Summer 2015 Volume 29 – Number 3

World Famous Mishawakans: Rose Hartwick Thorpe, Freddie Fitzsimmons, and Adam Driver By Pete DeKever and Lexie Schroeder Kobb

Over the years, “Made in Misha- athletes, and even an Indiana gover- artifacts in three large display win- waka” has been proudly applied to nor have hailed from the Princess City dows will tell the life stories of poet varied local manufactures, such as and made their mark in the world. Rose Hartwick Thorpe, major league Ball Band footwear, Dodge power baseball player Freddie Fitzsim- During the 2015-16 school year, the transmission equipment, and AM mons, and actor Adam Driver. Hannah Lindahl Children's Museum General Hummers. Many success- begins a new exhibit featuring the In future years, other famous ful and prominent individuals have achievements of world famous Mishawakans will be profiled in also been “Made in Mishawaka.” Mishawakans. Photographs and the rotating exhibit space. Industrialists, war heroes, musicians,

Rose Hartwick Thorpe was born on The Hartwicks moved to Kansas in when the church bell rings to signal July 18, 1850, in her family's home that 1860 and, shortly after, to Litchfield, curfew. To save him, Bessie tries stood at 225 Union Street, today the Michigan. As a sixteen year old, unsuccessfully to convince the sex- site of Horizon Christian Fellowship. Rose read a magazine article based ton not to ring the bell. Desperate, on a historical incident, inspiring Rose spent her first ten years in Bessie then climbs the ladder of the her to compose a poem entitled Mishawaka, and her reading and writ- tower, repeating to herself, “Curfew “Curfew Must Not Ring To-night.” ing talents were developed at the shall not ring to-night.” She clings to Rose had been writing a poem each Mishawaka Academic and Normal the bell's clapper so it cannot ring week for a Detroit newspaper in Institute, which was located south of when the sexton dutifully pulls the return for a free subscription. One the intersection of Main and Fourth rope, swinging the bell and Bessie week in 1870, Rose was sick with Streets. Years later, Rose wrote a soundlessly. Bessie comes down from typhoid and could not make her poem dedicated to the schoolchildren usual contribution. Instead, she the tower just as the Puritan general of Mishawaka in which she fondly submitted “Curfew” for publication. Oliver Cromwell rides into town. remembered her neighborhood with its Touched with pity by Bessie's act of hickory trees and “spearmint bordered The poem is set in 16th century sacrificial love, Cromwell pardons stream” (Barbee Creek), which inspired England. Bessie's lover, Basil Under- Basil to complete the happy ending. her imagination and love of nature. wood, is to be executed at sunset cont. page 2 cont. from page 1 Newspapers around the country anthologized poems of the period Fred's greatest-- and most pain- reprinted Rose's work, and it quickly 1870-1950, and today it continues to ful-- moment on the mound came became one of the most popular be recited in speech contests and in Game 3 of the 1941 . poems of the 19th century. “Cur- literary festivals around the world. Fitzsimmons was pitching master- few Must Not Ring Tonight” spread fully and beating the Yankees when The Hannah Lindahl Children's throughout the English-speaking a line drive him just below the Museum celebrates Mishawaka's world and was translated into at knee, knocking him out of the game. honor of being the birthplace least 17 languages. School children and first childhood hometown Fitzsimmons finished his 19-year recited it, orators used it in dramatic of Rose Hartwick Thorpe, whose career in 1943 with a record of readings, and it even became a favor- talent, first nurtured here, 217-146. He then managed the Phila- ite of Queen Victoria. Rose became created a poem that touched count- delphia Phillies from July 1943 until an international literary star, and less lives around the world. June 1945. Fitz later coached for proud Mishawakans later saw her the Braves, Giants, Cubs, Athletics, as an equal of James Whitcomb Riley. l and several minor league teams. Rose married Edmund Thorpe in Freddie Fitzsimmons was born in Fred's decades in major league 1871 and remained in Litchfield until 1901 on a farm in Tipton County, baseball brought him into contact 1881. They moved to Chicago, and and his family moved to Misha- with many of the game's luminar- she briefly served as the editor of waka around 1906. When Fred was ies, such as Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, publications devoted to temper- growing up, they lived in several , , and Wil- ance, home life, and Sunday School. different homes on the city's north lie Mays. The greatest moment of Rose and her husband moved to and east sides. On the sandlots of baseball history that Fitzsimmons San Antonio in 1883 and then to the Princess City, young Fitzsim- witnessed came in 1951 when he San Diego in 1887. Rose continued mons learned the game that would was coaching first base for the Giants writing poetry and fiction. She pub- be his livelihood for over forty years. and Bobby Thomson hit the “shot lished several more books, most heard 'round the world” that won notably Ringing Ballads in 1887 Fitzsimmons's professional base- the league pennant for New York. and The Poetical Works of Rose ball career began with minor league Muskegon, where he was a Hartwick Thorpe in 1912. Her work Fred died in 1979 and is bur- from 1920-22. He was good enough is noted for its optimism, Christian ied in Colton, California. faith, and exploration of such topics to catch the eye of the Indianapolis as love, death, nature, and virtue. Indians, for whom he played until Playing in an era when nearly 1925, when the New York Giants everyone was a baseball fan, Fred- Rose Hartwick Thorpe enjoyed great acquired his services. Fitz made his die Fitzsimmons was a household celebrity status, being known as the major league debut with the Giants name across the country, and poet of one of the most beloved on August 12, 1925-- the first and because his hometown was often ballads of the 19th century. She was only major leaguer to come from mentioned in articles about his honored at the World's Columbian Mishawaka. This was the first of pitching exploits, he put Misha- Exposition in Chicago in 1893 and his 513 major league appearances. waka on the nation's sports map. world's fairs held in San Diego in 1915- 16 and 1935. On the 69th anniversary Known for his , fielding, Fitz was inducted into the Indiana of writing “Curfew,” Rose even and competitiveness, Fitzsimmons Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992. Misha- received congratulatory telegrams was one of the top of the waka High School's varsity baseball from First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt 1920s and '30s. He was a 20-game field was named in his honor in 2009. winner in 1928, led the National and former First Lady Lou Hoover. l League in winning percentage in During Rose's lifetime and in the 1930, and played on the Giants' Adam Driver is a Hollywood name decades since her death in 1939, 1933 world championship team. Fitz that may be familiar to many Misha- “Curfew Must Not Ring Tonight” pitched one game in the 1933 World wakan’s today. Born in 1983, Driver has often been alluded to or paro- Series and two contests of the 1936 was raised in Mishawaka from the died in various forms of media, Series. After being traded to the age of 7 until his graduation from including songs, magazine covers Brooklyn Dodgers in 1937, Fitzsim- Mishawaka High School in 2001. and postcard illustrations, the novel mons continued to play productively, His early acting experiences came Anne of Green Gables, and the movie and his 16-2 record in 1940 again led from the stage of the Mishawaka Desk Set. It was one of the most the league in winning percentage. High School theatre where he Thank You for Your Support Give Local St. Joseph county was an amazing day for our community. The Museum raised over $6,700 on this May 5th event. Thank you to the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County and thank you to our generous members and sponsors who contributed. If you would like to contribute to Hannah Lindahl Children’s Museum, our annual Membership Campaign will be beginning soon! Watch your mailbox for more information and thank you for your support.

