Downtown Columbia City History Tour Stop 5
126, 128, and 130 West Van Buren
This west end of the 100 block of Van Buren Street offers several unique stories you may find interesting. Let’s take a closer look at 126, 128, and 130 West Van Buren.
At 126 West Van Buren, The Style Shop served Columbia City shoppers for nearly 45 years during the 20th century. Around 1985, it transitioned into The Village Shop, B.E. Comics, and today it’s the home of 1897 BBQ.
George Pontius and the Invention That Became DAP
Next door at 128 West Van Buren sits one of downtown’s most colorful pieces of history. In the late 1800s, Mr. George Pontius purchased the W.H. Smith Drug Store, which was then the city’s leading pharmacy. Mr. Pontius maintained that reputation for excellence, but his real claim to fame was an invention: a sealing wax that became highly sought after. In those days, women preserved food in cans sealed with wax, and Mr. Pontius held the patent for one of the most popular waxes on the market.
A company from Dayton, Ohio—Dicks & Wiggins—offered to buy the sealing wax patent. Pontius refused to sell it, but instead chose to sell the drugstore and move to Dayton to become a partner in the business. That company became DAP Products, and today, every time you see a tube of caulk or wall sealant labeled “DAP,” the “P” stands for Pontius.
Bank Robbery and Shootout: Columbia State Bank, 1928
In 1927, the same address became home to Columbia State Bank. Since then, many different businesses have operated at 128 West Van Buren, and today, it’s home to the Whitley County Visitor’s Center.
But perhaps the most dramatic event at this address happened on April 18, 1928, when Columbia State Bank was the target of a robbery and shootout. No one knows exactly how many robbers were involved, but like many bank heists of that era, one gang member was stationed outside guarding the getaway car. Bank custodian Mel Kyler was returning from lunch, noticed the man, and, being armed, took a shot. He missed—and the shootout began.
The Whitley County Sheriff, two deputies, and a Columbia City Police Officer quickly joined the fray. Gunfire erupted, damaging nearby windows and storefronts. The robbers, members of a Detroit gang, managed to escape that day but were eventually captured years later.
The Sheriff’s Bullet: A Wound That Waited 25 Years
Tragically, one bystander was killed by a stray bullet, and another person was injured. Even the sheriff was hit—he took a bullet just above the tip of his nose. Miraculously, he survived. The bullet lodged near his brain and remained there for over 25 years. Then, in 1954, during a coughing spell, the bullet dislodged and fell to the floor.
If you visit the building today, look closely at the brickwork—you may still see the chipped bricks where bullets struck during that wild day in Columbia City history.
From the 5 & 10 to Pickles Café: 130 West Van Buren
Finally, 130 West Van Buren doesn’t carry quite the same dramatic history, but it played an important role in the everyday life of residents. Today, you’ll find the ever-popular Pickles Café. But over 125 years ago, it was the site of the Morris 5 & 10 Cent Store. For more than 30 years during the 1900s, various 5 & 10 stores operated at this location. These stores were early versions of today’s Dollar General or Family Dollar—places where you could find small necessities and treats at low prices.
A Walk Worth Taking
So next time you’re strolling west on Van Buren Street, remember the inventors, shopkeepers, shootouts, and everyday life that make this stretch of downtown so rich with stories.
Thank you to Pam Koch and Doug Clark for their outstanding research and writing of the article and the Whitley County Historical Museum for generously sharing photographs from their collection. Thank you to Columbia City High School’s WJHS 91.5 The Eagle for producing the audio recording.
