Interior view of Ferdinand News at its first location in the Gohman building.
|
Quante and Co. General Store
|
Present Ferdinand News
|
|
Kundek Corner:
Ferdinand Distinguished Citizens
HENRY FREDERICK HAAKE
Henry Frederick Haake, Ferdinand Historical Society's 4th Distinguished Citizen placed in Kundek Corner at Ferdinand Library.
Henry Frederick Haake was born in Tell City, Ind, the son of Robert C. Lee and Doris Haake. He was an only child of that marriage. The couple separated and he moved away. His wife remarried a man by the name of Fred Prueher of Troy, Ind and Henry was adopted by his grandmother who had his name changed to Henry Frederick Haake.
Henry was employed by German newspaper published in Tell City, named the Einseigler (a guess at the spelling).
A unit of men in Ferdinand who called themselves the Commerce Club, decided to start a newspaper in Ferdinand. The first editor was a man name Adam Strong. Adam soon tangled with the owners and was fired. Henry Haake was hired by the Commerce Club as a printer who know the backshop operations. Henry made his way to Ferdinand via the railroad and got off the train at Johnsburg, rode a log wagon to Ferdinand.
After Mr. Strong was fired, Henry was hired as the new editor. The Ferdinand News was moved from the Covered Bridge building to where the present site is, but it was at that time Soulman's store building. That building was replaced in stages to what exists today. Henry operated the newspaper until he eventually purchased it and continued to operate it until he died during WWII.
Henry was married to Phoebe May Logsdon, also of Tell City and they had eight children. The first died in infancy and was named Harold. In this order the other seven were born: Magdalene, Francis, Agnes, Norman, Oscar, Mary, and Roy.
During WWII after Hnry died, his daughter Agnes came back to Ferdinand and operated the Ferdinand News until Oscar and Roy returned from the U.S. Navy. They bought the business from their mother and continued to operate the newspaper until they retired in August of 1990, when the new owners took over.