The Portage Jul 07, 2026

Episode 1: The Portage

Twelve thousand years before Pierre Navarre built his cabin on the St. Joseph River, retreating glaciers carved a three-to-five-mile gap between two of the continent's great watersheds — and set South Bend's entire history in motion. In this episode, we trace the story of the St. Joseph-Kankakee portage from the last Ice Age through the arrival of French explorer Robert de LaSalle, the 1681 council beneath the Council Oak, and the fur traders who finally cashed in on one of North America's most valuable pieces of real estate.

Part of Series 7: Early South Bend

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

This series is presented in conjunction with The History Museum's America250 programming and the exhibit First Peoples, First Settlers: Indiana's Interwoven Roots, which explores the beginnings of settlement in the area and the interactions between European settlers and America's Native peoples. First Peoples, First Settlers is on display until January 31, 2026.

Visit The History Museum's website at historymuseumsb.org

Series 06-08: Revolutionaries May 27, 2026

Episode 8: Revolutionaries

In 1776, the United States' Founding Fathers launched a revolution. 250 years later, they're still here. They've been carved into marble and mountains. They are in your wallet. They have their own national holidays. And some of them have a street named after them in South Bend, Indiana. Learn about some famous revolutionaries' local ties, from Lafayette to Kosciuszcko, on this episode of A Bend in Time.

Part of Series 6: Street Names, Volume 1

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

This series is generously sponsored by the Doug Hunt Family.

Visit The History Museum's website at historymuseumsb.org

Series 06-07: Original People May 19, 2026

Episode 7: Original People

Depending on who's telling it, South Bend's story usually begins with the early fur traders coming to set up shop. But they came here because people were here, with lives, trade networks, and entire civilizations around the place that would become South Bend. Miami Street is named for the Miami people of the region, Parkovash for the bison who used to thunder across the plains, and Pokagon after a great leader of the local Potawatomi. Learn about all of these and more on this episode of A Bend in Time.

Part of Series 6: Street Names, Volume 1

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

This series is generously sponsored by the Doug Hunt Family.

Visit The History Museum's website at historymuseumsb.org

Series 06-06: Civil War Figures May 12, 2026

Episode 6: Civil War Figures

After the outbreak of war in 1861, President Lincoln issued a call for 75,000 volunteers from the loyal northern states. Proud South Benders marched off to distant battlefields and unknown futures in defense of a nation not yet a hundred years old. Soon enough they would become martyrs, heroes, leaders, and legends - and some had streets named after them. Whether it was earned by being the first to die in the war from Indiana, or mainly because their name started with the right letter, learn about these Civil War namesakes on this episode of A Bend in Time.

Part of Series 6: Street Names, Volume 1

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

This series is generously sponsored by the Doug Hunt Family.

Visit The History Museum's website at historymuseumsb.org

Series 06-05: African American Heroes May 05, 2026

Episode 5: African American Heroes

As you walk, drive, or bike through St. Joseph County, you'll find roads named for trees, flowers, national heroes, and local figures. However, you'll be hard-pressed to find many named for African American individuals. Learn about three trailblazers who made a difference and the roads that were (re)named for them in this episode of A Bend in Time.

Part of Series 6: Street Names, Volume 1

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

This series is generously sponsored by the Doug Hunt Family.

Visit The History Museum's website at historymuseumsb.org

Series 06-04: Original Pioneers Apr 28, 2026

Episode 4: Original Pioneers

When you travel down Ireland Road, do you think of the green fields of Ireland? Or perhaps of the Fighting Irish? Think again! Samuel Irvin Houston Ireland was a very early Mishawaka resident and the first county assessor - our very own "Uncle Sam." Learn more about his family, along with the origins of Day Road and Navarre Street, in this episode of A Bend in Time.

Part of Series 6: Street Names, Volume 1

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

This series is generously sponsored by the Doug Hunt Family.

Visit The History Museum's website at historymuseumsb.org

Series 06-03: University Legends Apr 21, 2026

Episode 3: University Legends

You might know the story behind Rockne Boulevard or Sorin Street, but did you know the stones in Notre Dame's Grotto paid for a family’s mortgage? Or why there are so many streets named for saints near campus? Learn about these and more in this episode of A Bend in Time!