Donation presented to HLCM’s Director, Lexie Schroeder Kobb from Beiger School PTA

continued from page 2 participated in several school pro- Adam Driver and his wife Joanne ductions in addition to singing in Tucker run a non-profit organiza- Poem by the school and local church choir. tion close to their hearts, Arts in the Tri Kappa Alpha Associates Armed Forces, which stages per- Shortly after the September 11th formances for military personnel. attacks, Driver joined the United We gather and we giggle… We look forward to Adam Driver’s States Marine Corps where he served Our working days are passed. coming performance in the next for several years but was medically Honor, truth and fame prevail. installment in the Star Wars saga, discharged before he could deploy Our purpose will ever last. Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which to Iraq. After leaving the Marines, will be released in December of 2015. Driver attended the University of We volunteer at Indianapolis for a year then quickly The Hannah Lindahl Children's Hannah Lindahl Museum, transferred to the Juilliard School to Museum invites patrons to visit To repair textiles, study drama. He graduated with a the World Famous Mishawakans Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 2009. exhibit which will open October organize and code. 15th. Find out about Rose Hartwick Driver began appearing in both All items in the computer now. Thorpe, Freddie Fitzsimmons, and Broadway and off-Broadway pro- Adam Driver this year and other ductions as well as appearing on NOT having lunch, we extraordinary citizens from our both television and in short films. just forebode. community in the years to come. His first major role came in 2011 in So many dear members Clint Eastwood’s film J. Edgar but have come and gone. he may be best known for his role in the hit HBO series Girls. Driver has With fond memories, you see. collected an impressive list of cred- its and accolades to date, which The bonds and love that is particularly remarkable consid- we have shared ering the short number of years he has been working as an actor. Will live throughout eternity. Museum Advisory Board 2015–16 Dave Eisen, president • Linda Irish, vice president • Linda Gray, secretary Connie Saltzgaber, treasurer •Kevin Davis • Peter DeKever Dave Eggleston • Annette Ernst • Lisa Gartee • Eva Jojo Tomi Mason • Paula Meersman • Ellen West Emeritus: Emmy Cokewood • Karen Jackson • Ann Sharp • Jane Weaver Director: Lexie Schroeder Kobb

Museum hours: Tues. – Fri. 9 AM to noon & 1 PM to 4 PM, (closed whenever school is not in session in SCM) Admission charges: $1.00 – Children ages 2 – 4 $2.00 – Seniors ages 62+ & students ages 5 – 17 $3.00 – Adults Free Admission for Museum Members

1402 South Main Street Mishawaka, IN 46544 Telephone: (574) 254-4540 FAX: (574) 254-4585 www.hlcm.org

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2015 – 2016 Artifactors Wall of Fame 20+ Years 11 – 14 Years New Donors Atef M. Tawadros D. D. S 1st Source Bank John Boettcher Sewer Bryan Chiropractic Center Dr. Brian D. Eberhart & Excavating George A Mighion DDS PC 15–19 Years KeyBank Special Project Donors Gary’s Barber/Style Shop Beta Gamma Chapter of Magrames Motor Sales 6 – 10 Years Tri-Kappa, Inc. Michiana Accounting Service Magrane Pet Medical Center Mishawaka Business Association Schindler, Olson & Currey Princess City Dental Mishawaka Buisiness Foundation Teachers Credit Union Target Weber Electric, Inc. 2 – 5 Years Tri Kappa Mishawaka Alpha Woodcox Cleaning & Restorations Hinges & Handles, Inc. Associate Whole Foods Market Thank you for your support!

The mission of the Hannah Lindahl Children’s Museum is to provide a collection of unique artifacts that encourages families to explore, learn, and enjoy the history of the Mishawaka area.