Downtown Columbia City History Tour Stop 6
Unlike the other stops on the tour, Chauncey Street’s history is more political in nature. It is the longtime site of city government and was the scene of one of Columbia City’s most iconic political moments.
The DB Clugston Building and Thomas Marshall’s Legacy
Constructed in 1889, the DB Clugston Building has a Van Buren Street address but occupies both #100 and #102 Chauncey Street. This historic structure once housed the law office of Thomas Marshall, who later served as Vice-President of the United States under President Woodrow Wilson from 1913 to 1920.
Over the years, the building has hosted several notable businesses, including Clugston Brothers, Flox & Flox Dry Goods, Flox & Flox Department Store, and the Whitley County Credit Bureau. Most recently, it has been home to Scientific & Regulatory Consultants.
The Clugston Hotel and a Famous Speech
Midway down the block stood the Clugston Hotel, which operated from the early 1900s until the late 1970s. In the late 1990s, community leaders repurposed the property into Clugston on the Square Senior Apartments, providing affordable housing for residents aged 55 and over.
The hotel is best remembered as the site of a campaign speech by Thomas Marshall, then a candidate for Governor of Indiana. As the story goes, Marshall stepped out of a second-story window and stood on the hotel entrance portico to address a large crowd gathered along Chauncey Street and the Courthouse lawn.
In a moment of remarkable humility, he told the crowd:
“My fellow citizens, you know the evil there is in me, and you know the good there is in me. If you think I would make a good Governor, vote for me. If you do not think I would make a good Governor, I ask you, my fellow citizens, to vote against me.”
Marshall went on to serve as Indiana’s Governor from 1909 to 1912, before becoming Vice President.
City Hall and the Fire Station: A Legacy of Service
Further south on Chauncey Street, the buildings at #110 have been home to Columbia City’s City Hall and Fire Station since 1877. These addresses mark the continuous presence of city governance in this area for nearly 150 years.
Fur Trading and City Expansion
In the early 1900s, #114 Chauncey was the site of local fur trading companies. Trappers from both the local area and across the country would bring their wild animal pelts here to be sorted and shipped to urban markets such as New York or St. Louis.
Next door, #116 was once the residence of a fur trader. Eventually, this address was transformed into green space to make way for a new entrance to City Hall.
Enduring Center of Local Leadership
For nearly a century and a half, Chauncey Street has stood at the heart of Columbia City’s public life. From political speeches to city services and community transformation, this street continues to be a cornerstone of civic identity and leadership.
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.