Interested in learning more about notable Notre Dame figures? Search the University Archives collection here!

Part of Series 6: Street Names, Volume 1

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

This series is generously sponsored by the Doug Hunt Family.

Visit The History Museum's website at historymuseumsb.org

Series 06-02: Forgotten Political Figures Apr 14, 2026

Episode 2: Forgotten Political Figures

Driving down Brick Road or Sample Street, one assumes their common names are references former brick pavers, or perhaps a free sample of something - and one would be wrong. Learn about the legendary political figures Samuel Sample and Abraham Lincoln Brick in this episode of A Bend in Time.

While in Congress, Samuel Sample corresponded regularly regarding political matters with Schuyler Colfax, who ran the local Whig newspaper at the time. Read his letters at The History Museum's online collections portal.

Part of Series 6: Street Names, Volume 1

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

This series is generously sponsored by the Doug Hunt Family.

Visit The History Museum's website at historymuseumsb.org

Series 06-01: Lathrop, Miner, Taylor Apr 07, 2026

Episode 1: Lathrop, Miner, Taylor

Join us as on A Bend In Time as we travel across South Bend to find the stories behind the names of

Lathrop Street, Miner Street, and Taylor Street.

See photos of Lathrop Taylor and Miner Listenberger, Taylor's original post office, and even the key to his general store at The History Museum's online artifact collection!

Part of Series 6: Street Names, Volume 1

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

This series is generously sponsored by the Doug Hunt Family.

Visit The History Museum's website at historymuseumsb.org

Series 05-08: Ghosts of the Gilded Age Sep 30, 2025

Episode 8: Ghosts of the Gilded Age

A restored Birdsell Mansion, whispers of West Washington tunnels, Tippecanoe Place’s stairway specters, Studebaker’s after-hours echoes, and a doll named Lucy who might not like strangers.

Part of Series 5: Spooky South Bend

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

Visit The History Museum's website at historymuseumsb.org

Series 05-07: Shadows from the East Sep 30, 2025

Episode 7: Shadows from the East

From Bristol’s Opera House ghosts (Beth, Helen, and Percy) to Elkhart’s Old Bag Factory and Mishawaka’s original Hacienda mansion, we tour stages, shop floors, and dining rooms that refuse to sleep.

Part of Series 5: Spooky South Bend

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

Visit The History Museum's website at historymuseumsb.org

Series 05-06: Grave Warnings Sep 30, 2025

Episode 6: Grave Warnings

After-hours legends from Michiana’s cemeteries: Little Egypt’s angry spirits, Primrose’s Troll Bridge, Portage Prairie’s quiet Dunkards, and South Bend City Cemetery’s bridge to nowhere, where some swear they hear water that never flowed.

Part of Series 5: Spooky South Bend

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

Visit The History Museum's website at historymuseumsb.org

Series 05-05: Michigan Melonheads Sep 30, 2025

Episode 5: Michigan Melonheads

A beach party near Saugatuck goes dark: every light, every phone, every battery, just as a small, pale figure steps from the dunes. We chase Michigan legends: the buried town of Singapore, haunted shipwrecks off St. Joseph, and Allegan County’s infamous Melon Heads.

Part of Series 5: Spooky South Bend

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

Visit The History Museum's website at historymuseumsb.org

Series 05-04: Primrose Road Sep 30, 2025

Episode 4: Primrose Road

After dark, Primrose Road turns from a sleepy backroad into South Bend’s most storied haunt—tires that mysteriously deflate, engines that die, ritual rumors in the woods, and the ever-watchful lady in white.

Part of Series 5: Spooky South Bend

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

Visit The History Museum's website at historymuseumsb.org

Series 05-03: Hauntings on Campus Sep 30, 2025

Episode 3: Hauntings on Campus

A midnight walk across Notre Dame and St. Mary’s uncovers campus legends: Father Sorin’s lingering presence, the Gipper at Washington Hall, Potawatomi warriors at Columba Hall, and the faceless nun of Le Mans. Eerie history meets enduring hauntings.

Part of Series 5: Spooky South Bend

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

Visit The History Museum's website at historymuseumsb.org

Series 05-02: Giants of Walkerton Sep 30, 2025

Episode 2: Giants of Walkerton

In 1925, a Walkerton farmer uncovered giant skeletons clad in copper armor. The bones vanished, but the legend never did. This is the mystery of Walkerton’s lost giants.

