A BRIEF HISTORY OF NORTH MANCHESTER

WRITTEN FOR THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY / CENTER FOR HISTORY

The Miamis were the first people who lived on this land. The Potawatomis had pushed south in Indiana to the Kenapocomoco (Eel River) by 1750. The Potawatomi Chief. Pierish. built his village on the high ground just north of Manchester University’s football field.

Then in January 1836 the first town plot was laid by Peter Ogan as he built his cabin even before he planned a town.

• 1837 First Saw Mill
• 1839 The First Log School House
• 1845 The First Churches Built
• 1849 A Foundry was Build
• 1871 The Railroad Came to Town
• 1874 The Town was Incorporated
• 1889 Manchester College Breaks Ground (now Manchester University)

The growth of the town was slow, being situated entirely off all the principal thoroughfares of the country. The mail for instance put in an appearance quite infrequently and were carried on horse back from town to town The first business directory from 1861 showed a druggist, dry goods and groceries, foundry, hotel, hardware, notary, physician and plasterer. Farming has always been a large part of our history with the first production report dating back to 1881 showing corn, wheat, oats and Irish potatoes.

Our town has surely grown from our original roots but one thing remains the same and that is the feeling you get from a small town. Neighbors helped neighbors build this town and to this day neighbors help neighbors to keep the town vibrant and growing.

(Above) 1880 Opera House

(Above) 1946 Oppenheim's Department Store "Monster Sale on Hosiery"