Hometown Secrets: Revealing stories in local history

On Monday, November 14, WSBT-TV revealed some of our area's best kept secrets.

Hometown Secrets: Man buried sitting up in his grave in Mishawaka

Hometown Secrets: Man buried sitting up in his grave in Mishawaka

Our area is home to a lot of interesting history, but perhaps one of the most unusual stories is buried in the historical Mishawaka City Cemetary. There is a man there, buried in 1882, sitting up in his grave. Not only that, but some believe he is buried with some unusual belongings.  more...

Hometown Secrets: The famous Michiana campaign stop by Senator Bobby Kennedy

Hometown Secrets: The famous Michiana campaign stop by Senator Bobby Kennedy

We are at the end of the election season, and so far our area hasn't received a visit from any of the presidential candidates. But over the last 130 years we have seen our share of campaign stops.  more...

Hometown Secret: House of David

Hometown Secret: House of David

It's one of longest running religious colonies in the United States and it's located in southwest Michigan.  more...

Exhibit details South Bend's illegal history

Exhibit details South Bend's illegal history

SOUTH BEND -- They may not be the type of stories told to prospective business owners or visitors to the city.  more...

HOMETOWN SECRETS: Notre Dame coach considered 'father of Mother's Day'

HOMETOWN SECRETS: Notre Dame coach considered 'father of Mother's Day'

Did you know Mother's Day has roots right here in South Bend?  more...

Hometown Secrets: Local connection to Titanic tragedy

Hometown Secrets: Local connection to Titanic tragedy

This week marks the 100th anniversary of the most famous shipwreck in history – the sinking of the Titanic.  more...

Hometown Secrets: Elkhart was once automotive hub

Hometown Secrets: Elkhart was once automotive hub

For a long time Elkhart has been known as the RV capital of the world. But long before RV's made their debut, cars were made there. About a decade after the turn of the century, there were about 14 companies making cars in Elkhart --- it was by all accounts, an automotive hub. One car, the Elcar, was owned by world leaders, and was made locally in Elkhart.  more...

HOMETOWN SECRETS: Extremely rare gun collection in LaPorte

HOMETOWN SECRETS: Extremely rare gun collection in LaPorte

Believe it or not, LaPorte is home to one of the world’s largest, privately owned, antique gun collections in the world. Many of the guns are hundreds of years old, some date back to at least the 1500s.  more...

HOMETOWN SECRETS: Division Street

HOMETOWN SECRETS: Division Street

It's a street that's divided for a reason, and it's fitting the name is Division Street. If you've ever crossed Division in Mishawaka, you may notice there's a jog when you travel from one side of it to another. Drivers have to maneuver around it to continue going....on the same street!  more...

HOMETOWN SECRETS: Original Indiana state line would put some major cities in Michigan

HOMETOWN SECRETS: Original Indiana state line would put some major cities in Michigan

SOUTH BEND – What if South Bend, named for the southern-most bend of the St. Joseph River, wasn’t the fourth largest city in Indiana?  What if the University of Notre Dame and the RV capital of the world were technically in Michigan? And NASCAR drivers Ryan Newman and David Stremme, actress Vivica Fox and basketball star Skylar Diggins weren't from Indiana?  more...

HOMETOWN SECRETS: Granger neighborhood was original South Bend Regional Airport

HOMETOWN SECRETS: Granger neighborhood was original South Bend Regional Airport

HARRIS TOWNSHIP – Each day, hundreds of cars pass through the intersection of Brick and Fir roads in Granger. Most of those drivers and the people in the nearby Knollwood “Waterford Green” neighborhood probably don’t know that land plays an important role in local aviation history.  more...

Hometown Secrets: Who founded Mishawaka?

Hometown Secrets: Who founded Mishawaka?

Who is the founder of Mishawaka? Most likely you either guessed Princess Mishawaka or realized you had no idea. The answer will surprise you.   more...

Hometown Secrets: Notorious gangster robs Warsaw Police Department

Hometown Secrets: Notorious gangster robs Warsaw Police Department

To some John Dillinger was a ruthless bank robber, to others he was a hero taking a stand against the government -- but to people in Warsaw he is the man who robbed their police department.  more...

Hometown Secrets: South Bend City Cemetery home to fascinating history

Hometown Secrets: South Bend City Cemetery home to fascinating history

Did you know there is a vice president of the United States buried in South Bend's oldest cemetery? Or that there are two revolutionary war soldiers buried there as well?  more...

HOMETOWN SECRETS: Mystery still surrounds 100-year-old LaPorte serial killer story

HOMETOWN SECRETS: Mystery still surrounds 100-year-old LaPorte serial killer story

It is not what the city of LaPorte wants to be known for – the home of a woman accused of brutally murdering more than 20 people. But the murder mystery surrounding the life and death of Belle Gunness is so intriguing it will leave you wondering, did she get away with murder?  more...

HOMETOWN SECRETS: Vincent Bendix

HOMETOWN SECRETS: Vincent Bendix

All day today WSBT is showing you some of our area's best kept secrets. The Bendix Corporation is a big part of South Bend history, but did you know its creator has something in common with a comic book crime fighter?  more...

HOMETOWN SECRETS: Berrien County police have Valentine's Day Massacre guns

HOMETOWN SECRETS: Berrien County police have Valentine's Day Massacre guns

ST. JOSEPH, Mich. -- Chicago: February 14th, 1929. Seven men from George "Bugs" Moran's Northside Irish Gang are lined up inside of a garage on North Clark Street and executed by the spray from two Thompson submachine guns.  more...

HOMETOWN SECRETS: The Great Train Wreck of 1859

HOMETOWN SECRETS: The Great Train Wreck of 1859

Today, a stretch of land near Lincoln Way West and Ironwood along the St. Joseph River is home to IU South Bend's student housing complex.  more...

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