Part of Series 5: Spooky South Bend

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

Visit The History Museum's website at historymuseumsb.org

Series 05-01: Potawatomi Legends Sep 30, 2025

Episode 1: Potawatomi Legacy

A chilling night beneath South Bend’s Darden Bridge sets the stage for legends of the Wendigo, the mysterious Sheggwe, and the tragic tale of Pau-Koo-Shuk. Ghosts, myths, and history converge on the banks of the St. Joseph River.

Part of Series 5: Spooky South Bend

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

Visit The History Museum's website at historymuseumsb.org

Series 04-08: Legacy Jul 08, 2025

Episode 8: Legacy

On a -30° morning in Mankato, Minnesota, Schuyler Colfax took his final steps. This episode begins with his sudden death at a snowy train station and ends with the legacy he left behind. Was Colfax ruined by scandal or simply ready to go home? Did he miss his shot at the presidency, or choose the life he truly wanted in South Bend? We trace his post-political life, his final days, and the echo of a man who stood at the heart of American history… and walked away.

Part of Series 4: South Bend’s Own: Schuyler Colfax

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

Visit The History Museum's website at historymuseumsb.org

View the museum’s online Schuyler Colfax collection here.

Series 04-07: Private Life Jul 08, 2025

Episode 7: Private Life

Schuyler Colfax was ready to retire — until the country called him back. This episode explores his reluctant reentry into politics, the bruising 1872 campaign, and the Credit Mobilier scandal that clouded his exit. But Colfax wasn’t done. From business ventures in South Bend to becoming one of America’s most beloved public speakers, he found a second act on the lecture stage.

Part of Series 4: South Bend’s Own: Schuyler Colfax

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

Visit The History Museum's website at historymuseumsb.org

View the museum’s online Schuyler Colfax collection here.

Series 04-06: Vice President Jul 08, 2025

Episode 6: Vice President

In 1868, Schuyler Colfax wins the girl and the nation — marrying Ellen Wade and being elected Vice President alongside Ulysses S. Grant. This episode traces Colfax’s dramatic rise to national office, his unconventional partnership with Grant, and the surprising decision that stunned Washington: his early retirement from politics. But was it really goodbye? Or just the calm before a final campaign storm?

Part of Series 4: South Bend’s Own: Schuyler Colfax

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

Visit The History Museum's website at historymuseumsb.org

View the museum’s online Schuyler Colfax collection here.

Series 04-05: Across the Continent Jul 08, 2025

Episode 5: Across the Continent

In 1865, freshly widowed and free of congressional duties, Speaker Schuyler Colfax hits the trail on America’s first great political road trip. From dusty stagecoach roads and Rocky-Mountain mining camps to a cautious handshake with Brigham Young in Salt Lake City, Colfax sells a war-weary nation on a new idea: the West can mend the Union and power its future. Follow his wagon across plains, peaks, and Pacific vistas — and see how the goodwill he earns in frontier towns propels him toward a spot on the 1868 presidential ticket.

Part of Series 4: South Bend’s Own: Schuyler Colfax

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

Visit The History Museum's website at historymuseumsb.org

View the museum’s online Schuyler Colfax collection here.

Series 04-04: Speaker of the House Jul 08, 2025

Episode 4: Speaker of the House

As the Civil War erupts, Schuyler Colfax rises to national power — missing a cabinet seat but gaining the gavel. From his leadership in wartime Congress to the proposals of the 13th and 14th Amendments, Colfax helps reshape the nation in its most turbulent hour. This episode chronicles his years as Speaker of the House: the battles with Andrew Johnson, the impeachment crisis, and the radical redefinition of American freedom.

Part of Series 4: South Bend’s Own: Schuyler Colfax

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

Visit The History Museum's website at historymuseumsb.org

View the museum’s online Schuyler Colfax collection here.

Series 04-03: A Brewing Conflict Jul 08, 2025

Episode 3: A Brewing Conflict

As the Whig Party collapses and the nation fractures over slavery, Schuyler Colfax steps into the chaos of Congress. From a House locked in gridlock to a fiery speech that propels him into the national spotlight, Colfax becomes a rising star in a country teetering on the brink. This episode traces his early years in Washington, his role in the Kansas crisis, and his front-row seat to the unraveling of the Union… and the rise of Abraham Lincoln.

