Seasescapes

If you want to see beauty in full bloom check out the gardens at Seasescapes.

Rassner's Heritage

William Rassner was born in Germany April 23, 1823. He was the son of Albert and Elizabeth Rassner. William remained in Germany until he was nine years of age, at which time his parents emigrated to the United States. He served in the Mexican War. Upon leaving the army he came to Peru in 1849. William opened a drug business with much success until 1873. He married Miss Anna Rabe of Germany in 1848. From that union they had three children. Mrs. Rassner died in 1857. He then married Magdalene Springer and had two children. She also died. His last wife was Miss Mary Shepler to which four children were born.
William owned land around Maconaquah Park that was named Rassner's Grove. Through the geneology line David, Russell, then Danny Rassner was born.
Rassner's newstand was started in 1953 by Danny's father, Russell, at a location next to the present store. Danny worked there when he was quite young. In 1979, after the death of his mother, Danny purchased the store. Rassner's East End News has been a part of our city for fifty plus years. Stop in and tell Danny hi!

First Railroad Hospital

I bet you thought the first railroad hospital was on Broadway--actually the first was on West 12th Street. As near as I can find the hospital was built in the late 1860's. In 1891 the Wabash Railroad Co. had a wreck at Kingsbury, Indiana. They unloaded the victims at Grant Street and took them to the hospital. Sometime later a Lake Erie & Western engineer, fell from the window of his engine at Plymouth when the armrest broke and let him drop to the ground while his engine was moving. His injuries were cared for in the West Twelfth street hospital.
In 1887 while Dr. E.B. North was the physician at the first hospital he heard a shot fired in a barn close to the hospital. Dr. North entered the barn to give the victim any aid he could and for his kindness he was fired on and fatally injured. Dr. North died the next day and the man who fired the shot that killed him paid the penalty (which is another story).
The new Wabash Railway Hospital was finished in 1896. The contract for the building was let to Joseph Goodall, of Peru, and the price was $34,000. The new hospital was in Ridgeview --which is where the present high school is now.

Quigley Jazz Festival

Hometown son, Richard Quigley, was honored over the weekend at the 2006 Richard Quigley Memorial Jazz Festival. The event was presented by Temecula Valley Bank-Steve Wacknitz-and the Honeywell Center.
During his youth, Dick's greatest wish, was to play saxaphone with a big band. His wish came true. He toured with Stan Kenton. After his tour he returned to Indiana and lived in Ft. Wayne. He became an outstanding jazz musician. Later in life he suffered a heart attack and returned to Peru. Dick and Tom Gustin organized and performed the first summer jazz festival in August of 1998. After his death, Tom wanted to continue the jazz festival as a memorial to his friend.
The audience was toe-tapping--heads bobbing to the beat of the melodies filling the PHS auditorium. It's rare to hear music of such high quality and not have to pay--yes, it was free. A great big Thank You to the musicians that played, the vocalists that sang, and the two m.c.'s that kept us laughing. A Special Thanks to Steve Wacknitz and the Honeywell Center for their sponsorship. Keep on playing those tunes and see you next year!