Part of Series 4: South Bend’s Own: Schuyler Colfax

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

Visit The History Museum's website at historymuseumsb.org

View the museum’s online Schuyler Colfax collection here.

Series 04-02: Newspaper Man Jul 08, 2025

Episode 2: Newspaper Man

As a young newspaper editor, Schuyler Colfax made South Bend his home—and his launching pad. In this episode, we explore Colfax’s rise from local publisher to national political voice, his unwavering moral compass, and the moment the Kansas-Nebraska Act ignited his first run for Congress. A party was collapsing. A new one was forming. And Colfax was ready to lead.

Part of Series 4: South Bend’s Own: Schuyler Colfax

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

Visit The History Museum's website at historymuseumsb.org

View the museum’s online Schuyler Colfax collection here.

Series 04-01: Origin Story Jul 08, 2025

Episode 1: Origin Story

Before he became the 17th Vice President of the United States, Schuyler Colfax was a child of tragedy, born to a widowed teenager in a modest brick house in New York City. In this debut episode, we trace Colfax’s early life — from Revolutionary War ancestry and formative years in New York to his coming-of-age in frontier Indiana. Discover how a self-educated teenager in New Carlisle built a foundation in politics, journalism, and reform that would one day take him to the Capitol steps.

Part of Series 4: South Bend’s Own: Schuyler Colfax

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

Visit The History Museum's website at historymuseumsb.org

View the museum’s online Schuyler Colfax collection here.

Series 03-08: Whispers of the Beautiful Game Apr 22, 2025

Episode 8: Whispers of the Beautiful Game
The AAGPBL folded at the end of the 1954 season, but that didn’t mean that the Blue Sox were done making an impact in South Bend. We close out the series by following up on the players who remained in town after their playing days were over and continued to touch the community during the years and decades to come. Sources include The South Bend Blue Sox by Jim Sargent; The Dutiful Dozen by W.C. Madden; archived newspapers including (but not limited to) the South Bend Tribune, Chicago Tribune, Kenosha News, and Racine Journal-Times; the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Players' Association (aagpbl.org); and Grand Valley State University Digital Collections.

Part of Series 3: South Bend Blue Sox and the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

Visit The History Museum's website at historymuseumsb.org

Series 03-07: The End of an Era Apr 22, 2025

Episode 7: The End of an Era
By 1954, the writing was on the wall, and the end of the AAGPBL was fast approaching. But that didn’t mean that the Blue Sox didn’t want to win. Follow the South Bend squad as they follow the league toward its end and try to bring one last hurrah to the home fans. Sources include The South Bend Blue Sox by Jim Sargent; The Dutiful Dozen by W.C. Madden; archived newspapers including (but not limited to) the South Bend Tribune, Chicago Tribune, Kenosha News, and Racine Journal-Times; the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (aagpbl.org); and Grand Valley State University Digital Collections.

Part of Series 3: South Bend Blue Sox and the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

Visit The History Museum's website at historymuseumsb.org

Series 03-06: The Dutiful Dozen Apr 22, 2025

Episode 6: The Dutiful Dozen
1952 was the most dramatic year in the history of the Blue Sox – a season filled with strife, interpersonal drama, and a player walkout that left the Blue Sox massively shorthanded heading into the playoffs. Sources include The South Bend Blue Sox by Jim Sargent; The Dutiful Dozen by W.C. Madden; archived newspapers including (but not limited to) the South Bend Tribune, Chicago Tribune, Kenosha News, and Racine Journal-Times; the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Players' Association (aagpbl.org); and Grand Valley State University Digital Collections.

Part of Series 3: South Bend Blue Sox and the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

Visit The History Museum's website at historymuseumsb.org

Series 03-05: Chase for a Championship Apr 22, 2025

Episode 5: Chase for a Championship
The Blue Sox had experienced plenty of success during their early seasons but had yet to deliver an elusive championship to South Bend. By the late 1940s, it looked like they had the necessary pieces to deliver playoff glory, including a budding superstar in Jean Faut. Sources include The South Bend Blue Sox by Jim Sargent; The Dutiful Dozen by W.C. Madden; archived newspapers including (but not limited to) the South Bend Tribune, Chicago Tribune, Kenosha News, and Racine Journal-Times; the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Players' Association (aagpbl.org); and Grand Valley State University Digital Collections.

Part of Series 3: South Bend Blue Sox and the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

Visit The History Museum's website at historymuseumsb.org

Series 03-04: League in Transition Apr 22, 2025

Episode 4: League in Transition
World War II ended in 1945 and left players, owners, and fans wondering what would happen with the All-American League. The women kept playing, but their game kept changing – transitioning from underhand to sidearm to overhand pitching. Every year, the game looked
more and more like baseball, and if the Blue Sox were going to bring a championship to South Bend, they’d have to adapt along with their sport. Sources include The South Bend Blue Sox by Jim Sargent; The Dutiful Dozen by W.C. Madden; archived newspapers including (but not limited to) the South Bend Tribune, Chicago Tribune, Kenosha News, and Racine Journal-Times; the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Players' Association (aagpbl.org); and Grand Valley State University Digital Collections.

Part of Series 3: South Bend Blue Sox and the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

Visit The History Museum's website at historymuseumsb.org

Series 03-03: The War Years Apr 22, 2025

Episode 3: The War Years
The All-American League was imagined as a way to keep baseball alive during the war, and that’s exactly what it did in 1944 and 1945. Follow the Blue Sox as they provide a welcome distraction for South Bend during the worst and ugliest parts of World War II. Sources include The South Bend Blue Sox by Jim Sargent; The Dutiful Dozen by W.C. Madden; archived newspapers including (but not limited to) the South Bend Tribune, Chicago Tribune, Kenosha News, and Racine Journal-Times; the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Players' Association (aagpbl.org); and Grand Valley State University Digital Collections.

Part of Series 3: South Bend Blue Sox and the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

Visit The History Museum's website at historymuseumsb.org

Series 03-02: The Inaugural Season Apr 22, 2025

Episode 2: The Inaugural Season
The rosters were set, the uniforms were ordered, and the managers were assigned. Now there was only one thing left to do: Play Ball. No one – not even the players – quite knew what that first season would look like, and no one was sure if the fans would turn out. Follow the
1943 Blue Sox through their first season in the AAGPBL. Sources include The South Bend Blue Sox by Jim Sargent; The Dutiful Dozen by W.C. Madden; archived newspapers including (but not limited to) the South Bend Tribune, Chicago Tribune, Kenosha News, and Racine
Journal-Times; the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Players' Association (aagpbl.org); and Grand Valley State University Digital Collections.

Part of Series 3: South Bend Blue Sox and the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

Visit The History Museum's website at historymuseumsb.org

Series 03-01: Birth of the AAGPBL Apr 22, 2025

Episode 1: Birth of the AAGPBL

Come with us and relive the heyday of the South Bend Blue Sox and the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. In this episode, we’re exploring the beginnings of the league from tryouts to train rides to the decision to land a team in South Bend, Indiana. Sources include The South Bend Blue Sox by Jim Sargent; The Dutiful Dozen by W.C. Madden; archived newspapers including (but not limited to) the South Bend Tribune, Chicago Tribune, Kenosha News, and Racine Journal-Times; the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Players' Association (aagpbl.org); and Grand Valley State University Digital Collections.

Part of Series 3: South Bend Blue Sox and the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

Visit The History Museum's website at historymuseumsb.org

Series 02-08: South Bend Watch Company Jan 30, 2025

Episode 8: South Bend Watch

Ice-block watches, arctic expeditions, and dishonest postcards and more in this episode about the South Bend Watch Company. In this final episode of A Bend in Time's series on forgotten businesses, we chronicle the rise and fall of this trailblazing watchmaker that dared to challenge the giants of its industry. From marketing brilliance and luxurious railroad-grade timepieces to its tragic downfall in the Great Depression, this episode highlights a company whose innovation and legacy still tick on today. Don’t miss this fascinating finale!

Part of Series 2: Forgotten Businesses of South Bend

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

Visit The History Museum's website at historymuseumsb.org

Series 02-07: George Cutter Company Jan 30, 2025

Episode 7: George Cutter Company

What do New Orleans’ flickering streetlights and South Bend’s industrial past have in common? The George Cutter Company. In this episode of A Bend in Time, we illuminate the story of the man who brought style to streetlights across the U.S. and beyond. From his collaborations with Alexander Graham Bell to crafting iconic Arcadian lamps still standing in historic districts, George Cutter’s legacy is a beacon of innovation and design. Learn about his remarkable journey, the rise of his company, and its eventual assimilation into Westinghouse.

Part of Series 2: Forgotten Businesses of South Bend

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

Visit The History Museum's website at historymuseumsb.org

Series 02-06: Birdsell Manufacturing Company Jan 30, 2025

Episode 6: Birdsell Manufacturing Company

Lawsuits, poetry, and a game-changing machine! This episode of A Bend in Time dives into the story of the Birdsell Manufacturing Company, the pioneering South Bend firm that revolutionized farming with the Birdsell Clover Huller. Follow the epic battles of J.C. Birdsell as he fought to protect his patent, built an industrial empire, and turned a niche invention into an international success. From factory whistles heard miles away to unhinged marketing poetry and extravagant galas, this episode reveals the innovation and drama behind one of South Bend’s most colorful enterprises.

Part of Series 2: Forgotten Businesses of South Bend

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

Visit The History Museum's website at historymuseumsb.org

Series 02-05: The South Bend News-Times Jan 30, 2025

Episode 5: The South Bend News-Times

Rivalries, rising stars, and the race for readers! Explore the history of the South Bend News-Times, a scrappy underdog that nurtured talents like Ring Lardner and Charles Butterworth while battling its rival, the South Bend Tribune. Discover tales of journalistic pranks, political feuds, and how a little basement graffiti launched a cartoonist’s career. Despite its legacy of incredible local coverage, the News-Times struggled against changing times and shifting reader loyalties, leading to its poignant farewell in 1938. Relive the story of a newspaper that gave South Bend its voice—and its heart.

Part of Series 2: Forgotten Businesses of South Bend

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

Visit The History Museum's website at historymuseumsb.org

Series 02-04: Muessel Brewing Company Jan 30, 2025

Episode 4: Muessel Brewing

In this episode of A Bend in Time, we follow the fascinating journey of the Muessel Brewing Company—from its Bavarian roots to its rise as a South Bend institution. Discover how this family-owned brewery thrived amidst temperance movements, tragic headlines, and the devastating effects of Prohibition. With tales of championship football teams, daring robberies, and enduring community landmarks like Muessel Grove Park, this is more than a story about beer—it's a story about resilience, legacy, and the surprising ways history lingers. Cheers to that!

Part of Series 2: Forgotten Businesses of South Bend

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

Visit The History Museum's website at historymuseumsb.org

Series 02-03: Stephenson Underwear Jan 30, 2025

Episode 3: Stephenson Underwear

Murder, mayhem, and long johns! Step back in time to explore the scandalous rise and fall of the Stephenson Underwear Mills, one of South Bend’s most influential—yet controversial—businesses. From woolen suits worn by President Benjamin Harrison to battles over land, labor, and tariffs, this episode of A Bend in Time delves into the company’s storied past. Discover how a factory pet bear, dynamite publicity stunts, and whispers of murder made the tale of Stephenson Underwear anything but ordinary.

Part of Series 2: Forgotten Businesses of South Bend

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

Visit The History Museum's website at historymuseumsb.org

Series 02-02: South Bend Toy Company Jan 30, 2025

Episode 2: South Bend Toy Company

From croquet sets and baseball bats to doll carriages and record-breaking wagons, the South Bend Toy Company once ruled as a global toy titan. But behind the success were fiery factory disasters, wartime contributions, and a remarkable legacy of craftsmanship. Join A Bend in Time as we uncover how this iconic toy maker rose to international fame, broke sales records, won accolades—and ultimately faced the challenges of changing times and a high-tech toy market.

Part of Series 2: Forgotten Businesses of South Bend

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

Visit The History Museum's website at historymuseumsb.org

Series 02-01: South Bend Bait Company Jan 30, 2025

Episode 1: South Bend Bait Company

What do lures, bamboo rods, and a scandalous escape to Sandusky have in common? Dive into the story of the South Bend Bait Company—once a fishing industry titan and now a collector's dream. From deer-hair hooks to million-dollar sales, this episode of A Bend in Time unravels the dramatic history of innovation, scandal, and resilience behind one of South Bend’s most fascinating forgotten businesses.

Part of Series 2: Forgotten Businesses of South Bend

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

Visit The History Museum's website at historymuseumsb.org

Series 01-08: William Longley Oct 07, 2024

Episode 8: William Longley

William Longley was mayor of South Bend from 1888-1892, and if he would have had his own way, he would have never been mayor at all. The reluctant city leader won a reluctant campaign that left him overseeing a growing city with growing industry. He also was left to administrate a soap opera involving the establishment of city parks, high profile fires, and the largest and most prestigious international delegation that had ever come to South Bend.

Part of Series 1: Dawn of the City of South Bend

Looking for something in particular?

05:27 Brief biography of William Longley

12:57 Longley elected as Mayor against his will

20:00 City Council drama with the South Bend Railway

22:12 President Benjamin Harrison wears underwear made in South Bend!

23:50 The city decides on brick roads

25:54 The city receives to controversial land donations for city parks

30:42 The Pan-American Congress visits South Bend

34:42 Accusations of political dishonesty derail the Oliver Hotel

35:34 Singer threatens to leave South Bend

36:33 The annexation of Myler

37:27 Mayor Longley’s legacy and death

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

Visit The History Museum's website at historymuseumsb.org

Series 01-07: George Loughman Oct 07, 2024

Episode 7: George Loughman

George Loughman was mayor of South Bend from 1884-1888, and while he was mayor, he was also freight agent with the railroad, foreman of a fire station, President of the South Bend Building and Loan, and an insurance dealer. His tenure watched over the professionalization of city’s police and firefighters, a historic visit from presidential candidate James Blaine, a violent strike that almost drove Oliver from the city, and the death of Schuyler Colfax.

Part of Series 1: Dawn of the City of South Bend

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00:35 Racist affronts and attacks toward South Bend’s only Chinese citizen

04:06 Brief biography of George Loughman

08:37 City cuts funding to firefighters in 1883

11:14 Political upset in the 1884 election

14:15 Presidential candidate James Blaine visits South Bend!

18:27 Strike at the Oliver Factory turns violent

20:43 Death of Schuyler Colfax

23:04 Mayor Loughman scrambles to keep the Oliver business in South Bend

26:13 City’s first streetcar system opens!

29:18 Construction begins on Tippecanoe Place

31:28 Oil derricks go up amidst South Bend’s gas craze

32:20 Mayor Loughman’s legacy and death

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

Visit The History Museum's website at historymuseumsb.org

Series 01-06: Dr. Levi Ham Oct 07, 2024

Episode 6: Dr. Levi Ham

Dr. Levi Ham was mayor of South Bend from 1880-1884, 74 years old by the time he took office, and 78 by the time he left. Ham inherited a city that was financially kneecapped and one that was changing in the face of European immigration. He helped deliver Democrats to power, even as the party and its members were touched by controversy.

Part of Series 1: Dawn of the City of South Bend

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01:24 The roots of Polish immigration to South Bend

05:23 Biography of Dr. Levi Ham

10:56 Understanding the shocking election of 1880

18:44 Death of Dr. Louis Humphreys, South Bend’s second mayor

20:15 Controversial charges of electioneering against Ham and the Democrats

22:56 Controversy with local police officer working sneakily for Democratic party

25:08 A burglar steals the mayor’s teeth!

27:36 Massive impropriety found with City Treasurer Clint Rush

33:50 Mayor Ham attends westside ethnic celebrations

35:36 Mayor Ham’s legacy and death

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

Visit The History Museum's website.

Series 01-05: Lucius Tong Oct 07, 2024

Episode 5: Lucius Tong

Tong was mayor of South Bend from 1878-1880, the first of its leaders to come with a degree from the University of Notre Dame. During his term, Tong oversaw maintenance on a city whose original infrastructure was turning 15 years old, acquired the land that would be come Howard Park, and watched over one of the worst fires in the city’s history. He also wrote some pretty awful poetry.

Part of Series 1: Dawn of the City of South Bend

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05:03 A brief biography of Lucius Tong

07:30 Lucius Tong writes awful poetry

11:07 The ethnic landscape of South Bend begins to change

12:47 The contentious election of 1878

19:40 Christmas Eve fire rocks South Bend

23:10 City acquires the land that would become Howard Park

25:11 President Rutherford B. Hayes visits South Bend

26:38 The shocking, earth-shattering election of 1880

30:36 Mayor Tong’s legacy and death

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

Visit The History Museum's website.

Series 01-04: Alexander Thomas Oct 07, 2024

Episode 4: Alexander Thomas

Alexander Napier Thomas was mayor of South Bend from 1876-1878, during the years it was most affected by the nation’s Long Depression. He was a proud member of the Temperance Society, an in-demand Sunday School teacher, and a pioneer at heart, leaving South Bend to build a new life in Nebraska even before his term in the mayor’s office was up.

Part of Series 1: Dawn of the City of South Bend

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03:27 A brief biography of Alexander Thomas

09:51 South Bend is hit by the Long Depression

12:37 Mayor Thomas organizes religious relief societies

14:37 South Benders begin a fascination with the west

18:42 Mayor Thomas visits Nebraska

20:33 South Bend’s railroads survive the economic downturn

22:58 Mayor Thomas throws a party marking the end of an era

25:07 Controversy surrounding the renaming of Thomas Street

27:34 Mayor Thomas’s legacy and death

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

Visit The History Museum's website.

Series 01-03: William Miller Oct 07, 2024

Episode 3: William Miller

William Miller was mayor of South Bend from 1872-1876, inheriting a city on a high note that was about to come to an unexpected end. Miller had endured plenty of tragedy during his early life and would see plenty more during his four years in the mayor’s office. He’d oversee the city’s effort to build a modern water works and help deliver the wildest political circus the young city had ever seen.

Part of Series 1: Dawn of the City of South Bend

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02:32 A brief biography of William Miller

06:39 Death of South Bend’s founder, Alexis Coquillard

08:30 There are TWO William Millers?

11:16 A pair of major fires visit South Bend

13:24 Water Works debate turns contentious

16:40 Political parties dissolve ahead of the 1873 Council election

17:46 John Studebaker and Schuyler Colfax lose a bet on Christmas!

21:18 Mayor Miller departs from the Republican party amid controversy

24:59 Mayor Miller’s legacy and death

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

Visit The History Museum's website.

Series 01-02: Dr. Louis Humphreys Oct 07, 2024

Episode 2: Dr. Louis Humphreys

Louis Humphreys was mayor of South Bend from 1868 – 1872, a time that lined up almost perfectly with Schuyler Colfax’s vice presidency. It was an unprecedented time of Good Feelings, business development, and governmental cooperation. For most of his term, Humphreys’ actions rarely made big news… and that’s exactly the way he would have wanted it.

Part of Series 1: Dawn of the City of South Bend

Looking for something in particular?

02:52 A brief biography of Dr. Louis Humphreys

05:55 Major long-term business investment comes to South Bend

08:36 Mayor Humphreys leads the charge for Grant & Colfax

09:24 Clement Studebaker begins to step into local politics

09:54 Grant & Colfax win the White House

12:26 African Americans establish a presence in South Bend

18:04 South Bend responds to the Great Chicago Fire

21:07 Mayor Humphreys’ legacy and death

A Bend in Time is presented by The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana and hosted by Aaron Helman.

Visit The History Museum's website.

Series 01-01: William George Oct 07, 2024

Episode 1: William Greenawalt George

William Greenawalt George was mayor of South Bend from 1865 – 1868. He saw the city through its incorporation and presided over its first City Council meetings. He oversaw the city’s first efforts to pave roads and sidewalks, wooed railroad investment, and led the controversial effort to annex the nearby village of Lowell.

Part of Series 1: Dawn of the City of South Bend

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05:20 What does it mean to incorporate a community?

08:53 A brief biography of Mayor George

12:53 Sidewalk building becomes a political disaster

19:20 A malaria panic in South Bend!

21:53 The first South Bend Farmer’s Market

23:23 South Bend annexes Lowell… controversially

25:34 George declares war on unmuzzled dogs

27:38 Dirty politics drives the work of the City Council to a halt

29:58 Mayor George decides not to run for a third term

33:02 Mayor George’s legacy and death